Part 7

We were lost in each other, in the relief and the want and the love that had gone bottled up for too long. My forehead pressed against his, our lips brushing with every uneven breath.

"I've got you," I murmured each time he shivered. "I'm right here. I'm not letting go."

When everything flooded over the edge, when that wave finally crashed, he clung to me like he could anchor me to his chest. His voice broke, a choked sound that wasn't lust anymore but raw emotion spilling out. I held him through the tremors of aftershock, kissing the tears that escaped the corners of his eyes.

"Hey," I whispered softly, brushing his hair from his face. "Why are you crying?"

"Because... I'm scared every time you leave," he confessed in a small voice.

My heart pulled painfully tight. I cupped his cheeks, lifting his gaze so there was no doubt, no shadow left for fear to hide in.

"There's only you. Always you" I said.

He exhaled a shaky breath and buried his face against my shoulder, and I protectively wrapped him up in my arms. 

"We're okay," I promised him. "Better than okay. We're us."

He nodded against me, holding on like he finally believed it. And I kissed the top of his head. Not hungry, not possessive... just home.