A/N: This chapter contains lots of loving. If that's something that bothers you, byeee 👋. Also THAT GIF 🥵🥵🥵

Rem adds a pinch of salt to the boiling water before dumping the spaghetti in. As the pasta cooks, he heats up the marinara sauce in a separate pan and then slices a loaf of bread.

"Are we carbo-loading tonight?" I ask, circling my arms around his waist from behind. I bury my face between his shoulder blades and inhale the smoky fragrance I've grown familiar with. He smells even better than the food.

"Well," he says, putting the knife down and turning to face me, "we'll be burning a lot of calories tonight. I wanted to make sure we were properly energized."

His words bring a blush to my cheeks. Biting my lip, I rotate my head so he can't see the crimson hue, but he quickly cups my face in his calloused hands and kisses me.

As our mouths move together, I run my fingers over his toned stomach. He doesn't have body builder abs, but he isn't soft, either. His torso is lined with lean muscle that I can't wait to touch without his pesky clothes in the way.

I play with the buttons on his shirt and place gentle, teasing kisses on his jaw and neck. He moans in satisfaction, his hands gripping my hips. Next thing I know, he's lifting me off the ground and sitting me on the counter. Stepping in between my legs, he grazes my inner thigh with his fingertips and kisses me again.

"Can't we skip dinner and just go upstairs?" I breathe out, delirious from his touch.

"Nope." Suddenly, he pulls away. He helps me off the counter and adds, "I need to feed you first. Gotta make sure you don't pass out on me tonight, you know?"

I roll my eyes. "Fine, I'll wait."

Smirking, he gives my butt a quick pinch before finishing up dinner.

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"Hey, I'm gonna lock myself in the bathroom for a bit," I announce, putting our plates into the dishwasher.

His dark eyes glisten with concern. "Are you feeling okay, Vange?"

I nod my head and place a tender kiss on his cheek. "I feel great," I assure him. "I just need to... freshen up."

Before he can ask anymore questions, I grab my bag and rush to the bathroom.

I take out the lacy teddy and hold it up, examining the thin fabric carefully. I've never worn one of these before. What if it doesn't fit right? What if Rem can't get it off?

Stop worrying. You're working yourself up for nothing.

I remove my clothes and slip on the lingerie. To my astonishment—and relief—it fits like a glove, hugging my curves in all the right places and accentuating my less than ample breasts. Smiling, I run a brush through my hair and apply the vanilla-scented body lotion that I packed.

Satisfied with my appearance, I clean up my mess and press my ear to the door. I hear Rem's familiar footsteps, followed by a gentle knock.

"You sure you're okay? You've been in there for a while!" he calls.

"Go to your room and wait for me," I tell him.

"Vange—"

"Please," I cut in, "just listen. I'll be there soon."

His footsteps fade down the hall. I take several deep, calming breaths, inhaling for four seconds, holding the air for seven, and exhaling for eight. Althea taught me that trick to help with anxiety. It seems silly, but it works.

Once I'm physically and mentally prepared, I make my way to Rem's bedroom. Slowly, I open the door. I find him with his shirt off and a lighter in his hand. Candles have been set up all around the room, and soft piano music is playing from his laptop.

"This is beautiful," I whisper, awestruck by the magical scene in front of me.

He whirls around, his jaw dropping when he lays eyes on me. "W-wow, baby," he murmurs.

"Do you like it?" I ask, stepping closer.

He nods his head, still speechless. He looks me up and down, his dark eyes filled with adoration and desire. I pull him toward me, and his hands immediately begin to explore my body, brushing every inch of green lace.

He pulls down one of the straps and kisses my collarbone. I dig my fingernails into his back, already feeling high from the contact.

I unbutton his jeans and pull them down. Through his boxers, I stroke him, eliciting a moan almost as erotic as his lips on my skin.

"You have no idea how badly I want you right now," he purrs.

Still massaging him, I smirk. I know exactly how badly I am wanted right now.

We move to the bed. He slowly removes the teddy, his eyes taking in my naked body like I'm a cold glass of water on a hot summer day.

"You're stunning," he says, gazing down at me. "You're... perfect."

His touch is gentle. He feels my breasts, then my stomach, then where I crave him most. His fingers move back and forth, increasing my high.

"Oh, Rem," I hum.

Before I reach nirvana, he stops and kisses my inner thigh. He places more teasing kisses there and on my hips before moving his lips to where his fingers once were. Unable to last any longer, I arch my back, crying out as a wave of absolute pleasure washes over me.

"You're so beautiful," he whispers, snuggling beside me as I struggle to catch my breath.

"Fuck, that was...." I trail off, still panting. There are no words to describe what that was.

Rem lies on his back, and I quickly seize the opportunity to get on top of him. I leave a trail of kisses down his chest and all the way to his waist before I pull down his boxers and expose him.

Wow.

I stroke him slowly, teasingly. Beneath me, he trembles, whimpering as I continue to play with him.

My mouth replaces my fingers, and I bob my head back and forth. He grips the bedsheets, his contented moans echoing throughout the room.

My lips leave him with an audible pop. I leap off the bed, grab a foil packet from my bag, and try to open it with my sweat-soaked fingers. Rem takes it from me and rips it open with his teeth.

"This is the last time I'll ask. Are you sure you're ready?" he murmurs, tucking a strand of messy hair behind my ear.

"I'm ready. I want to," I promise him.

