They finally pulled their bodies apart, their skin burning hot and sated from another heated interlude. It seemed as if they couldn't get enough of each other. Each time was better and better. The kisses were hungrier, the touches more passionate.

The release more explosive.

Cristina nearly fell off of him and rolled to her side of the bed, her body racked with a delicious ache that she'd let herself become much too familiar with. He knew her body and what drove her crazy way too well. She loved that he did to her.

She looked over at him with a breathless smile and leaned over to kiss him one more time, never able to satisfy her hunger for him. She hated him for what he did to her sometimes. When he pulled away and started searching for his clothes, she found herself disappointed. He was doing it out of respect to her, but it was starting to become disheartening.

She found herself wanting him to stay.

Burke wasn't exactly sure of how it all started, but he thinks it might have been the sex. It was disgustingly them for it to start with that all over again. History had a way of repeating itself over and over again in their relationship and now was no different.

He wasn't worried about history repeating itself though, he was worried about how far she'd let it go. Burke wanted so much more. He wanted to spend every night with her and go right back to the place that they were in before the wedding. He wanted it all again. He was tired of waiting.

But he was waiting. He had promised to wait as long as she wanted him to wait, and he would.

Though at times, he thought it might kill him before they would get anywhere.

It had started with dinner that night so many weeks ago. She took him home, they slept together and then he left. One night turned into several and several turned into weeks and months of nothing but dates and sleeping together. Not once had he spent the night, not once had he uttered the words that he'd wanted to.

Burke was always holding back.

Cristina watched from her old side of the bed with a lazy grin on her face as he came back into the bedroom. She loved watching him naked. His body was beyond amazing and it was all hers to do whatever she wanted with it. Her eyes skimmed up his powerful legs and over his more intimate parts and then up his abdomen and chest to his well sculpted arms. God, she loved his arms. The way he wrapped them around her as he pushed into her over and over again. The way his huge hands grasped her tiny hips as he pounded into her. Her hands trailed back upwards to the dimple in his chin that she oft found herself kissing as they made love, she continued her upward gaze over his lips and his chiseled features. Their eyes met and she felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

She'd been caught.

He stooped slowly to pick up his jeans and boxers, almost teasing her and she laughed a little, still watching him. She had forgotten how much he could make her laugh. How happy he could make her. He pulled his boxers on slowly, giving her playful looks as he did.

Cristina pouted slowly as the boxers hid everything she'd been visually devouring only moments ago. She rose on her elbows, the sheet sliding from over her chest and she finally spoke, "Am I that repulsive that you have to run the second you can?" she asked quietly.

It's not what she meant to say, but she felt safer saying it that way. She was tired of watching him pull his clothes on and leave. She was tired of spending the night alone in a bed with cold sheets and an empty space that should be his. It was frightening for her, to invite him back into her bed, into that empty space. It was a step she had been afraid of making, but she couldn't take another night alone.

Maybe she would just do it from time to time. Not all the time.

Burke studied her for a long moment before he sat on the bed and reached out to pull the sheet over her chest and cover her once more. "You know that I cannot think when you're uncovered," He said in a low voice. He bent and kiss her softly, barely tasting her lips. "That I cannot think when you are covered." She rose higher for another kiss, but he pulled his lips away from hers, his eyes lingering on hers. "That I cannot think when you're in my arms. When you're in my presence. There are no words for the beauty you possess. You're enchanting."

Cristina looked up at him, her lips slightly parted. He had this way with words that always left her speechless. And of course he hadn't even addressed the whole staying thing. He wanted to make her ask. He wanted to hear her say it.

Damn him.

She curled her fingers around the back of his neck and pulled him to her for a hungry kiss and this time the kiss only broke when she wanted it to. When she pulled back, she let her fingers slide down his shoulder and arm and then finally to rest on his hand. "Shut up and stay." She murmured.

A smile broke out across Burke's face. He couldn't even attempt to hide it. It was a step and it was a step that she was making on her own. Their first time around, he felt that he had to push her into steps, but this time she'd been doing all of it on her own. He was waiting on her and no matter how slow it was, there was progress.

They were still together and they were moving forward.

Burke settled in the bed next to her, their bodies close but not close enough. His hand skimmed her arm, feeling how chilled her skin was. He pulled her close with a smug grin on his face, "You're cold."

She let him hold her, enjoying the comfort of being in his arms once more. "Still have that cuddling problem, huh?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Only when it comes to you." He admitted shamelessly.

"There better not be anyone else that you're cuddling with."

"Never. There will never be anyone else."

"So you intend to be alone and miserable if this doesn't work out?" She asked quietly, her fingers involuntarily tracing the contour of his arm.

He laughed a little, "I know I will be. I'm afraid that you've tainted me for life. Other women are boring. Other women don't keep me on my toes, keep me wondering. If this doesn't work out, I will be alone and miserable for the rest of my life. I'll never find another you."

"Then don't screw this up." She answered softly.

It was the first real glimmer of home that Burke had that they were going to the place he wanted to be in. They'd never really discussed their relationship before tonight. They'd never really discussed the state of their relationship or even what it meant to her. But now he knew.

Burke pulled her closer and he held onto her tightly, his lips brushing against her forehead. He didn't deserve another chance from her, but she was giving it to him. Once she opened up the opportunity he would give her everything that he wanted and he would give it to her the way she wanted it.

Cristina relaxed in his arms, loving and hating how comfortable he was. She didn't know how ready she was for him to stay every night, but tonight felt right. Her eyes drifted closed as his fingers wove through her unruly curls and she smiled a little. "You love me." She uttered softly, his heart beating in her ear as her head rest against his chest.

"Yes." He answered, surprised for the third time this evening. He did not need to hear her say it to know that she did to. He knew he wasn't supposed to be assuming anything and that he was supposed to let her clarify, but this much he knew. "More than I could ever put into words."

She was silent for a long moment, her fingers still tracing as she listened to his heart. It almost seemed to slow as he waited for her response. "Me too." She finally whispered.

"You love yourself?" He teased softly, pushing for a little bit more. He wanted to hear her say it.

"Burke," She said warningly, her voice urging him to stop. She had made enough steps tonight. She wasn't ready to admit it out loud.

He brushed another kiss against her forehead and then let his head fall back against the pillow. "It's okay," He uttered softly. "I have enough love for both of us."