It had been one the happiest days in Taylor's life. That morning Ryan had come and claimed her as his and afterwards, they had gone back to her dorm and made love. His hands and lips on her body had sent chills up and down her body, and afterwards, when they had spent their passion, Taylor had lay comfortably in his arms, happy and pleased with the world.
"I could stay like this forever." She had murmured; he had kissed her in reply. It had been a long, sweet kiss, one that had made her warm with desire again. They would have continued if not for the exam which was looming and impending. The exam had come and go; she had aced it and after returning, found Ryan, still in bed, waiting for her.
That had been several hours ago; now they walked hand in hand through campus, enjoying their time as a new couple. She would still stop from time to time to ask Ryan to pinch her, or to reach out and touch his face and lips. They were warm and real; this wasn't a dream and Ryan smiled at her because it amused him that she was so happy, so desperate to make sure this was truly happening.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Only a little." Ryan called her adorable and squeezed her hand warmly. "I'm just as happy as you are."
"I don't think anyone can be as happy as I am right now." The girl giggled as memories of that morning and afternoon floated through her mind. "It's been perfect hasn't it?"
"Very perfect." Ryan took her by the waist and pulled her into her. "I can't wait for some more perfection tonight."
"Oh really?" It was a long kiss, it grew in its passion and Taylor had to push him away before she truly lost her head. "We're being indecent." Two girls had seen their kiss and their looks of disgust amused Taylor. "We should get back."
"What about your roommate?"
"I don't know—she keeps very strange hours."
"It will be nice this summer when you're living with Anna." They had found a place, a charming two bedroom near the campus. "We wont have to worry about roommates."
"So we're going to make this work?" It was a topic she hadn't really thought about; Taylor and Ryan had both been swept up in the day and they hadn't stopped to consider how things would progress past these few days.
"Of course—I hope so." He seemed to notice the worry that had passed over her face and his blue eyes grew serious. "You want to make this work don't you?"
"I do—so much."
"Then what's wrong?" Taylor shrugged his shoulders and he seemed to understand. "You worried about me?"
"You found Sadie last time—you weren't that happy when I was in France."
"I know—but Brown is a lot closer then the Sorbonne." Ryan told her that last time, when they had reconnected at Julie Cooper's almost wedding, they hadn't much time to lay a foundation for the relationship. "We'll have this summer to make things really good for us. I can spend some time here, you can come to Berkeley when you're done with school." He was so serious, so solemn. Taylor told herself that he wanted to make it work, was determined to be with her, no matter the distance.
"I'd like that—I'd like to see Sophie again." She took his hand and was happy again. "We should try and talk at least once a day, even if it's for five minutes."
"No matter how busy school gets." They were walking aimlessly; Taylor herself seemed to have no sense of direction. The young woman was lost in her happiness, in this pleasant dream that was not a dream. "Sandy knew this would happen."
"That we'd be together?" Ryan nodded his head; he told her that Sandy, even when Ryan was with Sadie, had said that he suspected Ryan still had strong feelings for Taylor, and that it might be a matter of time when Ryan would feel those feelings come to the front of his heart. "He drove me to the airport and he couldn't stop smiling about us."
"I'll have to thank him for bringing us back together." They paused before a bench and sat down; she thought about all the people she'd have to tell of her happiness: Summer, Anna, Cordelia, her friend Albertine in Paris. Seth of course already knew. "Seth did a good job of keeping it all a secret."
"I promised him a painful death if he told you anything."
"Weren't you worried I'd say no?"
"Honestly?"
"Of course."
"I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss in February; I didn't have any worries."
"It was a good kiss." Ryan took her face in his hands and pulled her lips close. "Would you like me to refresh your memory?"
"Please do." Whenever he smiled at her Taylor's heart skipped a beat. She kissed him and again she felt that burst of electricity. "I really hope that your roommate is gone for a couple of hours."
"We can work something out if she is there." Ryan began to kiss her neck slowly and Taylor let out a small gasp of pleasure. "We can definitely work out something." She felt a shiver go through her body as his lips slid down to her collar bone; his hands were on her legs and were slowly sliding up her skirt to her thighs. There was no one passing by; giving in to the temptation she slightly opened her legs further, allowing him more access with his hands.
Taylor let out a moan of pleasure as Ryan's hand stroke her inner-thigh. She desperately wanted to take him then and there but the murmur of voices from down the path awoke her to the reality of where they were. With a coy look, she pulled away from him and sat up. "You're getting to get us into trouble." Taylor smoothed out her skirt and reached out her hand to Ryan. "Come on, take me home."