See I can make the load much lighter

I just need you to confide in me

But if you're too proud to follow rivers

How you ever gonna find the sea?

- River. Emeli Sande

He stayed.

She'd woken up in his arms, with his hand on her thigh and the smile that was on her lips came from her heart.

He stayed. Just as he promised he would.

She had been afraid she would wake up alone, with nothing but cold sheets beside her, but she decided to trust him as her body succumbed to sleep.

And he was still here.

She loved his hands on her, his gentle kiss behind her ear. And as his hands travelled over her slowly she knew she wanted him. And so she took him. Every kiss over his skin had been a claiming, every touch denoted ownership.

She was making him hers, touching him in a way so he could never leave.

It had felt good to be with him. It had felt good to have him inside her. It had been so long since she had connected with a man so intensely like this and she hoped nothing would change what they had started today.

Hours later he was still here. Day had turned into night and they had kept the rest of the world out. They allowed nothing to intrude on them. They spent hours talking, laughing, making love, eating and trading stories and she felt like she knew him better than she had before.

How was that possible?

She didn't know how, but she only knew that it was.

They sat on the couch with her legs thrown over his lap. They were still in their underwear and she loved the fact that she could touch him whenever she wanted. The mostly reserved and serious man in a suit was now putty in her hands, so pliable and ready to give her whatever she wanted.

All she wanted right now was him, and the gentle way he touched her and kissed her.

She watched his face turn pensive and he gazed down at the scars on her chest before running his finger across them.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry I was too late." He said and his eyes filled with tears.

"You weren't, John. You saved me. You didn't give up on me. In fact I think you willed me back to life in that alley."

He laughed and grabbed onto her hand. "I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you."

He brought her hand to his mouth kissing it tenderly.

"I'm glad that you don't have to worry about that anymore." She replied and ran her hand over his head before resting it on the back of his neck. "And I'm glad Taylor doesn't have to live without both his parents."

"You know Finch and I would've taken care of him. Without a doubt he'd never want for anything, Joss."

"Thank you." she said and he pulled her onto his lap, pulling her closer to him. "I wonder who would've taken care of you."

"Let's hope we never have to find that out." He said and his lips claimed hers again, slowly, expertly, not allowing breath to pass between them. He was so demanding and he took her right there on the couch.

Later he asked to take her out and he took her back to his place to get dressed and they ended up having dinner at a cozy restaurant in Manhattan. He ordered them some champagne, he ordered their meal and they ate dessert while she playfully ran her foot up and down his legs and thigh under the table. She loved watching him squirm as her toes found their way between his legs and he started to harden. She watched as he fisted his hands on the table and muttered what he would do to her as payback later on. She made him promise to go through with it.

They walked downtown in Times Square afterwards and she loved his arm around her as they strode slowly together.

This was bliss.

This was what happiness felt like and he was determined to give it to her now.

They sat opposite each other again at Paley Park at the end of the evening, eating ice cream. They watched the waterfall and the sound of it was calming. The lights behind it illuminated the intimate space and cast a light glow over them.

"I'm sorry I hurt you Joss." She heard him whisper. She guessed he needed to say it, to make it up to her somehow. It was good to hear the words.

"I understand your fear. This, you and me, it changes a lot. And I can understand you not knowing how to deal with all of it. But we'll do it together."

"What have I done to deserve you?" He asked quietly and she shook her head at the question.

"You've done so much John." She reached over holding his hand and he squeezed it.

"I love you."

Dun dun dun...cliffhanger!