Karina

Mikayla lay beside AJ, watching him sleep. He looked so beautiful... so peaceful. She reached out to him and held his hand, kissing each finger softly. He stirred a little, but didn't wake. His first night home had been everything she had hoped it would be... and much, much more. They had eaten a quiet dinner alone, then they had spent some time with Lyric. She clung to her daddy, whining every time he tried to put her down. It was as if she was afraid he would leave again if she let go. Mikayla couldn't blame her. She felt the same way. AJ had insisted on getting the baby to sleep himself that night, and he had paced the floor for the better part of an hour, singing lullabies. He continued rock Lyric in the rocking chair long after she was asleep. Mikayla stood in the doorway and watched him. The baby was sleeping so soundly in his arms, safe, secure, and happy. She could have used the same words to describe AJ. She motioned for him to put the baby in her crib, which he did, reluctantly. Mikayla took his hand and led him to their room, where she had prepared a fire in the fireplace. She stood in front of the fire, holding both of his hands. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then AJ smiled and looked away, almost shyly. Mikayla turned his face back toward her and rested her forehead against his, looking into his eyes. She kissed his nose and laughed. AJ placed his hands on her face and kissed her softly. Mikayla's body cried out for more, but she was afraid to force the moment. She allowed him to kiss her as softly and as hesitantly as he felt he needed to, until she couldn't hold back any longer. It had just been too long. She kissed him forcefully, grasping the back of his head with one hand, and wrapping the other arm around his shoulder. He moaned softly and ran his hand under the short silk nightie that she wore, resting it on her lower back. She slowly pulled his shirt up and over his head, then ran her hands over his chest. She had missed the feeling of his body more than she realized. She broke their kiss and ran her lips over the throbbing vein in his neck. He tilted his head slightly, giving her better access, obviously enjoying the feel of her lips on his body as much as she did. His body shuddered slightly, as he ran his hands up her back, removing her nightgown in one fluid movement. Suddenly, he could no longer contain himself. He grasped the back of her head, kissing her deeply. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Mikayla watched him undress. She had never wanted someone so badly in her life. As they began to make love, Mikayla noticed a change in AJ. He was much more attentive to her needs, much more passionate than he had been before. She raised her hips in a counter motion to his thrusts, crying out with each one. AJ grabbed her legs and pushed her knees up, then braced himself, using the headboard for leverage. Mikayla had never experienced complete ecstasy before the moment of her orgasm that night.

"Oh God, AJ," she cried, grasping his shoulders. The waves of her climax were overwhelming, and she was momentarily unable to find her breath.

"Mikayla, tell me you love me. Tell me how much you love me," he said, breathlessly, thrusting into her and nearing his own climax.

"I love you, Alex. I love you more than life. Oh God, I love you so much, baby," she cried, feeling him explode inside her body. As his thrusts became slower and less intense, Mikayla felt something dripping onto her chest. He had certainly worked hard enough to be sweating, but what she saw when she looked up surprised her. He was crying. She had never actually seen him cry before. She pulled him down on top of her and held him as he silently wept. After several minutes, he stopped and looked into her eyes. She gently wiped the tears off of his beautiful face and smiled at him.

"Mikayla," he said, "I missed you so much. God, you have no idea how much I missed you. Every night, I'd go to sleep thinking about you, and about our little girl, and I swore to myself that I'd get through that hell so I could be with you again. I can't imagine spending another day of my life without you. I don't want to imagine it. Please tell me that I won't have to."

Mikayla stared at him for a moment. "What are you saying, AJ?"

"Say you'll be with me... forever. I just have this feeling that we were destined to be together. Tell me you'll marry me, Mikayla."

She smiled and felt tears welling up in her eyes as she considered his proposal. Something about this one just seemed so... sincere. So honest. She nodded slowly. "Yes. I'll marry you, Alexander James. I'll marry you tomorrow if you want me to. I'll marry you TONIGHT if you want me to. You name the time and place, and I'll be there."

AJ laughed and hugged her tightly. "Do you mean it? I mean, you'd do it right now? Tonight?"

She nodded her head and laughed. "Hell yeah. If you want to fly to Vegas tonight and get married in a cheesy wedding chapel with Elvis as the best man and a drag queen dressed up like Marilyn as the maid of honor, I'm there, baby."

AJ shook his head. "No. That's not what I want. I want a real wedding. In a church with all of our friends and our baby girl there. I want a big wedding with huge cakes and tons of food and... well, I want it all. I want everybody to know how much I love you."

Mikayla laughed and kissed him. He laid down beside her as she stroked his hair. After a few minutes, his eyes got heavy and he fell into a deep sleep. Exhaustion, probably, she thought. She couldn't believe how much she loved him. She felt totally safe and secure, knowing that he was home with her, and she felt that all was right with the world.

Unfortunately, she was wrong...