"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he said into my hair as his nose tickled my ear lobe. I could feel his warm, humid breath wash over my neck and jaw. My body stiffened slightly from the unexpected chill that ran up my spine as he said the words I waited so long to hear. I didn't reply; I continued to act asleep as I felt his left hand lightly squeeze my hip. He must have known I faked sleep because of the gasp that emanated from my partially open mouth as he ran his hand from my hip to my upper arm. Again, he spoke to me in his low, sweet voice, "I love you, baby. I don't want to be anywhere else if you aren't with me." I smiled. It betrayed my sleeping act, but I couldn't help it, I had to smile at him. He chuckled quietly and kissed my cheek, which brought another smile to my face. I tilted my head to the left so I could look at his handsome face. He stared into my eyes with such intensity it forced me to look away. I never imagined a gaze could overwhelm me so much in such a wonderful way. I felt heat rise to my face as I blushed. James cupped my cheek in his hand and kissed my forehead so lightly I almost wondered if he had kissed me at all.
I decided at that moment that no matter what he did before or what I did before this night, I would forgive him and myself. The past was miles away from us now. No more fighting or anger. I lifted my face to his and kissed his lips. The impact knocked our teeth together, but neither of us broke the kiss to laugh at the hilarity of such a thing. I kissed all my love into his mouth. Every good thing I had inside my body came flowing from me to him and I could feel him doing the same to me. I parted my lips slightly to allow my tongue to brush against his lower lip. He tasted of sugary soda, but it had a citrus flavor to it, which I liked. His tongue pushed out and tangled with mine, but I maneuvered past it to continue licking his corn syrup covered lip clean. More attempts to battle my tongue ensued and I finally let him win. I opened my mouth more and more as his tongue invaded and slipped by my red lips. My breathing quickened to match my pounding heart.