2:36 am was the time.

As Nicky stirred, he picked up the phone by his side and saw the time. Tossing it aside, he looked at his wife next to him.

He smiled.

What a night of reconnection!

In all their two years and five months of marriage, they had not made love as passionately as they had done a few hours ago. They had genuinely tore into each other with a mind-blowing hunger none of them knew even existed.

Damn, I never knew she could be such a lioness! And who knew that freaky stuff could be so damn erotic? He smirked to himself, watching her continue to doze on. This had been a lovemaking session for the ages. No wonder most married folks he spoke to said make-up sex was the greatest! It was no lie.

As he leaned back and enjoyed the fresh memories of all the things they had just done to each other, he heard a small sound emanating from her. He looked, and sure enough, she had also stirred.

No serious surprises there, considering she could be quite a light sleeper.

“Hey you,” Winnie murmured.

“Hey there, you sexy little lioness,” Nicky beamed. “How are you feeling?”

Winnie went silent for a moment before responding. “Sore but sweet. Utterly manhandled but absolutely satisfied.”

Nicky burst out laughing. “Eii! Where from this heavy grammar?”

“That’s what having an awesome husband with an awesome stroke game will do to you.”

“Well, what else can I do when my wife is one damn sexual lioness? Dear Lord, Winnie! You were on fire tonight!”

She giggled. “What can I say? You just… really turned me on, I guess.”

“Not as much as you turned me on, babe. From that sexy jumpsuit to those touches… chale, you really triggered your husband ooo!”

“Mmm-hmm. I’ve just been taking joy in teasing you all day, you know,” she murmured, lifting herself up enough to draw circles on his chest.

“Oh, I know. And you did it so well. God, I can’t believe I’d forgotten how sexy you are. Thanks for the reminder. That was all I needed to give you that sweet roughing up. And boy, do I feel fulfilled!”

“Hehehe, me too, babe. I never knew getting spanked turns me on so bad. I’ll take this over fighting and screaming any day of the week.”

“Absolutely. A far better way to expend our energy.”

As she giggled and leaned against him, a thought came to Nicky’s mind.

Something important needed to be done.

Sure, they had just enjoyed probably the best lovemaking since they got married, but after all that had happened, a proper apology was in order. To properly clear the slate, repenting of his folly was necessary. And as the man of the house, he had to take that step.

“Winnie,” he began, his voice tinged with sincerity, “there’s something I need to really get off my chest. Can I speak?”

Winnie looked up at him, concern in her eyes. “Sure, honey. Go ahead.”

He nodded, then took a deep breath before starting. “Ummm… Winnie, I’ve been a terrible husband over the past few months. I’ve been uncaring, nasty, and I’ve hurt you more times than I can count. I know when it all started, and in hindsight, I realize how unnecessarily caustic I was to you, and I’m sorry. In the midst of all this madness, I lost sight of the love we once had, and I’ve been so caught up in our fights that I forgot why we got married in the first place.”

Winnie looked at Nicky, her eyes reflecting the pain she had been carrying as well. She took a deep breath before sitting up and responding. “Nicky, my love, I haven’t been any better. Yes, I was hurt, but indeed, I should have voiced out instead of letting my anger fester the way it did. I’ve said things I regret, and I’ve treated you in ways I never thought I ever would. We used to be so happy together, and now all we do is fight. It’s like we became strangers living under the same roof.”

“I know. And I regret it so much. I don’t wanna go back to that again.” Nicky reached out and gently took Winnie’s hand in his. “So, I’m sorry, Winnie. I’m sorry for every harsh word I said, and every careless action toward you. I know I pushed you away with all that, but… it’s a new day, and I don’t wanna go back to that anymore. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

She sighed, rubbing his chest. “Honey, with the way you clapped these cheeks so good, I’d be a fool not to forgive you.”

They both laughed.

“But more seriously, of course I forgive you. And I’m sorry too. I’ve been a horrible, horrible wife to you, and I’ve contributed to this mess just as much. You forgive me, right?”

Nicky smirked. “Yep. You’ve been a naughty girl, and I guess I’ve punished you well enough with my… you know, rod and staff.”

They laughed again. “I’ll continue being a naughty girl if that’s the kinda discipline I’ll receive,” Winnie quipped slyly.

He grinned, then rubbed her forehead before kissing it. “Thank you, Winnie. I love you, and I don’t want to spend another day without you being my best friend and my partner anymore. No more unnecessary fights and all that. Let’s make this work. Let’s be intentional about making this work.”

Winnie smiled back. “I love you too, Nicky. And yes, happiness over hostility. We’re gonna work through this together, with God on our side.”

“Exactly. God on our side. In fact, now that we’ve reconciled, I think a prayer is in order.”

“Right, right. Very important.”

He took her hands in his as they both closed their eyes. With a deep sigh, he began.

“Father, I thank You for a day like this. I thank You for the gift of life. I thank You for being the good, faithful and ever-dependable God that You are. You’re worthy of our praise and adoration forevermore. Lord, I thank You for this amazing woman. This queen of queens, the most incredible gift You have given me on this earth. Winifred Essaba Acquah Koomson. God, I thank You for her. She’s such an awesome woman. So awesome. So intelligent, so loving, so kind-hearted… and so… I mean, so, so sexy. Lord, she is everything I could have ever wanted in a wife, and I thank You for giving her to me. And thank You for the gift of sex, because boy oh boy, that was some magnificent action right there!”

Winnie couldn’t help but let out a giggle.

“As I say all this, though, Lord, I ask that You forgive me, because I’ve messed up paaaa. Instead of loving this woman as Christ loved the church, I’ve treated her with contempt and disdain, and I’m so sorry about it. Instead of being a loving, caring and understanding husband, I’ve been the complete opposite. I’ve allowed anger and resentment to poison our marriage and drive a wedge between us. And I’m sorry. I’ve not only hurt her, I’ve hurt You. And I’m sorry.

“Lord, please, we pray for Your guidance and strength as we reconnect and continue on the path of marriage ahead of us. Please, grant us the wisdom to communicate with kindness and understanding, to seek forgiveness and extend grace to one another. Help us to rebuild the trust and intimacy that we shattered by our words and actions. Put us back on the path to loving each other the way we ought to. Lord, at the end of the day, loving each other is far more beautiful and enjoyable than being mad at each other. Help us to strive for that always, and may this union bring You the glory You deserve. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!”

“Amen!”

“Alright, baby, come here and let’s cud-“

Immediately, Winnie roughly shoved him back onto the bed.

“Ah! Why, what-“

Almost annoyed for a minute, his reaction changed when she pushed back the covers and moved towards him.

Stealthily.

The expression on her face mirroring that of a determined, hungry lioness.

“I hope you don’t think because you manhandled me so good a few hours ago, that’s the end of it,” she slowly purred. “You better continue what you started, right now. And you better destroy me again, Bop Daddy.”

The initial irritation totally vanished, Nicky had an evil smirk on his face, eyeing her unclad body with glee. Looked like the lioness in her had truly been unlocked. And was he happy to satisfy her!

“Oh, so you still wanna be a naughty girl, huh?”

“Uh-huh. I do. Now are you gonna punish me?”

“Oh, yes I will. Come here!”

Well, thank goodness!! The tide has finally turned; they’ve well and truly made up! And yeah, we’ll take them making love over them screaming bloody murder at each other…