The drive to Ryan's place was quiet, the hum of the car engine filling the space between them. Emily stared out the window, her mind racing with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She could feel Ryan glancing at her occasionally, but neither of them spoke.
When they arrived, Ryan led her inside, his hand never leaving hers. The familiarity of his home wrapped around her like a warm blanket. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air, and the soft glow of the lamp in the living room cast a cozy light over the room. It felt like stepping back into a place she hadn't realized she'd missed so much.
Ryan reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "We don't have to fix everything tonight," he said softly. "We just have to start. And if we mess up, we'll figure it out. Together."
His words washed over her, soothing the edges of her fear. She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing for a moment as she let herself feel the warmth of his hand against her skin. When she opened her eyes again, she found him watching her with such intensity that it took her breath away.
"I've missed you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "More than I let myself admit."
Ryan's thumb brushed against her cheek, his expression softening. "I've missed you too," he said. "Every single day."
For a moment, they just sat there, the silence between them filled with everything they hadn't said. Then, slowly, Ryan leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. Emily's breath hitched, her heart pounding as she felt the warmth of his presence so close to her.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Emily nodded, her eyes fluttering shut. "Yes."
The moment his lips met hers, it was like coming home. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, a gentle exploration of all the emotions they'd been holding back. But as Emily's hands found their way to his shoulders, pulling him closer, the kiss deepened, filled with all the longing and love they'd been too afraid to show.
When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together once more. Ryan's hand slid down to cradle the back of her neck, his touch grounding her.
"Stay with me," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Not just tonight. Always."
Emily's eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were tears of relief, of hope. "Always," she whispered back.
"Come on," he said softly, leading her down the hallway toward his bedroom. Emily followed, her heart pounding in her chest, but not from fear—from anticipation. The air between them felt charged, alive with the weight of everything they'd been through and everything they were about to reclaim.
When they reached the bedroom, Ryan paused at the door, turning to face her. His eyes searched hers, as if asking for permission one last time. Emily nodded, a small, reassuring smile playing on her lips. That was all he needed. He stepped inside, pulling her gently with him, and closed the door behind them.
The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting warm shadows across the walls. Ryan's bed was neatly made, the sheets crisp and inviting. Emily's gaze lingered on it for a moment before she turned back to him, her breath catching as she saw the way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
His hands came up to cradle her face, his thumbs brushing lightly over her cheeks. "I love you," he said, the words simple but carrying the weight of everything they'd been through. "I never stopped."
Tears welled in Emily's eyes, but she didn't try to stop them this time. "I love you too," she whispered. "Even when I was angry, even when I was scared… I never stopped loving you."
Ryan leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. Then her nose. Then her lips. Each kiss was a promise, a reassurance, a step toward rebuilding what they'd lost. Emily's hands slid up to his shoulders, then around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. It was slow and tender, a quiet celebration of the trust they were rebuilding.
When they finally pulled apart, Ryan rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin. "Let's just… be here," he murmured. "No more talking. No more thinking. Just us."
"I… I think I need a shower first," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It's been a long day, and I just want to feel… clean. Fresh."
Ryan's eyes darkened, a slow smile spreading across his face. Without a word, he stepped closer, his hands sliding around her waist. "Let me help you with that," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Before Emily could respond, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back. She let out a surprised laugh, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.
"Ryan!" she exclaimed, though there was no real protest in her voice. "I can walk, you know."
"I know," he said, his grin widening as he carried her down the hallway toward the bathroom. "But I've been waiting for this for a long time. Let me take care of you."
Emily's breath hitched at his words, her heart swelling with affection and desire. She rested her head against his shoulder, letting herself relax into his hold. When they reached the bathroom, Ryan set her down gently, his hands lingering on her hips as he reached past her to turn on the shower. The sound of water hitting the tiles filled the room, steam quickly rising and clouding the mirror.
Ryan turned back to her, his gaze intense as he reached for the hem of her shirt. "Can I?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Emily nodded, her pulse quickening as he slowly lifted the fabric over her head, revealing the smooth skin beneath. His hands were warm as they traced the curve of her waist, sending shivers down her spine. She reached for the button of his jeans, her fingers trembling slightly as she undid it and pushed them down, along with his boxers. He stepped out of them, kicking them aside, and then his hands were back on her, unhooking her bra and sliding her pants down her legs.
When they were both undressed, Ryan took her hand and led her into the shower. The warm water cascaded over them, soaking their hair and running down their bodies. Emily tilted her head back, letting the water wash away the tension of the day. But when she opened her eyes, she found Ryan watching her, his gaze filled with a heat that made her stomach flip.
