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Rowan had been staying at her parents house since she got back from Paris, in hopes of saving up enough money to get her own place. The only recent good news was that the neighbors were relieved to have her back so she could return back to nannying for the family. The girls were ten and seven at this point and they were a handful. But, because Rowan had been apart of their lives and helping to take care of them for so long, they saw her like a big sister and to an extent, they would still listen to her.
Rowan had just gotten home from the neighbors house. Mom and Dad were getting dinner around when the front door opened. Trevor and his boyfriend walked through the door and mom embraced them with open arms. Dinner with the family was a big deal but it was hard to coordinate everyone together since the schedules always seemed to duel, so the solution was to join once a month on a Sunday evening. Trevor had moved to Santa Fe for college and ended up staying there after graduation. He somehow made a connection with a website developer writing code and with the success of the business itself, came success for Trevor as well.
It's funny how the tables had turned. She loved seeing Trevor happy. He really worked a lot for what he had l this point in his life. But in contrast, she couldn't help but feel disappointed when she took a look at her own life. She didnt feel like she was alive anymore- she was just living. Nothing exciting, nothing new. Everything was steadfast.
After exchanging pleasantries over dinner, Rowan discreetly snagged a cigarette from Trevor and slipped out the back door. She took a seat at the patio table and pulled her knees up into her chest. The fire at the end of the lighter touched the tip of the cigarette and she took a deep drag while closing her eyes. She coughed a little on the exhale, but the nicotine was just enough to chill her out.
Rowan opened up her phone and scrolled through her contacts. She opened up the old message thread from Brandon, who had been away for his last tour. She knew he'd be coming home soon and that by now he was stateside, but she wasn't entirely sure of his return date.
I miss you.
Rowan wasn't expecting a quick response but moments later, her phone pinged.
-Hey I miss you too. What are you doing?
You'd be mad at me if you knew.
-Smoking is a tough habit to break.
Rowan looked up from her phone, her eyes wide and alert. How'd he know?
"You really should quit," His voice echoed through the empty evening air. Rowan turned to see Brandon Darrow leaning up against the stucco wall of the house. Immediately, her heart began to race. She rose to her feet and darted towards his outstretched hand, tossing the cigarette off somewhere in the yard. The two came together in a tight embrace. Brandon nearly engulfed Rowan in his strong arms, as she pressed her body into his. Neither wanted to let go. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, "I tried to get back sooner to surprise you before dinner but I hit traffic."
"It doesn't matter, you're here now," Rowan replied gently into his shoulder. It had been over a year and a half since she had seen him in the flesh. They hadn't been labelled as a couple in years. There was an amicable split up before Brandon left for the Army and while Rowan was still settling into college. However, the two never strayed far from one another. Whenever possible, they kept in touch. Their connection was undeniable and he was one of the very few people who had known what almost every nook and cranny of Rowan was like.
Rowan was the first to break their clasp. They exchanged gentle smiles as she rested his cheek in her hand. His face had weathered a bit with stress and age, and his skin was tanned. His cheeks and jawline had filled out to become more angular and less boy-ish. His naturally long wavy locks were buzzed short on the sides. The top of his hair was a little longer, but not by much. Rowan's eyes finally met his and she felt hers begin to fill with tears of relief, "Hi."
"I missed you too," Brandon chuckled lightly. His hands made their way around her waist and he pulled her back in for another friendly hug that lingered for a bit too long for two people who were just friends.
"Sorry, I think I'm just in a bit of shock seeing you in person. I wasn't expecting you back so soon," Rowan quickly wiped a fallen tear from her cheek and laced her fingers together behind his neck as they conversed.
"So then the surprise worked," Brandon raised his eyebrows waiting for her seal of approval, while the corners of his lips curled up into a sly smirk.
"Yes, it worked," she scrunched her nose with a giggle and placed a light kiss on his cheek, "welcome home."
"Its good to be home. I know it's last minute, but since you already ate dinner, would you want to go grab dessert with me?" He asked hopefully.
