Meanwhile, Eric drove as fast as he could. He didn't care if he got stopped. He would do anything to make sure she was safe.
Somewhere along the way, rain began to fall, slowly at first, but then it picked up and thunder and lightning streaked across the sky. He could see her building in the distance and he drove faster.
The lights around him went out, as did the lights in the building, but he didn't care. He saw her car in the parking lot and was relieved a bit. He parked his car and ran up the stairs. There was a soft glow coming from her living room window.
Inside, Taylor lit what few candles she had and sank onto her couch. Her talk with Alyssa had helped her heal somewhat, but she knew she needed to trust herself and trust Eric in order for her pain and fears to go away completely.
Her heart raced as she thought of him. Had their mission gone well? When would he be getting back? And most importantly, did he really mean what he said?
She needed to see him, know that he was alive and well. She felt the need for him to hold her, and she was ready to let him do that and more. She sighed as Eric ran up the stairs outside.
He reached the door and began pounding. "Taylor! Taylor!" he cried.
Inside, Taylor heard the pounding on her door. The voice was unmistakable, and she opened the door.
Eric breezed in, placed his hand at the base of her neck and covered her lips with his with fiery passion. Taylor returned the kiss with everything she had and felt herself melt into him as his other arm made its way around her waist.
The rain poured down outside, but neither one of them cared. They were both safe, and in each other's arms…
Eric moved into the place a little more and shut the door behind him, still holding her to him, his tongue wrestling with hers.
After what seemed like an eternity of perfect bliss, they broke away and Eric saw the full extend of her injuries.
There were two small cuts on her right cheek, and another on her forehead. Her right hand was bound in white gauze, and her left forearm had another bandage wrapped around it.
Eric tenderly ran a hand along her face as she did the same to him.
"I'm so sorry," he said softly. "I'm sorry about everything I said to you. I never meant to force you. I never wanted to hurt you," he said as he kissed her forehead.
Taylor let out a relieved sigh and ran her thumb along his strong jaw. "I know… I'm sorry too. Everything came out wrong and-"
He silenced her with another small kiss and she knew that from here on out things would be different.
"Then you left that message and I thought you weren't coming back," she said.
"I got back to the Animarium and Alyssa said you were hurt… I had to make sure you were safe. I was so afraid I'd never be able to make things right," he said.
Taylor hugged him close and winced slightly. Eric pulled away and looked at her nervously. "Did I hurt you?" he asked.
Taylor backed away and lifted her pajama top a little to show a thin red burn mark all the way across her well toned abdomen. Eric lowered himself down a bit to see the mark.
He moved in and gently kissed the scar that began near her navel and made it's way up to her sternum. As he went up the length of it, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt until only two buttons remained at the top.
Taylor felt all her senses ignite as his lips trailed her stomach. She ran her hands through his hair and heard him let out a small moan. Eric lifted his head back to hers and kissed her lips.
"Did you mean it?" she asked softly. "What you said in your message?"
Eric placed his hands on the top button of her shirt. "Of course I did," he said as he moved to her lips. He was millimeters from her and leaned over to her ear. "I love you Taylor." He kissed her earlobe and then made his way across her neck and back to her lips.
The kiss was soft and gentle and Taylor felt tears gather in her eyes. "Eric, I love you too," she whispered.
They kissed again then and all other thoughts left them. All they wanted was to know that the other was real… right in front of them.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked softly.
Taylor looked at him and saw all the love and devotion he had inside for her. She knew this was right…
"Yes," she said shakily.
"If there's anything you don't want me to do, tell me."
Eric carefully undid the final buttons on her top and pushed it back, kissing her shoulders as he saw the garment fall to the floor. Taylor allowed him access to her bare chest.
She felt his hands move from her shoulders to the dip between her breasts and saw the small smile he had on his lips. She reached out to him and unzipped his wet shirt. He let out a soft moan as he felt her warm hands on his cold chest, pushing his shirt off. It hit the floor with a small thud and they both smiled.
Taylor stared at his rippled, perfect chest and stomach and ran her hands all over the exposed skin. Never in her wildest dreams did she think he would look this good.
They both looked at each other and kissed with more tenderness than either one of them could have imagined.
Eric cupped her full breasts in his hands and massaged them softly, playing with the hard tips that met his fingers.
Taylor was in complete ecstasy as he touched her, and she reached down to his pants and unbuttoned them. They too fell to the floor with his boxers and he did the same to her, pushing her pants and undergarments down, kissing as he went.
Their lips met again and this time, Eric picked her up, feeling her naked body against his. Taylor wrapped her legs around him as he carried her down the hall to her bedroom.
Taylor kissed his shoulders and wrapped her legs tighter around him as she felt her need for him rising.
Eric reached the room and lowered both he and Taylor onto the bed. They rolled until Taylor was on top of him, and their hands continued to roam.
Her hands reached his most sensitive spot and she began to run her hand over his length slowly. Eric's fingers found her warmth and dipped in, gently moving in wave like motions. Both were panting by now and Eric couldn't take it anymore.
Taylor knew his need and reached over to her nightstand, retrieving a foil package from a container she had stashed in case something like this happened. She took out the condom and slipped it over his aching erection.
"You were planning on this?" he asked out of breath.
"Never can be too careful," she replied. Eric grinned and picked her up, placing her down onto him.
The sigh that escaped her lips was of pure pleasure as he filled her. Eric felt her wrap around him and thought he would lose it right then.
Ever so slowly, he moved her up and down on him while their kisses became erratic.
Taylor threw her head back as she felt him hit a sweet spot, and her obvious pleasure caused Eric to continue his labors. They moved fluidly for a few moments before they both tumbled to the bed with Eric on top.
He pulled himself out almost all the way and them plunged back in again. Taylor gripped the bed sheets and found his lips at last. Never before in her wildest dreams did she think that this could feel so good.
They made love like that long into the night until Taylor felt her climax hit with more force than she could have ever imagined.
She cried out happily as she felt her orgasm rip through her. Eric pounded into her and felt her contract around him. Moments later he felt his own senses explode and spilled himself.
He collapsed onto her and Taylor welcomed his weight.
He was alive, real, and with her.
Eric rolled off of her and held her close, never wanting to let her go.
"I'm glad you're back," she said breathlessly.
"I'm not just back… I'm home," he said softly. Both knew what his words meant, and for the first time in months, they both felt like they belonged.