After close to ten straight hours of driving, Brandon took one final look at the text message from Luna Solaria before looking back up at the four-story building in front of him. Luna had been more than kind when it came to sending along her daughter's address and the GPS feature on his phone had led him straight here easily enough, but just gathering the courage to make his way into the building and face Stella again was daunting to say the least.

Granted, he had ten hours of driving across five different states to come up with some grand speech or at least somewhat of an idea as to what he was going to say. But even then, Stella had always been the wild card in their relationship and no matter what he had planned to say, he knew she would have something of her own to say that would throw him off.

But now that he was standing here in front of her apartment building, he could honestly say that he was nervous as hell as to what was to come next. He tucked his phone into his pocket and made his way into the building, riding the elevator to the top floor and slowly ambling his way toward Stella's apartment.

Brandon wiped his sweating palms on the military dress pants he had yet to change out of before drawing in a deep breath and raising his fist to knock on the door. After a few short moments, he heard heavy footsteps approach the door before it swung open, revealing a rather tall, statuesque gentleman, who casually leaned up against the doorframe and sized Brandon up for a few seconds before finally speaking.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah, who the fuck are you?" Brandon snapped, feeling rather defensive and pissed off to find this guy at Stella's place. He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel his stomach sink as soon as this guy popped up, wondering if the last week actually meant anything to Stella if she rebounded this quickly from the night before. But his thoughts were quickly cut off when the man finally spoke again.

"Who the fuck am I?" he asked, "You're the one knocking on my door, so shouldn't I be the one asking you who the fuck you are?"

Brandon figured that he may have overreacted just a tad, instead holding out his hand and introducing himself, "Brandon – Shields."

The guy eyed him suspiciously for a few beats before shaking Brandon's hand, "Logan Alexander. So Brandon, what can I do for you?"

Brandon swallowed hard and decided just to go for it, even if it may end in a brawl with this dude, "I'm here to talk to Stella."

The guy in the doorway gave him an odd look before scrunching his brow, "Stella?"

Before Brandon could respond, a feminine voice from inside the apartment caught both men's attention, "Honey, who is it?"

"Umm," the man began to reply before an athletic-looking redhead poked her head out the door, the man stepping aside and gesturing toward Brandon, "This is Brandon. Brandon Shields, this is my wife Whitney."

The redhead stuck her hand out towards Brandon and he accepted her handshake, feeling like a total douche for jumping to conclusions about Stella. But before he could apologize for his behavior and explain, the woman spoke up.

"What's up?"

"Brandon here was looking to talk to a 'Stella,'" the man murmured, glancing down at his wife.

"Stella," she thought for a moment, "That sounds familiar."

"Last name is Solaria," Brandon explained, deciding that he should probably come up with something before he started to sound like a creeper, "She's my next door neighbor from back home and I thought I'd stop by while I was here. Her mom gave me this address but I take it she doesn't live here anymore."

"You know what, now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure that's the name of the girl who lives next door," the woman offered, glancing up at her husband.

"Oh yeah! Blonde, golden eyes, about 5'6"?" he asked, holding up his hand as he tried to approximate her height.

"Yeah, that's her," Brandon affirmed, his heart fluttering at the thought that she was so close by.

"She actually lived in this apartment before my husband and I moved in," the redhead explained, "Her mail still gets mixed in with ours sometimes. Apparently she and a roommate used to live here, but she moved next door when the apartment became available, so we moved in. Apparently she and the roommate decided to part ways but she still liked the building, which worked out for the both of us. She's really nice. Quiet, but nice."

Brandon chuckled to himself as she explained Stella's "roommate" situation, knowing damn well that it was more than a mutual parting of ways between her and that douchebag Paul a few years back. He was still unsure as to how Luna sent him the wrong apartment number, but brushed it off as a casual mistake and thanked the couple for their help before making his way toward the apartment next door.

He took a deep breath and tried to gather his wits about him as he stood in front of her door, trying to run through all of the things he needed to say to her in his mind before focusing solely on the three words he came here to tell her.

"I don't even know why I'm so upset, really," Stella explained, holding the phone close to her ear as she took another bite of ice cream and wiped her eyes, "I was the idiot who suggested the whole thing."

"Yeah, but that doesn't matter, Stell," Musa sighed, "Even if it was your idea to begin with, he's the pendejo who strung you along. You went out on a limb and he essentially snapped it off before you could get anywhere past the sheets."