"Honestly? Can we grab a drink instead?" Her retort was hopeful as well, but borderline begging.
"Cigarette and a drink? Who are you and what have you done with Rowan?" Brandon's eyebrow raised.
"She grew up a little," Rowan playfully winked at him with a grin, "I just have to grab my purse."
Brandon followed Rowan inside and waited for her in the kitchen. Her parents asked how he'd been and congratulated him on finally being home. Rowan hastily checked herself in the bathroom mirror. She took her dark curly hair down from the clip that was keeping it away from her face. It fell to her shoulders wildly and out of place so she quickly dampened it and ran her fingers through it, just enough to reform her curls and put them back together. She threw on a fresh layer of mascara and a subtle lip tint before retreating to her room. The oversized olive green sweater than hung loosely around her torso was fine but the stretched out joggers were not, so she opted for a tight black skirt and a pair of combat boots. She tucked part of the sweater into the top of her skirt and finally grabbed her purse to meet Brandon in the kitchen.
"Wow I haven't seen you look this alive in months," Trevor nudged at his sister after she emerged from the hallway.
"Thanks jerk, you look nice too," Rowan playfully nudged him back. Brandon linked pinkies with her and they started toward the door. She diverted her attention to the parents as she followed closely behind, "I'll see you guys later, we're going out for a bit."
"Rowan, it's family night. I thought you'd sta-" Dad stiffened his upper lip before being interrupted.
"Let them go, she hasn't seen her boyfriend in months," mom chimed in.
"Ex-boyfriend," Rowan corrected her.
Trevor's eyebrow lifted while he and Brandon exchanged glances, "I would've guessed otherwise."
Brandon led Rowan out to his truck and held the passenger door for her. She slipped her seatbelt in and sat back into the seat. The cab had a lingering scent of Brandon's cologne and leather- a scent that had been all too familiar to her but had since become like a distant stranger since it had been so long since they were together. Brandon slid behind the wheel and started up the truck. "Was there anywhere specific you wanted to go?"
She cracked the window open and peered out into the night. "No, not really. Wherever you want is fine."
Brandons lips curled into a smirk, "You always do that."
Rowan looked over at him from across the cab, "do what?"
"Whenever you get into a car, you crack the window."
Rowan laughed. It was true. She even did it in her own car, "Habit, I guess. I like the fresh air."
Brandon leaned his right elbow on the middle console and continued driving down the road with his left wrist hanging over the top of the steering wheel. They rode in comfortable silence and every once in a while, they'd catch each other in glances that lingered just a little too long. They arrived at the bar not long after and took a seat at the far end, closest to the back. Brandon ordered a bourbon on the rocks while Rowan opted for a Cabernet Sauvignon. "It's really good to see you," she said as she held the stem of the glass and swirled the wine around in a tiny circle.
"You've always been the first person on my list that I've wanted to see since I left," Brandon replied as he lifted the clunky glass to his lips and took a swig of the bourbon, "What's been going on? I want to hear about your life."
The pair began chatting as if they hadn't missed a beat. Rowan updated Brandon on her job nannying and how the job hunt in her actual field has been slim. She talked about their mutual friends and how Elisia and Ash were still together and that they were planning on putting down a deposit for a wedding venue in the near future. She spoke about Trevor and how happy she was for him and the fact that he finally seemed to have some stability in his life with his new boyfriend. Brandons eyes followed her every move, observing her subtle changes in facial expressions and various movements in her hand gestures. In his opinion, she hadn't changed a bit. Her hair was just a little longer and she wore her curls more tousled but that was it. She was also somehow more captivating as she spoke. Brandon had always known she was smart and as she's gotten older and her confidence grew, he felt as if he could sit and listen to her speak about absolute anything for the rest of his life as if he were being taught in a seminar.
"How does it feel to be home?" Rowan asked while continuing to aerate her wine.
"Comforting. A huge relief," he cupped the glass between his palms and furrowed his brow as he further thought about the question at hand, "Weird at the same time. Culture shock with a side of loss would probably be the best way to describe it."
