DISCLAIMER: All places and characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real places and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
CAPÍTULO CUATRO
~ladyeire~
Esme cuddled the little boy in her arms as he cried. Dekoe and his family lived on the outskirts of the village and had been some of her biggest supporters since coming back ten years ago. She was all he had now. His parents were in the tent when the first aftershock hit and fell into the chasm created by the force. He was not yet three and an orphan. Never in her life had she been more thankful to return to her village than after completing her degree in the U.S.
Laying her cheek on top of his little head, she took stock of where they were. There wasn't time to pay attention to the direction as they ran. The only objective was to get the hell out of the way. Almost everyone who had survived the aftershock was standing around, trying to catch his breath and take stock of who was worse off than before.
Carlisle was speaking about finding a satellite phone to a young woman and a younger man Esme assumed was his son. The girl, while most definitely a stranger, had the look of one of her people. Tilting her head, she caught a look that reminded her of someone she'd known as a child. Rather than open the old wound the loss of her favorite cousin had created, she turned to look at Carlisle. She took her time taking in the handsome doctor from Doctors Without Borders. He was tall and lean with hair the color of the wheat fields she'd seen while living in the United States. Even dulled by the dirt caked in it, she could tell it would shine in the sun when clean.
Holding Dekoe closer, she chided herself for such silly thoughts in the face of such enormous loss.
"You won't find any communication here that is in working order, I'm afraid. We'll need to gather anything of use and pack all the survivors into available vehicles to head back to the city. Just outside of the village, I know where there are a few old but functional buses we can use."
She was standing very close to Carlisle when she spoke, and as he turned to listen, her tongue twisted around the words she meant to say. It had been so long since she had spoken English regularly that she feared her words were hard to understand. Tumbling over whole sentences because a man looked at her was ridiculous.
"I'll go get the buses now. Carlisle, you tend to the injured."
She turned quickly, avoiding the handsome man's eyes, and whistled for one of the young village men to follow her. An hour later, they were back with buses, rickety as they were, to begin loading the survivors and get them all to safety.
~Mommymac0508~
Slowly they got up and started to get busy. Edward and Bella were looking for anything that might be used as supplies while Carlisle and Esme tended to the injured.
When all was done, Carlisle said, "We need to get to the buses and load everything and everyone up before another aftershock hits." He turned to look at Esme, still holding the child, and pleaded, "Please stay close to me."
After hearing his dad, Edward looked to Bella, checking her over with his eyes again. With a shaking hand, he grabbed Bella's and said, "Please don't let go. I need to feel you next to me at all times. Please."
Bella looked deeply into his eyes. She could see so much in them: fear, hope, need, and something she wasn't sure of.
Softly, she answered, "I will stay close to you with all that I have. I won't let go."
Pulling Edward close, she held him tight for a moment before stepping back. Still holding hands, they both took a deep breath and turned to Carlisle, ready for his direction. Esme then turned to everyone and said, "Okay, everyone! We need to get to the city where it is safe, away from the dangers of aftershocks. We need to board these buses, so please keep up, and if you need any help, call out. We don't want anyone left behind."
All around Edward and Bella, the shattered victims rose to start the long hike to the bus and to safety.
~Breath-of-Twilight~
Bella tried to stay true to her word and not let go of Edward. For the most part, she did just that, clenched her hand in his and held on for dear life. She had an odd feeling coursing through her. Even though Edward had been in her life for far longer than she could recall, she had never looked at him quite the way she had in the last few hours. She could no longer picture a future, her future, without him in it.
She sat quietly contemplating her feelings, those for Edward, those for the devastating events that had unfolded that very day, and those that were back home with her family who were no doubt worried sick about her.
She noticed Esme motioning for her and looked longingly at Edward's sleeping form. She didn't want to wake him nor did she have any intention of breaking her word to Edward, but the desperation in Esme's eyes as she attempted to help a profusely bleeding woman while holding a rag to a gash on an unconscious man's throat at the same time spurred her forward and away from Edward's comforting touch.
.
.
.
By the time Bella finally took in the surrounding area, the rusty bus was turning onto a surprisingly debris-free stretch of road. During the approximately four-hour drive, Bella and Esme had patched up, aided, comforted, or cried with almost every person on the bus. Bella sighed and held her hand out to grab onto the nearest bench seat, feeling her head fill with dizziness and her body sway with the bus's movements just as Edward's wild eyes met her fluttering ones.
