"I really am fine," Kate glanced towards Jack while rinsing off dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. It took a few days, but Kate managed to bounce back. Out of sheer stubbornness she'd forced herself to stop taking the pain medicine. She needed Jack to leave before she ended up confessing her true feelings.

"You seem to be in a hurry to get rid of me," Jack frowned. He'd hoped that by now Kate would have opened up to him more. He knew that she knew what she'd meant while on pain meds.

"I just want things to go back to normal." Kate turned to find Jack pressed against her, pinning her against the sink.

"When you were under anesthesia you told me that you loved me."

"Jack, I was delirious and loopy," Kate lied. "You can't trust anything I said."

"You said I didn't love you." Because of his height when she looked up at him it was like big, green puppy eyes. "Is that what you really believe?"

"I haven't given it much thought."

"Kate, just be honest!" Jack raised his voice, making her jump. He rubbed her upper arms, trying to calm her. He hadn't meant to startle her, he just needed to get through to her.

"Jack, don't do this," she begged.

"Just say it! Whatever it is!"

"You don't love me; you never did! Is that what you want to hear?" Kate pressed her hands against Jack's chest until he let her go.

"What could have possibly given you that idea?"

"I told you how I felt. You told me that you couldn't be around Aaron, that it was too hard…" a sob escaped her lips, silencing her.

"That's what you're so upset about? Because I'm in Aaron's life?"

"What?" She practically shrieked. "I was the one who asked you to be involved. I begged you," she reminded him.

"So why are you so upset?!" Jack yelled before he could stop himself.

"It isn't Aaron, Jack. That means it was me. Why didn't you just—"

"—what was you?"

"I'm the one you didn't want," she said, her voice low and broken. "You wanted to be in Aaron's life; you didn't want to be in mine." She hated the way angry tears flew from her eyes and she could feel her lip quivering.

Suddenly, it all made sense to him. The more he tried to win Kate back, the more she thought the opposite. No wonder she was so cold towards him. No wonder she was so closed off.

"Don't you get it yet?" Jack asked honestly. "I asked to meet Aaron because of you. Because I missed you so much it hurt…" Jack moved closer. "You know I love you. I've loved you since the island, Kate. I never meant to give you the impression that I didn't…"

Kate stood still, staring at the ground in a lame attempt to hide her tears. Being loved wasn't a feeling she was used to and accepting that love was even harder for her. Deep down, she knew Jack was right. She'd realized that she knew it all along. Her own insecurities had blinded her, but she knew he was in love with her.

"Tell me again," Jack tried. "Tell me you love me." He moved closer to her, half expecting her to take a step backwards.

"Jack," her voice was so low it was barely audible.

With one more step, he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into a frenzied kiss. He bit her lip playfully before letting his tongue dance with hers. He inhaled her moans, his hand on the small of her back, pushing her closer.

When she wrapped an arm around his neck, he took advantage and lifted her with ease. He carried her to bed. When he laid her down, he slid her jeans and panties off. With one wiggle from her they were were completely off and it didn't take long until they were both completely naked.

Kate bit her lip, trying to keep herself together. Jack was much larger than she'd even fantasized about it. His arms and stomach were chiseled and his eyes burned into her lustfully.

Jack let his fingertips explore the body he'd dreamed of seeing. He kissed the tiny scatterings of freckles. Her stomach, her right hip, between her breasts. "You're exquisite," he breathed. He leaned down, kissing her skin so softly her body began pulling towards him; pressing up to try and capture his lips. When he glanced up he saw her head tossed back in ecstasy and her small hands grabbing fistfuls of the sheet as she moaned.

"You still haven't said it," he purred. Before she could respond, he let his fingers push inside of her. He was rewarded with a little mewl as he continued moving inside her. He let his thumb make small circles over her bundle of nerves. The combination left her body clenching around his fingers.

Before she could catch her breath, he slammed into her roughly, holding her hips for every thrust. His mouth wrapped around her breasts, instantly hardening her nipples.

"I love you," Kate whimpered.

Jack stopped for a moment, a wicked smile on his face. "I knew I'd get you to say it." He grabbed her hand, kissing the top of it. "I love you, too. I always have, Kate."

"Prove it," she smiled, her eyes darkening with desire. "I want you." When he didn't move she began to squirm, her hips bucking. "I need you, Jack. Please?"

"That's all you had to say."

The end.