I have to find him.
There’s only one person in my mind to share this news with, only one person who matters, one person who stayed by my side.
Not my friends who didn’t fully understand the implications of being stuck with a needle or had no time in their own lives to comfort me.
Just one person.
Him.
I sprint through the halls, gasping apologies to anyone I rush past, take the stairs almost two at a time until I’m back on our floor, and then I race into his office.
He’s not there, but that doesn’t deter me.
Back out into the corridor, I run as fast as I dare, dodging a furious glance from Jen as I rush past her and making it around two corners until I finally see him.
Xander.
He stands in the corridor with his arms crossed, gazing up at the numbers above the elevator while waiting for it to arrive.
Never has he looked more handsome than he does now.
My heart pounds so hard that my ribs ache and my lungs complain from how fast I’ve been running, but it’s so worth it the moment I skid to a stop beside Xander and clutch his arm.
“Snow?” His dark brows lift and concern warms his eyes as he looks me over while turning to face me. “Have you been running? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I gasp, clutching his forearm with both hands. “Absolutely… nothing!”
His head tilts in silent question but he unfolds his arms at my prompt.
“I’m okay!” I gasp, panting. “I was just… at the nurse… and she gave me… my results!”
Understanding forms in Xander’s eyes and he’s suddenly less resistant to my pulling. “You’re okay?”
“Completely! I’m all clear… I’m completely all clear! I’m not sick, I’m not infected. I’m fine, I’m totally and completely fine!”
Xander’s other hand shoots out to catch my shoulder as I stumble over myself walking backwards and a real smile gradually creeps across his face.
“Snow,” he says, not breaking eye contact while I drag him with me. “That’s amazing news.”
“It is!”
“You must be so relieved, I can’t imagine the stress of?—”
“Oh, shut up,” I grunt, kicking open the door to the on-call room and dragging him inside. “Shut up and kiss me already!”
The door closes behind us and I shove Xander up against it.
He doesn’t resist in the slightest and as the dull light closes in around us, I reach up and cup his handsome face.
His barely-there beard prickles my palm slightly and his skin, cool to the touch, warms beneath my palms as I drag his head down to my level.
At the same time, I lunge up onto my tiptoes and crash our mouths together, claiming the kiss I’ve been craving since our first time together.
Xander’s arms circle around my waist and he pulls me firmly against his body, clutching me tightly while his lips move against mine with the same hungry power flooding my own veins.
His kiss isn’t anything like I expected.
It’s powerful and needy and hungry as he tightens his grip further.
