DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 32

JULY 1983

In the very early morning hours, Holly wakes up in Robert's arms, totally content and blissfully happy after the last few hours they had shared. The candles around the room have burned low and the soft music still plays.

Knowing that Robert is asleep, Holly raises her head from Robert's chest and begins placing kisses on his face as she snuggles even closer to him until she eventually is laying on top of him. She then kisses his mouth passionately and silently pats herself on the back as she relishes in his response.

Moaning sensuously, Robert frees himself from her kiss with a satisfied smile. "And to think just yesterday I dreaded this."

Holly is baffled. "Dreaded what?"

He grins. "Well, I didn't know how I was ever going to be able to just sleep in the same bed with you. I was trying to invent excuses for me to sleep on the sofa."

Holly gives him another lingering kiss. "And to think that I was hoping to tempt you into seducing me. I had no idea I was actually chasing you away," She teases.

Robert looks at her in total shock. "So you put me through all of that torture on purpose?"

Holly shruggs her shouders. "Well, if you had went ahead and seduced me, you could have saved yourself some agony."

Robert's eyes open wide. "Funny. Now, are you going to make this up to me or not?"

"I guess I could go make your breakfast," Holly considers with a smile as her hands caress him.

"That is NOT exactly what I had in mind." Robert says as he stops her hands from exploring his bare flesh any further before he is driven totally mad.

Smiling, Holly wiggles her body, as if trying to get even closer to Robert. which causes him to groan aloud.

"You really are something," is the only words he can manage before crushing her mouth with his own.

He skimmed his hands along the glorious length of her, over her hips, down her thigh. Silky smooth satin. He deepened the kiss, determined to become lost in it, to have her lost in the sensations that they could stir to life together. They were good together, always had been. He could only hope that they would always come together with the ease that they did now.

Holly's hands stroked and teased as she trailed her mouth down his throat, along his chest, her tongue, heated velvet, leaving moisture in its wake. Robert slid his arms around her tightly, held her close, rolled them both over, until she was on her back. Holly opened her eyes to stare at him with silent understanding of the magnificent sensations between them. Her skin was flushed, her breathing harsh and rapid, her eyes glazed with glorious heated passion. Robert momentarily stared at her in awe. Had she ever been more beautiful? Had he ever wanted her more than he did at this moment? He knew for damn sure that she was the only woman who had ever made him feel this way. He bent down to kiss her once more as they followed each other into paradise, a place where only they existed.

As they drifted off to sleep, a light rain had begun to fall, and the sound of the drops pelting the roof only made their own private love nest seem even more seductive. Robert woke up to find Holly nestled in his arms, her head against the nook of his shoulder. The arm he had placed around her had begun to go numb, but it was a small inconvenience when compared to the pleasure of having the weight of her body pressed against his side, the fragrance of her hair, her perfume enticing him into taking deep breaths just so he could enjoy her unique scent, memorize it for the times when she wouldn't be near. That was the one fear that Robert could not shake. That he would not have her forever. That, just maybe, she would change her mind and decide that Luke was the one she wanted. Robert honestly did not believe he would be able to survive if that should happen.

Holly's eyes opened and in the shadowy glow of the candlelight, she could make out her husband staring at her very intently, as if he had questions only she could answer.

"What?" Holly whispers softly, trying to read his look.

Robert's arm automatically tenses around her. "Sometimes I have to take a moment to let myself believe this is real and not just my dreams."

Holly kisses his chest. "Haven't I proven to you yet just how real this is? Would you like me to do some more convincing?"

When Robert doesn't crack a joke, Holly realizes how serious he is being.

After a moment, Robert explains, "There is absolutly NO doubt in my mind that you were meant for me. Everytime I kiss you, I know everything is possible. All the questions and doubts melt away. When I see you across a room, all the dark places inside of me fill with your light. But, Holly, I need to know that you feel the same way. I have to know if what you are feeling for me is everlasting, not just for a week or a month or even a year, but for an eternity."

Hearing Robert voice his doubts and fears, moves Holly to tears. She knew that he seldom showed the world his emotions, but he did reveal them to her, had always done so, which was just one of the many reasons she had fallen in love with him. Who would think that this rough cop, an ex-government spy, could melt her with just a touch and a kiss? That this same man could yield a gun and shoot to kill if necessary but he also had such a soft heart.

