Page 29 of Consumed By Fire

Dylan goes to the bathroom and after a while, he comes back smiling. He picks me up and takes me into the bathroom, where he places me next to a foam-filled Jacuzzi. “A nice bubble bath is what you need after a day in the car.”

I turn to Dylan and kiss him, lifting the hem of his shirt. He takes it off and takes off my sweater, too. After I struggle with the belt of his jeans, unleashing his laughter, when he finally decides to help me and takes everything off, showing me his erection.

Dylan enters the tub and I join him after I finish undressing. He makes me lean with my back against his chest, surrounding me with his arms.

"It will be so strange not having you always around. I'm used to waking up with you in my bed,” I say.

"Yeah, I know. You know...” he says, sighing. "I haven't had any more nightmares. You healed me." I turn to look at him. I can't believe it.

"Really?"

"Cross my heart, love. No more nightmares. I'll have to call my therapist."

"You should wait a few days. Maybe it's just an illusion."

"Mmm, I don't think so."

"I'm really happy to hear that from you."

His hands touch mine, and our fingers intertwine.

"What will happen now?" I ask him, relaxing against him.

"Whatever you want to happen, honey,” he replies, releasing my hands to take a sponge full of soap.

"That's the weird thing, you know. I don't have a plan. I mean, I can't plan what we're going to do next. I want it all."

"And we’ll have love, all and forever. I won’t set limits unless you decide them. I want to love you unconditionally. I want you to be mine."

"Aren't we going too fast?"

"Who decides if things are rushed or not? If there's one thing I've learned, it's that we have only one life. Don't we deserve to live happily?" He continues washing me. The sponge on my skin is like a light and perfumed touch.

"One life..." I repeat, absorbing his words. "You won’t have another, not in this world."

"Only one and I want to live it by your side, Charlotte."

I have a lump in my throat. I can't say anything. I feel tears running down my face, and he hugs me.

"I know this scares you, I can feel it. But I'm here to erase all your fears, baby. And I always will. Together, we can overcome anything,” he says.

I turn around, look him in the eye, take the sponge, and wash him in turn. Then I throw the sponge behind me and brush his lips with mine. "My only fear is that you’ll get tired of me,” I confess.

He lifts me to place me on him. "Never gonna happen!" he tells me, almost angry that I thought of this absurd possibility. He bites my shoulder, sending me into ecstasy. We kiss, consuming each other. He loves me deeply, as he knows how to do.

We rinse and he helps me out of the tub, then gives me a bathrobe. There’s a knock on the door and Dylan quickly dons his bathrobe before going to open it.

A forever together is what I really want.

16

DYLAN

She falls asleep, and like every night, I watch her, thinking about how lucky I am. If the boys hadn't dared me to ask for her phone number, maybe I wouldn't be here today.

Returning to Armstrong means returning to reality, finishing with the furniture, starting work, and therefore, spending less time with her.

I can't wait for it to arrive. Valentine's Day will be our first one. I'm thrilled but also nervous. I hope what I have in mind really works.