Finally, after all this time, it is.
He tilts my chin to face him and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. He looks calmer, more satisfied. That’s one way to bring the man out of a panic attack.
With one swift move, I’m up in the air, Mav’s hands over my ass, holding me into position so I don’t fall. I wrap my legs around him for extra support.
“Mav!” I squeal at him, throwing my head back in a laugh at the man before me.
“My turn, Firefly.” he winks at me, before walking us into my house.
I’d built this house exactly how we always described out in our field. The only difference was there’s only two bedrooms. There was always no point in building four when it looked like he’d never come back, I’d never have guessed this would be happening right now. If you asked me last month if this would be happening, I’d have told you to go get checked into the psych ward.
Maverick stops with me still in his arms, looking down the hall, a confused look etched across his face.
“My bedrooms that one,” I say tilting my head in the direction of my room at the end of the hall.
“Gotcha.” He winks at me as he starts walking towards my bedroom door.
Reaching the door, I move to get down, but Maverick has a death grip on me. “No, you don’t,” he says as he rearranges his arm to keep me held up as he turns the knob on the door, opening it easily.
I keep my grip tightly around his neck as he walks into my bedroom;my safe space.
Never taking his eyes off mine as he walks us over my bed and gently lays me down onto the four-poster wooden queen-size.
“Nice room, Firefly,” he says, hovering above me, taking in my safe space around us.
“Thanks.” I say shyly, the realization sinking in that the man who’s haunted my life is in it.
Maverick hovers over me, as I push myself forward, leaning on my elbows to get a better look at him in the dark room, the only light creeping in through the window from the clear night and stars shining through.
I notice his boyish grin through the darkness as he runs his hand through his hair, and the heat rising within me once again.
“Come here,” I whisper, grabbing onto his shirt pulling him closer to me, my legs already spread awaiting for him to lay on top of me.
Maverick follows my lead by taking a stepcloser to me and takes my face in his hands.
“You’re as beautiful as the day I last saw you,” he whispers out with heavy breath, holding onto my cheeks as I feel the tears roll down at his touch.
I know he doesn’t mean when he saw me yesterday, I know he means the day that he left.
Maverick swipes his thumb over my cheek, catching a fallen tear. “Why you crying, pretty girl?” he asks.
I let out a choked sob, “Just this, us,” I say, but I look up into his eyes and smile, leaning my face into his cupped hand.
All I feel is comfort in his touch.
Maverick leans down and moves his knee in between my spread legs, leaning his weight onto his knee and starts to climb up me. I follow his lead and lay back down until he’s above me, never taking his eyes off mine as he holds his weight onto his hands that are now next to my head on my bed.
“I’m never leaving again, Firefly,” he says as he nudges my nose with his and places a gentle kiss on my lips which I gladly return.
“You promise?” I ask.
He smirks at me. “I promise, baby,” he whispers before smashing his lips onto mine.
Even though Mav left, we never broke a promise to each other. That was our own sanctuaryof comfort. However now, with all the past and destruction behind us, we need that with us.
I need that.
Because if he leaves again, I won’t be able to pull myself back up again; I didn’t really do it the first time.
