The next fifteen or so were of Stefan and Allie, me and Stefan and the three of us as a family. In every single picture I almost wondered if I was looking at someone else's life. I remembered everything about that magnificent day but seeing those moments caught was a different experience. It was almost unbelievable that the couple I was staring at were now nothing but a memory. Almost. Looking at this young, happy couple was so incredibly mesmerizing. The way they stared into each other's face like they had no idea a camera was flashing to capture the love.
As I sifted through I realized that this Stefan was the one I had loved. That was the person I knew better than I could ever know myself. The one I said goodbye to today was a vague memory of the one I would have given the world for.
My hand reached in to grab out the next stack but I froze as the sound of our apartment door opening echoed in the silence. I waited half a heartbeat to make sure I wasn't crazy but the sound of the door clicking shut sent me into panic mode. Scooping up every picture I could, shoving them back into the box-I couldn't let Richard walk in and see this. There were so many ways I planned to tell him about Stefan and Allie but this wasn't one of them.
I shoved the documents back in and practically threw the black box back in place in the drawer. Wiping under my eyes as quickly as possible was the last thing I had time for as the floor directly outside the door creaked.
"Honey, is that you?" I called out, as I slipped into the desk chair. My hand rested strategically on top of the black laptop screen.
The door opened and Richard entered the room just as I closed the laptop lid.
"Darling, what are you doing awake?"
My thumb motioned toward the screen, "Just wasting time surfing the web. I laid down but wasn't as tired as I originally thought I was."
"Ah yes, I have most definitely been there." I left the chair and met him in the middle of the room. My fingers wrapped into the business jacket he wore.
"What are you doing home, love? I thought you had a long shift today."
Richard's hands fanned out at my hips and slowly moved up my back in a soothing rotation. "I did, but they were training in a new doctor this evening and they decided to send someone home and I volunteered."
My eyes bugged out in genuine surprise. "You volunteered?" If Richard volunteered for anything it was to work more but never to go home early.
"I did," he reiterated.
"And why is that?" I flattened my palms against his chest, feeling the soft vibrations of his heartbeat.
"Because I have an incredible fiancée whom I have seen very little lately. And I suppose I just needed a night to be with her." Such a little thing made my heart seriously swoon.
I bit down on my lip as my hands moved over his chest to the top of his shoulders. "I think I like that idea."
He leaned his face closer to mine as he dropped his voice. "Oh you do, do you?"
"Mhmm," I didn't want to wait any longer. Lately it felt my days were spent in tears with my body constantly exhausted by the rollercoaster of emotions I had endured. My body knew right now exactly what it wanted and that was Richard.
Without hesitation I pulled his shoulders into me as I sealed my mouth over his. The simple touch ignited a fire deep in my body that only had one way to be sated. I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss while Richard's hands made their way under my shirt.
The sensation of his hands against my skin made my body melt. Richard was a gentle lover but knew just what I liked and how to make me quiver. I dug my fingers into the warm, soft skin beneath them and pressed my body against every inch of his. Richard's hardening length rubbed against me and I knew this time he wasn't going to turn me down.
I pulled back my face from the kiss, gasping for air. "Make love to me, baby."
Richard released my waist and suddenly scooped me up into his arms while returning his lips to mine. I was vaguely aware of him moving us down the hall into our bedroom. I would have been fine to finish what we started in the hallway, on the floor, against the wall-anywhere. Richard preferred the bedroom though so I knew that was exactly where we were headed.
Moments later he gently laid me down upon the mattress, allowing his body to cover mine. My fingers twisted into his silver hair as we continued moving our mouths in sync. He moved back to catch our breath and his eyes blazed as they focused on mine.
"I love you so much, Grey."
"I love you." I sat up and began tearing the shirt and tie from his body. With his head hung back he breathed heavily with his eyes shut.