His hands gently cupped her face as he plundered her mouth with his. This moment was more than he had ever dared hope for, and he was terribly afraid that it was a dream and he would soon wake from his lonely slumber in the suite he had never been able to call home… but for as long as it lasted he would make the most of it. He pulled back slightly and gazed into her eyes as he memorized her features with the tips of his fingers. Drawing a ragged breath, his own eyes asked the questions that he could not voice as Kendall pulled her hands forward and stroked his cheek gently.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Kendall quietly answered his unspoken question, "I heard you… I heard every word." Zach turned his face and kissed the fingers that lay against his cheek, finding her gaze too intense to return as she continued, "I love you, Zach… only you… please… tell me that I'm not too late. Tell me that you still love me, too."
Nearly overcome his voice broke as he answered, "Always, Kendall. I'll always love you." He gathered her close with his arms and bent his head to nuzzle her cheek before capturing her mouth with his own in a passionate kiss. After several minutes, he lifted his head to look at her closely, his fingers tracing a gentle pattern against her neck. Needing to know more he asked, "How did you find me?"
She laid her head against his chest and listened to the beating of his heart for a moment before responding, "Persistence. My doctors tell me that it's one of my best traits… my mother thinks that it's only going to lead to a broken heart… and my sister counted on it to lead me back to you." Lifting her head and fixing him with a piercing gaze she finished, "Failure was not an option… I would have spent the rest of my life searching for you… thank you for making it so easy."
"Easy? I went to a lot of trouble to create this identity!" he answered with a smile and chuckle. He shook his head, "And I gave you just enough time to find me… if you wanted to… but I had given up hope." His eyes traveled toward his desk and the folder that contained all the pieces of his new life, and Kendall's eyes followed his.
"Do you trust me, Zach?" she asked him quietly. His attention returned to her and he placed tender kisses against her neck while playing with the strap of her dress as she shivered in delight, "Mm-mmm."
His lips made their way to hers and he gave her another soul searing kiss before pulling her close and answering with his lips against her ear, "Always."
Wrapping her arms around his neck once more, she pulled him close and whispered, "Then come with me." She then took his hand in hers and led him from the office. He followed where she led without a word, but with a perplexed expression and shrugged briefly as they walked past his assistant's desk.
While waiting for the elevator that Kendall had ordered, he pulled her back against him, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck with a low growl before asking, "And where are you taking me?"
Kendall first shivered before answering with a tinkling laugh, "You'll see."
Although he allowed her to lead the way, he continued to pull her close to him as they made their way slowly to a hotel room several floors above his offices. Kendall paused beside a door and pulled a card key from her purse and handed it to Zach. With a nervous laugh she asked, "Will you do the honors?"
He took it from her without expression, but with a warm light in his eyes. He quickly inserted the card into the reader and turned the handle to open the door. Glancing quickly into the familiarly decorated room, he saw that the drapes were closed against the sunlight but the room glowed softly with candlelight from tapers placed throughout the room. He paused and looked at Kendall who suddenly seemed unsure of herself. He placed a gentle hand on her arm as he said, "Kendall?"
She looked at him seriously, bright tears glistening in her eyes, "Zach… will you… can we… I want to be your wife… in every way."
His expression softened at the apprehension in her eyes and without a word lifted her into his arms and carried her into the room. Without relinquishing his burden he pushed the door shut with his foot and set her down just inside before bending his head to gently caress her lips with his own. He showed her without words just how much he wanted to be her husband… in every way. Gently stroking her arms before wrapping his long fingers around her neck, he tantalized her with slow and languorous kisses designed to overcome any lingering trepidation. They stood together, their world reduced to the sensation of touch and taste and passion igniting.
As Zach's kisses grew bolder and more demanding, his hands worked to remove the clothing that acted as a barrier to the body he longed to possess just as Kendall's hands did the same. He felt her loosen his tie and push it and his jacket over his shoulders and onto the floor while he struggled to find the zipper to her dress without removing his lips from hers. As his shirt was removed from his slacks with one of her hands, his hand was grabbed by her other and placed against the zipper tab beneath her arm. Pulling the zipper down and opening the dress to his exploring hands, he laughed against her lips as she sent the buttons on his shirt flying in every direction when she impatiently ripped open his shirt. Taking his cue from her, he tore the straps from her dress so that it floated free from her body, her laughter tinkling in response. Growling deep in his throat, his lips traveled over her neck and dipped lower… and he growled once again after receiving a low, needy moan in response.
Feeling her hands against his skin increased his own need, and he paused to assist her as she struggled with his belt. Placing her hands against his chest he quickly unbuckled and slipped from the restrictions of clothing before once again allowing her hands to roam freely over him. It was almost more than he could bear as she touched him for the first time and he pushed her roughly against the wall so that he could touch and taste for himself after removing the small scraps of lace that had once served as lingerie. Frantically exploring each other in a frenzy of passion, they were overwhelmed with a need that staggered them both in its intensity. As Zach's mouth moved over her breasts, his hands moved lower until she moaned desperately, "Zach. I need you, Zach. Now." They were as one in their yearning and she wrapped her legs around him as he lifted her against the wall. He entered her swiftly and they were both lost in a passion that consumed their very beings, nipping and tantalizing each other as they strove to attain the pinnacle of release.
