Chapter Six
Now
Carlos POV:
I sat at my desk, flipping through the paperwork. I couldn't keep my mind on what was in front of me. My eyes flickered up to the picture frame sitting on my desk; Steph's picture was in the frame. It was a picture that I had taken a few years ago at a company party. Steph was wrapped in my arms, and she was looking up at me, her arms wrapped around my neck, my arms wrapped around her waist. Smiles lit up both of our faces, our eyes locked, and you could see the love on both of our faces.
I sighed softly and leaned back in my chair. I ran a hand over my face before pushing back from the desk. I couldn't take my mind off of Stephanie. For the past couple of months, we had been trying to give our relationship a go.
We were taking it slow, but I couldn't help but have my doubts. I was nervous, and I had never been nervous about being with a woman. Before it had always been so easy; I was with a woman for a night, and in the morning, I was gone. There was no talk of feelings, I didn't have to tell her about my life. I guess that's one of the things that was making this more difficult.
Besides my mother, aunts, and abuelas, I hadn't told a woman that I loved her. I loved Steph, but it was hard for me to express that. Maybe I was nervous that she didn't love me anymore, that she wasn't sure she wanted to be with me anymore. I knew she needed time, and I didn't blame her. I had fucked up, and I knew it would take time to earn her trust and love back.
I let out another sigh. I needed patience, something I never had when it came to her. I checked my watch and saw that it was almost time for lunch. I stood from my desk and grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair. I locked my office behind myself and walked across the floor to the elevator.
Once I got to the first floor, I walked out the door. I jogged across the street to the other building, and I took the stairs up to work off some of my extra energy. I emerged out onto the floor and received some nods and waves from the staff.
Her secretary sat at her desk next to Steph's door. "She is?" I asked. She nodded.
I opened the door and saw Steph sitting behind her desk. Her hair was tied back out of her way a few pieces managing to escape. She held a pen in her hand, chewing on the cap as she studied the papers in front of her.
I couldn't help but take a second to admire her. She was worth it; she's always been worth it. She was confident, smart, sexy, she was just a remarkable woman. She deserved better than me, but I wasn't going to tell her that. During my year of idiocy, I thought I could do without her. I thought she was better off without me.
I smiled; I could wait. For her, I would wait and make sure she had all the time she needed to figure herself out and her stance on our relationship. "Babe." I smiled from the door.
She looked up and saw me. A grin spread across her face. One that was only for me. "Carlos, what a surprise."
"Mmm, you hungry? I was just about to get something to eat."
"Sure, I could go for some food." She grinned. She grabbed her jacket and purse, walking towards me. I leaned down and kissed her softly, before taking her hand and leading her out of the office.
Steph POV:
I was in bed, late at night. Lev laid on my chest purring contently. My fingers stroked through his hair absentmindedly. I let out a sigh, causing him to stretch against me.
My mind was on Carlos. Tomorrow we are going on another date. We went multiple times a week, sometimes dressing up and going out other times sitting at home talking and watching TV. I was happy either way, but it was nice to go out on dates again.
I couldn't help but think that I was making him wait for too long. Eventually, he would get tired of waiting and finding someone else, that's what occupied my mind more often than not. I didn't think I would be able to take it again if he left me. Not if I let him in again.
I had missed him so much but now I wasn't sure that we would be able to do this. Two years ago, if he had walked back into my life and told me he wanted me, I would have taken him back right then and there. Now? We were both different now. I didn't know if that was a good thing or not now. I didn't want to rush and ruin my second chance with him, but I didn't want to take it too slow and make him turn to another woman. He had told me he would wait but how long would he?
At this point, I could only hope that he would wait long enough for me to be ready, for me to trust him again. I would just make sure that he knew I still loved him, but I needed to trust him again.
Now ~ 6mths later
Steph POV:
This was the first time I had been back in our old apartment since I left almost three years ago. I stood in the foyer gazing around. Today Carlos was packing up his stuff and we were moving into a new apartment together. I stood remembering all of the good times we had here.
Then
We were moving in today. Boxes were strewn across the floor, things sat in piles all around. Carlos and I sat in the middle of the mess eating Chinese takeout. He tried to teach me how to use the chopsticks but eventually, he just dug a fort out for me.
When we were finished, Carlos pulled me back into his arms, wrapping them around me, his chin resting on my shoulder. "I can't believe we're finally here." He sighed.
"I can't either." I sighed, leaning back against him.
"You know, the only furniture we have put together is the bed, and this is a new apartment." He growled against my neck.
I laughed softly. "You're bad."
"We need to start making memories here." He grinned. Standing, he pulled me up and swung me into his arms.
"Carlos, we're already in the apartment, you can't carry me over the threshold."
"I can carry you over the threshold of the bedroom." He chuckled. I laughed softly as he tossed me into the bed.
Now
"Babe, you okay?" Carlos called.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just remembering." I told him. He walked across the floor to me, pulling me close.
"This place has some good memories."
"And some bad ones."
He nodded, kissing my forehead. "I know and I understand why you don't want to live here again."
"I loved this place, but we need a fresh start."
He nodded in agreement. "I'm almost packed."
"There wasn't much, was there?"
