Page 46 of Raymond's Forever

“In my room.”

They broke apart and with their fingers entwined, he led the way down the hall, opened the door, and nodded, allowing her to enter before him. With the door closed, he turned to her.

“Damn, I’m suddenly nervous.”

“Yeah, me too.”

He stepped toward her to gently place his hands on her hips. “I’m going to put this out there before we take the next step.” He paused and she had to prompt him to continue.

“What’s that?”

“I like you, Amelia. There’s something about you that is different from my last relationships. I’m hoping this won’t freak you out to make you run away screaming, but you feel like forever to me.” He bent down to kiss the tip of her nose and smiled when she sighed.

“There’s something about you, Raymond Morris that makes me think that you might be my forever. My entire adult life, I never cared whether I was in a relationship or not. It seemed like no one I dated understood my drive to make it as a doctor. Instead of settling for mediocre, I went about my life my way. It didn’t bother me that I didn’t have a partner, because I didn’t want to settle with someone who didn’t take my vocation seriously. I didn’t want someone who wanted me to give up my wants and dreams to make them feel better.” She reached up and put her fingers gently over his lips. “Not once since meeting you have I ever felt you would do that to me.”

“I wouldn’t,” Raymond said, and kissed her fingers. He shook his head and further explained. “We are of an age that we know what we want out of life. Hell, we’ve lived it, just the way we wanted to. We also aren’t even close to retirement age, and have lots of time yet to continue with our jobs, but still be together. That’s what I want with you. To come home from our respective jobs, share a meal, talk about our days.”

“You’re not actively seeking more clients for your law practice?”

“Not really, if Jason or Ilsa need me, I’ll step in, and other than representing you in the defamation case, I’m not taking on new clients. I found that I love working with the horses, and there’s a need for hands. I can’t see myself sitting on my hands waiting for clients when there are several lawyers in Fool’s Gold and Colorado Springs. I’m happy doing what I’m doing now.” He kissed her nose again, then reared back to look at her in shock.

“What?”

“That doesn’t bother you, does it? That I’m not actively seeking clients and practicing law?”

“Why would it bother me? You’re doing something you enjoy. I don’t know if you love it, but you seem happier every day. I love your stories about the horses, I love how animated you get when you discuss your day. I’m not going to tell you what to do in your career, just like you’re not going to tell me how to run my own clinic.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly, and instead of kissing her nose, he kissed her full on her lips, making sure his intent was known and not assumed. He used his hands to pull her shirt from her jeans, and his hands caressed her stomach. It wasn’t long before he had her shirt over her head, and quickly removed his own. As much as he wanted to strip her naked, and bury himself into her heat, he took it slowly, and with every article of clothing he removed from her, he removed one of his own, and by the time they were both naked, he laid her down on the bed.

He paused in kissing her, reached up to move her hair from her face and just stared at her for several moments, before he whispered, “You are so beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she whispered back, and laid her palm on the side of his face. “You’re not so bad yourself. Not in the beautiful department, but definitely the handsome one.” She grinned when he laughed, and laughed along with him as he rolled over so she was on top of him. They spent the next hour loving each other, and when they collapsed back on the bed, they were both breathing hard. It wasn’t long before they pulled the blankets up, cuddled together, and fell asleep.

Raymond rolledover in the middle of the night and reached for Amelia, but found the other side of the bed empty.

Concerned, he rolled over, saw that it was almost five in the morning, and after pulling on a pair of sweatpants, he used the bathroom and went out to look for her, praying that she hadn’t slipped out in the night. He gave a quick start when he opened the bedroom door and saw her standing in the doorway to his office, wearing his shirt from the day before. He liked the look on her.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t, I rolled over to reach for you, but found the bed empty. Have you been up for long?”

“No, I’m waiting for the coffee to finish perking.”

“Do you have to go into work today? Wait, do you work the weekends? Wait again, is it the weekend? I seem to lose track of the days.”

“Is that something I should be worried about in the future? Your forgetfulness?”

“No, it’s just that I’m not going into the office all the time, and don’t really have to make any meetings. My days are filled with saddling horses, mucking out stalls, and helping Shay at the track, that’s after helping Ann and Tony with the other horses.” He tapped the side of his temple. “Still a steel trap.”

“I know, I was just picking on you.” She giggled at his shocked expression.

“So, may I ask why you are staring into my office like you’re planning some sort of heist?”

“Not a heist, not exactly,” she said with a grin.

“Excuse me?”