In temporary stasis, I blink once, then twice. “Oscar.”
“Who’s Oscar?” Leon asks, looking at the plushie, then back to me.
“My dog.”
“You don’t have a dog.” Confusion lines his brow.
My voice is small when I say, “I did, Leon, Ididhave a dog.”
“A Siberian husky? Please tell me it was,” he asks hopefully, his pitch slightly higher than usual.
“It was.” I nod enthusiastically. “You’re remembering.” I gasp because his memories, or sparks of them, are becoming brighter as if the light is beginning to penetrate through the fog.
“I’m remembering.” There’s so much warmth and happiness in his face.
“Leon.” I say his name as if it’s a blazing beam of hope.
“I’m remembering,” he says again, as if he can’t quite believe it.
I take the husky out of his hand and hold it against my chest. “His name was Oscar. He lost movement in his back legs and struggled to walk, and putting him to sleep was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. But you were there with me. You held his paw, and you held me when my heart was breaking. I loved him.”
“Baby.”
The enormity of that one short word he calls me and the memory of my husky has my stomach churning with excitement. Slice by slice, small pieces of my life are emerging in his mind.
“You remembered Oscar.” Although I respond quietly, the thread of hope is woven into each syllable.
“Oscar.” Leon tests his name, something else for him to write down so he can remember it.
I tighten my grip around the fluffy plushie. “I’ve always wanted to get another dog.”
“Another Oscar?” he asks.
“Yeah. But I’m too busy. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“That makes sense.” He nods.
“So, about that kiss?” I ask, my skin prickling with desire.
“Yeah.”
“Is that still up for grabs?” I want him to claim me.
“It is. If you want it.” His large hand holds my face.
“I want it. But don’t be gentle.” I’m over us taking things slow.
His hooded eyes drift to my lips, and any remaining restraint dissolves into nothingness. With our next breath, he crashes his lips into mine, and I couldn’t care less if the world bursts into flames as I lose myself in him.
He tastes like peppermint and smells of his familiar, spicy, woodsy aftershave. Although he’s not fully back to me, everything about him physically is pure, unfiltered Leon.
One forward motion, and I’m in his arms, pulling me close, pressing his erection against me, which makes me eager to get him out of his clothes and naked, to connect us once again.
I can’t wait another minute, but I know waiting is the right thing to do. “I’m at work.” I pant against his lips as our hands become a chaotic blur of touching, in a desperate attempt to explore each other’s bodies.
“I want you,” he groans, tilting his hips, rubbing his hard cock against my stomach to chase his release.
“I want you more.”