Kendall's name burst from Zach before crushing her mouth with his own, both of them completely shaken by the intensity of their lovemaking. Zach placed his arms against the wall on either side of Kendall as he panted from the exertion of their frenzied joining while her hands tenderly explored his body, as if to memorize each texture and plane. They rested against the wall until slowly their breathing returned to normal. Pulling her close against him, she stood enfolded in his embrace, both of them exhausted and energized from exertion and exultation. After a few moments entwined, he kissed her tenderly, her lips responding to his while she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even more tightly against her.
"I love you, Kendall," he said to her tenderly as he held her against him, his heart still beating strongly with the after-effects of their fiery union.
"I love you," she whispered back, stroking him with her hands and pulling him even closer until there was no space between them.
After holding each other a moment longer, Zach lifted Kendall in his arms and carried her to the bed where he laid her gently before joining her and pulling the covers over their sweat slicked bodies. Using gentle, elegant hands, he stroked her body and ignited the banked embers of their earlier ecstasy. This time, though, he made love to her tenderly… drawing out each moment in exquisite agony for them both as he increased her ardor with each touch and kiss until she was crying out his name and begging for release… finally entering her as she cried out for what only he could offer… what his own body was aching to feel… finding in her the place neither one of them knew was possible… but discovering that there were no limits to the pleasure that they could achieve together.
Lying replete in each others' arms, their passion spent and feeling languid but not drowsy, Zach whispered against her hair, "How long can you stay?"
Placing a hand on his chest, Kendall pushed herself up until she could peer into his eyes, "What kind of question is that? I'm your wife. This is where I belong. There's no time limit."
"Don't you want to get back to Pine Valley? You just returned home. Your life is there… and so is your family. I have to make… arrangements… before I can join you… if that's what you want," he answered carefully.
Kendall shook her head, "Zach. You are my family now… the only family that matters. I'm not leaving."
"But… Bianca… and Miranda. You've built a new life with them. I know that your mother hurt you, but I also know how much you love her. I won't get between you and your family again," he answered quietly. "I love you too much to force you to choose."
"Zach, I love you for this, I really do… but you are not interfering in my life… you are my life. Bianca and Miranda are building their own in Pine Valley… and while I love my sister and our niece, they are not more important than you… than us. It's our life together… wherever we choose to live it… that matters to me," Kendall answered quietly.
"Then I'll wrap things up as quickly as possible and join you soon. I hope you don't mind living at the casino for a little while until we find a place of our own … since you sold your condo," he answered with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
Kendall leaned down and kissed him slowly and tenderly before pulling away and looking him directly in the eyes, "Actually I do mind. I have no intention of moving back to Pine Valley on a permanent basis." Zach looked at Kendall in confusion but waited patiently for her to continue. She smiled and snuggled back into his arms and said, "It's Bianca's turn to be the center of Erica's universe. I sold my condo, and I'm no longer a partner in Fusion. You have an excellent manager at The Seasons East and he is living in your old condo… which means that we've both cut our ties to that town and all the misery it holds. As far as my family is concerned… I think short holiday visits are more than enough time to spend with them… except for Bianca and Miranda who will spend time with us no matter where we are. Now, why don't you tell me about your plans? You know… the ones in that folder on your desk? As far as I'm concerned there's only one change that you'll need to make to them."
"Reservations for two?" he asked her with a grin.
"Well… that, too," she laughed. "No… I've grown accustomed to being Mrs. Zach Slater and I think that you like it, too. I insist that you keep that name."
"With pleasure," Zach replied warmly. He lay quietly holding her, his brow furrowed at the conflict he felt from her previous words. After a few moments thought he continued, "Kendall, I love you. That will never change. But you don't have to give up your life and your family for me. Those plans I made were for going on without you… I don't need them any more than I need to give up my name."
Kendall rested on his chest so that he could see her face as she replied with quiet intensity, "Maybe I need them, Zach. I've learned a lot over the past year… and one of the things I learned was to fight for what I want. I lost a lot in that accident, Zach… things I couldn't afford to lose… but none of them was irreplaceable… except for you." She paused to take a ragged breath, tears falling down her cheeks and landing against his chest. He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hands in her hair and making soothing noises until she continued, "Bianca and I talked about you a lot… and I decided that when I found you, I would give us a real chance… and that means not living in Pine Valley where everyone will be watching our every move and hoping that we fail. At least everyone except for Bianca and Myrtle… and that is not how I choose to live my life."
"Are you absolutely certain? You and Bianca have spent so much time together… and I know how much you missed her when she was living in Paris. Do you really want to be separated like that again?" he asked.
"We have Bianca's blessing. She and Miranda brought me here to find you and they are leaving tomorrow after we join them for breakfast. We will always have a place to stay with them when we visit Pine Valley… but my home is here in your arms… and that is all that I want or need," Kendall answered.
Zach lifted her chin so that she could meet his gaze directly and he saw the truth of her words in her eyes. Pulling her to him he kissed her deeply and fervently, answering her in his own way. After several moments, he pulled away and answered, "I think tomorrow is soon enough to plan the rest of our lives, Mrs. Slater. Don't you?"
His heart felt near to bursting at the expression in Kendall's eyes, shining bright with tears and joy for the incredible man she had married and the future they would share as husband and wife. She nodded her head before laying it against him and relaxing in his warm embrace as he pulled her close. For the first time in both of their lives they faced a future that they could anticipate with joy.
Special thanks goes to Dr. VMW, whose medical advice was invaluable in creating this tale. Also thanks to GT, AF, and SW for their patience with my many medical questions. RH and JZ, thank you for your honest reviews and belief in Irreplaceable. CS, your support and friendship are without measure. Thank you all for your generosity. And TK -- thank you for Zach, and the inspiration.