Leo

Our dishes are clean, dry and put away.

Josephine hasn't stopped smiling the entire time. Neither have I.

She's pouring herself a glass of water now. And I watch her drink it.

My palms run up her hips to her waist. I always loved touching Josephine in any shape or way I could. But now, it's like I need to touch her. Like I need to make sure this isn't some sick joke. Some dream. I need to make sure this is real.

But when I pull her flush to me and feel her heartbeat against mine, I know this is real.

"I missed you so much." She whispers.

I can only nod. Missing her doesn't even begin to cover it.

It physically hurt me being away from her. From my family.

"Let me hold you." I plead.

She vehemently nods, and I don't need any further encouragement. I scoop her up in my arms and walk us to the bedroom. We lie together on the bed, with my face in her neck. Our arms around each other.

I rub my palm up her back. I can still remember the many times at night she fell asleep in my arms exactly this way while watching a movie.

It seems so long ago but also like yesterday.

The fabric rises and I sneak my fingers up her shirt. Her skin is warm and smooth as butter. I continue rubbing her back, all the way to her neck, then to the hem of her pants. Then again, and again.

Her legs tangle themselves between mine, and she squeezes my arm. Her lips leave the faintest kiss on my forehead and my entire body becomes alive.

My hand moves to the front, stroking over the dip of her waist, up to just beneath her breasts.

I stop and pull away just enough to look at her.

I'm nervous to proceed. Just like the first time we made love.

She gives me permission by nodding. I gently cup her breast and my eyes dip to her mouth.

Leaning forward, she licks my bottom lip. My body shudders. She then encloses her mouth over mine and kisses me. She's taking the lead this time. Usually, it's me. But not now. She tells me everything in this kiss. How much she loves me. Missed me.

Her fingers dip beneath my shirt and my muscles flex at her soft touch.

She tugs at it, and we pull away so I can take it off.

Her eyes scan my chest. The new scars that mar it now. The bruises that will take a week to disappear. Her eyes shine, but she leans into me and kisses my pec. Right where a fresh bullet wound is.

I heave out a sigh. It's not that I hate my scars. But I don't love them either. But each time she kisses them how she's doing right now, she makes me appreciate them in a new light.

We wordlessly kiss, touch, and cherish each other. But there are no words needed. Our bodies are doing the talking.

I rid her of her top and kiss her neck, then the column of her throat, then her heart. Her chest is heaving with short, shallow breaths and I leave faint kisses all over her breasts.

With my body on top of hers, I fuse our mouths again as she exhales and I inhale. I exhale, she inhales.

The kiss turns more urgent. Our bodies grinding.

Her hands lower my pants and I help her lower them all the way to the floor. She palms my bare ass as I didn't bother with underwear after my shower.

Untying the drawstrings of her pants, she helps me lower them by lifting her hips.

My hands squeeze her flesh as I continue to kiss her.

It's been so long since our last kiss, but nothing has changed. She still tastes the same. Feels the same. Kisses the same.

I pull away and sit on my haunches. Her eyes dip to my hardness as mine dip to a new tattoo on the side of her torso.

It's a sketch of the face of a lion, drawn using one line. And inside it is an outline of a woman's face.

The lion and woman appear to be one.

The meaning of it immediately registers, and I meet her gaze.

Her smile is wobbly as she touches the art.

I put my body weight on her again, then examine the design from closer up. It's really intricate and I love it.

I kiss it all over. My heart growing ten times in size.

I'm such an idiot for thinking she's met someone else while I'm away. Her love for me runs so deep, even if I was gone for eternity, she would still love me and wait for me.

"I love you." I whisper it against her heart. Then her mouth before kissing her.

She says it back with a hoarse voice.

"Leo," meeting her eyes, I read the plea in them. "I need you."

I know she doesn't mean only physically. We both need this. To feel close to each other in every way possible.

I nod and remove her underwear before running a finger up her folds. She's dripping wet as I gather wetness and run her nub.

"I need you." She says again. "Please."

I've never entered her before at least giving her two orgasms with my fingers or tongue. But we need this more than we need air right now.

Her chest rises with a deep breath, her arms hooked around my neck to bring me closer to her.

My body tingles with anticipation as I grip myself to align it to her entrance.

Our eyes latch with a great force as I slowly sink myself inside of her. Home.

Her hips buck up as she clasps her ankles behind my back.

Pulling away just an inch, I push into her.

Our eyes haven't left the other and we're barely blinking, afraid we'd miss a moment.

I watch a tear gather in the corner of her eye, but she raises her neck and kisses me, hiding my view of her tears. But it's for the best, as my own eyes are tearing up as well.

I set a languid pace, taking our time.

We're not rushing anything.

I'm never leaving her again. Never leaving my family again. And I can finally say this with certainty for once in my life.

A sigh leaves her mouth as she breaks away from our kiss.

She throws her head back when I hit the sensitive spot inside of her and I latch my mouth on her neck.

My pace quickens and I'm ready to combust.

Sneaking a hand between us, I rub her. I want to feel her when she cums.

Not a second passed without me thinking of her.

When they ripped our clothes, the photo I had of her in my front pocket miraculously fell out and I hid it before they saw it and took it.

Her smile in that picture was the light at the end of the tunnel.

But I don't have to fight anymore. I'm home. I'm safe. I will be okay.

But most importantly, I'm with Josephine again.

Her walls clench around me, and I quicken the speed of my finger rubbing her clit.

"Leo." She whines, my name from her mouth sounds like music to my ear.

I hold off from coming, and instead lean down to pepper kisses all over her chest, neck and face.

Our gazes lock as the first spasm of hers rocks my body. She fights to keep her eyes open, not wanting to miss a second of this.

A groan gets trapped in the back of my throat as her body shudders against mine.

Leaning down, I whisper her name against her lips and watch as she finally lets go.

Then I do.

I release inside of her, feeling alive for the first time in nine months. Nine excruciating and long months.

Our breaths mix as we both climax, and I've never felt closer to her before.

I slump but manage not to crush her with my weight.

My mind feels calmer. My heart is beating normally. My body isn't in a constant shivering match.

I'm home and I can finally breathe.

• ••• •

A/N:

Emotional chapter 😢

And in case any of you were wondering how her newest tattoo looks, check the pic below