"Bella. Bella?"
She attempted to smile although she was sure it was anything but. "I'm right here. I'm fine, just exhausted. We made it to the next town. Everything here seems…well, almost normal," she whispered as her eyes left Edward's and she again peered out of the bus's mud-caked windows. Houses stood proud and pretty in the rows they had always been in. People sat outside on their porches, small radios at their sides, listening intently. The sense of loss and worry of the unknown was thick in the air and easy to read on each person's face as the bus drove by, but aside from the town's obvious fear, likely for what was going on in the town the big bus had just left, everyone…everything here was completely normal. Allowing her eyes to take it all in, Bella finally felt hope, hope that they could help the injured recover and slowly begin to rebuild whatever was left behind from the thunderous quakes that had gutted the neighboring town.
~ThisIsReallyHappening~
The atmosphere of the town seemed almost deceptive. Beneath the beauty and welcome that the residents made as they waved at the incoming bus lay a sweet buzzing of gossip that Bella was sure would begin once they heard the specific news of the earthquake nearby. They would want details, graphic descriptions that Bella wanted no part of. Both she and Edward had barely escaped with their lives as it was.
Finally, the bus came to a grinding halt, jerking the passengers onboard forward. Grabbing what little they had salvaged, Bella followed behind Edward, shuffling onward like sheep without a destination. When Bella's feet hit solid ground, she and the rest of the travelers stood aloof until a frail, old gentleman with lines that had withstood the test of time approached them with concern.
"Welcome to Amanecer. I am Ephraim. I own the mercado—or market, as your people might be more accustomed to—just down the road. We all heard the devastating news."
Carlisle shook Ephraim's withered hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Yes, it has been quite the journey. We have come to get help for the many who were injured."
"But first, let's get you all settled. You are hungry, are you not?"
With the previous desolate expression long gone, Edward looked up in hope. "I could eat."
.
.
.
Ephraim's hospitality was more than they deserved. He boiled many rare ingredients into a soup that created an explosion of flavors on Bella's palate. Every person from the bus was now huddled in small groups, hovering over bowls, and speaking whispered words.
To Bella's surprise, she moved a strand of Edward's hair from falling into his bowl as he stood, hunched over, devouring the food like a madman. She hoped Edward didn't take it as an insolent gesture, but he gazed down at her, smiling despite their circumstance. The physical contact warmed her involuntarily as if she had no control over her own body.
"There's no use, you know," Edward teased, letting the coil of hair bounce back. "It has a mind of its own. Besides, that's the least of my problems."
"You survived death," Bella recounted, trying to make light of the situation. "Next on your bucket list: buy hair gel."
"And if I don't?"
Bella tapped her chin, pretending to contemplate a consequence. "I'll cut it all off. Think of it as a favor. For you. For mankind. For soups everywhere."
Edward nudged her with his shoulder. "You play dirty, woman, but I like it!"
Bella giggled, placing her bowl down on the table as Carlisle cleared his throat.
"All right, everyone, Ephraim is willing to give us all the supplies we need in order to help those affected by the earthquake. Those who wish to help out, circle around, and we'll divide up the responsibilities . . ."
Bella half-listened as Carlisle divided up chores for those willing to volunteer, too caught up in her own thoughts. As much as Bella needed the rest, there were still people suffering, and she wanted to help. They needed to collect what they could and get back immediately. Not only that, but she still had a job to do in Aurora. She knew she had to return to cover the FIFA World Cup, but she wasn't ignorant to all that had transpired in such a short period of time.
Would the pictures Edward was so passionate in taking change into bursts of vibrant images, or would the image of her remain as they always had—black, white, and uninspiring?
~postapocalypticdepository~
Everyone worked quickly to move the supplies onto the bus. Having worked part-time loading trucks for FedEx while still in college, Edward was responsible for packing everything as tightly as possible, making things fit perfectly, much like Tetris configurations. His structured arrangement of all the supplies additionally afforded him an opportunity to create comfortable seating for everyone as well as a cozy little nest at the back of the bus away from the others where both he and Bella could have some needed privacy to discuss their newly formed relationship.
