The moment Simon carried Stella into the bathroom, the heat between them never waned. His eyes devoured her, filled with hunger and possessiveness, while her heart pounded in anticipation. He didn't set her down gently — instead, he pressed her back against the cold glass, his hands caging her in, his breathing ragged.
"You're driving me insane," he rasped, his thumb brushing her lower lip. "I can't get enough of you, Stella."
Stella's breath hitched. "Then take me. Right here. Right now."
Simon growled lowly, his mouth crashing against hers, their kiss desperate and unrestrained. Water rained down on them, but neither of them cared. His hands roamed down her body, cupping her breasts, teasing her nipples until she was moaning into his mouth.
"Simon—please," she gasped, arching into him. "I need you."
"God, baby, you have no idea how much I need you," Simon growled, his hand sliding between her thighs. She was already dripping, and the feel of her heat made him groan. "So wet for me already."
Stella whimpered, gripping his biceps. "Only for you. Always for you."
That was all he needed. With one swift motion, he hoisted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. Stella's back pressed into the glass as Simon slid himself inside her, both of them gasping at the overwhelming sensation.
"F-fuck—Simon," Stella moaned, her head falling back.
"Look at me," he ordered, his voice rough. "I want you to look at me when I make you fall apart."
Her gaze locked with his, and she saw the primal desire burning in his eyes. He began moving — slow at first, then faster, deeper. Stella's nails dug into his shoulders, her body arching in ecstasy as he hit every sensitive spot inside her.
"You're mine, Stella. Mine," he growled, thrusting harder, making her cry out his name.
"Yes! Yes, I'm yours—only yours," she gasped, her climax already building.
Simon's lips latched onto her neck, kissing and biting, leaving his marks. His hand gripped her thigh tighter as his pace turned rougher, his need to consume her overpowering everything else.
"I love you, Stella," he groaned, his forehead pressed against hers. "I'll never stop loving you."
Tears pricked Stella's eyes as she shattered around him, her release hitting her like a tidal wave. Simon wasn't far behind — a few more hard thrusts and he growled her name, spilling deep inside her.
They stayed there, breathless, bodies still connected, the water still cascading down on them.
Simon pulled back slightly, cupping her face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice now soft and tender.
Stella smiled weakly. "I'm perfect. You?"
He chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm still not done with you."
A mischievous glint flickered in Stella's eyes. "Then don't be."
And with that, Simon captured her lips again, ready to make love to his wife all over again — this time slower, deeper, and filled with nothing but love.
The next morning, Simon and Stella sat together on the couch after breakfast, both dressed in matching grey pants and black shirts, ready for their journey. Stella was curled up on Simon's lap, her fingers lazily playing with his as he traced slow circles on the back of her hand. The moment was quiet, peaceful—just the way she liked it.
Simon exhaled, breaking the silence. "After we get back, I'll take you to see your parents' graves."
Stella stilled, her fingers pausing against his. She turned her head to look at him, eyes wide with surprise. "You… you did that for them?"
Simon met her gaze, his expression unreadable, but there was something soft in the way he held her. "You thought I wouldn't?"
"No, I just…" Stella swallowed, struggling to find the right words. "I thought they died in Alloan." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"They did," Simon admitted, brushing his thumb across her knuckles, his voice steady, "but I built a grave for them here."
A lump formed in Stella's throat, emotions crashing over her in waves. She hadn't expected this—hadn't even thought about it. No one had ever done something like this for her, especially not after losing her parents so young. A tear slipped down her cheek, but before it could fall, Simon was already there, wiping it away with his thumb.
She smiled through her tears, her heart aching in the best way possible. Leaning forward, she placed a gentle kiss on his chin, then on his lips, her touch tender and full of unspoken gratitude. "I love you so much, Simon."
His grip on her tightened as he kissed her back, slow and deep, as if he were sealing a promise between them. "And I love you more, Stella." He peppered kisses across her cheeks, her nose, her forehead, until she dissolved into soft giggles, pushing against his chest.
Eventually, they pulled away, the moment settling between them like a warm embrace.
With a deep breath, they got to work, packing up their things for the journey ahead. Simon began loading the suitcases into the truck while two helpers assisted with the heavier items.
"Stella," Simon called out as he secured one of the boxes in place, "can you grab my office carton and put it in the truck?"
"Of course," she responded, brushing her hair behind her ear before heading inside.
She made her way to Simon's office, scanning the room for the carton. Just as she spotted it in the corner, the sound of shattering glass made her jump. She turned quickly to see one of the workers standing over a broken vase, his face pale.
"I—I'm so sorry," the man stammered, already bending down to pick up the shards.
Stella immediately went to his side. "It's okay, don't worry. Let me help."
She crouched beside him, carefully picking up the larger pieces while he swept up the smaller ones. As they worked, she made sure he hadn't cut himself, offering a reassuring smile when she saw he was unharmed.
By the time they finished cleaning up, Stella wiped her hands on her pants and stood, dusting off her palms, completely forgetting about the carton.