Author's note: Damerey Week is over, so I can finally get back to this. Just two more chapters after this one, folks! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope.

Chapter 24

Poe stared up at the ceiling. It was dark, nearly pitch black in the room, but he couldn't sleep. Rey slumbered peacefully beside him, her arm thrown over his stomach. He knew he was being stupid, but he couldn't get his mind to shut down. The Games were nearly over. They had one last performance at the Exhibition. Poe skipped the Exhibition in Sochi; Jannah—rightfully—didn't want anything to do with him after the meltdown in the long program. He and Rey didn't spend as much time on their Exhibition performance as the others, but he knew they were ready. That wasn't what kept him awake.

He was petrified that this would be their last performance together. Ever.

When Rey first burst into Poe's life, he'd been at the end of his rope. She was literally his last hope. He'd all but given up. He hated his life; he hated skating. He just couldn't admit it to himself then. Instead, he greeted her with snide comments and skepticism. He'd been so, so wrong. Rey didn't put up with his shit; she challenged him to be better. Not just as a skater, but as a person. He knew he had a long way to go, but he was so incredibly grateful that she didn't give up on him, even when he probably deserved it.

The idea that they would never skate together again made him sick.

Rey had rekindled his love for skating. The early mornings sucked. The constant training was hard. But when they were out on the ice performing…there was just something magical about it. Poe didn't want to lose that.

But they'd achieved their goal. They had their gold medals. They were at the pinnacle of their sport. They didn't have to prove anything to anyone. Was there a reason to keep skating? What had Holdo said? She wanted Poe to go out as a champion. Well, he was a champion now. He could retire with his head held high. But Rey…she was just starting out. If he chose to retire, where did that leave her? Where did that leave them? They were a couple now. Selfishly, Poe wasn't sure he could watch her skate with anyone else. The ice was their space. It was where they fell in love.

He didn't know what to do. They needed to talk about it, but Poe didn't want to ruin the happy bubble they'd been in since the moment he kissed her on the ice. All their old snarky bickering was gone. They still bickered, but it was about frivolous things. And it was never spiteful. Poe never wanted to be the reason she was upset again. He'd caused her enough heartache for one lifetime.

Frustrated, he carefully eased himself out from under her arm and swung his legs out of the bed. The floor was cold; Poe shivered as he picked his Gretzky sweater off the ground. The fabric was a bit chilly as he slipped it over his head, but it would warm up soon enough. He found his phone in his pants pocket and his AirPods on the dresser. Slipping the pods into his ears, he padded over to the window seat and peeled back the curtain.

The city stretched out before him in shining multicolored lights. Snow glittered as it fell. Poe could just make out the Olympic village from here. He flipped through his music, hoping that it would settle his mind. Some of the tracks made him smile; he'd added a few of Rey's preferred artists ages ago. Their musical tastes varied quite a bit, but Poe liked that they were both passionate about it. Most of his favorite songs made him think of Rey these days, not that it was a bad thing. At least it wasn't now. After Nationals, it had been a special kind of hell.

Poe settled on the window seat, staring out at the city. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve this chance with Rey. After the way he treated her, he deserved a good punch in the face and kick to the curb. But—against all the odds—she loved him. She loved him just as fiercely as he did her. He wanted to be the man she thought he was. This was their chance to start fresh, beginning with their own place, away from his dad.

But what would they do? It still came back to that. He didn't want this to be the last time they skated together. But he wasn't sure he wanted the stress that came with preparing for competitions again. He didn't want that kind of strain on them as a couple, not when it nearly destroyed them before they even got started. But it wasn't just his decision. Rey would certainly have an opinion. She was such a talented skater; he never wanted to hold her back.

He was going in circles. He couldn't know what Rey thought until he asked her.

After, he decided. He'd ask her after the Exhibition.

In the meantime, he would watch the snow fall out his window.

