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"I won't," he promised.

Brenda was next. She and Garrett hugged each other tightly. "What's past is prologue," she told him before kissing him lightly on the lips. "Shakespeare said that, and I'm pretty sure he knew what he was talking about. You get to wake up tomorrow morning with a fresh start. A lot of people would kill for that chance. Don't blow it."

Once again, he promised, "I won't." This time it was his kiss that lingered for a moment. "Thank you for giving me shelter from the storm all those years ago."

"You're welcome." Her hands slowly slid from his body before she embraced Colette, then Sadie. "Good night everyone."

After Brenda and Michelle had left, Colette stretched her arms over her head. "Alright," she yawned, "time to go crash. See you tomorrow morning, Garrett."

Garrett nodded. "Back to the candy grind." As Colette opened the bedroom door, he waved to Vienna, who waved back, before turning to Sadie. "Well then," he smiled, offering her his arm, "shall we?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely we shall," she beamed as she took his arm.

Garrett unlocked the front door before telling Sadie, "Welcome to my home."

An eager thrill welled up inside Sadie as she walked into a foyer devoid of any furniture or knick-knacks. This was one of her favorite moments - that first walk into someone's house when you knew you were going to sleep with them. It was like climbing the first hill of a roller coaster when anticipation was slowly replaced by a craving to go over the top and plunge down the other side, all that nervousness replaced by raw, primal bliss.

"Sorry about the lack of furniture," Garrett said as he closed the door behind him and flicked a nearby light switch. "I hope you're cool with a futon..."

He was interrupted by Sadie flinging herself into his arms. The curly-haired brunette pinned him against the door, pressing her entire body into his. His hands clutched her lower back, pulling her closer as they kissed feverishly. "I don't care if it's the kitchen counter," she gasped, "as long as it's something for us to fuck on." One hand slipped below Garrett's waist. He groaned needfully as she ran her fingers along the denim covering his stiffening cock. "I've wanted you for seven years," she told him before once again kissing him passionately. This time her tongue joined the fray, dominating his for several moments before she pulled away. "Tell me you missed me," she murmured while playing with his manhood. "Tell me you wanted me."

His warm hands gently caressed her face. "You were always the person I tried to text. Every time I thought I had the courage to talk to someone, you were the first person I typed a message to. When I saw Colette last week, I asked about you. I never missed one of your videos and tried to watch your livestream whenever I could. You were sometimes in my fantasies, but you were always in my thoughts. I wish..."

Sadie pressed her finger firmly against his lips. "No more of that. No more 'I wish',' no more 'if only,' no more 'remember when.' As Brenda said, your past is behind you. Danny might have been the boss battle, but this isn't the ending credits. This is the tutorial level." She smiled coyly at the confused look on Garrett's face. "You're about to start a new game called Sadie Bedford, and I don't come with save points or walkthroughs."

His emerald eyes shone with his desire for Sadie, which once again brought a familiar and welcome feeling to her body. "I know you had your heart set on the kitchen counter," he teased softly, "but how do a quilt and a roaring fire suit you?"

"Suits me just fine," she purred.

He nodded before grabbing her by the waist and spinning her around. It was her turn to be trapped. Sadie wrapped her leg behind him, locking him in place even as he pinned her against the front door. A deep urge to be filled began stirring between her legs, causing her to shift her hips so Garrett could grind against her. Seven years of fantasizing swirled together in Sadie's head, eventually becoming a hurricane of wanton desire. "Come on," he eventually urged. "The living room's this way."

"I hate to kill the mood, but which way's the bathroom?"

After Garrett gave her directions, Sadie headed down the hallway, where faded indentations in the paint showed where picture frames had once been hung and passed through the kitchen. Its counters were bare, save for some cleaning supplies and a wooden drying rack. The living room sat off to one side, off of a small wooden stoop. The only furniture appeared to be a futon with a blue cushion and a large TV tucked into the corner of the room. A sizable fireplace dominated the center of one wall, lined on one side by a stack of wood and the other by a brass hanging tree of fire implements. "Is this seriously how you've been living the past two weeks?" she called out. "Where the hell are your clothes?"

"Laundry room," he answered as he walked into the kitchen and turned on the lights. "Everything else from Florida's sitting in the garage. Guess I'll officially add unpacking to the list of stuff I've gotta do this week."

"Definitely. Get that fire going," she said with a sweet smile. "I'll be right back."

X X X X X

Sadie stepped back into the kitchen to see Garrett standing in front of the fireplace.

The first tongues of flame were licking at the bottom of the chimney of firewood he had stacked. He leaned against the wooden mantle that ran above the fireplace, one hand tapping a soft rhythm against the maple beam. Over the soft crackle of burning wood, she could hear Garret humming quietly to himself.

After setting her purse and smartphone on the counter, Sadie reached out and flicked the nearby light switches. The kitchen was plunged into darkness as the recessed overhead lighting immediately turned off. Garrett looked up from the fireplace. "Sadie?" he called out.