Micah's Stories: Chapter Eight

**Spoilers for What Hindered Love!**

Summary: A little vignette of Micah’s thoughts on he and Chloe's wedding night. Lyrics in the picset above are from the song “Tonight” by JJ Heller. 

            Micah paced back and forth in the hotel room while Chloe changed in the bathroom. He couldn’t believe he was this nervous. Yes, they had decided to wait until their wedding night this time around, but they had a son together for heaven’s sake! But truth be told, he felt like a teenage boy about to see a woman naked for the first time.
              He turned at the sound of the bathroom door shutting to find Chloe standing there in lingerie of white lace and satin. It was tasteful as lingerie goes, but it still had his heart thundering in his chest. Chloe seemed as nervous as he was, shuffling her feet back and forth, her eyes darting around the room, and her fingers tugging at the hem of the very short negligee. He walked towards her slowly, his throat constricting and his limbs trembling. Get a grip, Barrett! This was very embarrassing.
              When he was standing right in front of her, she nervously met his gaze.
              “Oh, Chloe,” was all he could get out.
              She bit her bottom lip, and a slight blush tinted her cheeks. “Do I look okay? I mean, I’m not nineteen anymore.”
              He gave his head a slight shake. Was she serious? How could she not know how absolutely beautiful she was? He told her so and then bent to kiss her in order to show her. He poured all the passion he felt for her – his wife! – into the kiss. Then he scooped her up and carried her to the bed, Chloe’s giggle making his face split with a wide grin.
              It had been so long, his desire to take her immediately was strong, but he held himself back, instead taking his time removing the lingerie from her body. Then he took a moment to admire her, telling her again just how perfectly exquisite she was. Then he proved his words by worshipping every inch of her before they became one. He paused in alarm at the sight of a single tear tracking down her cheek.
              “Did I hurt you?”
              Chloe gave him a trembling smile as she cupped his cheek, “Oh Micah, as if you would ever hurt me.”
              “Then what is it?” he asked as he brushed the tear away with his thumb.
              “Just – the way you make love to me. It overwhelms me.”
              She bit her bottom lip, and he could read the words she wasn’t saying. Other men had not cherished her, and it broke his heart. “Oh, Chloe,” he breathed again as he pressed tender kisses to the planes of her face, “it’s what you deserve.”
              Then he covered her mouth with his. When they came together, it felt different than it had when they were young. It was beautiful and almost reverent.  In the afterglow, Micah gathered Chloe close against his chest and ran his fingers through her hair. Finally, he voiced the question nagging him.
              “What are you thinking?”
              Chloe tilted her head up to smile at him. “I’m thinking that I remembered you were good in bed, but I had forgotten just how good.”
              He chuckled at that, arching an eyebrow in pride. He wouldn’t deny that her words were a huge boost to his ego. She snuggled closer to him, carding her fingers through his chest hair.
              “And what about you?” she mumbled against his skin. “What are you thinking?”
              He didn’t hesitate, telling her with all sincerity, “I’m thinking that I’ve never been happier than I am in this moment.”
              “Hmmm,” Chloe sighed in agreement. Soon he could hear her breaths even out and her body completely relax, and he knew she was asleep.
              As he held her, he was surprised when a single tear slipped down his own cheek. He knew what she had meant. He was overwhelmed by the love he felt for this woman in his arms and overwhelmed by the knowledge that she loved him back.