Rey woke up with a soft groan and rolled on her side. She reached for Poe, but the bed was strangely empty. She glided her hand over where her boyfriend had been when they fell asleep, but the sheets were cold. Where was he? "Poe?"

"Over here."

Rey sat up and pulled the sheet up to her chest. Not because she was shy about her nudity, but because it was a little chilly in the room. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Go back to sleep."

Rey frowned. It wasn't nothing if he wasn't in bed with her. Something was bothering him. She edged over to the side of the king size bed and twisted the sheet around her body as she stood. That warded off the chill a little bit. She shuffled over to where he sat, gazing out over the snowy city. He had his AirPods in, but he removed them when she approached. "Seriously, Rey. You need your sleep."

"So do you."

"I'm fine."

Rey brushed some of his curls back from his face and tilted her head curiously. "You can't fool me, flyboy."

He caught her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss across the back of it. He loved that she could read him so well, but in this moment, he hated it too. "Just thinking."

She quirked a brow at him; her eyes glittered in the silver light. "If you're thinking, then I must not be doing something right," she teased.

Poe chuckled. He reached for her, pulling her into his lap. She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and leaned her forehead against his. Poe soaked her in, calmness washing over him. Whenever he was troubled, Rey had the ability to remind him of what was important. He rubbed her back; slowly, their breathing synced up. "Sorry."

Rey's fingers—which had been carding through his hair—stilled. "What could you possibly be apologizing for?"

"I've been thinking about something, about us. I pushed it to the back of my mind all week, but we've got the Exhibition tomorrow and it all just crashed down all at once."

That sounded ominous. He couldn't be having second thoughts about them, could he? She searched her memory for a sign she might have missed. She admittedly wasn't an expert with this relationship stuff, but as far as she was concerned, Poe had been nothing but wonderful since that moment on the ice. Fighting had been the norm for them for so long; the change should have been jarring, but it wasn't. Once they could admit how they felt, everything seemed to fall into place. They still bickered, but it was usually over Poe's neat freak tendencies. Stupid things that didn't really matter. She bit her lip. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but she couldn't bear the forlorn look on his face. "You're not breaking up with me, are you?"

Poe's brow furrowed. "What? No!" He kissed her brow. "God, no." He cursed under his breath. This was exactly what he didn't want. He was messing this up again. "Rey, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don't even have words for how much I love you." He smoothed his thumb over her cheekbone. "Of course, that scares the hell out of me, because I'm still convinced I'll fuck it all up and lose you."

Rey ran her fingers over his stubbled jaw. "Talking to me would not be fucking it all up."

He sighed. "I know. I just didn't want to ruin our happiness with messy real life stuff."

"We have to start living our real life sooner or later," she reminded him. "Is this about you moving out of the compound? Because I could find my own..."

Poe cut her off with a kiss. "I honestly don't think I could sleep a wink now without you in my arms," he confessed. "I still want us to find our own place. If you still want that too."

Relief washed through her. "Thank god." She smiled. "And of course, I still want that, silly."

Poe laughed dryly. "It's gonna take me a little while to get used to this."

"Two years is a long time to wait."

"I'll say." He pressed his palm to hers and threaded their fingers together. "I've been thinking about what happens after that. We did what we set out to do, Rey. We won."

"Why am I sensing a 'but'?"

"You know I was going to retire after the Games, right? Win or lose, I was done."

"Was?"

"It was easy to go into this knowing it was my last skate. We were so angry with each other; I thought you'd be glad to see the back of me."

"Poe…"

"Let me finish. Things are different now, obviously. You made me love skating again, Sunshine. I didn't—I don't—want to skate without you. But…I don't want to spend the next four years the way we spend the last two. Training for another Olympics. I've spent my whole life training and I think I'm ready for something else. But you…you're just starting out. I would totally understand if you wanted to keep skating and competing." That was hard for him to say. Seeing her with another partner—even though he knew he had her heart—would be tough.

Rey sighed in relief. She'd imagined something much more dire. "Sounds to me like you're making some pretty big assumptions, flyboy."