"Can you tell me more about it?" Rowan tilted her head some, peering over at him with her twinkly eyes.
"Rowan to be honest with you, I'd rather let you talk all night long than inform you of how insufferably shitty the past few years have been for me. I can't sugarcoat what being in the Army is like. If anything, I'd rather save that for another time." Rowan knew he had a hard time while he was away. Most of the brief chats they had over the phone or on FaceTime consisted of her distracting him with her stories so he didn't have to dwell on the actual experience he was going through. She shook her head and apologized, "I'm sorry. If it's any consolation, you don't have to ever talk about it with me if you don't want to."
"It's okay. Maybe one day. Tell me about Paris," Brandon inquired while shifting in his seat to let some of his inner tension go.
"What's there to say about Paris that you didn't already know? We FaceTimed the most while I was there," Rowan peered at him over the rim of her glass.
"Oh I don't know, maybe you start with when did you start smoking and who's Parisian ass is to blame for it?" Brandon laughed as he mirrored her, taking another sip from his drink.
"Everyone in paris smokes. It's a gross habit yes but the group I befriended would roll their own tobacco and put a little bit of weed into it. So as they walk around casually smoking, they were a little buzzed from the pot," Rowan explained as she twisted her chair to face him a little better. Their knees collided under the bar and she instinctively put her feet on his foot rest to keep her seat from twisting back into a straight forward position, "Most of the time, that's how they smoked so if I ever wanted to, I was smoking a cigarette too. I kind of got used to it."
"Clever," Brandon raised his eyebrows. He was genuinely impressed and wondered why he hadn't thought of doing that before, "did you get to do everything you wanted while you were there?"
Rowan shook her head, "Yeah, after you gave me that pep talk. I believe your words were 'Make the most of it while you're there because pretty soon, you won't be able to.'"
"Wait you remember what I had said to you a year ago, verbatim?" Brandon nearly spat out his drink and laughed. Now he was really impressed.
"I mean yeah how could I not, it was pretty profound of you," Rowan sat up proudly, laughing along with him, "The museums, the food and cafes, the people. They were trés magnifique."
"Did you ever up finding your French lover?" He inquired, expecting her to say no.
"Cecilia was great. She was such an enigma and I was immediately drawn to her, but she was also a bit fake and flirtatious and manipulative," Rowan paused, looking over across the bar, as if she were looking for an answer. She sighed heavily, "part of me regrets wasting my time but I think I wouldn't have gotten to experience that city the way I did if it wasn't for her and her friends."
"Sounds like I have a lot to live up to," Brandon rose his eyebrows and turned away slightly from Rowan as he took a fairly large swig from the glass and letting it thunk on the bar when it came down.
She wedged her knees next to his to turn him so they were facing one another again. "In the best way possible, she was nothing like you."
He found her words to be bold and sweet at the same time. One last swig of his drink and the corner of his lips curled into a playfully devilish smile. Brandon made eye contact with the bartender and ordered one more drink for himself and one for Rowan before cocking his head to the side, as he questioned, "and how would that be exactly?"
It may have been the wine but Rowan felt her cheeks flush. Leave it to Brandon to put her on the spot. She'd always get slightly embarrassed but he managed to get the truth out of her every single time, "I don't know, what exactly do you want to hear? That you're more than your hard outer shell that you use as a defense mechanism? And that you're incredibly thoughtful and sweet and you actually listen to what I have to say instead of brushing it off?" Rowan blathered on. The bartender dropped off the drink order and she took another sip before continuing, "or the fact that prior to us hanging out, you had quite the player reputation and despite that, even after everything, even as we've been friends, you're wildly loyal?"
Brandon stared down into his drink, watching the ice cubes float around in the amber colored liquid. He gulped down another swig and then diverted all of his attention on the brunette, placing his hand on her thigh so they were sitting straight across from each other, parallel to the bar, and he looked her dead in the eyes. "And why do you think that is Rowan?" He asked dryly.
