Page 138 of Whispers in the Dark
I’m officially going to be a teacher!
I slide the folder into my bag and step out of the car. For the first time in what feels like forever, there’s no snow on the ground.
As I approach the door, it swings open before me, revealing a man wearing a bright yellow hard hat. He sees me and dips his chin while saying, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Alarie,” before passing by and heading directly toward the side of the house.
Huh.
I enter through the front door just as Joey appears, quickly nodding in greeting. “Mauro’s in the master bedroom,” he informs me.
“Thanks.” The sound of nearby hammering catches my attention, and I look around. “Do you happen to know what’s going on?”
“No idea,” he responds. “It looks like he might be adding an addition to the house.” With that, he sidesteps me and exits.
An addition for what?
I drop my bag by the entrance and head straight to our bedroom, pushing the door open to find it empty. The sound of running water from the side bathroom catches my attention, and I enter further into the room, approaching the partially open door. My fingers press against the wood until a shirtless Mauro appears, standing before the sink with a razor in his hand and foam slathered over half of his face.
I lean against the door frame, enjoying the view. My eyes trail greedily over each defined muscle, appreciating every single inch of the man before me.
How did I get so lucky?
Mauro catches my gaze in the bathroom mirror and smirks.Come here, wife.
I smile, hesitating, but then step inside. “Want some help with that?”
He peers down questionably at the razor in his hand and then looks at me. It takes him a brief moment, but then his hand extends toward me, offering me the razor. I quickly realize the height difference might make things challenging, so I position my back against the counter edge and place my palms on it, lifting myself until I’m sitting before him.
He steps between my legs, and I slip my fingers around the cold metal, cautious of the sharp blade. His hands trail up my thighs, his thumb leisurely tracing the inside of my leg.
“Be still, husband.” I place one hand on his smooth, shaven cheek for balance as I inspect the area still in need of attention. “I don’t take your trust lightly,” I say softly, knowing the significance of this moment. Something mundane to most. But something pivotal to us.
While his eyes remain on me, I carefully drag the blade across his skin, using gentle and precise strokes, not stopping until I’m satisfied with my work.
“Done,” I remark, dropping the razor beside the sink and reaching for a washcloth. I swipe it gently across his skin, removing leftover shaving cream. Shifting forward, I place my lips over his most prominent scar, lingering a moment before sitting back.
The instant I toss the towel, his lips find mine in an all-consuming kiss that leaves me breathless and my body melting under his touch. Several seconds go by before he pulls back, his eyes staring down at me with so much love floating over his dark irises.Thank you.
I cover his cheeks with my palms, leaning forward to brush my lips against his. “Anytime.”
He plants a kiss on my temple and then stands tall.How did the interview go?
I bite down on my bottom lip, fighting the smile that wants to take over my face, and give myself a few seconds before saying, “I got the job.”
A broad grin instantly takes over his face as he wraps his arms around me, spinning me against his body.
“Mauro!” I yell. “You’ll hurt yourself!”
He slowly stops, placing me on my feet. Bending down, he sweeps his lips over my ear. “Proud,” he says in a rough whisper.
Wetness coats my eyes. “Thank you.” I glide my hands along his chest, stopping directly over his heart. “For everything.”
He presses his lips to my temple as we hold one another, savoring this moment.
A loud bang, similar to a piece of plywood dropping, draws my attention to the door. “Mauro?” I tilt my head up. “What’s going on?”
He reaches for his shirt hanging nearby and, after throwing it on, grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers before leading me out of the bathroom. We walk through the house and step outside, where a few men are working on a project. With a wave of his hand, he dismisses them, and they quickly scurry off, disappearing from view.
He stops and turns to face me. His palm rests on his chest as he takes a deep breath, then signs,Alina, I would give you the world if I could. But until I figure out how to do that, I’m giving you this.
