Colt realized that he didn’t care to be the Chief of Surgery. He had wanted the title, hoping it would give him the sense of accomplishment he’s been chasing his whole life. But when he took a good look at the career he built, the talent he has, and the other friendships that were right in front of him, he realized he’s happy right where he is.
And once my residency is over, that’s right where I plan to be. Back at Grace General, forging my own legacy as Dr. Annaliese Keeton with Dr. Colter Andrews by my side.
I smile at the thought of us working together again as I shut off the water and reach for my towel. A rap on the door of my cabin sounds, and I yelp, wrapping the towel around myself and not taking the time to dry the water from my skin or hair before racing across the small room to look through the peephole.
The figure on the other side practically blocks out the hall lights. I fling the door open, coming face to face with the man I’ve only been able to see in my dreams and in the naughty video chats that get us through our days apart.
His face immediately bursts out in a smile, and while he appears exhausted and disheveled, he looks as dreamy as I remember. His brown hair is a little longer and curling a bit due to the extreme humidity. The gray still peppers his temples and his beard in the best way. His navy tee stretches across his broad chest, and I can see the lines of sweat and dirt that cover his skin from the ride out here.
Tugging him by the arm, I pull him into my cabin and slam the door behind him. My towel drops to the floor the same time he lets go of his bag, and he reaches for me as I go to climb up into his arms.
“Baby,” he rasps, burying his head into the crook of my neck. I’m sure my wet hair is sticking to his sweaty skin, but I don’t care. The dirt from his body is going to cling to my still wet one, but it doesn’t matter. I wrap my arms and legs around him so tightly he might find it hard to breathe, but again, I don’t care. He moves us the few paces to the bed where he lays me down, and the second my back hits the bedding I reach for his face and crash my lips to his.
I can feel the tears welling at the corners of my lids, and he kisses me like he needs each kiss to breathe again. Each move of our mouths, each sharp inhale and breathy moan has me wanting—no,needing—more. My hands find the hard plane of muscle on his back beneath his shirt, and I tug, guiding the fabric over his head.
His bristly chest hair scratches my sensitive skin, and I welcome it.
He rises on his knees, and my hands go to loosen his belt, but he stills me. “I haven’t even properly said hello yet, baby.” His words say wait, but his eyes and hands say otherwise, moving across my chest to immediately squeeze my breasts.
I grin as I continue to rip open his belt. “Hi, I hope your flight was good. I love you. We will be together day and night for three weeks straight, crammed together in this twin-sized bed, so there will be plenty of time to talk. Now let me see that dick.”
He chuckles, stilling my hands once again. “I’ve been traveling for damn near thirty hours. I’m sure I smell, and I think a bird might have shit on us on the drive. Do you want me to shower first?”
I lift each of his hands from his belt and move them to hang at his sides, and he doesn’t fight me. “Colt, you’ve got to know by now that I’d likely drink your bathwater. I don’t care if you stink or are dirty or whatever you think, I’ve missed you for three long months. I need you right now or I’m going to lie here and touch myself while you stand and watch.”
He moans at the thought of that, a deep, hearty moan that has wetness pooling between my legs.
He leans over me again, kissing me passionately as he whispers sweet nonsense about how much he missed me. I rip his belt through the loops, yank open the button and zipper of his jeans to shove his pants and briefs down his massive thighs. His cock springs to life, and I immediately reach for it, stroking in long smooth motions as his eyes fall shut.
“Condom,” he rasps, but I shake my head, never stopping my strokes.
“Birth control,” I whisper back.
Colt’s eyes flutter shut, and he doesn’t even bother taking his clothes off all the way. With one arm bracketed at the side of my head, and the other pulling my leg up and open, he sinks into me.
We both groan once he’s fully seated, and I can visibly see the tenison evaporate from his shoulders. He moves to lie on top of me, propping up on his elbows as he pauses any movement and takes time to stare into my eyes.
He leans down, brushing a kiss across my lips as he whispers to me, “God, Annie, you have no idea how fucking good it feels to finally be home.”
Extended Epilogue - Two Years Later
Annaliese
“Tellmeagainwhoall is going to be there?”
The corner of Colt’s lip ticks up in a smirk, and he takes one hand off the steering wheel to reach over and clasp the two of mine which are currently tucked in between my shaking knees.
He grabs one hand in his, sliding his fingers through mine to clasp them together and he brings it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. “Are you still feeling nervous?”
“Yeah. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a relaxed social situation.”
The last two years have been both exhilarating and excruciating. Long-distance relationships are not for the faint of heart. There were days that sometimes bled into weeks where Colt and I could only communicate through texts or emails that went unanswered for hours or days at a time.
He would come to join me on a volunteer week or two every few months, and I was able to make it home three times over the course of the last two years.
My mom even made it to Chicago one spring to see me, and to meet the man that I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with.
I’m officially no longer a resident. I’m back in Chicago, fully moved into Colt’s condo and ready to start my year-long fellowship at Grace General.