Rowan stared into his eyes, searching for a straight answer. Part of her confidently knew what the answer was and the other part was afraid to admit it out loud because her feelings for him never really went away. She remained silent, wondering if she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. On the contrary, as Brandon gazed back at her, he saw hesitancy in the beautiful girl he had fallen so achingly hard for. He too sat in silence, waiting for her answer but, being as impulsive as he was, he swallowed hard prior to speaking up, "Look, I'm just going to shoot my shot here because I've been waiting a long damn time to do this and hope that this doesn't fuck anything up between us, but I really want to kiss you."
Rowan's expression softened and she lifted her chin toward his. Her gaze shifted to his lips, that were mere inches away and she briefly looked back up to lock eyes with him once more, "Then kiss me." Brandon leaned in, entangling his fingers in her hair on the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. Their lips collided in a refreshing, yet familiar way. Rowan could taste traces of the bourbon on his mouth as he tenderly pressed his lips harder into hers. He kissed her with a hunger that he had longed for for months once he knew when he'd be returning home. Rowan could feel herself crumble into his touch, falling apart into a million little pieces. It was like all of the things they wanted to say to one another were pouring out at from a single touch. The amount that they missed each other was so painfully obvious to everyone around them but it was never fully admitted until now. Their current friendly relationship was more like a ember from a fire that just never went out- it burned incessantly no matter which way the wind blew.
Brandon slowly separated himself from her, keeping their foreheads pressed together. He kept his gaze on her lips wanting more, but he knew he had to ask, "You said that when I got back, we could talk about picking up where we left off."
"I know I did," Rowan could feel his hot breath on her face. In an uncharacteristic impulsiveness, she kissed him back desperately once more, sliding closer to the edge of her seat, "Can we talk about it later though?"
He moved his hand over her face, tucking one of her dark curls behind her ear with one hand and lacing their fingers together with the other. "Do you want to get out of here?"
"Mhm," she answered eagerly as she peered up at him with a sultry look in her eyes. Brandon snuck a quick kiss before leaning over the bar to get the attention of the bartender while Rowan hastily finished her half-full glass of wine. The bartender returned with the bill and Brandon waved a wad of cash in front of him. "Keep the change," he offered and the two scurried out of the bar hand in hand.
Outside in the cool dampness of the night before they climbed into the truck, Brandon skillfully spun Rowan around on her heels and pinned her up against the pickup door, planting a hard kiss on her lips once more. She felt her knees buckle as he slid his hand around her waist and gently nipped at her neck and collarbone. "This was your idea-" Rowan attempted to speak through a heavy breaths as her mind was going in and out of blissful thought, "of getting... out of there?"
"I would have you in the cab of this truck if I could," Brandon quickly retorted with a smug grin across his face, "there just isn't enough room. My place?"
"We can go wherever you want," Rowan slid out from between him and the vehicle and opened the passenger door. Brandon wasted no time, darting around the truck and climbing inside. The drive home was fairly quick, despite the anticipation of arriving. Brandon drove carefully through the empty dark streets of his neighborhood and when they finally reached the destination, he couldn't have cut the ignition any faster than he did.
"I apologize in advance if you wanted a nightcap," Brandon Mentioned, half-jokingly before they got out of the truck, "I don't think my father keeps a supply of red wine."
"You really think I'm just coming back for a night cap?" She asked, standing beneath him as he slid the house key into the lock. Maybe it was the alcohol keeping Rowan a little fiery and lowering her inhibitions more than usual, but it was undeniable that she too had been waiting for Brandon to return home. She looked up at him through fluttered eyelashes, biting at her lower lip. Brandon followed her through the door and with one swift movement he shut it behind him with his foot, turned her around and pushed her up against the door to finally kiss her as feverishly as he had been waiting for. Longing for his touch, Rowan dropped her purse to the ground, and pulled him into her as much as she could. He started kissing at her temple, moving across her cheek and down to her neck. Rowan tilted her head to invite him in for more. She lightly dug her nails across his shoulders as his lips touched her skin letting out a small hum, "Someone is really eager."