Edward also hoped he could return the favor by providing a peaceful place for Bella to sleep. She had stubbornly refused to go back to Aurora, and considering that she was still recovering and should be resting from her head injury, he reasoned she was still in danger of blood clots and could have complications from her trauma. That additional incentive made it imperative for Bella to relax and for Edward to care as much as he could for her. Once everyone got back to the quake zone, he knew there would be little sleep for anyone until organized relief teams such as the Red Cross began taking over.
Bella boarded the bus—the one that was taking everyone back to the shaken land of despair and uncertainty—and took her seat next to Edward. For the next few hours and on into the night she wouldn't think about the dreadfulness: the horrific sights, agonizing sounds, stomach-turning smells, and acrid tastes. Instead, she would concentrate on a handsome man and his caring soft touches while feeling a heavenly mound of pillows and blankets beneath her, thankful she felt at ease and comfy like a princess without the pea.
With Bella almost asleep, Edward couldn't keep his query in any longer. He cleared his throat, signaling he needed her desired attention before she completely nodded off. "Bella, are you awake? I promise, sweetheart, I'll let you sleep after this; however, there has been something that has been bothering me for a long time that I need to ask you."
"Go on." Any of Bella's sleepiness pushed itself aside as she felt somewhat afraid and slightly anxious, not knowing what Edward had been harboring all of these years.
"Here goes." Edward took a deep breath, steadying himself for any answer she gave. "Bella, going back in time to prom again, I truly have to know why you never acknowledged my invitation, my pictures." Edward gently caressed Bella's hand, letting her know he'd accept any answer as long as he finally got one.
"Edward?" Bella looked at him as if she could see straight into his soul. As long as she didn't reach into his chest and rip out his heart with her words, he'd take whatever she was willing to offer.
Before Edward clarified his request, he paused briefly and watched Bella intently. He watched how beautiful her face was when lit by the dancing flashes of the golden street lamps as the bus passed underneath them. He observed how gorgeous her brown eyes were at this time of night. Black consumed nearly every bit of them, leaving her two perfect domes—her planetariums—filled with spritely stars, trailing comets . . . unending hope, twinkling, casting the reflection of her world back at him every time a flash passed by. He also spied her luscious lips, the heart-shaped ones always frequenting his dreams, usually plump, moist, and full, but now dried, split, and withered from unforeseen circumstance but nevertheless, completely desirable because they still belonged to her. In fact, there wasn't anything undesirable about her. Edward wanted it all, just the way she was. He always had, and he knew he always would.
"Just tell me, Bella, please. Do you know how much courage it took for me to stage those pictures? I bought a brand new suit with money I earned working. I also tamed my unruly hair without having to cut it. I even bucked up and went buff, getting naked. I honestly didn't know how to ask you. I was so nervous. I figured if I combined the two things I was passionate about, you and pictures, I'd be able to pull it off. I'd bare myself and become vulnerable so you'd see my sincerity, my honesty, my admiration for you. I'd never done anything like that before in my life, nor have I done anything like that since. That highway pile-up of a mistake is all I've thought about. You are all I've thought about. Your rejection killed me. I was crushed and have never gotten over it—over you. After that fiasco, I just didn't care and didn't give much thought to steady relationships. I couldn't stand the thought of being hurt again. No one could match up to you, so it wouldn't matter. I had already fucked up."
"Oh God, Edward, I'm so sorry—if I had only known." Tears pricked at the corners of Bella's eyes. "When I discovered the envelope in my locker, I was caught off guard. I wasn't sure who put it in there. I wondered if I had a stalker or was being bullied. I carried it around with me for weeks, not opening it or knowing what to expect. After I had already picked out my dress that Mike wanted, to go with his tux, I finally got up enough courage to look.
"It was a Friday night a few weeks before prom. I figured it was safe to open the envelope because I hadn't gotten any other notes, phone calls, or threats. When I realized that they were pictures of you, I felt so embarrassed. It was as if I was looking at porn. You made me blush so hard, I thought I'd spontaneously combust. I couldn't believe you—meek, quiet, shy-guy Edward—could, would, did give me pictures like that. You scared me. I didn't know who you were after that. Being raised with my dad's ideals, all that kept running through my head was that you were a 'sex-crazed pervert,' and after you started pursuing your long line of other girls, my belief was validated. I had no idea you had put so much thought into my invitation." Bella cupped Edward's face. "Had I known you had staged such a perfect, poignant, purely artistic grand gesture, I honestly would have ditched Newton and gone with you."
