Rhett presses the familiar doorbell, sending a flare of barely smothered ecstasy through his chest, even though he knows the passcode and practically lives here with his beloved.
But he has been away for more than two weeks, which seem as if decades have already passed.
So, he would love to see her reaction when she finds him standing at the doorway, because even if she knows he's arriving today, she doesn't know when.
Those weeks without her, thousands of miles away, had been almost unbearable, and physically hurt him. The phone calls, video calls between his work had never been nearly enough when all he wanted was to ditch everything and come back to her.
He presses the doorbell again, tapping an impatient foot against the floor.
He straightens as light, hurried footsteps approach from behind the door. The sound of
her footsteps, etched deep into his very soul.
The click of the knob being turned, and the door swings open to reveal the most beautiful person in the whole world.
Just like that, all the tension in his body dissolves, as her doe-eyes widen in stunned delight.
"Rhett!" A squeal escapes his Angel as she throws her arms around him,
coaxing a laugh from him as he catches her, lifting her feet off the floor and spinning her around.
Giggles spill from her until she cups his face, pressing her brow to his.
"You're finally home," she murmurs, her voice wavering.
"I missed you." He swallows hard. "So... so much."
Her gaze meets his, a bright
smile playing on her plump, pink lips, tempting him to taste the fruity sweetness they promise.
And once he does, lowering her to the floor as he kisses her, separating feels unbearable, every fiber of him craving more, more and more of her.
"I missed you more," she says, her uneven breath teasing his lips, awakening something dangerous in him and making him lean in for another kiss.
"Rhett!" she laughs,
playfully shoving him away, only for him to draw her close by the waist and kiss her again.
"You must be cold." Her warm fingers brush against his cheek as worry flickers in her eyes.
A smile spreads across his lips. "Not anymore," he says before stepping back to pick up the bouquet of flowers resting beside his travel suitcase.
Neva grins as she beholds the bouquet, where pastel hues weave, blooming in a kaleidoscopic dream.
"They're exquisite," she whispers, tracing the velvet petals of the whimsical pink cosmos with her fingers.
He always knows how to enchant her with flowers, especially after learning of her particular obsession with roses.
Rhett gives a casual shrug, standing with his arms crossed, that playful grin tugging at the purest melody within the musical strings of her heart.
"Thank you." She rises on her tiptoes, brushing her lips against his in a soft kiss while his hands settle on her waist.
"Come on inside." She grabs the suitcase and wheels it along, the lush bouquet weighing heavily against her side.
Neva lets out a sigh at the cozy warmth of the living room, placing the bouquet carefully on the coffee table as Rhett's presence soon stirs behind her.
"How was work?" she asks, as he wraps his arms around her waist, pressing her close against him.
"It was alright." He brushes her curls aside, pressing small, lingering kisses along her neck. "What about you," he asks. "How did your exam go today?"
A fussy moan escapes her, followed by a chuckle as she melts against him. "I have a few regrets, but it'll be fine."
Yet, how happy she is today! Her exams are finally over, and best of all, her Rhett is finally here after they'd barely managed to squeeze in time for each other between his packed schedule and her exam season. And she already dreads his leaving again.
He has an awful number of business trips to attend to, each spanning weeks! That's too unfair!
"I kept thinking about your poem, Angel," he says.
Her poem. She blushes thinking about it.
After she'd given him the note bearing her poem, its borders winding with elfin vines and flowers, on the evening just a day before he left, she had wanted to flee but he caught her. He had made her sit on his lap and kept her caged while he quietly read. When he finished, he looked up at her, his eyes soft and teary, filled with love and gratitude. He kissed her, followed by even more kissing as he lowered her onto the bed.
And the overwhelming sensation of him from that day still lingers in the tingling flutters in her belly now.
"Will you write more in the future for me?"
"I will."
He buries his face in the crook of her neck. "I love you," he murmurs, each vibration of his words against her skin threatening to buckle her knees.
"I love you," she whispers, soaking in the familiar musky scent of him which she had so yearned for these past weeks. She had even taken to wearing his sweaters and shirts, so big and comforting on her.
"I'm sleepy," he says.
"Come sleep on the bed," she proposes. "Sleeping while standing can't be very comfortable, can it?"
"I'm just going to devour you." His teeth graze her neck in a teasing bite,
sending a shiver down her spine.
Oh, truly, her legs have turned to water.
It's a miracle that she's still upright, and it's also only natural that she's unravelling, with him so close and so touchy with her. "I'm probably not very tasty."
He laughs, easing back to turn her to face him.
"Do you mind if I find out?" He tilts her chin up, kisses her jaw, and claims her lips in a slow, passionate kiss.
Pulling away, she presses a finger to his chest.
"Don't you get any funny ideas," she says slyly. "Say the vows, and I might just think about it."
With a mischievous grin at his amused expression, she winks
and turns toward their room, only to squeal as he scoops her up in his arms in one swift motion.
He laughs, carrying her into the room. "Seems like it's just about time for us to get married now."
"Oh, you wish?" Her arms wrap around his neck.
"I dare wish." He lays her on the coquettish bed, their bed, the white lace curtains enveloping them like their own little cocoon of paradise.
Love and desire burn in his gaze, and, placing a quick kiss on his lips, cheeks aflame, she pushes him off.
He lets out a low groan, lying on his back as she sits up.
"Rest a bit." She pats his chest. "There's so much to do. Christmas shopping, errands, and the whole list that I made." Truly, instead of studying, her head was full of these business; all the excitement of spending Christmas with him, missing him, aching for him,
and praying that the Lord just please help her focus.
He folds an arm beneath his head, listening with a sheepish look.
"There's a restaurant I've been wanting to try, too," she says, only for him to pull her down again. She simply gives in, lying in his embrace. Her bucket list goes on and on. Also, the Christmas tree isn't up yet, for she had been waiting for him so they could buy it together. She'd even been looking for decors online just before he arrived, having already discussed the themes she'd like with him over the phone.
Pausing at his silence, she finds him asleep, a hint of serenity resting on his perfectly handsome face.
Pressing a kiss to his forehead,
she tucks the duvet around him when she catches sight of a small cut on his cheekbone.
Gosh... what is she going to do with him?
He's always finding his way back to her with new wounds to mend.
She smiles to herself, and moves to find some ointment; ever grateful to her dear Heavenly Father for bringing him safely back home to her.