"No," He chuckled. "Just clothes and guns."
I laughed. "Let's get you moved out then."
XXXXXX
Carlos POV:
I woke up, with a warm weight on top of my body. A set of legs tangled with mine, and curly crazy hair in my face. I smiled and kissed her temple. I nuzzled her neck and placed soft kisses on her skin.
"Oh, Michael." Steph purred.
I froze and saw the smile on her face. She was wide awake and teasing me. I bit her softly. "Cute," I growled.
She laughed softly. "I thought it was."
I rolled her onto her back, and her legs came up around my waist. My five o'clock shadow rubbed against her jaw and neck. My hands found hers, and I laced my fingers through hers, before pinning them above her head.
My lips found hers again, her mouth opening up to mine, deepening the kiss. She moaned softly, rocking her hips against mine. "Babe," I growled.
"We need to christen this apartment." She purred.
In the six months that we had been dating full time, we had shared the same bed, necked, cuddled, and almost, almost made love, but we hadn't taken that step yet. I pulled back, looking down at her.
"Babe, are you sure?"
"Carlos, over these past six months, I've had to replace the batteries in my vibrator four times. I hesitated because I wanted to make sure this was going to last. Now if you don't fuck me, there's a good chance I'm going to get the gun out of your drawer and shoot you."
"Well if that isn't the most romantic thing I've ever heard." I chuckled, kissing her again. "But before."
"God, you're going to kill me." She groaned.
"I… I've had other partners over the past couple of years. I got tested a few months ago with my physical and I'm clean. I always used protection with them." I said.
"Well if we're talking about past lovers, I've had a few, but I made all of them use protection. I was clean on my last physical. I'm on the pill."
I groaned. "God, Babe, the thought of being inside of you again, let alone bare."
"Carlos, first you have to get our clothes off, it's an essential part of the process." She smirked.
I let her hands go, she sat up and tossed her tank top across the room, my mouth found her neck as I nipped at the skin. Her fingers found the edge of my boxers, curling into the band as she pulled them down. Her hand wrapped around me and stroked, thumb stroking the slit. I bucked into her hand.
"Babe, I'm not going to last very long."
"Mmm, we'll have to work on your endurance then." She purred. She stripped her shorts off, tossing them aside. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my body down against hers.
"I love you." She purred.
"I love you too Babe."
"Now, Carlos, I need you to do something for me." She moaned softly in my ear.
"Anything."
"I need you to get inside me." She said, wrapping her legs around me and pulling me against her.
XXXXXX
Steph POV:
It was so natural living with Carlos again. I loved having him around, I loved to just be able to find him somewhere in the apartment and wrap my arms around him, shower him with affection. He sat at the island working on some papers, grumbling that he hated it.
Lev sat on the counter, batting his paw at Carlos's pen as he wrote. I just shook my head at the two of them. I stood, going to head to the office to grab my computer. I dropped my phone.
"Oh, fuck me," I muttered bending down to pick up my phone, hoping I hadn't shattered another one.
I looked up to see Carlos smirking, and approaching from where he had been sitting at the counter. I placed a hand on my hip and shot him a look. "That wasn't an invitation."
He stepped even closer, almost close enough to touch me. "I mean it, leave me alone."
His body was pressed up against mine now. He hummed softly and gave me that devilishly handsome smile. I felt myself blushing. He tipped up my chin, leaning down to kiss me softly. I found myself deepening it as I pressed closer to him.
"Alright, an hour tops," I told him. "You have paperwork to finish.
He smirked. "Do you know how many times I can make you come in an hour?"
I gulped. "I don't, but I have a feeling you're about to show me."
"Hmmm." He hummed, picking me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He kissed me again and started walking towards the bedroom.
When we emerged two hours later, happy and rumpled, our stomachs were both growling and Lev had scattered Carlos's papers all over the floor. I laughed softly, scratching Lev under the chin.
"My little demon child."
He purred and pressed his head into my hand. "See, this is the problem with cats," Carlos started. "You don't own them, they own you. They're independent and don't give a shit about anything" He started picking up his papers trying to sort them back into their original order.
"So, you don't like him because he's too similar to you."
"Yes." He confirmed before his head shot up. "Hey!"
I laughed and cuddled Lev to my chest. "We should order something to eat," I suggested. He rolled his eyes.
"Babe."
XXXXXX
I ran my fingers through Carlos's short hair. His head lay in my lap. We were sitting in silence, I was reading a book, Carlos was taking a nap.
"Babe?"
"Yeah?"
"I missed this."
I looked down at him and smiled softly. "I missed this too."
After a few more minutes of silence, I saw a little black flash of fur as Lev jumped into my lap. At least tried to jump into my lap. He landed on Carlos's head, Carlos sat up, and Lev tried to hang on to his head, digging his claws in.
I held back my giggles as I pried Lev off of Carlos's head. "Your cat's a demon."
"He's only my cat when he does something you don't like."
"So, ninety-nine percent of the time," I said. He sent me a look.
"You know you love him," I purred at him, holding Lev up next to my face.
"I tolerate him because I love his mistress," Carlos corrected. I rolled my eyes.
Remember this story happens over the course of a year, and there's only one chapter left.
