He pulled Cianne close and kissed her on the head. He wasn't sure if she was comfortable being this close to him after all she'd been through but he needed to hold her. He needed to be close to her. He wanted to smell the heavenly scent of her hair again, to touch her soft satiny skin. He nestled his face in her neck and held her for as long as she allowed.
"I was scared that I would never feel you holding me again," Cianne said, breaking the silence. She slowly pulled away. "I wish we could stay like this forever."
He saw the tears form in her eyes and had to force his body to stay relaxed. "I'm sorry for everything you've been through Ci." His throat burned as he spoke the next words. "Your life would be so much simpler if you would have kept ignoring me."
She caressed his jaw. "I could say the same thing."
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, through her hair. He caressed her neck where her birthmark was with his lips, causing her to shiver.