"I know. This is a decision we need to make together, but I didn't want it to ruin our last few days here."

"Well, let's talk about it now."

"Rey…"

She carried on as if he hadn't spoken. "First, you're crazy if you think I'd want another partner. I'm not skating with anyone but you."

Poe blinked. "Do you hear me? I'm talking about retiring, Sunshine."

"Poe, four years ago, everyone said I should give up and move on. Where would we be if I'd listened to them? I'd still be working in Unkar's garage. We would never have met. That's just not acceptable." She toyed with the curls at the nape of his neck. "That said, I totally understand where you're coming from. Hockey consumed my life from the moment I got my first pair of skates. I love it. I'll always love it. But you know what? I found something—and someone—else to love."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if you want to retire from competitions, I'm okay with that."

"But…"

"These last two years were hard. The stress and pain? Not just physical, but mental? I don't want that hanging over us, do you?"

"That was one of my worries," Poe confirmed. "I don't want to quit skating; I love skating with you."

Rey grinned. "So that's our plan. We take some time off, get settled, and…"

"And what? Go on tour?"

"Is that what retired figure skaters do?"

Poe laughed. "Actually, yeah. Either that or coach or form a foundation or something."

"Maybe we'll wind up doing all those things."

Poe's face grew serious. "You know money's not an issue, right? I've got a trust; we can live on that for a long time."

"I don't care about your money, Poe."

"I know." He squeezed her waist. Rey was the most unpretentious person Poe had ever met. "You never did. I just wanted you to know that we really can do whatever we want. We can see the world. Or go on a road trip. Maybe visit all those arenas?" Rey smiled and ducked her head. "Anything you want, we can do it."

"I just want you," she replied honestly. "I don't want to waste another moment with you."

"That's all I want too." He leaned in and kissed her. It started sweet, but as happened so often, sweet didn't last. A mewling sound caught in Rey's throat; Poe deepened the kiss. Rey twisted in his arms; the sheet fell loose as she straddled his thighs. Poe skimmed his hands over her bared skin, memorizing her curves. Desire flared in his belly; he couldn't imagine a day where he didn't want her. Poe yanked the sheet away impatiently and swung his legs off the window seat. Rey wrapped hers around his hips, her lips pressing wet sucking kisses to his throat as he carried her to bed once more.

Poe stepped into the backstage area, looking for his partner. This was it. Their last performance. Well, their last as Olympic athletes. Poe felt calmer after their talk in the middle of the night. He truly would not have protested if Rey still wanted to compete, but hearing her say that she only wanted to skate with him was a relief. They were young and in love; they had their whole future ahead of them.

"Dameron!"

Poe turned; Finn was approaching. "Hey Finn."

"Where's Rey?"

"Still getting ready, I think."

"You don't know?" Finn said with a knowing grin.

"I'm not her keeper," Poe retorted.

"You've been attached at the hip all week, forgive my confusion."

Poe rolled his eyes. "We're not that bad."

Finn just laughed. "Yes, you are. But it's good. You're happy, right?"

Poe nodded. "Listen, I know we didn't get off on the best foot…"

"Water under the bridge, man. Just keep your promise and we'll be fine."

Poe unconsciously touched the ring that was sewn into his pocket, the ring he hoped to give to Rey. Soon. "Thanks, Finn."

"What are your plans when we get back Stateside?"

"Um…we're gonna take some time off. Enjoy this."

"You've earned a break." Poe was already a legend in the sport; his gold medal now made him one of the all-time greats. "After that?"

They hadn't told anyone about their decision, not even Leia. But Finn was Rey's friend; Poe hoped they could be friends too. "Let's just say the Russians will be all yours in four years."

Finn blinked. "Woah. Really?"

Poe nodded. "We want to focus on us and not competitions. If Rey wanted another partner…but she was very much against that. And she's stubborn."

"I couldn't tell," Finn deadpanned. "Seriously though, good for you. Do whatever makes you happy."