Even with dry cracked lips, Bella's kiss upon Edward's mouth couldn't be any nicer, any sweeter.
There was now no doubt in Bella's mind that in Edward's eyes, she had always been his vibrant inspiration, a bursting botanical garden, an equatorial rainforest of color, and she would never again have to worry about him only seeing her in merely black and white.
~RockRaven~
Edward was relieved and embarrassed by Bella's confession.
A 'sex-crazed pervert' ... he chuckled and looked over at Bella's sleeping form.
What a fool he had been. All of these years, he'd been running away and avoiding relationships, all because of a misunderstanding.
He couldn't help but wonder if she'd kept the pictures...
"Edward," Carlisle said quietly, sitting on the seat nearest him.
"Hey, Dad. How are you doing?"
Carlisle sighed and nodded. "Okay. How are you holding up?"
"I'm okay. Exhausted but okay."
"Have you gotten any rest?"
"A little," he nodded, looking over at Bella and sweeping her hair off of her face.
"How is she doing? Any symptoms of concussion?"
"Not really." Edward frowned. "She's been a little dizzy though."
Edward looked back toward his father and found him smiling softly at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You finally caught your silhouette," Carlisle's voice was almost a whisper.
Edward considered Carlisle's choice of words. Looking back, Bella did seem like a silhouette in high school, an image he was never quite able to catch in full color.
"I think so, yes."
Edward raised his eyes toward his father who was still smiling, but his eyes were on a petite, fiery latina sitting toward the front of the bus.
"What about you, Pops?"
Carlisle, with wide eyes and pink cheeks, looked at his son.
"What about me?"
"You gonna make a move or what? Don't be like your idiot son and let the moment pass you by."
Carlisle frowned before glancing toward the front of the bus.
Edward laughed quietly as his father stood up and walked toward the woman that had caught his eye.
.
.
.
Esme could see Carlisle out of the corner of her eye. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off of him.
He was talking to his son, who was quite handsome and quite a bit older than she would have expected, given Carlisle's youthful appearance.
When Esme returned to South America, she'd been a bit depressed. She had expected that she would find the love of her life in the United States while she attended college.
She'd had elaborate daydreams about falling in love with a dark haired, blue-eyed man. She imagined her children would have her olive skin and his blue eyes. They would vacation in the place where she was born so her children would know who she was, where she came from, and who they were deep down inside. Her culture and heritage were important, and she fully planned to keep them alive.
However, none of that happened. She seemed to be a magnet for pendejos who didn't know how to treat a woman. Her experience had ruined her trust in men and wiped away her dreams of love and happily ever after.
She never would have imagined that she would find the man of her dreams, an American at that, on her own soil. His hair was a little lighter than the man she'd dreamed of for so long, but his eyes were the color of the bluest ocean, and she was completely taken with him.
They'd be working side by side for days until additional help arrived, and she hoped that she'd have the chance to talk to him, get to know him.
She tilted her head, planning to take another peek at the handsome doctor.
When she looked up, she found him walking toward her with a look of determination and confidence that she'd never seen on a man before.
Her stomach flipped, and she felt her cheeks flush.
When he reached her, he took her hand in his.
"When this situation is more settled, I'd like to take you out to dinner," he said abruptly.
She was speechless. Did he just ask her out to dinner?
He shook his head, frowning and scrunching his nose as if angry with himself for the way he just blurted it out. She smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I'd like that very much."
~ Riv3rBoy84~
Bella woke up to the sound of yelling. She sat up, realizing that Edward wasn't next to her, and the bus had stopped on the side of the road. Her head felt heavy, but she wasn't dizzy anymore. Slowly, she climbed down the bus steps and looked around. They seemed to have stopped just an hour away from Crepúsculo. She stretched, keeping an eye out for Edward. She spotted him a few paces away talking to Carlisle, the bus driver Arturo, Esme, and another man who looked like a police officer.
Esme was talking fast and with her hands, and Bella couldn't catch what she was saying. She walked closer until Carlisle noticed her and nudged his son.
Edward turned to look at Bella and smiled, leaving the group to meet with her.
"Hey, you're awake."
Bella kissed his lips. "What's going on?"
Edward scratched the back of his head. "Seems like the road is blocked. I'm not sure. Esme is speaking way too fast for me."
