Tell Me You're Mine

Part 2

Cari was wiping away another tear that was continuously falling for the hundredth time when she felt someone sitting on the floor by her side. Without even looking, she knew exactly who it was. She would recognize that scent miles away.

"Hi" Shannon said calmly trying not to scare her, as she wasn't sure if Cari had noticed her presence at all.

Shannon's soft voice made her entire body shiver.

"Is everything okay?" Shannon asked after not getting a response back and realizing the single tear falling down her face, but Cari kept her eyes closed at the same position she first saw her from the balcony before, only moving to the rhythmic deep breaths she was taking as if she was trying to control herself.

"Cari, what happened? Why are you crying?" Shannon insisted.

"I'm an idiot." Cari finally answered.

"Why? What's going on?"

"I had everything that anyone could ever ask for and I thrown it away." Cari wiped another tear. "And for what? To be stuck with my stupid selfish egocentric self?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Cari looked at Shannon for the first time since she sat there "How can you even stand being near me after I caused you so much pain? Who else in this entire world would sit here and ask if I am okay after what I did to you?"

Shannon kept silent, trying to understand what was her point.

"You are the kindest, nicest, most caring and loving person I've ever met." Cari continued. "And I couldn't appreciate that, I couldn't realize it until I lost you, until I hurt the person I've loved the most in my entire life." After saying that, Cari was no longer able to control herself. Her whole body was shaking as she sobbed and hid her face between her knees letting the tears fall free. "I will never forgive myself for making you feel like you weren't good enough."

"Hey, don't do that, it's okay, I'm okay. Please don't do that." Shannon felt her own eyes well up in tears. Seeing her like that was worse than anything she could ever do to hurt her.

"It only took me three weeks to realize that I am nothing without you, that a made the biggest and most stupid mistake of my life." Cari's voice was weak, almost too hard to understand "God only knows how many times I stared at my damn phone wanting to reach for you, but I couldn't do it."

"What stopped you?"

"I couldn't hurt you anymore." Cari was now staring at the starry sky still holding her knees up with her arms. "Alex told me that you were finally doing better and starting to move on and I didn't wanted to ruin everything all over again, it was just not fair to you."

Cari was a little calmer now but her hands were still shaking when she one more time wiped her tears away from her cheeks. After a deep breath she continued, surrendering to the shitty feel inside her chest.

"But I guess in some way that was the best that could've happened. You're too good for me. I don't deserve you. You deserve someone who will treat you the right way, who can be at least as close as good as you are to me."

Shannon didn't move her eyes from her for a minute since she got there. She looked so fragile and hurt that everything she wanted to do was take out all of her pain away and never let anything make her feel like that again, ever.

"Cari, look at me"

"I- I can't"

Shannon moved her position until she was sitting in front of Cari, as close as she possibly could. She gently grabbed her arms and pulled them away, pulling Cari's legs over hers to get her as close as she could.

"Cari" Shannon grabbed her face with both hands trying to find her eyes. "I love you. I love you in a way that there is nothing in this world capable of changing that. Do you hear me?"

"No, I don't deserve it." Cari's eyes filled with tears again.

"Stop saying that. You're perfect. You're the most beautiful, smart, funny and humble person I've ever met." Shannon kept caressing her cheeks with affection. "Now please stop crying because that's killing me."

"I'm sorry." Cari whispered trying to control herself again. But she wasn't apologizing for the crying, and Shannon knew exactly what she was trying to apologize for. "Please, forgive me. I don't know what I was thinking. I love you. I love you more than anything. I'm sorry for not realizing it before, I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." Shannon pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "Let's leave that in the past alright?" Shannon wrapped her arms around her shivering body and held her tight until she slowly calmed down. "Come on, let's get inside, it's getting colder."

"Shan..." Shannon let Cari out of her embrace and looked at her red eyes. "Can you please stay the night?"

"Of course. I'm not going anywhere without you my love."

-

After finally ending the longing that both of them were feeling from each other's kiss, Shannon closed the door of Cari's room and slowly took her to bed. The lamp over the nightstand made it possible for both of them to see the expression of relief they were feeling after having each other close again.

Shannon laid herself over Cari and she immediately pulled her close again and connected their lips. The kiss was calm, gentle and intense at the same time, as if any very sudden move would break the magic of the moment, but it was enough to make the heat inside their bodies grow more and more with every touch. Shannon moved herself and got between Cari's legs supporting her weight with her elbows as Cari held her face with one hand and her neck with the other, completely involved with the perfect synchronization of their lips and tongues together.

Cari reached for the bottom of Shannon's shirt after she felt the movement of her hips over her body. She needed her. More than anything.

"I missed you so much." Cari pulled the piece of cloth as she touched every inch of Shannon's warm skin on her way up.

"Me too baby" Shannon followed the act and took Cari's shirt off too, leaving it by their side as she reached for the hook of her white laced bra, without moving her eyes from Cari's any second. After leaving it anywhere like the rest of their clothes, Shannon took her kisses from her lips to her neck and chest, exactly the way she knew it would drive Cari crazy.

As Cari's breath got heavier and soft moans started to leave her mouth, Shannon needed to be sure about one thing before completely surrendering to the way only Cari was able to make her feel all over again.

"Tell me you're mine." Shannon moved a lock of hair from her face with such care that it looked like it was the most precious thing she had ever touched in her life. "Tell me we are never going to be apart again."

"I'm yours baby. I've always been yours and I always will be. Forever."

-