One night was all it took: Season 3 "One second was all it took"

Quick But Sweet

Derek's rushing to finish off the last small group of people waiting for their drinks. I wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead. I raise my eyebrows and look at the full bar that I just offered free drinks to, trying to move over to my fiancé.

"Natalia!" I yell. She looks up with a depressed look in her eyes. "Is it...just everything? Claudia? The business? The stress of everything?"

She nods. I watch as she mouths the word 'yep' and I realize she is just frustrated. I slide another beer to another patron.

"Iris!" I yelled to the new girl. "Can you come to finish off these couple of customers please?" She nods her head and rushes over to me.

"Thank you!" I say and put down my bar rag.

I walk over to my depressed-looking fiancé. "Get up!" I say, holding my hand out.

She looks up at me, quickly grabbing my hand. I guided her toward the kitchen, forcing her to come with me.

"You're stressed and I get it," I say, hoping this will help us. "But do not forget to be grateful for what you have. That bitch came in here to destroy our evening and she didn't destroy mine."

She raises an eyebrow and tilts her head. "She just said everything in the world to piss you off." She argues. "How did she not piss you off?"

Crossing my arms, I glance back at the kitchen counter and lean my back against it. I can tell she does not have a care in the world to hear what I want to say.

"She made me happier tonight. Don't you see it?" I say with a growing smile. "She only said what she said because she wants what we have. Our love is so strong that most people have been able to see it. Now they can truly see it with one look at my finger. It took one second to slide this ring on me. That one second is now considered a lifetime of battles and love that you and I will have to endure. She showed me exactly what I wanted to see. I saw our love through the jealousy of her eyes."

"I love that you're remaining positive." She says and steps closer to me. "You always find a way to turn something negative into something positive. I do not know how I managed to get you and keep you. You see how I handle most things. I know I am not always negative, but damn, I love you!"

"You bet your ass you love me," I add and wrap my hands around her waist to pull her into me. "You and me. If we break out, we break out together."

She tilts her head and has a very slightly confused look on her face. "What does that even mean?"

"I just made it up. I like making my quotes."

She sighs and leans her head against mine. "I like it. Let us use it...one everything."

She inclines, bringing her whiskey-laced breath closer to me. A small shiver slides through me as I excitedly press my lips against hers.

"We've been together for a while..." I pause and take a quick breath. "But you still give me this crazy excitement inside of my body!"

She pins me against the wall and her lips press harder against mine. I can feel the rush of pleasure and excitement flow through me like water bursting through a dam.

I pushed her away. "Okay!" I say catch my breath and lightly shake my head. "We...I have a job to do. I want you...I want every part of you, but I have customers waiting and now we need to get our heads together and figure out what our next steps are with this stupid Claudia situation." I stared into her eyes. "Round two when we get home."