"Hah….hah.."

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to squirm. He kissed her shoulder and began again.

"Hah…mmn.."

Her quick breaths blew past his ear as she balanced, moving with him. He moaned, leaning into her neck, and held her loosely against him as he felt her relax, thought he heard her make a sound of her own until she gasped.

"It's too much," she thought.

She realized she was beginning to lose control and began to tense up. She swallowed, trying to address a sudden tightness in her throat and her movement slowed. Trying to be subtle, she loosened her hold on him, turning her face away from his.

"No," he thought.

He pulled her back to his chest.

"No,"

He gently leant her down, entwining their fingers above her head. His other hand on the small of her back.

"Don't shut down on me,"

He kissed her cheek before continuing, "Stay open," he thought.

He felt her fingers gently brush his shoulder. Their entwined hands came apart as her hands rested on his back. He felt her relax again, breathed a sigh of relief, and kissed her, continuing.

He laughed, and his dark skin glistened as he grinned down at her.

"Finally left you speechless huh?" he said, as she caught her breath.

"Shut it," she said, gasping a bit less now as her body cooled down, again. He chuckled and laid down beside her, nuzzling her neck.

"You know, I'm not going anywhere. So you can relax now," he said as he kissed her ear affectionately.

She froze. Sudden bliss was gone. Why was he talking like this?

He languorously got up, settling between her again and kissing her neck.

"Rachel," he said, teasing her as he gently lifted and opened her knees. She shivered and shut her eyes. Suddenly there was not enough space. He was too close.

"I'm not leaving you," he said. She gasped and grasped his shoulders as he began with her again.

"Why won't you look at me?" he said and she groaned. She had not asked for this. For his promises or his declarations.

"Rachel," he said.

"No," she thought.

"Rachel, look at me," he said. He squeezed her cheeks between his hands and brought her eyes to his, leaning over her.

Rachel instantly felt cold. She was going to be sick.

He began again, and a fire grew in Rachel's belly.

"I," he said .

Rachel gasped.

"Am," he said. Rachel felt tears welling up in her eyes.

"Not," he said. She was going to fly apart.

"Leaving", he said. With every word, movement. With the final word, Rachel began to cry. She grasped for him as his brow furrowed and he pulled her to his chest. He hadn't expected this. He stopped and was still before ending it.

All of her life, she had been alone. Carefully, she had built up her walls to house and protect her loneliness, and yet some how with his quick confessions, ease in revealing his feelings, his consistent presence, his hands fighting by her side and caressing her like she was rare, something worth having, he had shattered them.

"It's okay," he said gently shushing her "It's okay."

He turned them and held her to his chest as her crying turned into sniffles. She didn't look at him, feeling vulnerable and raw, as he turned off the lamp for them to go to sleep, but she didn't let go. Neither did he.

The sunlight lit up the room as Garfield slowly blinked and opened his eyes. He yawned loudly, causing Rachel to still and stir in her sleep. She started to open her own as she felt Garfield gently start to cradle her to him, loose enough for her to easily move away if she wanted to. She looked up at him and he blushed seeing her eyes before he looked up and away, clearing his throat.

"Mornin Rae," he said.

She waited as she saw him bring his eyes towards her again, looking a bit ashamed.

"I'm sorry about last night," he said. Rachel froze again.

"I could tell after that I pushed things too far, and I shouldn't have." Rachel's eyes widened as he hugged her just a bit closer, his chin over her shoulder. He spoke softly. "I just want to be with you,"

As she considered the weight of the man beside her, felt his slow breaths come in and go out, she decided to move a bit closer.

"It's okay," she said. She gently nuzzled his cheek. "I want you to stay."

I enjoyed writing that. There's an alternate ending that I had at first that's not as fun (Chapter 2).