"That's just it; I don't think he's an asshole, Muse. I just –"

"Well, would you look at that! Somebody has been keeping up on her dirty Spanish!"

"So not the point," Stella sighed, scooping out another bite of Chunky Monkey before tossing the pint back in the freezer, "I just wish that it was easier. I wish that I could wish my feelings for him away, but I can't. I knew it was going to hurt when we went our separate ways, but I never thought it would hurt this bad. It's like I can barely breathe knowing that it's all over."

"Stella, you know that I love you like a sister so I'm not going to sit here and blow smoke up your ass by saying everything is going to be ok, because I can hear how miserable you are and just saying that isn't going to make you feel any better. I've been there before and it hurts like hell. It'll get better with time, I promise you, but for now, regardless of what I say, it'll still hurt. I wish I could take it all away to make you feel better, baby girl, but I know it's not that easy," Musa cooed into the phone, allowing for that to sink in before speaking again, "I know that it sucks and I totally don't mean to come off as a bitch or anything," she began, her voice softening to let Stella know she didn't want to come off as combative, "But did you ever end up telling him how you felt? I mean, it was obvious to all of us outsiders when we watched the two of you together, but did either of you actually ever talk about how you felt?"

Stella paused as she reflected back on the week she and Brandon shared. "I wanted to tell him so many times but we had either been interrupted or his mood or tone of voice suggested he was going to shoot me down anyway. I um – I just didn't want to put myself out there to have him throw it back in my face if he didn't feel the same."

"If I ask you a straight question, will you give me a straight answer?"

"Okay."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes," Stella murmured, "I have since we were fifteen. I just – I just don't know what to do now. Before, it was like I was able to delude myself into believing that we could have a future. Like if we ever somehow found a time to see one another again, the sparks would fly and we'd get a chance to be together. The idea of seeing him this weekend was a bit daunting and it made me anxious but I still had this shred of hope," she explained, "But as the week progressed, some of the things he said and the way he acted... I knew it was stupid to keep my hopes up. I enjoyed the rest of our time together and all but I snuck out this morning. I couldn't handle it anymore. I just couldn't do it," she sighed, a gentle sob escaping her throat.

"What a fucker. You still never told me what he said the night of the rehearsal dinner, by the way."

"It wasn't a fun night, but like I said earlier, I knew what I was getting into," Stella sighed, running her hands up and down her cheeks, wiping away a few stray tears, "I shouldn't have pushed him like I did."

She took a deep breath and bit her lip, not really wanting to relive that night but knowing that Musa would offer her a sympathetic ear and an honest opinion, and she absolutely adored her best friend for that.

Stella was just about to continue with the story when she heard a soft knock on the door, the sound of light shuffling on the hardwood floor in the hallway catching her attention.

"Uh, hang on a sec," Stella murmured into the phone, placing it against her chest as she pulled away the security chain and unlocked her door.

She was expecting the man who lived below her, possibly to complain about the noise of her pacing across the floor, or maybe the older woman from across the hall needing Stella to help her with some household task like she did on a weekly basis.

But she sure as hell wasn't expecting the man who stood on her front step at that very moment.

"Brandon?"

"Hey Stell," he replied, his voice soft as he tucked his hands into his pockets, the man looking like a rumpled mess in his clothes from the previous day as he shifted from one foot to the other.

"What uh –what are you doing here?"

"I was hoping we could talk."

"Is Shields seriously there?" Musa's voice shouted through the phone, "Tell that asshat I'm going to punch him in the junk when I see him next!"

Stella slowly pulled the phone back up to her ear, her eyes never leaving Brandon's as she spoke. "Muse, I'm gonna have to call you back," she murmured, Musa screaming out her protest before Stella ended the call, her entire body frozen in place as she stared at the man in front of her.

"Um, can I uh – may I?" he asked, offering her a soft smile as he gestured inside the door.

"Oh, yeah. Come on in," Stella replied, stepping to the side and ushered him in. She had no idea what he was doing here or what he wanted but it was definitely a shock to see him there in her apartment in Connecticut, that's for sure. Not knowing what to do or what to say next, her manners finally kicked in, Stella making her way into the kitchen and opening the fridge, "Can I get you anything? Something to eat or drink?"

"No thank you," he answered politely as he took his time looking around her living room, "You have a really nice place here."

