Smooth Sailing ☆ Jane The Virgin 》Rafael Solano

EIGHT

By the time Rosalinda had made it back to her room for the night, it was already night out. Her mind was foggy, reflecting the stormy clouds in the sky. Kicking off her shoes and dropping her purse onto her desk, furrowing her brows when she noticed a very embarrassing letter was missing off of her desk.

"Looking for this?" Rosalinda spun around, seeing Rafael standing by the bed. "It somehow got into the stack of papers you gave Jane to give me, which I completely embarrassed myself by assuming she had written it for me by the way." His smile was small, eyes gazing through hooded eyelids.

Rosalinda felt frozen, suddenly very aware that she was at an emotional disadvantage. Rafael knew all of her feelings, all of her wants - and she didn't know anything about what he was feeling. "I just wrote it to get it out of my head... I never thought you would read it."

"But I did! Do you think I haven't felt the same? There hasn't been a day in the last five years that I haven't thought about you." His footsteps were fast, and suddenly he was standing in front of her - the same paralyzing gaze directed right at her.

"It would have been selfish of me to tell you. I almost did so many times, but I stopped myself because I knew I would've been telling you for the wrong reasons." Rosalinda placed her hands on his face, bringing his forehead to her own. His own arms gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him. "I... I knew about Petra's affair. I found out the day of the ultrasound when I overheard her and Michael talking. I was going to tell you the next day, but you said you wanted to start over with her. I wanted you to be happy, please understand that."

"I found out anyway, but even if I didn't know - I wouldn't have stayed with her. I don't love her anymore, not like I love you." Rafael leaned down, his lips brushing against her own.

As much as she had wanted to give into the temptation, she couldn't give in so easily. They couldn't repeat old patterns of letting physical desire cloud over their issues. Rosalinda separated herself from his arms, gliding over to the balcony, it was raining but the cool air helped clear her head.

"Do... Do you still love me?"

Rosalinda turned around, looking at him in astonishment. "I have loved you every day we were together, and every day since. This doesn't change that we have a lot of problems. We moved so fast last time, and I think we were so focused on wanting a family and wanting happiness so badly that we failed to take the time to just be happy together. We're both different people now. We know the old us, now we have to get to know whole new versions of each other."

"Then let's get to know each other! I love you, I want to be with you."

"You're still married to Petra, it wouldn't be right-"

"I'm getting a divorce, I would have gotten it either way whether you felt the same or not. Because I don't love her, not for a long time."

He was standing in front of her now, his chest pressed against hers. The tension between them built in the air until she couldn't handle it anymore. Rosalinda closed the distance between them, her arms wrapping around his neck. Rafael's arms circled around her waist, his lips pressed against her own.

To kiss her again, to hold her in his arms, Rafael could have sworn he was in heaven. If such a place existed, he was there. As they kissed, they could feel the rain beating down around them, now standing on the balcony.

They couldn't have cared less though, they have always loved the rain. The kiss was endearing, and sweet. It was like coming home after a very long time away. Even when the kiss had stopped, they hadn't backed away from each other. Almost as if they were afraid to let go.

"I don't ever want to let you go again..." Rafael whispered against her lips, his hands cupping her face.

"Then don't, cause I'm not leaving." Rosalinda smiled, burying her own face in his chest. For the first time in years, they both felt completely at peace.

~

A/N: I love how I didn't write anything for a month, and now I can't stop. Will probably update again before the end of the day. I started a new story based on the Princess Diaries btw, first chapter will be up soon!