19
*Joe*
I don't know why I did it. I don't know what made the need to see Katelyn so unbearable that I had to send her that message in the file. Hacking into the CIA to find out where to send the file had been one of the most challenging things I've ever done, but I knew that it was worth it and it kept me going. And then there had been the issue of how to send the message. I mean, I had no way of knowing if Katelyn would be the first one to read it. Finally, though, I had come up with the perfect way and I had gone for it.
I had flown to Italy as soon as classes were out on Friday and I had gone straight to the hotel to wait. I had requested the same room as before, so I would be easy to track down. As soon as I was in the room, I swept it for bugs and then I took a shower. The steam helped me relax and when I got out, I felt refreshed. I put on jeans and a black button up shirt before running a product through my hair to make it messy.
And then I waited.
I didn't have to wait long. The knock on my door came at 8:42. Eagerly, I got up from my bed and hurried over to open it. And there was Katelyn, standing on the other side. She looked drop-dead gorgeous and I lost my breath for a few seconds before I could move aside and say, "Come in."
She did and I examined her again, once more truly appreciating her beauty. She wore a red blouse, jeans, and black flats, along with a bracelet on her wrist. A black Coach purse was strapped across her body and her dark hair was curled beautifully and her makeup was perfect. "So you got my message."
She smiled at me and set her purse down on the spare chair. "Yeah. It was really good."
"Are you hungry?" I asked. I didn't have anything prepared, but I could always order room service.
She shook her head. "I ate before I came."
"Oh. Well, do you want to sit?"
"Sure," she said, and she sank onto the bed. I sat down, too, beside her, leaving enough space for her to feel comfortable.
"So," she said softly, looking at me. "Why did you want to see me today?"
"I dunno," I answered honestly. "I just… Needed to see you. Does that make sense or do I just sound like a creep?"
She laughed. "You're not a creep. I get it."
But she didn't. She had no idea how much I loved her. How much I needed her to know that. How hard it was going to be for me to tell her how I felt. "Thank you. But you'll think I'm a creep after this." And then, I pulled out her necklace; the one she'd left in my quarters after she'd been forced away. I dangled it between us, waiting.
Recognition dawned on her face. "Is this mine?"
I nodded. "You never had time to gather it up. I've been keeping it with me… Just to remind me of you. Of how much I love you…"
And I got the shock of my life when she took the necklace, set it aside on the bedside table, and looked back at me with her startlingly blue eyes. And I could have sworn that I was dreaming as I heard her whisper, "I love you, too."
*Katelyn*
"What?" he asked, sounding a little shocked.
I took a deep breath and repeated my words. "I love you. I mean, maybe I didn't remember you before, but now that I do… Joe, the memories that I have of you are so powerful. I know how in love I was with you. No; how in love with you I am. Because it's true. I don't love Rider, Joe. I really don't. I guess I just agreed to marry him because that's what I thought my parents wanted me to do. And I'm sick of that. I'm sick of what they do to me."
Gently, I reached out and touched his cheek. Felt him suck in a breath. "They took me away from you. From my happiness. And I won't let them do that again."
"What are you saying?" he asked softly.
"That I love you," I whispered and moved closer to him. "And that I'm still yours. All yours."
"All mine…" he whispered to himself as if he didn't believe it. As if it couldn't be possible.
So I leaned in and pulled him to me, kissing him with as much love as I had inside of me. Nothing but pure love flowed between us, pure and innocent. I loved the way that his hand slid up my thigh while his other one tangled in my hair. Everything about it felt so right. Even when I moved my hands to unbutton his shirt.
He pulled away then, took my face in his hands. "Are you sure about this?"
"Absolutely," I said, no doubt in my body.
He smiled then. "I love you so much. I do, I really do, Katelyn. I've been waiting so long to get you back." His eyes were swimming.
"Shh," I comforted, running my hands through his hair. "I'm here now. We're together now."
He swept me into a deep kiss, the force of it causing me to lie back on the bed. Joe adjusted to hover above me, supporting his own weight easily. I unbuttoned his shirt and when he moved to let it slide off of his shoulders, I rolled so that I was above him.
Every movement was right; every touch was familiar. When he unclasped my bra with an expert twist, my breath caught in my chest. When he whispered to me, the words stuck in my head. When he touched me, my body quivered with anticipation. And when we finally joined as one, I decided that I would do whatever it took to keep this love between us alive.