"Thanks, Finn."

"Are you being civil, boys?" Poe and Finn turned; Poe's jaw dropped in shock. He'd seen Rey in this costume before, but now he could appreciate her without guilt. She was stunning. The silver material clung to her slender figure, accentuating her curves; the skirt—such as it was—stopped at mid thigh and highlighted her long legs. The silver beading shimmered under the lights. Unlike their competitions, her rich chestnut hair was flowing over her shoulders, the sides held away from her face with loose braids.

Rey flushed. "Eyes up here, flyboy."

Poe just smirked back at her. "Kinda hard when you look like that, Sunshine."

"And that's my cue to leave," Finn muttered as Poe slipped his arms around her waist.

Rey ran her hands over Poe's bare forearms; he looked good enough to eat in his tight pants, white shirt and suspenders. He had the sleeves rolled up and the neck open, exposing more skin than he usually did on the ice. "Have I mentioned you look gorgeous?" Poe whispered, ignoring everyone around them and brushing a kiss to her throat.

Rey shivered; she loved the feel of his arms around her. He always made her feel safe and wanted. She really wanted to kiss him, but she didn't want to smudge her makeup. "You're not so bad yourself."

Poe gave her that happy cocky grin she loved. "Yeah?"

"Mmhmm." She reached down and squeezed his ass, just because she could. "I almost don't want to let anyone see you."

Poe suppressed a groan; his Rey liked playing with fire, it seemed. "Likewise."

"Would they miss us if we left?"

"Probably."

"Damn."

Poe pressed his forehead to hers. "Love you."

Rey's heart squeezed; she would not get tired of hearing that any time soon. "Love you too."

They needed to do their stretches prior to taking the ice. Reluctantly, Poe released her, and they methodically went through their pre-performance routine. Most of the others gave them a wide berth; a few of the female skaters looked at Rey with something akin to envy. She just smiled to herself; Rey was well aware of how lucky she was. It had been a hard road for them, but they got there in the end.

No, not the end, Rey realized. This was only the beginning. They would have a whole new life waiting for them when they arrived home. First, they were going to visit her family in Minnesota. Then they would return to Hartford and find their own place. There was so much to look forward to; it was going to be an adventure.

Performances in the Exhibition were meant to be fun. They weren't being judged, so they didn't have to do anything too technically challenging. Still, Poe being Poe, they did include one triple jump and one intricate lift. They were champions now; people would expect their best.

As they waited by the boards hand in hand, Rey looked over at Poe. He was looking around the arena at the audience, soaking it all in. One last time. She was so proud of him; he'd come such a long way from the angry surly man she'd met two years ago. She squeezed his hand; when he looked at her, his rich brown eyes welled with tears. "You okay?"

Poe sniffed, trying to get a hold over his emotions. He hadn't expected it to hit him this hard. "There is no one I would rather be doing this with, Sunshine."

"Right back at you, flyboy." She leaned over and brushed a gentle kiss to his lips; the crowd nearest to them started clapping. Rey and Poe shared twin happy smiles, then Poe led her out onto the ice.

Since their love of Ed Sheeran was one of the things that brought them together, they chose yet another Sheeran song for this performance. Looking back at things now, Poe realized he'd chosen this song for a reason. Even then, there was a part of him that knew Rey was perfect for him. He hoped she felt the same way about him. As the first notes of "Perfect" started to play, Rey gave him a dazzling smile.

The usual nerves and stress of performing were completely gone. They hadn't practiced this routine as much as the others, but Poe and Rey knew each other well enough now that it didn't matter. The love and trust between them shined through. It was fun. They didn't have to pretend to be a happy couple in love; they were that happy couple Sheeran sang about. Every moment they got close, every flirty look across the ice…the crowd ate it up. Poe couldn't stop grinning; he hadn't had this much fun in a long, long time. Everything felt effortless.