"I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't waiting for you all this time," he shifted from her neck, back to her lips, pressing them together with a straight hunger for her taste. Instinctively, she latched her arms around his shoulders as they kissed and he lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist to carry her to the bedroom.
Shutting the door behind them prompted all bets being off. The two fell into the bed while simultaneously remaining connected. Rowan slid her hands under his shirt, helping him lift it over his head to reveal his bare chest before removing her sweater. She slid her hands up the middle of his chest and across his collar bone. The army had done him well, causing his slimmer figure to be filled out by stronger muscles. His shoulders and chest were more brawny and he looked more like a grown man than the boy that had left several years ago. Not that Rowan was complaining- on the contrary, it was likely that she was simply more attracted to him.
He had done the same, lifting her sweater over her head and tossing it aside, taking in the beauty of the dark haired woman in the black lace bralette that sat before him. Brandon pulled her into his lap, letting her legs straddle his. Rowan leaned down and kissed at his jawline as his hands gripped at her thighs, dangerously close to the hem of her skirt. His thumbs made little circles rubbing at her bare skin, sending tingles of desire up her legs. Brandon's lips eagerly trailed kisses across her chest. With each little touch, Rowan crumbled, yearning for more of what she had been so familiar with and ended up giving in quickly. She whimpered into his ear, "Mm please?"
"Who's the eager one now?" Brandon grinned smugly into her chest and glanced up at her. Rowan's eyes were filled to the brim with desire and Brandon knew exactly what he was doing to her. He knew exactly what she liked and how she liked it, the way a master musician knew what notes to play. Good thing he was so good at teasing. His hands made their way across her bralette to move it aside and he continued his trail of kisses across her breasts and she let out a heavy sigh. Her hands ran through his short hair, letting her body fall weak into every kiss he placed on her skin just for a moment.
Rowan kicked off her shoes and laid down into the sheets that smelled like him and fresh detergent. She propped herself up on her elbows to get a better view of him. "show me how much you missed me." she murmured as he leaned over to remove his pants and shoes. He crawled into the bed after her, hovering over her as he kept himself up on his knees. Slowly he lowered himself onto her, pressing a more tender and gentle kiss onto her lips, while moving his knee between her legs, sending more tingles straight through her body. His hand trailed up, cupping at one of her breasts and teasing at her nipple. Her back arched into the mattress, sensitive to his touch, letting out a heavy sigh and digging her nails into his shoulders. The kisses they shared grew in intensity like a fire from a flame as he finessed her bra off with one hand, tossing it aside. She pressed hot open-mouth kisses onto his neck and chin, beckoning to him that she wanted more.
Brandon's hand lingered up and down her leg on the inside of her thigh under the skirt, getting incredibly close to where she wanted him to be. She anxiously pulled down the zipper to loosen the waistline and he helped her slide out of the skirt, along with her black lace thong that matched her bralette. He reached down between her legs, lightly grazing his fingers over her slit, sending shivers up Rowan's spine.
"There she is," Brandon said in a low timbre as he lowered his head between her legs and peppering kissed up and down the inside of her thighs. His fingers grazed over her lips again, parting them a bit and he slid his tongue straight through her center, "seems like she missed me too, you're so wet."
Rowan couldn't help but laugh a little, "can you stop chatting with my vagina like it's some separate entity and just fuck me already?"
"Yes mam," he retorted, plunging his fingers deep into her wet slit while his thumb circled her clit. Rowans hips grinded into his hand and it was as if she could feel the serotonin coursing through her veins. He leaned his mouth lower and started to suck and lick at her hood while keeping his fingers in a steady rhythm.
