Rolling over yet again, I adjusted the sheet with me.

A soft caress drifted over my shoulder. "Can't sleep?" Adam's voice was thick with lingering dreams but his thoughtfulness gave me a small comfort regardless.

"It's nothing," I reassured. "Sorry for waking you."

"Mhmm." For a moment I thought Adam was already falling asleep again until I felt his searching fingers meander across my thigh. Heavy touch drifting inward, his intent was clear. Admittedly distracted, I hoped he'd provide either the release, or the exhaustion, required for me to disconnect from my troubled mind.

Heat grew between our yearning flesh, desire mounting, allowing me to bury my anxiety under optimism. A few blissful moments passed before Adam pulled away from me, disjoining our bodies, and redirected his attention solely on me.

Writhing under new, yet known touches, I cooed in satisfaction. I understood that he was vicariously sharing in my pleasure, but guilt still nagged softly that I was somehow failing as his lover. He had assured me that was not the case and I chose to believe him but it could be hard to be rational in the moment; so I chose not to think at all.

Focusing completely on sensation alone, I was quick to climax. After a minute of letting my heart-rate slow to a reasonable speed, I reached up to caress Adam's cheek. Kissing him fully, we drifted off to sleep, fingers entwined.

***

A sharp gasp woke me causing my eyes to fly open. Adam was sitting upright in the darkness of pre-dawn, looking shaken; so I joined him, taking his hand in mine. "Are you okay?" I asked in a voice forcibly quieted. I was determined not to let my own fears add to whatever it was that had caused his panicked state.

Wide eyes met mine, immediately narrowing into a harsh penetrating gaze. If anyone else had given me that look I'd have shrunk away. But this was my Adam.

"What?" Adam spoke slowly as if sounding it out. His eyes roamed me, softening with recognition.

"That must have been one hell of a dream," I said, hand resting gently on his arm.

Enveloped in shadow, I could still register the relief in the dip of his shoulders as he placed his other hand over my own. "Yeah," he said dismissively.

Tucking back down under the blankets, I waited for him to join me.

"I need some water." Rising to his feet, Adam retreated from our bed. As his form melded with shadow, I adjusted the covers in hope of preserving the residual warmth.

***

Some time later, I woke to a sunlit room and an empty bed. Running my fingers over the cold sheets, I swallowed down the anxiousness that began to escalate within me. Instead, I jumped to my feet, struggling to balance worry and annoyance.

Our small home took no time to explore, leading me to discover Adam slumped across the couch in a very uncomfortable looking heap. Papers, mostly mail, were strewn across the coffee table as if he had passed out while reconciling the bills. Only, we did all that online; and these papers weren't just bills but an assortment of hoarded backstock of not junk mail but also not important enough to file away mail. It was limbo mail.

I sat down next to him and gently called his name.

"Eve?" Adam croaked. He stretched awkwardly and blinked away the persistent sleep holding on with a vice-like grip. He cleared his throat and winced upon straightening himself. "What is..." His question trailed off as he scrutinized the scene before him. "Did I sleep out here?"

"At least for some of the night. You don't remember waking up?"

Features thoughtful, he slowly leaned forward and began to gather up the mess of papers. "I don't know."

We were quiet, equally contemplative, as we started our day. We had both taken a long weekend for the fair so there was no rush for us to move past the strangeness of the morning. Standing shoulder to shoulder at the double sink, I caught Adam's eye and smiled around my toothbrush. He returned the smile before amplifying it to a comical level; toothpaste spilling out from the sides of his mouth and down his chin.

I giggled, which set him off, causing toothpaste to get sprayed all over the wide mirror before us. "Oh, now look at what you've done!" I mockingly scolded.

And that was all it took. We were back to normal.

I sipped my coffee and looked my husband over. We had the same shade of light blond hair but his eyes were bright and colorful while my deep brown bordered on black in the right lighting.

There was a choreography that we adopted; a way that we moved together without words or planning. It was natural for us to fall in step with each other as we went about our day, as lucky married couples do.

As the sun began descending and evening plans became imminent, I thought back to the gypsy woman. Her words had made an impact but the most memorable impression was muddled by my own disbelief. Part of me yearned to search her out and confront her but I eyed Adam, concern unavoidable as I recalled the way he had looked at me, like a stranger, in the night.

I thought about how much I wanted him to feel as good as he made me feel. How he was so incredibly considerate, thinking of my anxious nature when he was the one dejected. His own mind and body betraying him and I didn't know how to do a thing about it.

"Let's skip the fair tonight," I said from across the kitchen.

Adam stopped loading the dishwasher to send me a questioning gaze. "You feeling okay?"

The question was asked in sincerity, making my heart swell. "I'm fine. I just feel like neither of us slept very well... and we'll still have tomorrow," I added quickly.

"Sure thing, Evie." Ever accommodating, Adam was happy to adjust to my needs.

I smiled sweetly at him before sneaking off to snag a couple of wine glasses off the rack and a bottle of Bordeaux. An hour or so later, the empty bottle sat abandoned on the coffee table and a trail of clothes indicated a path to the bedroom.

Moaning under another experienced touch, I felt my body bend so that our forms were perfectly molded to each other. Relishing in the moment, I called out praise and gave encouraging touches. Between the alcohol and sheer determination, I was more than enthusiastic as I ran my hands over Adam's body.

His breath hitched and suddenly he was flipping me over to position himself. I was more than ready, wet with anticipation, but I heard him curse in a frustrated tone after a moment of fumbling around. I held my breath, praying that we could experience this bliss together, like we had years ago when our lust was young.

"Fuck!"

I cringed and pulled back just enough to give him space. I hated to distance myself but knew that smothering him in such a delicate moment could be just as bad.

"It's okay," I said, in a soft tone. I reached for him and after waiting to make sure he wouldn't push my advances away, I gave him the attention he deserved.

Laying together in a bittersweet aftermath, we held hands as we drifted off to sleep. That is, until a touch, possessive and wild, woke me from a dreamless sleep.