"Robert," She says softly, yet seriously, "YOU are my forever love. From the very second I thought I was going to lose you from my life, I knew that you were all I would ever want or need, through all of eternity."

His voice cracking, Robert says, "But are you sure? What kind of marriage would it be if I have your loyalty, but Luke Spencer has your heart?"

"Robert, you know what I am saying is true," She insists. "You have always known, even when I didn't. When I wanted to run from those feelings, you were the one who made me face them. Just by looking into my eyes, you knew," She reminds him. "I had always known we had a strong bond, it just took me longer to admit that it was a very deep love, but you always knew. So, why are you doubting me?"

"Because," Robert explains, "I saw how torn you were when Luke returned. It made me remember how devastated you were when we thought he had died. Those feelings are too strong to just disappear over night, Holly. If you are just angry over his part in my shooting, you will eventually get over it. I don't want to be used as some sort of revenge."

Holly quickly looks up at him with hurt in her eyes. "Do you really believe I would do that?"

"Not intentionally, no." He assures her. "But maybe subconsiously."

Realizing the seriousness of Robert's feelings, Holly sits up in the bed. She pulls the sheet up around her as Robert also sits up. Knowing they have to get this settled before Robert drives himself crazy, Holly tries her best to explain her feelings.

"Robert, I can understand why you feel like this. I have definitely been nothing but confused since Luke's return. The sad thing is that it took something as tragic as your shooting for me to put everything into perspective. I was finally able to understand the difference between my love for Luke and my love for you."

"Listen, Holly, you don't have to go there," Robert says sadly. "I am well aware of your feelings, luv."

Holly looks at him in the dim light. "Are you really?" She asks. "Funny, because you never really asked me about them. Maybe you just assumed that you knew what I was feeling, just as I did. But I finally discovered the very big difference between my love for you and my love for Luke. Yes, when I believed Luke to be dead, I mourned him. I loved him, I did. He had helped me gain control of my life, he showed me so much about just living." Robert looks away, unable to look her in the eyes. Holly takes his hand in hers. "Look at me, Robert." He turns to look at her. "Even though I was devastated over Luke's death, I was able to move forward. I was able to see a future, and YOU were that future. I could see us living a full, wonderful life. But, darling, when I thought you were going to die, I could no longer see any future. I did not want to go one without you, not even for one minute, not even with Luke. I knew from that moment on that you were my everything, Robert. Youare my happiness, my heart, my life."

Robert looks at her, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. He grips her hands tightly. "Holly, I . . ."

"No, Robert. Please, let me finish. You think I am just being with you out of a sense of guilt or duty. But it is the total opposite of what you think. I have those feeling where Luke is concerned, not you. When Luke had returned, I just could not understand how or why I was able to put him behind me and move on with my life. I mean it was only a matter of months and I had fallen in love with his best friend. So I felt tremendous guilt and it was tough to admit that to myself. But you know what was really ironic? The fact that I felt a deeper guilt when I agreed to try again with Luke when I truly felt that I belonged with you. I was your wife and I didn't want to be with anyone else, not even Luke. I am sorry it took as long as it did for me to admit it. I know I have to explain all of this to Luke as well, and I will do my best to make him understand. It won't be easy, and I don't want to hurt him, Lord knows that I don't. But I can't and I won't sacrifice our happiness any longer." She has tears in her eyes as she frames his face with her hands. "YOU are the love of my life, Robert Scorpio. My forever love thru all of eternity. I don't ever want you to doubt me again, do you understand?"

His own eyes forming with tears, Robert pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly."Oh, Holly,"He whispers into her ear. "I have never in my life known a love as deep as this love I feel for you. Sometimes it scares me nearly to death." He leans back to look at her intensly. "But no matter how much pain has been involved, the joy I experience when I am with you, makes it all worthwhile. I could not go on without you, my luv."

When Robert bends to kiss Holly, she returns his kiss enthusiastically.

"I love you, Robert. With every part of my heart and soul, I love you. Please tell me that you believe me."

"I believe you," He murmurs against her mouth. "I believe you." He repeats as he lowers her down onto the bed. "I love you, Holly Scorpio. I love you. I love you."

They make love without reservations, without secrets, without guilt. It is their new beginning and as they gaze into each others eyes, they wordlessly communicate a message as old as time itself, love is all that matters, all that will ever matter. As they join their bodies, they join their hearts and souls as well. Both Robert and Holly are more content than they had ever been in their entire lives.