I smiled up at him, catching my breath and wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. "Maybe... another time," I said teasingly, still feeling his strength and vigor surrounding me. The thought of another round was tempting, but for now I wanted to enjoy this moment of closeness and relaxation in his arms. "But we'd better rest first."

I smiled, closing my eyes and nestling deeper into the crook of his arm. Despite how exhausted I was, it felt good to know that I had him here with me; strong, protective, and willing to give everything he had for our marriage. Even though we'd only been together a short while, it already felt like an eternity since I could remember living without him. With a contented sigh, I drifted off to sleep, safe in the knowledge that my husband was by my side.