"Thank you."

"I, um – I accidentally went to your neighbor's house first," he tried to joke. "I got the address from your mom, but uh – I was a little off. Your neighbors probably think I'm crazy," he laughed.

Stella let out a laugh right along with him, trying to find a little humor in the extremely awkward situation. "Oh, yeah. That was my old apartment. Mom still has a tendency to use my old address. The couple next door is kind enough to drop off the mail that still gets mixed in with theirs," she offered.

"They uh – they seem nice," he replied awkwardly, fidgeting with his hands.

"They are." Her nerves were totally shot after the last thirty-six hours of emotion but she still felt on edge as she took a deep swig of the remaining wine left in the glass she had poured earlier. "So uh – to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"

Brandon finally stopped looking around the room, focusing his entire attention back on her. She felt her palms begin to sweat as he continued to practically stare her down, his expression softening as he took a few careful steps toward her.

"I think we need to talk... about what happened this last week between us."

"Ohh—kay," Stella replied slowly, her heart pounding so hard she thought it was going to burst out of her chest, suddenly wishing she had more wine to help deal with whatever was about to come out of his mouth. "Should I be sitting down for this?"

Brandon simply offered her a soft smile before clearing his throat, taking a moment to glance down at his shoes as Stella leaned back against the kitchen counter for support.

"I um – I uh," he stuttered, running a hand through his short hair and down the back of his neck, "I'm not quite sure what to say. I had about ten hours in the car to think and I just – I'm kind of drawing a blank at the moment."

"Wow, that's quite the haul," Stella agreed, staring back down at the floor, unsure what to say next.

She heard him take a deep breath before his voice caught her attention again, "Look Stella, this last week was incredible, to say the least. And I know things got a bit – intense at times, but I was really hoping we could talk through things this time."

Something inside her clicked at his statement, the comment not settling well with her. "This time?"

"Well yeah," Brandon replied, a small humorless laugh escaping his lips causing Stella to cringe, "I mean, we never really got to talk things through eight years ago and then you bailed on me again this morning before we could talk, let alone say goodbye."

"Oh ok, so it's my fault now," Stella cringed, her voice quiet as she remained staring at the floor.

"No, it's nobody's fault," he murmured, "It's just – we used to be able to take about everything. I mean, you're my best friend, Stell. And I –"

Stella had heard enough, the anger that had been stewing under the surface at the accusatory comment earlier finally reaching a boiling point with yet another 'friend' comment. She'd had it with that word!

"For the love of God, Brandon, stop calling me your friend! After the last eleven years, this last week," she added, her voice going quiet, "After last night... I can't be your friend."

Brandon looked genuinely confused as he stared back at her after her outburst, shock registering on his face before he spoke up again, "I don't get it. We're friends, Stella. We have been our whole life, so please just talk to me. Tell me what's going on!"

"I don't want to be your fucking friend," she practically shouted, her breathing coming in labored pants as she tried to rein her emotions back in. But it was no use as she felt the hot tears begin to prick the corner of her eyes. She had held his stare for long enough, but it was just too much for her to take, quickly looking away before she lost all shreds of her dignity.

This was definitely not the way Brandon had wanted to start off this conversation. Thinking back, he probably could have phrased some of his last few statements a little differently, but he was certainly not expecting her to yell at him.

He was taken aback at her reaction, genuinely hurt by how vehemently she shot him down.

Taking a deep breath and steeling his nerves, he chanced another glance up at her, heartbroken as he watched the tears roll down her face, "But I heard you this morning. You said you loved me."

Stella shifted in her spot, still avoiding his gaze, making Brandon more nervous by the second.

"I do love you," she sobbed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, "But I don't want to be your friend. I can't just be your friend."

All he could do was stare at her, his gaze glued to her figure as she silently shook with emotion. It didn't make sense... after all these years and after all of the connections they had rekindled over the past week, he just didn't get where she was coming from.

But after a few moments of awkward silence, it finally clicked.

"Oh," he sighed quietly before clearing his throat and summoning the courage to finally tell her how he felt, "Well, you're wrong."

Stella's gaze snapped back up as she stared him down, the tears rolling down her cheeks breaking his heart yet again. He hated seeing her cry and he hated the fact that he was the one who made her cry in the first place. Her ice-cold stare chilled him to the bone as he watched her posture shift into a more defensive stance, an eyebrow arching in fury before Brandon finally decided to cut her off before she could scream at him again.