Bella took Edward's hand and walked them back to the group.
"Lo siento, no puedo permitirles el paso. El área está siendo evacuada por esta ruta ya que el camino esta bloqueado del otro lado debido a un deslizamiento."
Esme sighed and translated for Carlisle. "He says he can't allow us to pass. They are evacuating the area, and this road is the only one open for them. There have been landslides that have blocked the other roads."
"But we have medical supplies, and I'm a doctor. I can help," said Carlisle.
Esme translated and the officer nodded. "Dejeme preguntarle a mi superior," he said, turning on the radio on his shoulder and walking away.
"He's going to ask his superior," Esme translated.
By then, both Bella and Edward had reached them.
"Are you thinking of going back alone?" Bella asked Carlisle.
He shrugged. "They are not letting anyone pass unless it's an emergency response group. Since I'm MSF and have supplies, they might let me get through."
Esme shook her head. "We will have to go back. There is no way they are letting us through." She could hear the officer's radio conversation, and it seemed only authorities and medical teams were going in. Everybody else was going out.
Edward looked down at Bella. "Maybe this is better. I'm still worried about you. You look a bit pale, and from the way you keep squinting, I'm guessing you might have a headache?"
"A little." Bella sighed, feeling conflicted by the situation. She felt a deep need to help. Her connection to this place was so strong, she couldn't help but feel the pull from the small town her family once called home.
Esme, sensing Bella's struggle, placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Bellita. You don't need to feel guilty. You have done so much already, and you need to look out for yourself too." She cupped her face, and Bella was transported back to a time when her mother used to do the same thing. "It's going to be okay."
With those words, Bella broke down. She sobbed against Esme's shoulder, letting her fear, stress, and sorrow flow out of her with each tear. Esme held her tight and whispered words of comfort in her ear, some in English and others in Spanish. When Bella finally felt the tears stopping, Esme pushed her gently into Edward's arms.
Edward wiped her tears with his thumbs, kissing each cheek right under her eyes. "It's okay, sweetheart. We tried our best."
Bella nodded and kissed him right on the lips. "I know."
A couple of hours later, Esme and Carlisle, along with their supplies, got into a military jeep, while Edward, Bella and Dekoe went back to the bus. Esme had convinced the officer to let her go with them since she spoke both Spanish and English. She would be Carlisle's translator, since he knew only basic Spanish.
Bella and Edward were to take Dekoe to Esme's mom, Carmen, when they got back to Aurora. They were also going to see if they could return to their hotel and try to call Charlie to let him know they were all right.
As Arturo made a U-turn, all the passengers waved and called out wishes of good luck to Carlisle and Esme.
Edward locked eyes with Carlisle, exchanging a simple nod, each holding the hand of the woman that meant the world to them.
Bella leaned back against Edward, letting sleep claim her once again. Edward held her tight and let his eyes close, knowing the next time he would open them, they'd be safe and sound back in Aurora.
~chinchin unicorn~
A bed never felt so good. Exhausted, hungry, and most definitely smelly, Bella couldn't be bothered to pull back the duvet, preferring to keep her filth on top. The only thing that made the deal sweeter was when Edward crawled in next to her. She smiled up at him without showing her teeth because, dear lord, it had been forever since she'd seen a toothbrush.
But Edward had no reservations of the sort. He was quick to sweep her into his arms, her cheek pressed to his beating heart, his legs tangled with hers, their bodies so tight against the other's that she wasn't sure where she ended and he began. They lay like that, taking comfort within each other's hold, ignoring the seconds ticking by as the horror and sorrow of the past few days melted over them. She wondered if she'd ever see them again. Dekoe. The other survivors. How life had changed so fast in so little time.
"Edward?" Bella whispered, her soft voice barely audible. He hummed his acknowledgement, his hand lifting, rubbing soothing strokes against her back. "I hate what's happened, but I'm glad that through it all, we were together."
He froze, his breath catching in his lungs as he captured her eyes with his. A small pucker grew in between her brows at his silence. He laughed, this tiny airy sound, as he kissed that pucker away. "I feel guilty as fuck, but this is the happiest I've ever been."
She welcomed the kisses placed across her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, following the bloom of her blush across her flesh. The laughter bubbled out at his playfulness. "I know, but maybe this is a good thing, us working together. We can do good here. Let's do our job and help these people. They'll need it now more than ever."
