Page 82 of Love Me Again

Christmas Day.

It feelslike I’ve gone back in time to when we met—having Shayla in my arms, where she belongs, dancing slowly in our living room—wrapped up in one another like we were the only two people in the world. Before the accident, before everything got all messed up—when nothing mattered but the two of us.

I gaze into her eyes, unable to look away. The love she has in her eyes for me leaves me powerless. I love the way she looks at me. I want to lose myself with her. I reach up and brush her hair away from her face before I let my fingers caress her jaw.

Shayla leans into my touch, her eyes closed. I dip my head and brush a kiss on her soft lips, which she responds to with a breathy moan, parting her lips for me to deepen the kiss.

We kiss slow and sensually, neither of us in any rush. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve kissed her or how many times I’ve had her. Every time with her feels like the first time to me. I suppose that’s the power of her love. She makes me nervous in ways I can’t explain.

We didn’t make it to the bedroom. After we leisurely undress one another, lips still welded. I lay Shayla down on the rug in front of the fireplace and crawl over her. I look down at her, and she curls her fingers at the nape of my neck and draws me down for another soul-baring kiss. I pull back a little and gaze down at her while I press myself at her entrance. Shayla gasps when I push inside her gradually. She opens those olive eyes, watching me affectionately, and I hold her gaze as I glide deeper into her, inch by inch filling her up whilst she moans.

My eyes close, and I sigh when Shayla's fingers stroke my face lightly. Her legs wrap around my waist, and she draws me closer. I kiss her fingers and avidly watch as she trails them down my throat and presses them to my chest, just above my rapidly pounding heart. I brush my lips over hers, kissing her ardently as I thrust into her slow and steadily.

Our fingers entwine as we move, rocking together. I kiss down her throat, and she arches up, panting, her fingers tightening around mine as I feather kisses along her chest. I press my lips over her heart and close my eyes when I feel it thrashing against my lips. Lifting my gaze to hers slowly, Shayla pulls my head up and kisses me before she rolls me onto my back.

We make love for hours till our bodies were moist with sweat, spent and breathless. It was like a box had unhitched in my mind. While we made love, everything came rushing back to me. I lay my head on Shayla’s chest, rising and falling, her heart beating in my ear while she runs her fingers through my sweat-dampened hair.

I remember everything.

After my breathing had calmed, I rolled onto my back and had Shayla sprawled on top of me. She was glowing, and I honestly couldn’t get enough of her. I comb my fingers through her hair as we lay together in comfortable silence. Music playing softly in the background, the fire's crackling beside us, and our breathing was the only sounds that were needed at that moment as our bodies quieted. Shayla sighs contently, her head resting on my chest while she watches the snow falling outside. I kiss her forehead; she smiles tiredly and lifts her forest green eyes to mine.

“Hey you,” I whisper, sweeping my nose over hers gently.

“Hi,” She smiles and kisses me.

“It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this,” I admit, and she looks at me questioningly. “Like myself,” I add.

Shayla smiles, resting her chin on my chest, and gazes at me tenderly. “I know. This is the first time since your accident that I’ve seen the Cole I fell in love with.”

I nod and smile, “It’s taken a while, but he’s back, baby, and I’m not going anywhere ever again.” I promise her, and she smiles, her eyes watering.

“You promise?”

“I swear.” I declare, wiping away the tears that fall from her eyes. “Somethings are still a little fuzzy, but I remember everything,” I tell her, and she looks at me curiously, lifting her head off my chest. “While we were making love, it felt like our entire relationship flashed before my eyes. I finally remember Shay. All the missing pieces, things that didn’t make sense to me, all fell into place.” I explain, and Shayla leans up on her elbow and looks down at me.

“You really remember?” She asks eagerly, and I nod.

“I remember.” I grin. “Ask me anything.” Shayla looks at me, her brows fuse a little, and she looks thoughtful.

“While we were making love in Nice, I did something, and it’s been our special—” I kiss my fingers and press it over her heart, and she gasps, tears spilling down her flushed cheeks. She sits up and looks at me. “Our wedding night, you made a promise to me, and I told you I would hold you to it. What was the promise?”

I smile and lean up, gazing deeply into her eyes. “You’re a Goddess, baby. I’m going to worship you till my very last breath.” I repeat, and she covers her mouth with her hand while she looks at me with her eyes pooled with tears.

“Oh, Cole, you do remember.” She cries, cupping my face in her small hands and kissing me. I wrap my arms around her, holding the back of her head while I kiss her back thoroughly as I lay down and pull her down on top of me. We continue to kiss passionately. After we make love once more, we leave the apartment and head back to our home. It was gone four in the morning when we sneak in, trying to be quiet. I had Shayla pressed up against the wall, kissing her hungrily when the lights come on suddenly. Shayla and I blink, allowing our eyes to adjust to the light and look at my parents standing at the top of the stairs watching us.

I clear my throat and step away from Shayla, smiling sheepishly. “Do you two have any idea what time it is?” My father scolds us, and we press our lips together to keep from laughing. I felt like a teenager who got busted by his parents sneaking a girl into the house.

“It’s Christmas day, and I want to see my baby girl,” I tell my parents as I take Shayla’s hand and pull her up the stairs.

“Tristan, she’s sleeping.” My mother says, and I pick Shayla up and throw her over my shoulder as I carry her to our bedroom.

She laughs a little, “Cole’s memory is back.” She tells my parents, grinning. I hear my mother gasp and my Dad chuckling.

“Well, you can’t just say that and leave!” My mother shrieks excitedly.

“Go to bed, mother! It’s a Christmas miracle!” I shout, elated as I walk into our bedroom and set Shayla back down on her feet. I walk over to the crib and see my beautiful daughter asleep. Shayla closes the door to our bedroom and walks over.

“Shall we make another one?” I say when Shayla comes up beside me and looks down at her. I pull the blanket up to cover her.

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