"I've known you forever. I grew up with you and I know everything about you," he replied, offering her a soft smile in return, "I know that you can eat half a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in one sitting and that one of your guilty pleasures is watching old school cartoons like The Jetsons or the Flintsones late at night. I know that your favorite color is actually blue despite insisting that it's pink. And I know that, even though you say your hate your father and that you could never forgive him, deep down you'd give anything to have him come home," he added, watching her face twist with emotion, "And how do I know this? Because we've been friends for a very long time."

He felt his face flush as he nervously rubbed the two day old scruff on his chin, "And uh – I also know that kissing the sensitive spot just below your earlobe always makes you moan and that you curl your toes when you're getting close. And your eyes – they're such a perfect shade of gold when you look at me as you climax," he smiled as he watched the pink rise on her cheeks. "I know some more, um – intimate things about you, because we've been more than friends too."

"But I don't think that the two things are exclusive of one another," he continued, watching as she slumped back against the counter and blinked away the gathering moisture, "I want 'em both. I don't think they are two separate things."

"Please Brandon," she sighed, her voice wavering, "Don't – don't just say that."

"I'm not just saying that! Don't you get it? I didn't drive close to ten hours across five fucking states just to tell you that I only wanted to be your friend!" Brandon exclaimed, his hands fisting on his hips. Taking a deep breath, he took a few steps forward, his body relaxing as he finally allowed himself to utter the words he had been wanting to say since he was sixteen, "I love you, Stella."

"Please don't just be saying that," she whimpered, almost pleading with him as tears stream down her cheeks, "Please don't mess with me."

"I'm not messing with you," he replied softly, "I love every part of you. I don't want you as just a friend but I don't want you as just a lover either. I may be a selfish man, but I want both of those with you. I need you to be both to me. You're everything I want and everything I need."

She simply shook her head, her expression one of disbelief, "Why now? What changed over this past week?"

It was a valid question given what had gone down between them over the years and especially over the last week, but he knew he owed her the truth, "Nothing changed. I've wanted you since I was sixteen."

No... there's no way! Stella's mind began to reel as she let it all sink in. He had wanted me since he was sixteen?

Beyond confused, she shook her head, "That's not possible."

He flashed her one of his heart-melting boyish smiles before taking another step forward, putting him easily within reaching distance. His presence was intoxicating and the words spilling out of his mouth were almost too perfect, Stella wanting to pinch herself just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

"I um – the first time I knew I felt something for you was the summer when we had just turned sixteen and Sky and I were fixing up the boat when you came parading out of your house with Musa and Roxy. You had on this amazing bikini and I honest-to-God couldn't speak when you came down to tell us to keep our eyes to ourselves... because from that moment on, I only had eyes for you," he explained, sheepishly tucking his hands into his pockets, "But uh – It wasn't until I watched you get ready to go on your first date with Nex that I knew I really cared about you. At first, I thought it was just jealousy over the thought of another guy swooping in and stealing one of my friends," he paused, taking a deep breath, "But watching him pick you for dates time after time just made me feel sick to my stomach. Every time he showed up or I saw his car out front, I wished that it was me that was taking you out and every time he brought you home, I found myself wishing I was the one who got to kiss you good night. I would have done anything to be in Nex's place instead of sitting at my window feeling like a knife was twisting in my gut as I watched him kiss you. It drove me crazy, and that's when I knew I loved you."

His words and the gentle look in his eyes let her know that he was being honest and genuine, all of the anger and fight she harbored just moments earlier completely dissipating as she slumped against the counter.

She bit her bottom lip as the tears began to well again, "How do you think watching all of the girls you paraded in and out of your life and your bedroom made me feel?"

His brow scrunched in confusion as his eyes continued to bore into her, "Wait, what?" He turned his head to the side as he continued to scrutinize her, "Wait, you – you cared?"

"Of course I cared!" she sobbed, "Are you kidding me?"

"I – I uh –" he stammered, his voice seemingly lost.

"I've been in love with you since I was fifteen," she sighed in defeat, "How could you not have known?"

She could practically hear the wheels turning in his head, "Wh – what?"

"I've been in love with you since I was fifteen," she repeated quietly, "Ever since you snuck into my window and held me all night long after my dad left," she whispered, hot tears rolling down her face, "Feeling your arms around me – I fell hard."