He stepped closer, his hands sliding up her arms to her shoulders, then down her back, pulling her against him. Emily's breath caught as their bodies pressed together, the sensation of skin against skin almost overwhelming. Ryan's lips found hers in a searing kiss, his tongue sliding against hers as his hands roamed over her body, exploring every curve and dip.
Emily's hands were just as eager, tracing the lines of his chest, his shoulders, his back. She could feel the tension in his muscles, the way he was holding himself back, and it only made her want him more. She broke the kiss, her lips trailing down his neck, nipping lightly at the sensitive skin there. Ryan groaned, his hands tightening on her hips as he pressed her against the tiled wall.
"Emily," he breathed, his voice rough with need. "You have no idea how much I've missed this. Missed you."
She looked up at him, her eyes dark with desire. "Show me," she whispered.
That was all the encouragement he needed. His hands slid down to her thighs, lifting her effortlessly as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Emily gasped as he entered her, the sensation so intense it nearly took her breath away. Ryan's movements were slow at first, each thrust deliberate and deep, but as their bodies moved together, the pace quickened, the water around them doing nothing to cool the heat between them.
Emily's nails dug into his shoulders as she clung to him, her head falling back against the wall. "Ryan," she moaned, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water and their ragged breathing. "Don't stop."
He didn't. His hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements as he drove into her again and again, each thrust bringing them closer to the edge. Emily could feel the tension building inside her, coiling tighter and tighter until it finally snapped, her body shuddering with the force of her release. Ryan followed her over the edge, his own climax tearing through him with a guttural groan.
For a moment, they stayed like that, their bodies pressed together, their breathing ragged.
Then Ryan gently lowered her to her feet, his hands cupping her face as he kissed her softly, tenderly.
"I love you," he murmured against her lips.
"I love you too," Emily whispered back, her heart so full she thought it might burst.
Ryan reached over to turn off the water, then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, drying her off with gentle, careful hands. When he was done, he took her hand and led her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Emily and Ryan lay side by side, their breaths still uneven, their skin glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. The air between them was thick with the lingering heat of passion, but also with something deeper—something raw and unfiltered.
Ryan propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes tracing the lines of Emily's face as she turned to look at him. Her hair was tousled, her cheeks flushed, and her lips slightly swollen from their kisses. She looked breathtaking, and he couldn't help but reach out to brush a strand of hair from her forehead.
"You're incredible," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "Every time, it's like… I can't get enough of you."
Emily smiled, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on his chest. "You're not so bad yourself," she teased, though her voice was soft, almost shy.
Ryan chuckled, but his expression soon turned serious. He shifted closer to her, his hand resting on her hip as he looked into her eyes. "Emily, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. Something I've been thinking about for a long time."
She tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
He took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "That night at the bar… the first time we really talked, just the two of us. Do you remember?"
Emily nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Of course I remember. How could I forget? You came up to me, and we started talking about work. About your past projects. I was so nervous, but you… you made it easy."
Ryan's eyes softened, a flicker of emotion passing through them. "I approached you because I noticed something about you that night. The way you talked about your work—the passion, the fire in your eyes. It was like… you were lit up from the inside. I'd never seen anyone so dedicated, so alive in what they do. And then, when you started talking about my work… about things I'd done years ago, things I thought everyone had forgotten… I was blown away. No one had ever paid that much attention, not like you did."
Emily's breath caught, her heart swelling at his words. "Ryan…"
He continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I was drawn to you that night, Emily. Completely. I didn't even realize it at first, but by the time we left that bar, I knew I was in trouble. You were all I could think about. And then, that night in the hotel room…" He paused, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting hers again. "I couldn't resist you. I didn't want to. Being with you that night… it was one of the best things that's ever happened to me."
Tears welled in Emily's eyes, but she didn't try to stop them. She reached up, her hand cupping his cheek as she looked at him with all the love she felt. "Ryan, I… I don't even know what to say. That night meant everything to me too. I was so scared, so unsure of myself, but you… you made me feel like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Like I was who I was supposed to be."
Ryan leaned into her touch, his eyes closing for a moment as he savored the feel of her hand against his skin. When he opened them again, they were filled with a quiet intensity.
"You're it for me, Emily. You always have been. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I'm not letting you go. Not again."
Emily's heart felt like it might burst. She pulled him closer, her lips finding his in a kiss that was slow and deep, filled with all the emotions they'd just laid bare. When they finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against his, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm not going anywhere, Ryan. Not now, not ever."
For a moment, they simply held each other, their breaths mingling in the quiet space between them, their hearts beating in sync as if they had found their rhythm in the chaos of the world. Emily's head rested gently on Ryan's chest, her fingers tracing absent-minded patterns on his skin, while his hand stroked her hair, his touch tender and reassuring. The air was thick with the warmth of their connection, a quiet intimacy that spoke louder than words ever could.