“You don’t need practical for this gift.”
Her eyes furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, tonight we are leaving the kids. All of them. With Marta. Jody is coming over to help too. And we’re going to the cabin for two nights.”
Her eyes widen. “Just you and me?”
I nod. “Just us. We haven’t been alone for a night in years.”
“Do you regret having so many babies with me?” Her eyes search mine. “They’ve sort of taken over our life.”
I pull my wife to me. “Don’t even think that, Maple. Our children are the biggest blessing in the world, next to you.”
“They are a lot of work though, and I know I don’t always have energy at the end of the day.”
“You work harder than any woman I’ve ever known,” I tell her. “Besides, I think you take care of me plenty. I don’t even think most single men get laid as often as I do.”
“It’s just we used to have sex every day and now it’s like…”
“Four times a week?” I shake my head. “Stop being so hard on yourself, Maple. You are the best lover in the world. I’m entirely satisfied with you.”
“You are?” she asks, looking up into my eyes and I realize she is truly asking, genuinely wanting to make sure I still feel the same way about her as I did all those years ago.
“Where is this coming from, sweetheart?” I ask.
She blinks, and I see tears in her pale eyes. “I don’t know… I just don’t want you to think we’re in a rut or something.”
I frown. “Do you think we’re in a rut?”
“What?” She shakes her head in shock. “No, not at all. You’re the best lover in the world. I guess I just feel like I’ve put on weight, the kids are such a handful and we don’t get enough time alone.”
“The next two nights we can make up for a year’s worth’s of nights out.”
She smiles. “Promise?”
I nod. “I know things are trickier with the kids, but Maple, we can get through anything together. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She licks her lips, looking at the silky red robe. “So exactly how soon can we get out of here?”* * *A few hours later Maple and I pull up to the cabin. She is giddy with excitement and we listened to Christmas music the entire drive up.
“We haven’t been here alone since…”
“Since we got married?”
She nods. “Crazy how fast time flies.”
“I’m glad we hired Marta this year,” I say as I turn off the ignition. “It will mean more times like this for you and me. To reconnect. To remember.”
Maple laughs, running her hand over my beard. “To get naked and have wild sex.”
My cock stiffens. “I like the sound of that.”
We get out of the truck and I grab our bags. As we walk to the front door, we pass the holly tree we planted three years ago after Sammy passed away and my heart tightens. Maple takes my hand as if reading my mind. Still miss that girl.
Inside, I set to making a fire and Maple unloads the food we packed. Strawberries, champagne, chocolate for her. Steaks, potatoes, and whiskey for me. Though I’m sure we’ll both share.
I hear a cork pop as I finish the fire and I turn to see my wife carrying over a glass of champagne and a tumbler of whiskey. “Here you go, mountain man,” she says, handing me the amber liquid.
I take a drink, but then set the glass aside. “It tastes good and all, but what I really want to drink is you.”
She lifts her eyebrows. “Hold that thought.” Then she saunters toward the bathroom with her tote bag. A few minutes later she steps back out into the warm cabin in that red silk robe.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” I tell her, my cock throbbing with want as I look at my wife. Her cheeks turn pink as she walks toward me, her bare legs tempting me as she nears.
“Take off your clothes,” she instructs, and I don’t hesitate. Pleasing her right now is the only thing I want to do. I unbutton my flannel and practically rip off my jeans.
She licks her lips as she takes my cock in her hand, stroking me up and down the way I like. The way I need.
“It’s so quiet up here in the mountains,” she says.
“Oh, girl, I plan on making you scream soon enough.”
She laughs, and I untie the belt on her robe like the ribbon on a present, letting it fall open. Underneath she wears a red lace bra and a pair of tiny red panties. “God, where’d you find these?”
She lets the robe fall to the floor and then she reaches back, unclasping the bra, her hands running over her bare breasts. “This was going to be your Christmas present, Filson, I hope you don’t mind me giving it to you early.”