She could see his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard, taking a few moments to process what she had said. And she let him... if truth be told, she needed a few moments to herself to digest what he had said too.

After several long moments of silence, Brandon finally spoke up again.

"I don't understand... that night 8 years ago," he mumbled, his own eyes sparkling with a touch of moisture, "Me –you – if we both wanted each other, then what happened? Why?"

His words seemed disjointed and jumbled, but she understood what he was getting at. His comments earlier had been so tender and touching and the look in his eyes at this moment burned into her very soul. And she knew he deserved the truth.

Brushing away a few fallen tears, she summoned all of the nerve she had left. "I lied to you, that night eight years ago. I lied when I said I didn't want to go to college a virgin. And I lied again the other day when you asked why I didn't wait for someone special. I was waiting," she gave him a watery smile, "I'd been waiting for you."

"You... you were waiting for me? I thought you were waiting for someone special. Someone who deserved you."

She finally took the leap and reached out to touch his arm, stroking gently as she carefully chose her words, "Brandon, you've always been special to me. From the time I could remember, you have always been special to me. From running around as kids to the nights you would sneak into my room to all the other memories in between. You were the special someone I wanted."

Brandon felt like his entire world had flipped on its axis, the comment causing his stomach to drop and his heart to pound at the same time. It was a hard feeling to describe, but part of him felt elated knowing that she had wanted him... while the other part of him felt nothing but guilt and anger towards himself if what she was saying was true. That he lost out on being with her because of his foolish pride and hurt her in the process.

"I was?" he asked, his arm trembling under her touch, "But, I mean..."

"You had to have known I had it bad for you," she laughed lightly, the noise sounding melodic despite the tears streaming down her cheeks, "I didn't think I was exactly subtle about it."

Brandon was simply floored, his mind and heart racing, "I didn't know. You told me that you didn't want to go to college a virgin so I figured you were just – just using me. That you didn't want me the way I wanted you."

"The way you wanted me?" she asked, her eyes wide and pleading as she stared him down.

She had been honest with him so it was time to be honest with her.

"That night, lying there with you, holding you and touching you... I'd been dreaming of being with you like that since I knew what sex was," he sighed, swallowing hard as he tried to keep his own emotions in check, "And you were so perfect... lying there under me, my skin against yours, my lips finally getting to kiss yours. I wanted so badly to be with you. My body ached for you."

"Then why did you turn me down? Why did you say no?" Her eyes welled with fresh tears and the sight alone was enough to break his heart, the emotion in those deep golden pools finally betraying just how badly he had hurt her that night, "I figured you didn't want me, that we were 'too good of friends to do that'."

He took another step closer and caressed her cheek, "I said that only because I thought you didn't think of me the way I thought of you. I thought you only saw me as a friend... one with a not so great past with girls who would be doing you a favor by taking your virginity instead of the man you thought was special enough to have that part of you." He gave her a weak, self-deprecating smile before looking down at the hand that was brushing away her tears, "I thought you saw me as trash... that I was only worth a fling instead of something more."

"Never, I could never think that! I just – I didn't know what to do," she murmured, stumbling a bit on her words, "I loved you so much and wanted you so badly and I finally had a moment to be alone with you, to finally just go for it, that I – I didn't want to scare you off by telling you how I felt. I – I foolishly thought that if I kept things light between us, I'd finally get to be with you. That I could finally experience what it was like to be more than just your friend, even if I never had the courage to tell you the truth."

"Stell, you were never just a friend. Not to me. You were so much more than that to me. You always have been and you always will be and I'm so sorry that I ever made you feel like I didn't want you. And I would happily spend the rest of my life, or whatever time you'd be willing to give me, making it up to you," he explained, hoping she would understand the deeper meaning behind what he was trying to say.

"You're not just saying that?" she asked, her voice almost pleading with him.

