Alicia giggles and leans down, nuzzling close to the puppies. "Hi, babies!" she exclaims, lightly rubbing their ears. The dogs all cascade around her and she giggles as they lick and nose at her, leaving her helpless on the floor, unable or unwilling to get up right away.
Ricardo peers down at them from the couch and laughs as she cups the dogs' noses and tries to come up for air. "You asked for that," he says, leaning down to help her onto the couch.
She giggles and leans into him, hair all over the place as she shrugs. "Absolutely worth it! I love dogs so much." She coos as one of the younger dogs pants up at her and Ricardo smiles over at her. "And I love you," she adds, pressing a kiss to Ricardo's shoulder before leaning into him and staring out at the soft blue sky visible beyond the windows. "How have you been today?"
"Good," he mumbles, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "How about you?"
"Good." She sits quietly for a minute and then turns, kissing him on the mouth. "WWE contacted me."
"Oh yeah?" he asks quietly. "What'd they say?"
"They want me at Axxess for an autograph signing session." she interlaces their fingers, lifting his hand and pressing a soft kiss to his palm. "I know the last few months have been really weird. I'm so sorry I've worried you." She twists around until they're facing each other, her knees digging into his hips, pressing her forehead to his. "I'm going to be ok, alright? I promise."
His hands sprawl over her hips, fingers brushing against her lower back, and he watches as she sighs softly, lulled by his touch. "I hope so," he tells her softly, easing up to kiss her. As she melts into him with a faint, needy sigh, he closes his eyes, trying to shake away all thoughts of worst case scenarios and everything else that's been haunting him the last few weeks. "I love you..."
"I love you too," she breathes into him and he smiles, overwhelmed by the depth of his feelings, how good it feels to have her in his arms again.