"Fuck-" she muttered into the pillow and grabbing a fistful of the sheets. Brandon massaged his tongue into her more, his chin dripping in a mix of her sex and his spit. Her body squirmed a little and her hips canted upward as she felt herself start to tense up around his fingers. He sucked on her clit harder, sending what felt like electric shocks through her body. His fingers crooked in just the right way that she was almost there. "Fuck babe," she moaned again, arching her back into the mattress. Brandon opened his eyes to focus on his girl, looking at her from the beautiful view that he had favored in the past. "Come for me, sweetheart," he quickly said before placing his lips back over her clit and rubbing at it again with his tongue. He put his free arm around her thigh so his palm was pressed down on the lower part of her stomach. It was the pressure from his hand, and his tongue massaging her in all the right places, and the way his fingers hit the sweet spot inside her that brought her orgasm to the point where she was seeing stars and uttering a variety of cuss words that are reserved for the bedroom.
Rowan moaned into the sheets, sinking deeper into the pillow as she rode out her orgasm. Brandon leaned over her, wiping his chin in his palm before dotting a trail of kisses at her chin and jaw to help her come down. She pulled him closer, tonguing and biting at his ear. Rowan grazed her nails up his spine, leaving goosebumps up his back in her wake. Her voice was low and still raspy when she whispered, "Your turn." Brandon laid down next to her and he leaned on his elbow, hovering over her to place his lips on hers. She reached between his legs and lightly traced her fingertips up and down his shaft. His body trembles a little at her touch since it has been so long since he'd been with anyone and he sighs into her mouth, stifling a groan. She runs her palm over him a few times before gently wrapping her fingers around him and stroking him a few times. "Fuck," he mutters into her hair, taking in another deep breath that smells like lavender and vanilla.
Unable to take another minute of foreplay, he eagerly rolls on top of her, and pushes himself in between her legs as he bends them back. She could feel his length inside her as he pushed deeper filling her up and she sees stars. He buried his face into her hair again, sliding his tongue at her pulse point before making his mark and sucking at it. Rowan rocked her hips into him as he pumped himself into her wet slit, letting out a throaty moan, and her hands travelled up and down the length of his spine and settled onto his shoulders.
Brandon's level of expertise in lovemaking had always been high and while he was away, she had often craved how he felt when he was inside her so much that finally being together seemed slightly surreal. It was like everything was too good to be true, and their lovemaking was full of pent up emotion, full of passion and longing. It was like breaking open a bottle of champagne after shaking it- it bursts open and it's delicious going down, giving the body a feeling of euphoria if you have just the right amount.
Brandon gripped his palm tightly around her ass, tilting her up a bit and lifting her leg into her chest. "Shit-" she murmured and clasped his chin in her hand. She pressed her mouth back into his, feverishly tugging and biting at is lower lip. "Keep doing that," she was barely able to utter into his mouth between kisses as she felt herself tightening around him. "You like when I do this too?" He asked, reaching between her legs and circling his fingertips over her clit. "Babe, yes," Rowan shuddered, toes curling and one hand gripping at the sheets while the other gripped at his ass. He continued to rapidly circle her clit as he continued to pulsate in and out of her until she came undone while he was still inside. "You're so beautiful all spread out like this... just for me," he groaned into her ear, pushing deeper inside her. "All for you, babe," she whispered between breaths, still on the down from her orgasm. "Fuck," he groaned into her hair, feeling his body start to tense. "Fuck, I fucking missed you," He sped up his rhythm, pressing his chest into hers so he could hinge his hands under her shoulder and pump himself into her, coming undone and then falling into the sheets together.
They laid there for a while until Rowan's refractory period was over, which in reality was not that long at all and Brandon, being ever so generous and willing, went down on her another two times to "make up for lost time," even though it would've been on average that many times per night because he generally enjoyed watching his girl come undone with the power of his tongue.
