Chapter 48

"What is it, AJ?" she questioned.

"Our time here on the island has meant a lot to me, this time we have spent getting to know each other," he wanted so much to hold her hands in his, but since they were using them to talk, he couldn't.

"I feel the same way. Although I wish the students and their families didn't have to go through this, I can't find it in myself to regret that this time has been a wonderful opportunity to come to know you."

Her words meant so much to him, he needed to let her know the depths of his feelings for her as well. Since his break up with Meredith he honestly thought that he was finished with relationships. One-night stands were the order of the day for him, or so he had believed until this amazing woman came back into his life. "I'm in love with you, Kat, and if we were back in Virginia, I would be asking you to marry me right now!"

"And if we were back home, I would be saying, 'Yes!'" she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his lips.

Kissing her tenderly, AJ rose to one knee in front of her, "I know that we can't really be 'married' here, but I would like to make some kind of announcement to the students so we don't have to hide our feelings for each other. Let them know that we are committed to each other as if we were married. That is, if you feel the same way?"

"Yes, AJ, I do feel the same way, and I think that is a wonderful idea. Maybe we could have a 'hand-fasting' ceremony like they did long ago? Would that be what you had in mind?"

"That is as perfect as you are!" he drew her up into his arms, and his hands were much to busy too 'talk' for some time after that!

During the past four weeks he had come to know what pleased Kat, but he was never tired of causing her that pleasure. Drawing her down onto the grass with him, AJ kissed her wonderfully expressive face, tenderly worshiping every feature that would light up when she saw him, or when she was signing. How he loved her! Even Marcella had never made him feel this complete or content, but maybe that was because the youth he had been with her did not understand those concepts. Kat was his heaven!

Her small hands had grown bold in their love making over the time they had been together, and now she reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. She wanted to feel the muscle under the mat of hair on his chest, she just loved running her fingertips through it.

AJ undressed her quickly, he wanted to taste her skin, and he loved her taste. His kisses trailed down her neck to her lovely breasts. They fit perfectly into his hands as he cupped them.

Making sure she was looking at his face, AJ clearly said, "I love you, Kat!"

Smiling, she repeated those three precious words to him too. Even though they couldn't hear each other, their meaning was crystal clear.

As their passion receded, they climbed out of the pond to spread the blanket they brought with them on the grass. Soon they were lying nestled in each other's arms. Kat looked up at him and signed, "AJ, have you thought about us having a child?"

To be continued…..