Two Steps Behind

Part 23

 Eddie stared down at Elizabeth as she peacefully slept in the cradle of his arms, her head resting on his chest. His body was pleasantly humming everywhere from last night. The many times he had dreamed of being with her like this, his dreams hadn't even come close to how absolutely perfect it had been. It was as if their bodies had been created for each other, the way they fit perfectly together. Her touch was like the brightest light, illuminating every inch of his body. Eddie felt like he could just bask in her forever.

When she hesitated to allow him to see her, he had thought for a moment that she had changed her mind. If she had, he would have been awfully disappointed, but he would have backed off immediately. He had promised himself that he would be patient with her, that he would give her anything she needed, anything to help her be okay. He would never push Elizabeth to do anything she wasn't completely ready for.

When he found out the real reason why she had hesitated, he wanted to smash the world apart for what it had done to her. He despised that prick for making her see herself as anything less than the gorgeous and amazing woman that she was. Those scars did not change a goddamn thing about how he felt, other than wanting to pummel the person who did that to her. She was still his Elizabeth. She was still just as stunning as she always had been.

He hoped that he had assured her; that he had allowed her to see herself as more than what that monster had done to her. He hoped she could feel how beautiful she was to him, that he had conveyed it in his touch. Eddie had seen the moment she had considered trying to hide herself from him after he had removed her sweater, but she didn't do it. And it didn't appear that she had considered it again. She definitely seemed to be just as lost in the moment as he had been. Watching her react to his fingers, his lips...hearing her sounds of pleasure...shit, it had been better than any drug he'd ever done in his life.

Elizabeth stirred, opening her eyes. She blinked against the light and when her eyes found him, she smiled, snuggling in closer to him. He wound his arms around her, pressing his lips to the top of her head.

"Mmm...morning," she murmured, her lips pressing gently against his chest.

"Morning," he replied, squeezing her tightly. "Are you doing okay?"

"I'm perfect," she purred, stretching long and the sight of it caused his body to stir.

"I agree," he rumbled, pulling her back against him. "Jesus Christ."

"What?" Elizabeth laughed.

"You," he said, pressing kisses all over her face. "You have me so crazy. I have imagined what this would be like so many times, but I never had any idea. There was no way to possibly imagine the perfection that is being with you. I don't know if I am ever going to be able to keep my hands off you."

"Please don't," she teased, "because I have no intentions of trying to control myself."

"Good god woman, what am I going to do with you?"

"Anything you want, whenever you want," Elizabeth whispered, placing kisses along his collarbone and then his chest, smiling when she heard the quiet hiss of delight that he emitted. She pressed her lips to the wish flowers and then paused, looking up at him.

"What?" he asked, gazing down at her, tangling his fingers in her hair.

"I think I want one of these."

"Umm...you have one of these," he laughed, gesturing to himself. "And I guarantee you, it's one of a kind. Limited edition, baby. You're not going to find another like it."

She laughed and the sound filled his ears with such a pleasant buzz. He would never get tired of that, of knowing he could bring her joy, even after everything she;d gone through. He wanted to find a million reasons, a million ways, to hear that sound over and over, to know he's made her happy.