When they did fall asleep, it had been the best sleep either of them had had in a long time. Brandon's bed was so comfortable and being tangled in each other's limbs felt like coming home. It felt like comfort, and safety and warmth, and like nothing else could matter outside of that bedroom that night. The only thing that was better than being entwined when they were asleep was being entwined when they woke up. They slept through almost the entire morning, to find Rowan sleeping with her head on Brandon's chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her. Their legs were sprawled across one another and the warmth between their bodies and the sheets were shared. Brandon woke up first, taking in a deep breath and the smell of her hair that cascaded Over his shoulder. He peeked down at the brunette sleeping on him and held her a little tighter, smiling to himself.
"It isn't polite to stare," Rowan's voice was groggy. She laid there motionless for a moment, and then adjusting herself so her arm wrapped across his torso.
"Can't help it. I haven't been able to look at you in person in years," he leaned in, kissing the top of her head.
Rowan finally opened her eyes and adjusted herself again so she was laying on her stomach and resting herself up on her elbows to face him. She smiled coyly , "You were very passionate in telling me how much you missed me last night too."
"Yes, and I meant every word of it," he hugged his arm around her, resting his hand at the small of her back, "but you know that this isn't just about the sex, right? Admittedly, I'm better at showing you how much I love you by making you feel good than I am with words."
"I know. The sex is a plus," Rowan winked at him and kissed his cheek, "let's make breakfast?"
"Id love to make you breakfast," Brandon smiled and kissed her back.
They eventually got up from bed and grabbed a quick shower before heading into the kitchen to whip together something to eat. Brandon manned the stove, throwing some bacon onto a pan, letting it sizzle and flipping it over. Rowan scrambled up some eggs and threw on a pot of coffee. They moved throughout the kitchen like a well choreographed dance, where each person knew where to go and where to be, fluidly moving about and doing what they needed to while still in sync with the other.
Brandon and Rowan sat at the table with her feet in his lap and enjoyed their breakfast in a comfortable silence. Being in each others company and not having to share conversation felt as if they had been doing this for years all along, like waking up on a Sunday morning and lazily getting around when they felt like it and not having to go through the motions of being on a time constraint. Rowan took a sip of her black coffee, eyeing him over the rim of her mug. "You look like you have something to say," he mumbles, taking his last bite of bacon.
"Just thinking,"she looked at him with a doe-eyed expression as she set her mug down in front of her, clutching it between her palms.
"What about?" He asked coyly, a hint of knowing behind his words.
Rowan bit at the inside of her lip, "I think you know. Do you want to talk about it now?
They sat in silence for a moment. Brandon studied the soft expression from her face fade as she took a sip of her coffee. "Well, do you want to pick up where we left off?" Brandon asked with but if apprehension, hoping that her answer would be the one he wanted to hear.
Rowan licked her lips before a sheepish grin spread across her face and she laced her fingers with his. She chuckled lightly, "I think it's fair to say that we already have."
Brandon met her gaze, his chest rising and falling heavily. A slight frustration came over him because he had been waiting for this, for his moment to be with her again for so long, and he was unsure of her answer. He wanted a definitive yes of no, even though the mere thought of her saying no would shatter him to pieces that he felt like he'd spend a lifetime putting back together. He inhaled sharply, "I would wait million years for you if I knew that it meant we would be together in the end, Rowan. But since we're here, right now, in this moment together, I need you to tell me. Because for me, it's always been you and I wouldn't have it any other way. I couldn't wait to come home to you and I don't want to be away from you for that long ever again. I love you more than I could attempt to put into words."
"Very cute of you to profess your love for me," she teased. Her sweet smile danced across her lips and she leaned in close to share a kiss, "Brandon Darrow, I love you. I've always loved you. And I've never stopped loving you. You're my best friend and a fantastic lover. I'd be stupid to not want to pick up where we left off."
Brandon smiled into another kiss, cupping her cheek in his hand. A kiss that was tender, and soft, and careful, dripping with love and familiarity.
Rowan laced her fingers together around Brandon's neck, beaming at him before pulling him into her. They sat in the kitchen on that early Monday afternoon, kissing each other over mugs full of hot coffee. "Welcome home Brandon," she muttered into his mouth in between kisses and his lips curled up to to a smile.
"It's good to be home."