They laughed softly, and the tension eased between them. Clifford lifted her into his arms and carried her toward their bedroom, finally ready to stop waiting. He laid her down gently on the bed, his hands moving with care and reverence, as if she were something precious… and to him, she was.
The room felt warmer somehow, like the space between them had finally closed after months of silent yearning. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, and finally her lips, slow and lingering. Kelly's hands slid around his neck, pulling him closer as their kiss deepened, their bodies drawn to each other like magnets.
"I missed this," she whispered, her voice soft and trembling. "Not just the touch… but you."
Clifford paused to look at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I missed being with you like this, too. Every night I held you and didn't touch you… I wanted to. I was just too scared."
