When she opens the door, she gets the shock of her life. 'Oh my God,' she thinks. He is standing there, suitcase by his side, a bunch of flowers in his hand, looking at her, his vulnerability so sincere and deep, that she barely knows what to say or do. They have talked about this since they both became single, but she never thought it would happen like this.
She looks at him dumbfounded, tears welling up in her eyes. Her throat dry, her body paralyzed, her heart beating hard against her chest. Reaching for the handle of the screen door, she steps outside – looking to his eyes for guidance, as her tears fall freely.
She takes the flowers, and without saying a word, he brings his hand up to her face, cradling her right cheek. She closes her eyes and drifts into the warmth of his shaking hand. Moving silently he brings his lips to hers. The softest, most luscious lips she has ever felt. A whisper of kisses flutter upon her cheeks and both eyes. He comes back to her waiting mouth and she parts her lips in anticipation.
Their tongues seek each other timidly at first, and then more urgently as their anxiety fades. The intensity builds slowly, each wanting to prolong the moment for as long as possible. She brings her hands up from her side and embraces him, showing him that she wants him to stay. His right hand sits at her lower back, pressing her to him.
The kiss becomes wet, deep and full of once dormant lust. Their hands sliding up and down each other’s backs, too afraid to touch elsewhere, but too engrossed in the feeling to really think about it. It lasts for what seems an eternity, eyes always closed, bodies swaying in a dance only they know.
Finally, they break away, open their eyes and study the person before them. She sees a man committed to her and he sees, she hopes, and woman finally able to be with him. They are old lovers coming together again, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world.
She takes his hand in hers and leads him inside, closing the door behind them. She directs him to the living room where he sits on a large, soft chair - still they have not spoken. She kneels before him and takes his face in her hands. They meet eye-to-eye partly in disbelief and partly in a silent prayer that this is going to work.
She kisses him again. A burning kiss that he keenly responds to. He pulls her T-shirt over her head and lovingly kisses her ear, her neck, her shoulder. All the while she is unbuttoning his shirt. They look at each other without question; they know what is about to happen.
She leans away, taking him with her. They are on the floor now, she on her back, and he above her, their bodies side by side like their spirits have been all these years. This is where they both belong right now, and she no longer needs to deny it. The kisses come softly and tenderly over her neck, and between her breasts, down her stomach and over her hips. His lips follow, as he pulls down her flowing skirt until it reaches her feet. She is lying there; all but naked in front of him, and her already flushed skin reddens further under his gaze. He too undresses and then begins to caress her. He touches every single inch of her body, sometimes with his hands, other times with his lips and tongue. He takes note of every freckle, every mole and imperfection and adorns them with his love.
He decides it is time, as he traces his finger from her mouth down her neck, around her breasts, drawing an imaginary line to her sex, teasing her and bringing a smile to his lips. He strips her of the simple underwear and moves over her. They make love in the purest sense of the words - over a decade of longing culminating in this one act. It is passionate, instinctual and fulfilling, as they pull each other in with all their strength, rocking back and forth in perfect harmony. They come together in climax, heart and mind.
Finally, when they are cradled in each other’s arms trying to catch their breath, they say their first words.
“I love you”.
“I love you too”.