Chapter Ninety-Seven

As good as you make me feel
I wanna make you feel better
Better than your fairy tales
Better than your best dreams
You're more than everything I need
You're all I ever wanted
All I ever wanted

And I just wanna wrap you up
Wanna kiss your lips
I wanna make you feel wanted
And I wanna call you mine
Wanna hold your hand forever
And never let you forget it
Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted
Baby, I wanna make you feel wanted

You'll always be wanted...*

 

Blinking her eyes open slowly, Stephanie snuggled closer to the warmth at her back.  They had managed to get themselves together and make their way to the bedroom at some point last night, after checking on Ava and Kelly.  The girls had watched movies and given each other pedicures until whatever time, leaving Stephanie and Richie to their own devices.  She smiled.  They had made good use of their alone time.  Glancing over to the night table the clock told her it was way too early to even think about getting out of bed.  She closed her eyes, hoping to go back to sleep. 

Her bladder had a different idea. 

With a sigh she eased away from Richie and slipped from the bed.  Shivering, she grabbed the first piece of clothing she came across.  Richie’s shirt slid around her body and she buttoned the two middle buttons.  She took care of her pressing bladder problem and brushed the night from her mouth.  Stepping back into the bedroom she stopped at the French doors that led to the deck.  There was just a hint of pink on the horizon as the first fingers of light were making their way across the sky.  Instead of climbing back into bed, she grabbed the extra blanket from the chair and quietly made her way outside.

Holding the blanket over her shoulders, she breathed deeply.  The cool morning air was so much cleaner than what she breathed in the City.  It was so peaceful here too.  Grabbing the railing with both hands she leaned back, purring into her stretch.  Straightening the blanket over her shoulders once more, she looked out across the water and up to the sky.  The sun was just barely starting to peek over the edge of the horizon.  The only thing that could make this moment more perfect, would be to have Richie standing beside her while the sun came up.

“Hey,” he said quietly behind her.  He had woken to find her side of the bed empty and after taking a turn in the bathroom, followed her outside.  “You got room for me in there?”

Her mouth curled up in a smile.  Had he heard her thoughts and come looking for her?  It didn’t matter.  She was just glad he was here to share this with her.  She opened the blanket and held out one side, “come on in.”

He took the blanket, shook out the fold she had in it and wrapped it around his back before enveloping her in his arms.  “That’s much better.”

She leaned back, his chest warm against her back.  “Mmmmm, yes, yes it is.” 

Without a word, they watched the sun make its way above the horizon, coloring the day in hues of pink and gold. 

“That was beautiful” she murmured. 

“Mmmm hmmm” he agreed as he caressed her head with his lips.  “What had you up so early, sweetheart?”  He knew they hadn’t finished their conversation from the night before but he didn’t think that would have her up before the sun.

“Bathroom” she said as she leaned her head back against his shoulder.  “Then the tease of a beautiful sunrise drew me out here.”  Closing her eyes while she leaned against him she realized she felt better than she had in days.  More grounded, more centered.  Lighter.  Being with him made her feel that way. 

Untold grief and a need for something, anything that would bring her through it had driven her across the country away from everything she had ever known.  And this man had done more to help her heal than any therapy could ever have hoped.  Suddenly, she didn’t want to talk about their situation anymore.  She just wanted to be with him and it didn’t matter what might happen someday.  Now is what mattered.  And right now, she wanted him to ask her again.  Here, in the light of a brand new day, when everything was fresh and new between them she needed to hear the words from him again. 

Letting the edges of the blanket go, she quickly turned in his arms, the question almost out of her mouth before she fully faced him.  “Rich?”

He looked down at her, “what?”  An amused smile danced around his lips, wondering what had gotten his girl so worked up at this hour.

“Ask me again.”  Her eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation as she waited.

 
His brows beetled in confusion.  Ask her?  Ask her wha-?  Then it dawned on him.  A smile replaced the confusion.  She may have had her come-to-Jesus moment with her sister, but here, with him, she saw the whole of what could be.  His smile widened.  “Sweetheart, just say yes.”

Her fingers walked up his chest, “ask me again, please” she pleaded.  She needed to hear the question again.

He pressed is lips to her forehead.  “Share my home and my life with me, sweetheart.  Please?”

Her arms moved up and circled his shoulders.  She raised up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.  With a smile she nodded her head, “yes Richie.”  She kissed him again, “yes, yes, yes.”  She punctuated each affirmative with a kiss.

He laughed at her eagerness.  “It’s about time you came to your senses, woman” he growled playfully before kissing her with a new found urgency.  The blanket slipped from his shoulders, pooling at their feet as they kissed in the light of the new day.  Nipping his way across her bottom lip he glanced down at her, fully appreciating that his shirt had never looked as good on him as it did at that moment on her.  He trailed his fingertip down the long open vee to where the first of only two buttons were holding the shirt closed.  “What changed your mind?”  He toyed with the button while he waited for her to answer.

“Not any one thing, really.”  Her breath caught as he opened the first button.  “I just decided that I can’t worry about what might happen in a month, a year, five years.  I want to be with you and-” she shivered and goose bumps raised on her skin where he traced light circles above the second button.

“And?”

"And, uh" she closed her eyes against the sensation and licked her lower lip.  "And we don’t need to beat a dead horse here.  I’m going to finish packing my things when I get back home and then, you’re stuck with me.” 

He smiled wickedly at her last statement before popping open the second button her shirt.  Sliding his hands inside the cotton, he caressed her sides, the under curve of her breasts, before pulling her flush against him.  He lowered his head, “I like the sound of that” he said and then he kissed her. 



*Wanted - Hunter Hayes