Chapter 25

'Kate, I understood your reluctance before but I love you and I need to be with you now. I need to know that you're going to let me in. Please let me be with you?' he told her, his voice pleading. It took Kate a few moments to respond, 'Yes…'

'Yes?' he asked quietly, not quite believing his ears.

'Yes,' Kate repeated, pulling him back to her, fusing their lips together. Mike wrapped his arms firmly around her, holding her body close to his while his tongue danced with hers. Breaking apart briefly, Mike helped Kate to her feet, settling them both on the bed. Lying next to her, Mike took a moment to drink in the sight of her. Still clothed in vomit tinged clothes, her skin flushed from both her illness and exertion, Mike couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. 'Perfect,' he whispered, leaning towards her and claiming her lips with his own. His fingers slid to the hem of her t-shirt, but Kate stopped him, placing her hands on his, halting their momentum. 'I just need a minute,' she told him quietly, closing her eyes and in an attempt to silence the voices in her head. Mike watched her internal battle calmly until without warning, she began to pull her shirt up over her head to reveal her new breasts to him for the first time. Placing his hands over hers to still her movements, he looked into her eyes and spoke softly, 'Let me…please…' She nodded, watching as he slowly lifted her shirt, revealing her skin to him inch by inch. Pressing a series of kisses to her abdomen as the material was raised northward he paused the moment he reached the bottom of her breasts, searching once again for her approval. 'Go ahead,' she whispered, lifting her arms so her shirt could be slid off with ease. As the material fell to the floor, Mike's gaze came to rest on what was left of her breasts. The incision marks were still painfully obvious, and their appearance was altered almost beyond recognition. She still had no nipples, and it would still be many months until she underwent the surgery to reconstruct them. Noticing his curious gaze, Kate became embarrassed and threw her arms across her chest in an attempt to cover herself, 'Mike, you don't need to look at them…you don't need to touch them…'

'Why?' he asked, 'They're beautiful Kate. Every part of you is beautiful,' he paused, 'You'll always be perfect in my eyes.' Reaching up, Mike gently cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss to her lips. He knew that she was self conscious about revealing herself to him and he wanted to reassure her that to him, she was truly beautiful all over. This was a big step for her to take but she would not be doing it alone, they would be doing it together. He loved every part of her and he needed her to know that. Leaning down, he gently shifted her arms away, before placing his lips on the flesh, moving along until he'd covered every inch of skin. 'Beautiful,' he told her, reaching up to cup her face and bringing her lips towards his for a tender kiss. He trailed a line of gentle kisses down her jaw, a soft moan escaping from her lips. Grasping the buttons on his shirt, Kate busied herself slipping them from their holes, pushing the fabric from his shoulders and baring his chest. Her fingers immediately came to rest on his chest, tracing random patterns across his skin. Distracted by her movements, Mike looked up and Kate seized the opportunity to latch onto his neck, nipping hungrily at the skin there. Groaning, Mike pulled her back to his lips, leaving their hands to rediscover territory that was once so familiar. As their kisses became more heated, the last of their clothes were shed and Mike positioned himself above her, pulling away momentarily while his eyes searched for any sign of pain or doubt, 'You ok?' he asked.

'Make love to me Mike,' Kate responded. A contented smile spread across his lips as he claimed her lips once more, giving himself over to the moment and losing himself in her like he'd wanted to do for so long.

His movements were gentle and deliberate as he slid himself inside her heat. Carefully, he began a slow rhythm, his lips caressing her neck, then travelling back up to meet her lips. Kate's soft moans filled the room as their breath mingled together, their lips remaining barely inches apart as they continued the slow build to completion. As their climax grew closer Mike stilled briefly, Kate's eyes fluttered open, locked onto his as she questioned him, 'Mike?' she asked, struggling to catch her breath.

'You ok?' he whispered, wiping at the sweat that was dripping from her brow.

'Perfect…I'm perfect…' she smiled, appreciating his concern and willingness to stop had she been unable to continue.

'I love you Kate McGregor,' he declared, dragging his fingers down her cheek before recommencing his steady movements. As they approached their mutual climaxes, Kate reached up, pulling his lips back to hers, fusing them together as they spilled over the edge.