Nodding his head, he slides the condom on and positions himself over me. "Tell me if you want me to stop, okay?"

Slowly, cautiously, he enters me. I gasp at the sensation. He rocks his hips, sending currents of pleasure throughout my body.

His lips meet mine in a hungry kiss. I run my fingers through his dark curls as our bodies move together in perfect harmony. It feels like every cell in my body is on fire, like I could burst at any moment. This is more than just sex.

It's love.

It isn't long before I'm shaking beneath him, reaching nirvana for the second time. Seconds later, his body jerks and then ceases movement altogether. He touches his forehead to mine, his hot breath fanning my face.

"Are you alright?" he murmurs.

"Never better," I choke out.

He rolls off of me and discards the used contraception. He pulls his boxers back on before climbing into bed beside me, holding me against his bare chest.

"Vange, I—"

"I love you," I blurt out, gazing up at him.

My heart ascends to my throat as I wait for him to respond. He caresses my cheek before mashing his lips to mine.

"That just isn't fair," he says, breaking the kiss, "because I was just about to tell you the exact same thing."

I exhale a sigh of relief and kiss him again. He has me. All of me. My heart, my soul, and now my body.

"I love you, Evangeline Porter," he declares. "I love you so god damn much."

"I love you, too." I weave my fingers through his and rest my head on his chest once again, allowing my heavy eyelids to drift shut.

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"This was so hard to find," Rem says, handing me a spoon and placing the pint of ice cream between us.

"It's so good, though." Eagerly, I scoop a giant spoonful of cotton candy ice cream into my mouth, savoring the sweet flavor.

It's nearly three o'clock in the morning. After we made love for the first time, we dozed off for a couple hours. When I woke up to a poking sensation in my thigh, we saddled up for round two.

Now it's time to refuel with my favorite dessert.

"So we probably should have discussed this beforehand," Rem begins, "but we never really talked about past partners."

I shrug my shoulders. "For me, there's not much to talk about. Nash and I slept together once, and it was awful."

He furrows his brow. "Why was it so awful?"

I put my spoon down, my appetite suddenly gone.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he whispers, resting his hand over mine. "Just know that I won't judge you. I would never judge you."

With a sigh, I say, "It wasn't terrible. I mean, it wasn't good. It wasn't anything like being with you. It could have been worse, though. He had been pestering me about it for a while, and I finally gave in.

"He wasn't very... considerate. He moved his body without any regard for what I wanted or what felt good for me. I felt like a blow-up doll, you know? Like I was only there for one purpose—to help him get off.

"I was relieved when he finally rolled off of me. I stood up, ready to get dressed and go home, and then I... I felt something between my legs. I realized he didn't use a condom, and I wasn't on the pill or anything, and...." I bite my bottom lip, fighting back tears. "I was so scared. I had a full-on panic attack, and he was so... apathetic. Like, totally unconcerned. He bought me Plan B, but he didn't understand why I was so freaked out. Maybe he just didn't care."

Rem puts the ice cream aside and pulls me onto his lap. "I'm so sorry he put you through that, pretty girl. That's awful."

"I'm over it. I'm over him," I declare, nuzzling Rem's neck. "I have you now, and that's all that matters."

"I promise I'll never push you to do anything you're not ready for." He caresses my exposed thigh, his fingertips moving closer and closer to my core. Without even realizing it, he's turning me on. "You deserve real love, baby. You're not a hump and dump."

I giggle at his choice of words and press my lips to his, ready to go for round three.

"Does this mean you're not gonna ask about my past relations?" Rem implores, gazing at me through thick lashes.

Do I want to know?

"Based on your... performance, I assumed you weren't a virgin," I admit, "but that's not a problem, at least not with me. I won't hold your past against you."

He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. With a shake of his head, he says, "Last summer, I went to a music program in New York. For five weeks, fifty other kids and I got to live in a dorm with no adult supervision. When we weren't playing our instruments, we were—"

"Playing with each other?" I finish, trying to find humor in a situation that makes me feel utterly insecure.

"Yeah," he confesses. "I slept with half a dozen girls, usually while drunk out of my mind. I can only remember a handful of their names. I feel pretty shitty about it, if I'm being honest. I never wanted to be that guy."

"Is that why you're so considerate with me?" I ask, running my fingers through his dark curls.

"I want to be someone I can be proud of," he says, "and I want to be the boyfriend you deserve."

"You are," I say quietly. "You're perfect, Rem."

"I'm far from it."

"Maybe you're not perfect, but you're perfect for me."

He flashes a genuine Rem smile and pulls me to his chest. "I love you, Vange."

"And I love you," I whisper, clinging to him like a drowning girl clutches a lifebelt.

In a way, I was a drowning girl. After learning the truth about my father, I went to a really dark place, sinking lower than I ever have before. I was a mess. I didn't care about anything or anyone, not even myself.

But he saved me. He brought me back to the surface and bathed me in the light of day. He reminded me that I can't let my heritage define me, that I mattered before and still matter now.

He showed me love. Real love. And for that, I'll be forever grateful.

"Do you have the stamina to go again?" I say into his ear, causing him to perk up immediately.

"Pretty girl, I could go all night with you," he replies, lifting me off his lap and placing me onto the bed. "Just remind me to put the ice cream back in the freezer when we're done."

Like I warned you, lots of love! I needed to write a happy chapter before torturing my characters again (sorry in advance).

Don't forget to tap that star before you leave ⭐️⭐️