Edward's heart beat faster with each word she spoke. The beauty that caught his eyes so long ago sparked through from inside of her, and he couldn't help but feel that one emotion swell inside of him. Should he say it—those three little words—so soon after their discovered affection for one another?
With his mind wild with questions, he did the one thing that now seemed natural to him. Kissing her. So sweet. His lips on hers as they shared an act he'd only ever dreamed about before. Maybe it was that uncertainty or the events that had passed, but Edward couldn't help himself when he pressed harder, deeper, until her back was flat on the bed, her hair fanned out around them.
He grabbed onto those strands, wrapping his fingers around the silk, no matter how much she protested, how dirty she said they were. He didn't care. Not about that or the bad breath or the dirt covering both of them because if there was one thing he learned from everything that had happened, it was that life was short and took you on one hell of a ride. If you blinked, you might miss it. This was one ride Edward was not willing to miss.
"Bella?"
"Yeah?" she hummed as his lips vibrated against her throat.
"I love you." This time, she froze, and his heart stopped as sudden regret crept over him. "I know whatever this is hasn't been—"
The rest of his words were lost as she wrapped her fingers around his neck, pulling his head down so fast that his mouth crashed almost painfully against hers. But it was a good sort of pain, a desperate sort, as she pulled and he pushed, until her legs were wrapped around his waist, digging her heels into his flesh, driving him deeper against that warm spot that was so sensitive.
She urged him on, encouraging his hips to press forward, rubbing his desire against hers, uncaring of the layers of cotton and denim between them. Edward's tongue found her skin, coaxing moan after moan from her lips with each picture he drew as his hips picked up speed, pressed harder, until even he couldn't help himself from falling, joining her as she fell into the abyss, consumed by their desire.
"Fuck...Bella..." he whispered, his breath heavy.
The look she gave him lit up her eyes as she ran her hand across his cheek. "Edward...I love you too."
She really did. Maybe their declarations were a bit unconventional, but there was no denying how right they felt, how happy it made her, how her heart couldn't be contained within the small cavity in her chest with the amount of love that was bursting from it. And when Edward smiled at her, when he showered her face and her neck and her collarbone with kisses, she knew there was no way she'd ever regret saying it.
~boo1414~
"I'm too tired to move, but God, I need a shower," Bella groaned.
"Not a complaint, I hope?" Edward joked.
Bella rolled to her side to look at him. "No complaints here," she said, cupping his face in her hand. "I'll never complain that we finally found each other."
"Good," he breathed. They lay there quietly for a moment, looking into each other's eyes.
"Now then, about that shower..." He grinned, getting up from the bed. Scooping her up, he headed for the bathroom.
"Edward! What are you doing? I do know how to walk, you know."
"Just relax, baby. Let me take care of you, please?" He set her on her feet and turned on the water in the shower. While he waited for the water to heat, he slowly removed her clothes, kissing the newly exposed skin as he went. After removing his own clothes, he pulled her with him into the shower. The hot water felt like heaven; both of them groaned at the sensation.
"Tip your head back, Bella. Let me wash your hair," Edward said as he reached for the bottle of shampoo. He gently scrubbed her scalp with his long fingers, making her shiver. After rinsing out the soap from her hair, he followed the trails of water running down her body with his tongue. She was so beautiful; he couldn't get enough of her. Her taste, her smell. They were overwhelming him. He dropped down to his knees and looked up at her, his eyes dark, silently asking permission. Nodding, Bella wove her fingers into his hair.
He gently picked up her leg and put it over his shoulder, placing wet kisses up the inside of her thigh.
"Edward, please," she begged.
He smiled and continued, his lips, teeth and tongue driving her wild.
"Oh, God," she moaned. She was still sensitive from before; it wouldn't take much for her to come again.
He slipped two fingers inside of her and sucked her clit into his mouth, swirling around it with his tongue.
"Come for me, Bella," he demanded, his voice her undoing. She came, clenching down on his fingers, calling out his name.
Crawling back up her body, he pulled her close and kissed her. "Let me show you how much I love you," he whispered.
"Let's show each other," she answered back, turning off the water and pulling him toward the bedroom.
Next chapter is the last chapter and will be up right away. Let us know what you think!
—First Responders