Stefan's back was still to me.He dropped his shirt onto the floor, and my mouth watered.Even in this low light, I could see the muscles in his well-defined back.He took off his shoes.Then the sound of a zipper snapped me back into action.I didn't have much time left.
I undid my shoes.The blanket still covered my torso just in case.
As I kicked off the second shoe, Stefan turned around.His eyes landed on me, and I swear I nearly burst into flames right there from the heat his gaze caused.I lay back and shimmied the rest of the way onto the bed—Stefan staring at me the entire time.My eyes dropped to his boxer briefs, where there was a very significant bulge in the front.He walked to bed and sat down.Then he proceeded to remove his socks.After that, he slid into the bed beside me.
It was dark—but I could still see him completely in the dim light of the bedside lamp.
“Come here, wife,” he said with a devilish grin on his face.
I did what he asked and moved closer.Before I knew it—his hand was over me and around my body, pulling me the rest of the way to him.
“Do you know how many times I dreamt of this moment?”he asked against my lips.“Every fuckin' night, Francesca.”His lips touched mine for a quick kiss.“Every, fuckin' night.”And then he took my mouth with his in a powerful kiss.Almost like he was displaying the strength he had now—
Unlike when we'd first met.
Oh, gosh.
A memory of that moment—the very first time I saw him—slammed into my brain.
Bleeding.
Broken.
Left for dead.
His eyes—the way he looked at me—pleading for help.
“Are—” Stefan stopped our kiss and moved back, “you all right?”
I opened my eyes and sniffled, realizing I'd started crying.His thumb swiped under my eyes and brushed away the few tears there.
I took a deep breath.“Yes, sorry.Keep going.”I slid my hand up his chest and touched his scar with my fingertips.
Closed.
Healed.
He was okay.
Now.
No more bleeding.
No more code blues.
Just a strong, alive Stefan.
His hand covered mine and held it tighter to his chest.“Tell me what's going on?”he asked in such a caring voice it broke my heart.When I didn't answer, he kissed my forehead.“What's going on inside that beautiful head of yours?”
Oh.
My.
Heart.
I immediately started sniffling again and buried my head under his neck and against his chest.“I—” I started to say, but I just couldn't get the words out.How could I?How could I possibly describe to him how it felt right now having him close like this?How grateful I was that he made it.How close he was to death.
“Shh,” he said, and kissed my forehead again.He tilted my head back and gazed into my eyes.“Why are you crying?”
