Eternally yours,
Stefan
The note slipped from my fingertips and my eyes blankly watched the paper flutter to the floor. For a moment, I was frozen in place and my mind went completely numb. I shook myself and wildly ran the length of the hallway, fumbling with my purse to find my phone. I somehow managed to dial his number with shaking fingers.
“You have reached Stefan Lifsten. Leave a message after the tone.”
“Stefan. It's Josie. Please call me. I'm sorry. Please...call...” I choked into the phone. “I..I just found your note. I..I didn't know. I'm so stupid. So very fucking stupid.”
Pressing 'end', I tossed my phone on the couch. I was angry at myself for not even giving him the chance to explain and assuming the worst.
All I could do now was wait and hope that Stefan was forgiving of idiotic women.
**
I was sitting cross legged on the bed with my laptop propped on a pillow, attempting to work on my latest book without much success. I was typing when I heard the sound of car tires turn onto the gravel of my driveway and watched as headlights flashed across my bedroom wall. Swallowing nervously, I placed my laptop on the floor with shaking hands and listened to the sound of a car engine turning off.
I hurried down the hallway and opened the front door, swallowing back the sob that threatened to break free when I saw Stefan leaning against his car. His hands were shoved into the front pockets of his jeans and when he turned to face me, our eyes locked. The pain I saw in his eyes drew me to him and for once in my life, I didn't stop to think.
I forgot about my bare feet as I ran over the sharp gravel to him. I collapsed against him, fisting my hands in the back of his t-shirt and burrowing my head into his broad chest, finally letting go of the sob I'd been holding in. He pulled me roughly to him, our bodies reconnecting and molding together as if we'd never been apart.
“Josephine,” he spoke in a broken whisper, the simple sound of his deep voice causing tears of relief to spill from my eyes.
“I'm sorry, Stefan. I didn't know. I didn't find your note. I…” I mumbled against his chest.
“Shh. No more talking right now. We would not want Georgia to come over, would we?” Stefan whispered mischievously in my ear.
I laughed weakly, remembering when I was the one telling him not to talk. It seemed like a lifetime ago to me.
“I'm sorry. I should have let you explain,” I whispered, looking up into his blue eyes. “I love you. I don't want another minute to pass without telling you.”
“As I love you, vackra. It is a misunderstanding. This is the part where I forgive you and we move on. I think I read that is what one does in a situation like this. It was good advice from a cheesy romance novel, yes?”
I pulled my head away from him to look into his eyes with disbelief. He was going to just forget all the horrible things I'd said to him and act as if nothing had happened? Why was it so easy for him to love and forgive me?
Being forgiving of stubborn, idiotic women must be one of his super powers.
He gazed into my eyes and a wry smile pulled at the corner of his lips. In one fluid movement, he leaned forward and covered my mouth with his own. His lips were hard and hungry against mine, causing a slow burn of desire to curl through me. I moaned softly into his mouth and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck.
He reluctantly pulled away, pressing his forehead against mine lightly. His voice was soft when he began to speak. “There is much we need to discuss, Josephine.”
“When did you become the serious, level headed one, Romeo?”
My mental response seemed to amuse him. Deep laughter rumbled in his chest as he picked me up and carried me into the villa. He sat down on the couch and cradled me in his arms, my head resting against his shoulder. He lowered his blond head to lightly touch his cool lips against mine in a chaste kiss.
“It is not a super power, Josephine. I love you and I want no one else but you. For me, it is simple. There is nothing to forgive, it was a misunderstanding. I should have told you that I was being forced to go instead of leaving you a note. I could have called you to explain.” He exhaled a slow breath, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Fucking vampire bullshit.”
“I could have listened that night at Anna's house. I was so angry and hurt, Stefan. The thing I feared the most happened the morning when I woke up alone and had no idea what happened to you. I thought you left me...” I said, my voice lowering in distress. The memories of our time apart flashed through my mind and the sense of abandonment I felt was still fresh and was painful to think about. His body tensed and flinched underneath me as he read my thoughts, the link between us resonating with pain.