As the song swelled for the last time, Poe pulled Rey into their final lift, spinning them across the ice. He set her down perfectly and drew them into one final spin. When the music ended, they were still at center ice, wrapped in an embrace.

The cheering wasn't quite as deafening as the night they won gold, but it was close. They were clearly the fan favorites. Poe held Rey's hand as they waved to the crowd. He didn't let go as they turned to each side of the rectangular rink and took their final bows. Poe's throat thickened with emotion once more; this moment would never have been possible without the woman at his side. He didn't attempt to hide the stray tears that slid down his cheeks.

It was the perfect way to end his Olympic career.

Rey studied her reflection in the mirror one last time. Poe had been quite put out when she insisted he share a drink with his dad before turning in for the night. They were leaving Korea the next day; it would be at least a week until father and son saw each other again. That depended on how much time they spent with her family in Minnesota.

Of course, she had an ulterior motive.

It was something she had been thinking about since they won gold. It was probably cheesy and over the top, but she thought Poe would like it.

Rey dragged her brush through her hair one last time; it still carried some of the waves from the braids she'd had in earlier. She'd already washed off her makeup; she probably would never get used to wearing that much. It was fine for the ice, but not when she was alone with Poe. He loved her just as she was. He'd already seen her at her best and her worst.

She shut off the light to the bathroom and stepped into the bedroom. Most of their things were already packed; there was a small mountain of luggage in the foyer of the villa. Rey smoothed down the duvet on the bed and dimmed the lights. She'd never done anything quite like this; she was surprised how nervous she was. She lit a few candles; her hand trembled.

She was being ridiculous. It was Poe. She remembered vividly the way he looked at her when she came out of the dressing room back at the rink; the heat in his gaze made her shiver in anticipation. She couldn't make a fool of herself, not with him. He was the one person she trusted completely. Carefully, Rey slipped the ribbon over her head, allowing the weight of the medal to settle against her chest. Then she yanked open the sash of her robe and allowed the silk to flutter to the floor.

Now all she had to do was wait.

Poe knocked back the last of his drink, relishing the burn down his throat. He couldn't recall the last time he and Kes had a conversation that wasn't filled with tension and expectations. After the emotional evening at the rink, all Poe wanted to do was spend the night with Rey, but she wanted him to talk to his dad. Kes was surprised too, but welcomed Poe with a glass of his preferred brandy.

They didn't talk about the changes that were coming. Both seemed to sense that it was still a sensitive topic, so they stuck with nostalgia. It was nice, reminiscing with his dad. Kes reminded him of things he'd forgotten years ago. It was the first time Poe had heard his dad talk about Shara in years. But now it was getting late and he wanted Rey.

"I think I'm gonna turn in," Poe said, setting his glass aside.

"You're changing planes in Los Angeles?"

"Yeah. We'll call as soon as we land in Minneapolis, Dad."

Kes cleared his throat. "Uh, if you don't mind, I could ask my agent to look into potential condos in Hartford. For when you come home."

Poe blinked, surprised. "Dad…"

Kes shook his head. "I realize now that I've been holding on to you, Poe. Too hard. I have to let you go and find your own path. But I'm still your father and I'd like to help if you'll let me."

This was hard for him, Poe realized. Poe was the only family Kes had left. He would be alone in the mansion. "I'd appreciate that. Thanks."

Kes set down his drink and came over to hug his son. "I am so proud of you, mijo. I love you."

"Love you too, Dad." Poe said his good nights and headed upstairs. He couldn't wait to tell Rey the news! He opened the door to his room, wondering briefly why it was so dark. "Rey, you'll never guess…" Poe stopped abruptly, stunned speechless. Rey stood by the dresser, a shy smile on her beautiful face. She was wearing her gold medal…and nothing else.

Rey struggled not to fidget under his scrutiny. Her shyness had pretty much melted away after their first time in the nearby bed, but she'd never flagrantly seduced someone like this before. She was more than a little nervous. "I'll never guess what?"

