He wraps his strong arm around my waist and hauls us both up to the middle of the mattress. He turns me over and covers my body with his own. I stretch out underneath him and wrap my legs around his muscular torso. Will gently leans down, letting our lips meet delicately at first, but then his kiss becomes harsh and demanding. His hands explore every inch of my skin, while his mouth devours mine. I run my fingers into his hair, slightly tugging it, and hook my ankles together just between the indentations above his ass, pulling him toward me to encourage him further.

It took a long time for the two of us to connect sexually as a couple; the chemistry we have now wasn’t something that came naturally, but over the years, we have become very in-tune with each other’s needs. He completely understands what I’m demanding and begins to rock into me, deepening our kiss with each blow.

As our breathing becomes more ragged, Will breaks our kiss and buries his head into my neck; his warm breath against my skin sends my desire spiraling out of control. “Almost there, Viv,” Will pants as he quickens his pace. I don’t answer with anything that resembles verbal communication. I barely manage a hyperventilated moan, signaling my impending release. Our bodies tense together, and I feel Will collapse on top of me.

“I love you, Vivian,” Will exhales as he tries to steady his breathing, “more than anything.” I slowly open my eyes and take the sides of his face in my hands, using my thumbs to brush casually along his cheekbones. “I love you too, Will,” I say, looking into his honey-colored eyes. I think about how he has made me see that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be right. How he’s shown me that life is not about perfection; it’s about accepting the ride, and enjoying the people who want to take the trip with us. This man has helped to give me the most wonderful life. I love our life together, and it has everything to do with the imperfect love that we have together. But instead of telling him, I relax into his embrace and enjoy this man that has given me so much.

Will rises up on his elbow and sweeps a lock of loose hair away from my face. He then leans down to kiss my forehead; it’s his way of telling me that he appreciates my declaration to him. The room is dark except for the small night lamp that is providing just enough light to see his amazingly bright smile.

“I need to ask you something, Viv,” he says, allowing the smile to fade, and forcing a serious tone to hang in the air. I push up onto my elbows, and turn on my side to face him. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our life here. Well, more than that, I’ve been thinking about my job, your family, our friends in Denver…everything. I think it’s time we actually follow through on what we’ve been talking about since we moved here.”

I immediately think this is some kind of mid-life crisis or male menopause episode, and start to feel the anxiety of what that could mean. My already flush skin begins to burn from the fear seeping into my subconscious. I’m afraid that this new life doesn’t include the family that we have made together, that he wants someone other than me. Will notices my worry; the man can read every one of my emotions like they are his own. He pulls me to him and tucks me into his arm. “I’m talking about changing our life together. We are a team; where I go, you go, love. It will always be us.”

I relax into him as I let his words wash over me, and I nod into his chest, showing my approval. I wiggle away to hear the rest of what he has to say. Will doesn’t let me get too far, hanging onto my hand and kissing the back of my knuckles.

“I don’t think either of us thought that we would live here forever, but over time, we’ve become comfortable here. I know that one of the reasons you don’t want to leave is because of my job. But, Viv, the more I’ve thought about it, I’m ready to be done being a cop.”

I sit straight up in bed when he reveals this piece of information. “What are you talking about? You love being a cop, Will; it’s who you are.”

“No, babe, it’s not who I am; it’s what I do. You’re right that I love the job, but I love my family more.”

“We aren’t going anywhere, Will. You can be a cop and still have a family,” I say reassuringly, as I run my fingers down his chest. One of the reasons why Rob’s wife left him was because of his job, and when it all happened, he worried that it would encourage me to leave as well. Yes, the hours are horrible; there are times when we only see each other for ten minutes in the morning when I’m leaving for school and he’s coming home from a night shift. We are rarely able to go anywhere overnight, because he typically only has one full weekend off a month. His job is not conducive to family life, and as much as I would love for him to be home more, I would not ask him to quit, and I would never leave him because of it.

“I’m tired of what this job does to my family. I know you guys understand, and that’s what helps me get through some of those tough shifts. But I don’t want to miss out on our lives together anymore.” Will sits up and tugs at his hair, and I scratch his back to show my support. “It’s almost the end of the soccer season, and I’ve only been to two games. Tonight was the first date we’ve been on in probably three months, and then that invite for our college reunion came last week, the first thing you and I thought was it probably wouldn’t happen because I wouldn’t be able to get the time off,” he rattles off in one long rant.

“So what are you thinking we should do?” I ask.

“I’m ready to quit the force and find something else, maybe parole or probation work. I’ve even looked into investigative consulting firms. We’ve talked about moving back to Denver tons of times. I know you miss your friends, and you can’t tell me Jen doesn’t try to convince you to move every time you talk to her on the phone. Besides, getting away from Charlotte and your mother would be enough of an incentive.”

“You’re really serious this time?” I ask. “We have a similar conversation every year, and we never follow through.” If Will was finally ready to take this drastic step, I would follow, but I’m done with the indecisive back and forth we’ve been doing for the last few years.

“I’m ready, Viv,” he says confidently. “I think we should finish out the school year for you and the kids, and make the move next summer. This has been a great home for us, but I’m ready to find a more family-friendly job, and I want to have our old friends in our lives. I want us to enjoy our life again, and your family here only makes us feel bad about how we’re living it now.”

“Okay.” I couldn’t think of any better response. If he was ready, I was ready. I knew I could find a job, and we could find plenty of smaller schools for the kids on the outskirts. Besides, I missed the girls, as well as my sister Amanda. What kept me here was Will’s job, but if he really wanted to give it up, then I was ready to leave.

“Okay? Just like that?” he asks, not even hiding his shocked expression.

“Yeah, if you’re ready for this change, then I’m on board. I’ll give notice at the end of the year, and we can start preparing for the move.”

A smile lights up his face, and he lets out a huge exhale of relief. He was obviously worried what my response would be. I lean into him, kissing him briskly on the lips, and then nestle myself into his arms. “Here’s to our new city life,” I say, giving him one last peck on his chest.

Will slides us down further onto the mattress, and rests his head on a pillow. He pulls the duvet over our now-chilled bodies, and squeezes me tightly. “Thank you for this, Vivian,” he whispers in my ear as I feel myself fade into unconsciousness. “All I ever wanted was a life with you; it never mattered where, as long as you were there.” I feel his lips against my temple as I allow the blackness of sleep to overtake me.