Chapter 4

In the morning, Dennis woke with his arms around Amelia's waist, spooning her. They were naked under the covers, and he indulged momentarily in his welcomed delight of having her with him before sliding out of the bed and grabbing his robe.

Amelia didn't stir and he watched with affection as she slept until he finally left the bedroom to brew the coffee. He re-entered the room with two mugs of java and saw that she hadn't moved, until the smell of the coffee woke her.

Amelia smiled when he handed her the mug, sitting up on the bed to drink comfortably, the sheet falling to reveal her bare breasts. Dennis took a seat on the side of the bed.

"I should call out for the day," Amelia realized.

"Me too," Dennis decided on the spot.

She was sure she loved him, just for doing that for her.

They spent the morning naked in bed, their bodies rubbing against one another, laughing, talking, exploring, touching, and suffocating each other with their lips when not telling each other secrets about themselves.

He was a kind and attentive lover, sensitive and present and she liked feeling seen and admired in new way, like never before. It was thrilling to feel present and noticed for a change.

Amelia took their fate and destiny seriously and she felt safe and comforted being with him. The sex was as pleasurable as she imagined, and Amelia became more confident as the day went on and they made love several more times. That hadn't happened for her since college!

Amelia noticed that Dennis touched her lovingly, passionately, sensitively, and with care. As the day worn on, they were warmed by the windowed sun as they lay completely exhausted, naked, and happy.

"I wish my world was this small," Amelia sighed as they cuddled together on the bed. "Just four walls and a bathroom. That would do because nothing would be expected of us."

"Do you feel like there are expectations of you?" Dennis asked.

"There are some days that I feel too much is expected of me."

Dennis wrapped his arms around her and held her body against his. "Life can be confusing and challenging," he said. "Too much self-sacrifice, but I will never have too many expectations of you," he vowed.

"Thank you," she smiled happily.

"I never would have expected this," Dennis said warmly.

"I have to pee," Amelia announced, leaving the bed, and walking naked to the bathroom. Dennis followed and they made love in the shower with the steam and the soap and the heat.

They went out to dinner at the Greenville Grille and stopped by Donovan's Department Store so Amelia could pick up a few items for the weekend, knowing she was staying in Greenville until Sunday evening – it was her destiny.

"Would you let me move in if I quit my job in Springdale?" she asked Dennis when they were back at the condo. "Or would you think I'm crazy?"

"As crazy as me," Dennis replied, watching as she took the purchased items from Donovan's out of the shopping bags from where he sat on the bed.

"Is all this really fate and destiny or just a fantasy of our subconscious?" Amelia wondered as she joined him on the bed.

"Our conscious now," Dennis smiled, holding her hand in his.

"Do I have to beautiful all the time?" She worried.

"It comes natural for you."

She smiled, and then kissed him with a laugh. "Have you ever done something so spontaneous as this before?" She asked.

"No," Dennis admitted.

"Me either," she marveled. "And yet I've never felt this safe before."

"I'm glad."

"I've never been this naked before," Amelia told him. "I just don't mean taking my clothes off. But being so open, vulnerable, honest, hopeful, foolish…"

"It's quite pleasant, isn't it?" Dennis asked with a grin.

"Or is it dangerous?" Amelia worried.

"We're both experiencing the same thing at the same time," Dennis said as they fell back on the bed in unison.

"Vulnerability?"

"Honesty," Dennis replied, giving her a kiss.

"But are we supposed to rebound this quickly?" Amelia asked, staring into his eyes as they lay on the mattress.

"Those breakups had to happen so this could happen," Dennis told her. "Otherwise, you never would have come to Greenville looking for me."

"And you wouldn't have bought me a hamburger," she agreed.

"And now here we are."

"Rebound destiny," Amelia smiled.

"From Phoenix!" He laughed as they began to make out in earnest.