Poe gave his head a little shake. "Doesn't matter." He crossed the room in five strides, stopping in front of her. The orange glow from the candle flickered over her pale skin; Poe reached up and stroked her cheek. "This is a surprise."

She turned her head and pressed her lips to his palm. "Yeah?"

Poe suppressed a shiver as his eyes raked over her. She was so exquisite; he couldn't believe he'd won her heart. "I love it." He leaned in and kissed her; he could taste the lingering champagne on her tongue from the post Exhibition party at the rink. Rey sighed and skimmed her hands over his clothed chest. Poe pulled her close, relishing the feeling of her bare skin under his fingertips. Her fingers sank into his curls, pulling slightly as his tongue stroked sinfully against hers.

Poe twisted them slightly, so Rey was pressed against the dresser, his hips keeping her pinned exactly where he wanted her. "I've been waiting for you," he growled, ducking to nip and suck at the delicate skin of her throat. They didn't have any performances anymore; he could mark her anywhere he wanted to.

"Since this morning?" she breathed, arching into him. They'd made love in the wee hours, after their talk about the future. And again in the shower before breakfast. They just couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other, which was more than fine with Rey. They had two years of lost time to make up for.

Poe chuckled. "Since the moment you walked into my rink," he breathed, pressing kisses along her collarbone.

"Took you long enough to figure it out."

"I'll make it up to you." He leaned back long enough to get his sweater over his head; it hit the floor with a soft swoosh. Rey pulled him back in, kissing him fiercely. Poe's fingertips traced the ribbon of her medal, sliding down and tracing the curve of her breasts. Rey moaned and arched into his touch, a jolt of need settling between her thighs. She was so damn responsive; Poe thoroughly enjoyed discovering all the little things that made her want.

Rey bit her lip, squeezing her thighs together to ease the ache. "Poe…"

"Ah, ah, I'm taking my time with you, sweetheart." He slanted his lips over hers, kissing her slowly, exploring her the way he'd imagined in his dreams. After months—no, years—of wanting her, he wanted to savor every moment. Rey carded her fingers through his curls, tightening her grip as more heat pooled in her belly. She rocked instinctively against him; she could feel how badly he needed her. Poe groaned, his pants painfully tight. Abruptly, he ducked and curled his hands under her thighs, lifting her as easily as he did on the ice. Rey wrapped her legs around his waist, letting out a little mewl of need as he carried her to the bed. He laid her out in the middle of it before toeing off his shoes and loosening his pants. He moaned in relief as the pressure eased on his cock; as he kicked the denim away, he caught Rey watching him. Her hazel eyes were hooded, nearly black with lust; she had her lip caught between her teeth. He would die happily if he got a lifetime of her looking at him like that. He smirked at her and eased his fingers into the waistband of his boxer briefs. He peeled them down slowly, knowing she was watching. "See something you like, love?"

"Get over here."

"So bossy."

"You love it."

Poe just grinned. He climbed into the bed and crawled his way up her body. He paused every few inches to press kisses to her skin; the heady scent of her arousal washed over him. But he ignored her sex completely. For the moment. Instead, he sucked a mark on her hip, holding her by the waist as she squirmed. He moved higher, his stubble scratching roughly at her skin. Rey braced herself on her elbows; her head fell back as he took a pert nipple between his lips and sucked. "Fuck," she cursed as more wetness flooded her core.

"Soon, sweetheart." He made no protest when she reached for him and fused her lips to his. They rolled until Poe was on his back; her medal settled on his chest. "We're leaving this on," he growled, tugging gently on the ribbon.

"Oh, fuck."

"Isn't that what you wanted, Sunshine?" he whispered in her ear. "For me to fuck you wearing your medal?"

It was, but hearing him say the words made her dizzy with need. If she'd known this was what she'd been missing out on, she'd have seduced him ages ago. "God yes."

