Always There - Part 2 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 205: Desirous Reminders

I leaned in closer, gently holding his face in my hand and pulling him in, lightly kissing his forehead. I heard him sigh, but he stayed put, flashing me a slight grin as I backed away, motioning towards the door again.

"Go ahead." He said softly. I nodded, getting up from his bed and making my way over, stopping in the doorway.
"I love you." I mouthed to him. His smile grew.
"I love you."

Finally, I forced myself to shut the door behind me, heading back downstairs to see Josh already waiting for me by the front door. He gave me a questioning look, forcing a smile. I nodded, going over and taking his hand, pulling him into a long kiss.
"You ready?" He asked.
"Yeah."

The drive to the hotel was quiet, but peaceful. He held my hand, gently running his thumb across my palm. I wondered if he would bring up Jake, I'm sure wondering what had gone on upstairs, but I was glad he didn't. And maybe he knew that there was nothing to worry about. I loved that even more.

Sometimes words were too much; with him, this was more than enough.

It wasn't long until we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel. He stopped the car, leaning his head back against the headrest, pulling my hand up to his face again. I couldn't help but smile. The past few hours had already felt like a dream. I couldn't imagine what the rest of our lives were going to be like.

"You look tired." I laughed, reaching over and running my fingers through his hair. He shook his head, giggling to himself while no doubt trying his best to keep his eyes open.
"Nope." He said, his smile growing. "I told you we were gonna celebrate."
"We're gonna have plenty of time alone while we're gone." He shrugged, playfully rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, but.. it won't be the night we got engaged."

He was right.
Tonight was special.

He got out of the car, quickly going into the backseat to grab our bags, and then made his way around to the passenger's side, opening the door for me like always. I stared back up at him, unable to contain myself as I reached up, pulling him into a passionate kiss until I felt that familiar smile.
"I love you." I sighed, gently brushing my fingers against his cheek.
"And I love you. Now let's go."

When we finally got up to the room, my heart jumped as he opened the door, and there was a trail of lavender rose petals going down the hall and towards the bedroom. I was instantly brought back to that night, seeing him nervously standing at my front door with a bouquet of lavender roses in hand, glowing in his light yellow shirt, staring back at me with those eyes I had lost myself in too many times to count, now knowing it was only he who could find me again.

Never did I think that night would lead us here, but how I dreamed it would.

"Josh.." I sighed, turning to face him. He smiled back at me with a shy grin. I took his hand, now leading him into the bedroom where I could see the remainder of the petals now covering the bed, trickling over onto the floor, circling a tray that held a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

"You did all of this?" I asked. It was straight out of a movie. He shrugged, going over and sitting down on the bed, grabbing the champagne bottle and effortlessly popping it open.
"Kind of." He giggled to himself. "I made a few phone calls. I was nervous that they wouldn't be able to find the right rose petals though. Do you remember? They're from-"
"I remember." I sighed, watching as he poured my glass first, handing it over to me. I took a big sip, keeping my eyes locked on him as he filled his own, doing the same.

For a split second, my nerves set in, just like they did the first time we were together. Part of me missed it, the uncertainty, the anticipation, but how much I preferred the comfort. As great as the excitement may feel when it's new, it truly would never compare to this feeling that I've always had with him, and only him.

I knew he would never judge me, only staring at me with the kindest, most forgiving eyes, gazing upon my every curve with such admiration, redefining beauty in which only I could fit the word.

Oh, how I loved him.

I quickly finished my glass, placing it back down on the tray as I went over, straddling myself onto his lap. He grabbed my waist, moving back and pulling me over him, his eyes never once straying from mine until I leaned into a passionate kiss. He kissed me back harder, his hands moving into my hair, tightly tangling themselves within. His tired lips coating mine, just as hungry as they were drained, but would never miss a moment of being joined together, as if just a taste could instantly bring us back to life.

And so it did.

Little by little our pile of clothes gradually grew on the hotel floor as our needy hands ventured across familiar territory, clinging to each other in whatever way we could manage as his starving lips grazed across my skin, covering me in such gentle yet desirous reminders of a love that I could now carry with me for a lifetime.

Loving him was so easy; anticipating his every move, just as satisfying, if not more than the last time we were together. As much as I thought I wanted furor, what I truly longed for was such fierce familiarity, knowing that each and every day I would be loved to such an extent that I truly never knew existed, not until he showed me how deeply someone could be loved, assuring me that no matter how far I drifted, he would always be there to save me, safely reeling me back in to his sheltered shore.

I had never been so thankful for time to move so slowly, as if the universe had granted us the gift of many nights into one, knowing how badly we needed this time together, before everything changed and that next chapter began.

We talked of anything and everything; it was so easy, existing alongside him, never once having to wear the mask we so often bear for the rest of the world, but with him, I felt my most self when I was my most exposed, in every sense. He cherished my heart with the same adoration he blessed my body, something I had never been able to give myself. With him, I was everything I had ever wanted to be.

In every way.

Our talks of school and dreams slowly turned back to us, and what would one day come of us.
"I know that we're young, but.. with you, the idea of that, it doesn't seem so scary. And.. I don't think I could live with myself if my Mom never got to meet-"
"Me either." He sighed, gently brushing his fingers through my now sweaty hair. "She had mentioned that to me too."
"She did?" I asked, feeling my cheeks burn as I peeked back up at him. He nodded, smirking back at me.

"Yeah, many times." He laughed, my head now gently bouncing against his chest.
"And what did you tell her?" He was quiet for a moment.
"I asked her if she could just.. wait until we were done with school." I bit down on my lip, nodding, knowing that was more than reasonable, but wondered if she had that much time left. He could sense it.

"I just.. I need to know if this is something you want too, not.. not just because of your mom, because.. I've just.. I've heard way too many stories about how after that, some couples are never the same and I couldn't handle us ever-" I leaned up, pulling him into a long kiss until I felt him relax again.

"Even before she got sick, I always imagined what it would be like, having a family with you." I sighed. He nodded, staring back at me with dazed eyes.
"Me too." He muttered." My heart jumped, now unable to contain my grin.

Just the thought of a mini version of him, it was enough to make my heart melt.

He shook his head, playfully rolling his eyes before pulling me into another long kiss.
"I guess we'll just see what happens."