His lips planted long kisses from the left side of my neck to the right. With every peck, I felt the combination of hot breath accompanied by the touch of soft lips that were gently assaulting my neck. When he reached my collarbone, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. My waist was plaster to his, and my hands were tightly gripping his arms in hopes of getting the strength to withstand the impact of his kisses. Just when I thought he'd stop. I felt the tender base of his lips touching my throat. I loudly gasped in surprise and clenched his arms as I felt myself itching with the fire burning under my skin which made me go crazy. "Heath," my voice came out as a quiet whimper as my chest was rapidly moving in and out. "You want more?" He asked in a mischievous tone, and my eyes quickly found his. When they did, all I saw was lust and hunger in his eyes that I had never seen before. That look in his eyes caught me up with this unknown passion. That when I didn't answer, Heath took that as a yes. Slightly pushing me against the sink, he claimed my mouth with his in a dominant manner that made my heart skip a beat. His hands slipped under my shirt as he deepened the kiss, and I could feel his pair of hands wildly roaming over my back and stomach. His sweet touch was driving me over the edge of sanity, and I was getting overwhelmed by the number of sparks that were blowing up in my entire body like someone had set me on fire. It felt so different, so sensual. I had never felt like this before. Leaving my mouth, he dipped his head into the right side of my neck again and kept planting kisses that tightened my hold on him. While his hands were exploring my skin. My whole body was pumping with a rush of true desire and passion, and I could feel myself getting warm by his kisses alone. This was new. I hadn't experienced this before, but then Heath, too, had never touched me like this before. It was all going great until Heath's long fingers came in contact with my chest, and the trance broke. The air that was surrounding us suddenly evaporated from the room and left me breathless. My heart was beating at a frantic speed, and my lungs began to move uncontrollably in and out as last year's memories crashed into my mind like a train and destroyed everything. "Hope… what's happening?" His worried voice was just a mere sound as my mind was entirely focused on the guys that had touched me there, and all I could think was their hands on my body. My mind was making me relive those moments, and in a second, I was feeling disgusted by myself. I quickly stalked away from Heath to put some distance between us. Being near him was making me very anxious. He had never touched me there before, and maybe that was the reason why I got triggered by his touch and thought it was one of those men who had touched me. Nonetheless, I became so self-aware of myself that being near Heath was making me claustrophobic. Heath tried to reach out to me, but I moved away from him. He didn't give up. Instead, he wrapped his rough, yet warm fingers around my bare wrist, and in one tug, dragged me to him. My skin that was sparking with fireworks before was now squirming because of his touch. What was wrong with me? "N-no…" I stuttered while gazing at him with uncertainty. "Shhh… come here." He laid my head right above his heart and just like old times I listened to his familiar heartbeat while his hand rubbed my back. The way his palm ran up and down on my back always gave me a sense of comfort and safety and I was so used to it. The gesture never seemed to fail. "It's alright, Rose. It's me, Heath." He murmured the words into my hair, and I closed my eyes as I inhaled his intoxicating woody and mint cologne that he'd always wear. Gosh, I loved this scent. It was so enticing yet calming. A few tears escaped my eyes, but I quickly rubbed them away. I had changed so much. It had been months since the last time I cried. I just… I wasn't that weak anymore. Maybe insecure and an overthinker but certainly not weak. And just like that, with new profound strength, I pulled my face out of Heath's hoodie and cleaned my face. "I'm okay," I assured him and tried to move away, but he didn't let me. I still hadn't looked him in the eye. When I finally lifted my gaze to him, his blue orbs were trained on me, and I could feel my cheeks getting pink by his unmoving gaze. Then, as I tried to hide my eyes from him, I felt his finger touching my chin and elevating it, making my eyes stare into his deep blue ones. "I love you, Rose, and I'd never go beyond what you can't handle. I'm sorry for going that far. I didn't know." Those words put my mind to ease, and as I stared longer at him, I saw the pair of Caribbean eyes melting, going back to their warmth. "Just not there-okay," I said and he leaned and planted a chaste kiss on my forehead, and I could feel my skin getting jitters. "Got it." He responded with a tight smirk. With a smile, I put my hands around his neck and pulled him down, and kissed him passionately. I love him and I knew that he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Ever. The second my lips met his, he eagerly locked them with his and sucked them hard. The pair of hands around my waist pulled me even closer to him, and I moved my fingers into his soft straight hair all the while following his lead and moving my lips with his. Just when I thought my lungs would give out. He released my lips but not before tugging my lower lip that made me moan, due to the sudden rush of pleasure that was coursing through me. My breathing was loud and was echoing in the quiet apartment along with his. "I…love…you…too," I told him while panting and he brought me to his chest, and sighed heavily.