It took several minutes for Mike's breathing to steady and he carefully shifted from his position above Kate. Whimpering at the loss of his body heat, Kate, still attempting to catch her breath, was struggling to keep her eyes open. Mike quickly wrapped his arms around her fragile body, and guided her head to rest on his chest. 'I love you Mike Flynn,' Kate whispered, her eyes slipping shut, as she allowed her exhausted body to get some rest.

The sun was setting in the sky when Kate began to stir. Their activities from earlier in the afternoon had left her exhausted, and she'd spent the rest of the day sleeping in his arms under the pale blue sheets, their clothes haphazardly spread across the floor. 'Love you,' Mike whispered, watching as her eyes fluttered open.

'Love you too,' Kate repeated quietly, not wanting to burst the bubble of bliss she awoke to. Stroking her back lazily, a smile graced his handsome face, as Mike replayed the events from earlier that day in his mind. Though his relationship with Kate had been sexual in the past, he could safely say that of all the times they'd been intimate before not one of them compared to their experience that afternoon. 'What are you thinking?' Kate asked, interrupting his thoughts.

'I've never felt this way before…Kate, that was the most beautiful experience of my life…' he spoke softly, tears forming in his eyes as he struggled to put into words what was going through his mind.

'Mine too,' she responded, tears sliding down her cheeks.

'I've never felt as close to anyone as I do to you right now. Kate…I don't want you to die…I can't go the rest of my life without making love to you…' Kate laughed between her tears,

'Mike, the most physical activity I've undertaken in the past few months is walking around the house. You need to give me more than a few hours before I'm ready to go round again…' An amused smile graced his features, and he pressed a firm kiss to her lips, their tears mingling together. Pulling away, Mike replied cheekily,

'I didn't mean right now…but if you're offering…' Kate slapped at his chest playfully,

'Can you let me sleep a little more first?'

'For you Kate…anything…' Mike pulled her body closer, resting his chin on top of her head, as they both lay in silence, content just to be in each others arms.

It took the contented pair another hour to decide to move. Unable to ignore her full bladder any longer, Kate shifted in Mike's arms, 'Mike, I need to get up.' He loosened his grip, and allowed to her slip from his embrace. Swinging her feet over the edge of the mattress, Kate adjusted to her new position, standing up slowly, and ignoring the dizziness that assaulted her when she stood to her full height. Collecting a shirt from the dresser, she threw it over her naked body, 'Don't get dressed on my account…I was enjoying the view!' Mike yelled as she retreated from the room.

'I'm sure you are,' Kate yelled back, 'but it won't do you any good.' Laughing, Mike followed her lead, getting out of bed and hastily dressing before going to out to the kitchen, intent on whipping up something quick for dinner.

Kate emerged a few minutes later, a pair of boxer shorts peeking out beneath the hem of the oversized shirt she was wearing. Her stomach growled as she approached the kitchen, the sizzle coming from the stove sending a pleasant smell throughout the small house. Looking around, she could sense something had changed, but she couldn't quite figure out what it could be. Coming into the lounge to switch on the TV, her foot collided with an object that definitely wasn't there earlier. Frowning, she looked down and noticed a cardboard box sitting at her feet. Slightly confused, she went over to the kitchen, 'Mike, why is there a cardboard box on the floor?' Electing not to respond at that moment, Mike turned the heat down on the stove, before coming over to press a kiss to her forehead.

'I must've forgotten about it earlier,' he told her calmly.

'But why is it there?' Kate was still confused.

'I moved it over during the week.'

'From where?'

'My place.'

'You gave up your place?' Mike nodded, 'Was this my surprise?' she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she made reference to his comment from weeks ago.

'Kind of,' he responded, resting his hand over hers as it gripped his cheek lightly, 'I couldn't stand to be away from you any longer. Kate I want to wake up next to you every morning for the rest of my life.' Wiping the tears that had formed in her eyes, Kate whispered a response,

'There's nothing I want more.' Sealing their declarations with a kiss, Kate felt that if the cancer claimed her life tomorrow, she would go to her grave happy, just knowing that Mike loved her, and he was willing to sacrifice anything just to be with her.