Rekindling the flames

The second Javier and Katie stepped out the door, Katie opened her mouth to say something, but it was stopped when Javier covered her mouth with his and pushed her against the wall and leaned in close to her. Javier had waited all night to kiss her it almost hurt. Katie was in bliss. They savored the taste of each other and explored each others mouth, as if to see if anything changed. Everything was the same. Nothing changed, it was like before, heart stopping and intoxicating. Neither one of them wanted the kiss to end.

Finally, when they broke the kiss, it was only because they needed to come up for breath. Javier tasted and smelled the same. Katie held him close, and then ran a hand in his soft, wet tousled hair as she stared into his warm brown eyes. She missed him so much her heart ached. Javier had a goofy smile on his face as if he was dreaming. Javier touched Katie's face and explored it as if to make sure she was real. Was he dreaming and soon he would wake up disappointed as usual? If it was a dream, he was having a sweet dream and he would enjoy it while it lasted. He trailed his hand down the soft skin of her arm and softly grabbed her hand and gave it a gently tug. He gave her another quick kiss and pulled her to follow him. They started walking down the street hand in hand.

"Where should we go?" Katie finally managed to say. Javier looked at her and replied, "I'll go anywhere with you, as long as I can stay with you." Katie smiled and nuzzled closer to him and whispered in his ear teasingly, "Your place or mine?" Katie winked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"We should spend some time together. I want you to see my family again, but tonight is about us. Can we be alone at your dormitory?"

"Yes."

Then they turned toward the direction of the university and strolled along chatting as they went.

"I missed you so much, it hurts." "Me too."

"I kept you here and never let you go completely back to America." "And I never left you completely behind, you were always with me."

Javier kissed her again and this time as they kissed, he lifted her and spun her. They were both so happy, it felt euphoric.

"How is Suzie and your parents?" "They are well. Katie is as happy as ever, she can always find a way to be happy. My parents are great too. They even started dancing again. They go out and dance whenever they get the chance. I am so happy for them. My mother is so much happier now. My parents relationship is so much better now." Javier smiled, remembering the film of her parents dancing. "That is great to hear. They were perfect together. If they had stopped dancing, it would have been a shame." He gave Katie's hand a gentle squeeze.

"How have you been? How is your family?"

Javier looked at her and replied with hesitation, "They are well..." Then he ran a hand through his hair. Katie knew right way that he was keeping something back. "Tell me, Javier." Katie looked at him with concern and wrapped her hands around his free hand to encourage him to speak freely.

"Every since the revolution, not all has been bad. But the revolution did not give us the freedom we expected. In ways, we have less freedom than we did when Batista was ruling. Because of this, Carlos is frustrated and has taken to drink to numb his dissatisfaction. He spends his days in the bar and comes home drunk. I am busy now, going to school and working, that I am not at home as much. I am especially worried for the future of Rafael. Mother on the other hand is worried for both Rafael and Carlos. It has become a great strain on her. I think that it is affecting her health." Javier looked as if he had just gotten something heavy off his chest and let out a deep sigh. "Don't worry, Javier. I know you are doing your best. We will work it out together. I am here for you now." He looked at her and smiled. She gave him a hug of encouragement and kissed him tenderly on the cheek.

By the time, they arrived at Katie's dorm both of them were so emotional that they were exhausted.

"Stay with me tonight." "I wasn't planning on leaving you." Katie smiled and led Javier to her room.

Katie took a shower and freshened up. When she returned, Javier was dozing on her chair looking at some pictures that she had brought of her family. Katie picked up the photo album and kissed him. Her gentle kiss woke him. "Take a shower, you will feel better." Javier nodded and left the room.

By the time Javier returned, Katie had fallen asleep. Javier turned off the lights and joined her in bed. Holding her felt so right, he missed her so much. He kissed her gently and she nuzzled closer to him and burrowed closer to his chest. She slept with a smile on her lips. Javier smiled himself and fell asleep happy, hoping that this was not just another sweet dream.

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