He simply smiled and took her hand in his, "No. To be honest, after you left for school, I'd always felt like there was something missing. I should have known it was you all along, it just became more apparent after thanksgiving three years ago, when my mom couldn't stop texting me about how wonderful your boyfriend seemed. The um – the hole in my apartment wall can attest to my feelings about that," he explained, taking a moment to pause as he shifted in his stance, "And even though it sucked thinking about how disappointed my grandfather would have been or how upset my mom would be, after the fight, the brig time and the suspension, I couldn't stop thinking about how disappointed you would have been in me, and that hurt worse than anything. You were always my guiding light, keeping me out of trouble as best as you could throughout the years and I felt like I let you down even though we hadn't spoken in years. I never want to let you down again. "

"You won't. You've never let me down," she sighed, her fingers intertwining with his "If anything, I've let myself down too many times by allowing myself to have regrets... things that I never did for fear of failure or rejection. I don't – I don't want to feel like that anymore. And for as long as I've known you, my feelings for you have always terrified me. But you've always made me happy and brought out the best in me, pushing me past my fears and doubts."

"I was a bad influence," he murmured, trying to ease the mood.

But Stella didn't seem to need it, smiling back up at him as she continued, "You were the best influence, because being around you again this week made me realize everything I'm missing out on. And just the fact that you drove ten hours to be here with me – it's incredible. Over the past eight years, my mom has kept me posted on what you were up to and even though I hadn't seen you in years, I found myself praying every night for your safe return while you were deployed because I'd always held onto this crazy idea that someday we'd find our way back to each other," she explained, allowing Brandon to wipe away a few of her fallen tears, "Because just the thought of you permanently leaving me was too much to take. So the fact that you drove all this way to come see me, that you came back... means the world to me."

The fact that she had cared enough to send up a few good thoughts to the Big Man for his safe return from overseas meant a lot. But even more touching was the fact that she not only wanted him to come home, but she had wanted him to come back to her. He knew it had always been a fear of hers that people would leave her, just like her dad had, but after the last eight years of barely speaking to one another, he never thought she would care enough to group him in that category.

He cradled her cheek with his palm before drawing her close, "I will always come back, Stell. I promise you. And I'd drive to hell and back even if it just meant that I could spend a few hours with you. I love you and I'm not letting you go easily this time."

"Can you please say that one more time?"

He smiled at the hopeful, girlish expression on her face, "I love you, Stella."

"God, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that," she cried, offering him a watery grin in return, standing on her tip-toes and placing a gentle kiss against his lips.

"So, does this mean you love me too?" he asked, only half joking as he flashed her one of his trademark grins.

"I love you, Brandon," she replied, a smile crossing her face, "I've loved you for as long as I can remember."

Hearing her say those magic words again made Brandon's heart hammer so hard, he felt it was going to burst out of his chest. However, unlike this morning when he lay idly by, he had to take action, gently cradling her face and pulling her close before placing a tender kiss against her lips. He tried to put everything he had felt for her over the past several years into that one kiss, his own pulse fluttering as he molded his lips to hers.

But it was Stella who decided to deepen it, grasping him by his pants pockets and pulling him as close as possible, a small groan escaping Brandon's throat as he rubbed up against her. His hips cradled hers as she continued to hold him right where he was, their only source of support the countertop behind Stella as he continued to press into her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

However, his bliss was short lived as Stella suddenly reeled back and looked down at where their hips were connected, her hand slowly withdrawing from his pocket as she pulled out a thin scrap of lace.

"What – the hell?" she asked slowly, turning the lace over in her hand.

"I thought you'd recognize them," he grinned down at the thong underwear, "And I told your mom I'd give them back to you."

"Well, thanks. I couldn't find them this morning," she replied before pulling back and staring at him with wide eyes, "Wait, did you just say something about my mom? My mom knows about us?"

"Yeah, well, both of our moms know, actually. I guess we weren't that subtle. Plus, she was the one who found them this morning when she went all hard-core interrogator on me."

"Are you kidding me?" she asked, her voice laced with humor, "What the hell happened after I left this morning?"

"It's a long story."

"Oh God," she groaned before his lips on hers cut off any subsequent comments about her mother.

"I'll tell you in the morning," he promised after he finally broke away from their kiss, "So I know we had our fair share of, um – reconnecting – this last week, but eight years is a really long time."

"It is," she concurred, "Eleven years is even longer."

"True. And if you ask me, that's some serious time to make up for."

She grinned back up at him, placing a gentle kiss on his lips, then his cheek before leaning in close and nipping his earlobe. Shivers shot down his spine as her warm breath tickled his skin, her voice barely above a whisper, "Last door on the right."

He grinned back down at her, pulling her in for another kiss as he scooped her up and carried her down the hall, excited to finally show her just how much he loved her.