Chapter 291: Sleep With Me
*I’m going to make the suggestion to you first, we may discuss it in couple therapy next week or so. – Carly*
It was the second Thursday after the confrontation at the clubhouse. Rye had talked to Carly about how it felt more like playing house than being married. Carly had made some suggestions for her.
“Start small. Invite Chance to sleep with you. Let him know that it’s going to be platonic, nothing physical.” Carly had said it as if it would be normal for a wife to make this request. “He knows your fears. He understands them. Be patient with yourself. They may be small actions, but they are big steps for you.”
Rye had thought about those words a lot over the last few days. Once again, they were rattling around in her brain. Along with her insecurities and fears. For once, curiosity and want were bigger than the fears.
Currently, she was laying in the large bed tossing and turning, with sleep eluding her. The soft teal and pink floral print comforter seemed heavy on her. They had changed after Rye had admitted to Chance that the red and black décor made her feel uncomfortable. She came home from work one day and found him putting the new bedding on.
“I was trying to surprise you.” He had admitted sheepishly.
“But it’s… girly.” She had argued. Rye could not imagine a man being willing to sleep in a bed that was made with something so feminine.
“Yeah?” He asked, placing the last pillow on the bed. “It reminded me of you. Do you like it?”
Unable to answer, she simply nodded as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Good.” Chance had held her as she cried over something so simple.
Now, laying between the teal sheets with the comforter above her, the bed seemed empty and suffocating at the same time.
Finally, unable to take it any longer, she threw off the blanket and slid off the bed. Rye sat back down not certain about her actions.
She made it to the door before returning to the bed again. The third time she was halfway down the hall before returning. Then she made it to the entrance to the living room. She stood looking at the man lying on the couch. Changing her mind, yet again, she turned to go back down the short hallway.
“Rye?” Chance said softly, stopping her in her tracks. “Come here, Duchess.”
She turned back and in the soft glow of the night light, saw that he was now sitting up. He patted the couch next to him and she went and sat down. Placing an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her to him.
“What’s going on in that lovely head of yours?” he asked holding her close and tucking her under his chin.
“I… will you…. Ummm… shit.”
“Holy fuck! Did my sweet Duchess just swear?” he asked with humor in his voice.
She turned her face into his chest before looking up at him. “I wanted to ask you to come to bed with me. Not…”
He didn’t need any light to know that she was blushing. He could hear her uncertainty in her soft voice, just as much as he could hear her tears. This was huge for her. Chance could feel his chest swelling with pride as he thought about what it took for her to do this.
His lips pressed a light kiss to her temple. “Can I hold you?” he asked quietly.
Rye nodded. “I think I would like that.”
“I know that I would.” He murmured. “Are you ready for that?”
“I don’t know.” she admitted. “But I want to try.”
“How about we go try and if you’re not ready, I come back out here.”
“Okay.” She agreed after a moment of thought.
They sat curled up together for a few more minutes. With deliberate movements, Rye stood up and offered her hand to Chance. He gladly took it and let her lead him down the hall. She crawled into the bed, and he had to bite back a moan at seeing her ass in the air.
He slid in behind her and covered them up. Then he pulled her close, draping an arm around her waist.
“Let me move my arm, you can use it as a pillow.” Chance suggested and they both moved. “That’s better.”
They lay there for a moment in silence. Rye moved her hand and linked her fingers with his on her stomach.
“I like this.” She murmured.
“Me too.” He said against her hair.
“Chance?” She asked softly and he gave a soft hmmm. “Thank you for sticking with me through everything. I know this has not been easy.”
“Life isn’t easy. You fill your life with people that make it better.” He smiled and tugged her closer to him. “You, Duchess, you and Michael make my life a lot better.”
“You make my life better, too.”
They lay there in each other’s easy embrace. Rye slipped off to sleep. Shortly after that, Chance did too. When Michael woke up a few hours later, Chance got up and gave the baby a bottle and a fresh diaper.
Sitting in the nursery under the constellations of the night light, he gently rocked the baby that was held against his bare chest. Little fingers of one hand gripped Chance’s finger around the bottle. The other hand had a death grip on his small patch of chest hair. He wasn’t as hairy as his brothers and now he wondered who their fathers were.
Michael smiled up at Chance around the nipple.
“You’re going to make a mess.” Chance softly told his son.
His son.
Michael may not share any of his DNA, but there was no doubt in his mind. This baby was his. In July, they would go back before the judge and make it official. The paperwork confirming his name change arrived in the mail earlier that week. Their marriage license should arrive in the next few weeks.
With the bottle finished, Chance burped the baby and cleaned him up before rocking him back to sleep. As he always did when Michael was sleeping, he watched the baby for a few minutes after placing him in the crib. Covering him up, the father carried the bottle down to the kitchen to rinse it and place it in the dishwasher.
Standing in the living room, Chance debated between the couch and the bed. He decided to go to bed and see how Rye reacted.
Before he was completely under the covers, she was curling into him. He went back to sleep with her head on his shoulder and a leg thrown over his. Chance kissed her hand before holding it on his chest. With a content smile on his face, he went back to sleep.