"That's my girl." He kissed her again, long slow kisses that made her dizzy. Well, dizzier. She couldn't stop touching him, her hands tracing the well-defined muscles of his chest and arms. In her past, she was a one and done kind of girl, but she knew she'd never have enough of this. His hands were everywhere, setting her whole body alight.

"Poe…I need…"

"I know." He grabbed her hips and coaxed her to grind against his swollen cock. She was very slick, coating him with her arousal. Rey whined as the firm ridge hit her just right, sending waves of pleasure through her. "That's it. Let me see you come, darling."

She needed so much more than this, but she trusted Poe would take care of her. He always did. She kissed him hard as the pressure mounted; Poe squeezed her ass as she chased her high. She shattered in his arms, breaking their kiss with a low curse as the climax rolled through her. She was so beautiful; Poe wanted to memorize the look on her face. He'd made her feel this way. After years of yearning for her, she was finally his.

Rey panted for air; her body buzzed with pleasure and yet, she wasn't sated. She needed more. She needed Poe. Still short of breath, her lips found his for a lazy kiss. "Love you."

"Love you too." He eased her onto her side; the medal laid flat on the bed. "Ready for me?"

"Mmhmm." She started to roll onto her back, but Poe stopped her. Instead, he straddled her thigh and lifted her left leg over his shoulder. Rey was suddenly very thankful for all those hours spent improving her flexibility. Her eyes never left Poe's lust-drenched brown ones; light from the scattered candles made his bronze skin glow. Their hands tangled together as he pushed inside her; Rey didn't try to stifle her moan.

Poe squeezed her hand. "God, you feel…" Poe wasn't an inexperienced novice, but he'd never felt like this. It was like Rey had been made for him. Sharing these intimate moments with her was precious; he'd never felt so connected to someone. Not just physically, but in every way. She was in his blood, his soul. He never wanted her to leave.

Rey tugged on his hand; Poe slowly started to move. He was in no hurry, content to build her back slowly, relishing every soft sigh and moan that tumbled from her lips. He cupped one of her breasts with his hand, plucking at her nipple as he steadily rode her into the mattress. Rey arched and gasped, the pressure building low in her belly again. Poe looked like a golden god above her, his handsome face a mask of pleasure as he fucked her. Rey clawed at the duvet, torn between begging for more and reveling in the feel of him moving inside her. Poe leaned over her, her leg falling off his shoulder and over his hip. He braced his hands on the bed and moved harder, faster, grunting with the effort. Rey gasped harshly; the abrupt change in angle had her seeing stars.

"Fuck, don't stop," she whined.

Poe ducked his head, pressing kisses to her exposed throat. "Why do you always feel so good?" he breathed. "You make me so fucking crazy."

She twisted enough to pull his lips down to hers. "Likewise." It had been like that from the beginning, this passion between them simmering under the surface. They'd denied it for too long; it demanded to be set free. Which was more than fine with her. "More."

Part of him wanted to just ride them both into oblivion, but he needed her in his arms. He slipped from her, smiling as she whined in complaint. He settled on his haunches and tugged Rey into his lap. She flashed him a knowing grin as she leaned in to kiss him. That kiss swallowed her moan as she sank onto his aching cock, filling her once more. Her medal bounced between them as she rode him steadily, building back their lost momentum. Poe's hands slid over her back, reveling in her softness. "My beautiful girl."

Rey kissed him as her heart squeezed. She loved him so much; she couldn't wait to see what their rest of their lives brought. She prayed for more days like this. "I love you."

Poe knew he wouldn't tire of hearing that. And he would never take it—or her—for granted. He kissed her again as he slipped his free hand between them. He found where they were joined and started to circle her swollen nub. Rey moaned into his mouth; pleasure spiked through her. "That's it. Come for me, love," he growled in her ear.

His words were too much; her orgasm crashed into her like a freight train. She screamed, her blunt nails digging into his shoulders as he rode her through it. Her walls squeezed him; her body begging him to follow her. Poe's fingertips dug into the soft skin of her hips as he held her against him, rutting into her hard and deep. He didn't last long, her warmth too much. He gasped out her name as he climaxed, holding her flush against him as he spilled himself inside her still spasming sex.

