Episode: 23

The house was unusually quiet after Robert left, but the silence didn't do much to still my racing heart. Emma, despite her earlier teasing, had fallen asleep on the couch. Her soft snores filled the room as I sat there, staring blankly at the wall, replaying every moment from the hospital, the car ride, and the scene in my bedroom. My skin was still sensitive to the phantom weight of Robert's touch, the way his hand brushed against my hair, his breath fanning my cheek as he leaned in.

I stood up, trying to shake my thoughts, but the moment I moved, my phone buzzed. A text from Robert lit up the screen.

"Did Emma settle in? Do you need anything?"

A simple message, but it sent a wave of warmth through me. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tried to think of a reply that wasn't overly casual or embarrassingly eager.

"She's asleep. Everything's fine. Thank you for being there today."

I hit send before I could overthink it. Almost instantly, the phone buzzed again.

"Always. Can I come back? I think we need to finish something we started."

My breath caught. Was he serious? The boldness of his message sent my heart pounding erratically, and for a moment, I debated how to respond. The rational part of me wanted to tell him no—Emma was here, and this wasn't the time. But the other part of me, the one that had been on fire since he'd leaned in earlier, whispered that I wanted him here.

Before I could reply, there was a knock at the door.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, I moved toward the door, my palms sweaty as I twisted the knob. And there he was, standing on my doorstep with that maddeningly charming smile, his hands stuffed casually into his pockets.

"I thought I'd save you the trouble of texting me back," Robert said, his voice low and teasing.

"Robert," I breathed, caught between surprise and anticipation. "Emma's here—"

"She's asleep," he interrupted gently, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "And we need to talk."

The way he said "talk" sent a shiver down my spine. His gaze was steady, but there was a heat in his eyes that made it impossible to look away. He closed the door behind him and took a step closer, his presence filling the room.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted, his voice raw and vulnerable. "About what almost happened earlier."

My breath hitched as he stepped closer, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. The air between us crackled with tension, and I felt rooted to the spot, unable to move even if I wanted to.

"I need to know," he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you feel it too? This pull between us? Because it's driving me insane."

That sent a wave of emotion crashing over me. I couldn't trust my voice, so I nodded; my eyes fixed on his was all he needed.

Instantly, his lips were on mine, and the world receded. The kiss was slow to start, gentle and searching, but quickly grew deep as all those months of pent-up feeling broke to the surface. His hands cradled my face, tilting my head so I met him fully, and I sank into him, fingers clutched to the front of his shirt to anchor myself.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing heavily, our foreheads pressed together. "Tell me to stop," he murmured, his voice rough with restraint. "If this is too much, just tell me, and I'll walk away."

I shook my head, my lips brushing against his as I spoke. "Don't stop."

That was all the permission he needed. He kissed me again, this time with more urgency, his hands sliding down to my waist and pulling me flush against him. My body responded instinctively, my arms wrapping around his neck as I lost myself in the moment.

He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the couch and setting me down gently. Emma was still asleep in the other room, but the thought barely registered in my mind. All I could focus on was him—his lips, his hands, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

He knelt in front of me, his hands resting on my knees as he gazed up at me. "You're so beautiful," he said softly, his eyes full of admiration. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

I swallowed hard, unable to find the words to respond. Instead, I leaned forward, pulling him into another kiss. His hands slid up my thighs, his touch leaving a trail of heat in its wake. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it, but I didn't care. All that mattered was this moment, this connection between us that felt too powerful to ignore.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, his voice laced with both desire and concern.

I nodded, my fingers tangling in his hair as I pulled him closer. "Yes," I whispered. "I'm sure."

His lips curved into a smile against mine, and he kissed me again, his hands exploring my body with a reverence that made my heart ache. Every touch, every kiss, every whispered word felt like a promise, a declaration of something deeper than either of us had dared to acknowledge before.

Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other, the rest of the world fading away until nothing else existed. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be—in his arms, with no doubts or fears holding me back.

As the night wore on, we finally pulled apart, our breaths mingling as we rested our foreheads together. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin in a gesture so tender it brought tears to my eyes.

"I don't want to ruin this," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," I promised, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "I'm not going anywhere, Robert."

He smiled, his eyes shining with relief and something deeper—something I wasn't quite ready to name yet. But in that moment it didn't matter. All that mattered was us, and the unspoken bond that had finally been acknowledged.