Rey collapsed against his chest; Poe curled his arms around her as they struggled to breathe. He held her until their hearts settled into a more normal rhythm while gently peppering her skin with kisses. "Love you, Sunshine," he whispered.

Rey smiled into his shoulder. She'd waited so long to hear him say that; it was still just as magical as it was the first time. She raised her head and kissed his lips. "I should clean up."

Poe leaned his head against hers. "I don't want to let you go."

"I'll be right back." She smiled at him, then she carefully climbed off his lap. Her legs were a little sore, but it was worth it. She padded over to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

Poe went through the room and blew out all the candles. He switched off the overhead lights in favor of the smaller lamp on the nightstand. The duvet was a wrinkled mess but useable for the night. He turned the bed down, climbed in and waited for Rey. As he stared at the ceiling, he fingered the ring around his neck. The anxiety he'd felt last night was gone. He'd worried for nothing. Finally, he and Rey were on the same page. It still felt a little surreal, almost like a dream he would wake up from.

For the first time in his life, Poe knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted to keep skating, but without the stress of competition. He wanted his own place. More than either of those things, he wanted Rey. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He knew that without a doubt. The ring around his neck belonged to her. He just had to muster the courage to give it to her.

Rey emerged from the bathroom and padded over to the dresser. She lifted the medal over her head and placed it carefully back in its box. She'd never look at it quite the same way, but it made her smile. It was a happy memory that she shared with the man she loved. It was everything.

"Everything okay?"

Rey quickly returned to bed. "Everything's perfect."

Poe kissed the top of her head as she settled in his arms. "Sure?"

"I mean, I'm not looking forward to the long flight."

"You can just sleep on my shoulder again."

Rey looked up at him. "Again?"

Poe blushed. "Yeah. You kinda fell asleep on my shoulder on the way here. It was nice."

"Why don't I remember that? Why didn't you say anything?"

"We were barely speaking," Poe reminded her. "I didn't want to piss you off. I assumed you still hated me."

"Poe…"

"I know you never really hated me. But it felt like you did. And I deserved it." He never wanted to repeat those mistakes. It almost cost him everything.

"We both did things that nearly fucked this up. But it's in the past. Fresh start, remember?"

"I just don't want to take you for granted. I want to do this right."

"You're off to a good start."

Poe smiled. "Thanks, Sunshine."

"No, Poe, I mean it. I only got to see glimpses of this Poe, you know, before. It was enough to make me fall in love with you."

"Rey…"

"Okay, you were an ass. A lot. So was I. But after the puck incident…"

"Where I smacked you in the face?"

"I knew you cared. I knew there was more to you."

"You scared the shit out of me," he confessed softly. "That's why I was so horrible to you. I will always be sorry for that."

"I know." She kissed him sweetly. "That's how I know we're gonna be alright. Sure, we'll bicker sometimes. Maybe even fight. But I know you love me, Poe. And I love you. I know how it feels thinking I'd lost you for good. I don't ever want to feel like that again."

"Me too. It was awful."

"So, let's not dwell on the past. We've got so much to look forward to."

Poe kissed her brow, smiling as she pillowed her head on his chest. "Speaking of, Dad had a suggestion earlier."

"What's that?"

"He offered to have his agent look for condos for us while we're in Minnesota."

"Really?"

"I was surprised too. I hate the thought of him alone in that big house, but we need our own space."

"Poe, are you sure?"

He nodded. "I've never been on my own. I mean, I won't be alone, but you understand, right?"

"I do. We still need to break the news to Rose and Paige."

"I need to convince them I'm worthy of their little sister."

Rey swatted his chest. "Don't start."

"Rose looks fierce. I need to watch my back."

Rey laughed. "You have no idea."

"As long as I've got you, I say bring it on."