Rebirth: Love me Again

[EVE]

I woke up feeling utterly drained, my body heavy and unresponsive. A dull ache lingered in my lower half, a reminder of the intensity of last night.

Who knew that even without crossing the final line, such intimacy could leave me so utterly spent?

In the haze of my exhaustion, I became aware of Cole beside me. He moved with gentle care, a warm cloth in his hand as he cleaned my skin, and probably all our cum last night.

"Rest, Eve. You need it," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm to my tired mind.

Too drowsy and weak to respond, I allowed the weight of sleep to pull me under once more. If the world were ending at that moment, I wouldn't have cared—I was too drained to fight the pull of oblivion.

=== 🤍 ===

The next morning, I woke feeling refreshed and oddly euphoric. My body was light, almost buoyant, as though a burden I hadn't realized I was carrying had been lifted.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the world seemed brighter, kinder, as if the pieces of my shattered heart had finally begun to fit together again.

Is this what they meant by the afterglow? Was this the peace women spoke of after being watered all night, even without taking that ultimate step? I couldn't help but wonder.

"Are you hungry?"

Cole's voice broke through my reverie, low and steady, yet tinged with something I couldn't quite place. The events of last night rushed back to me in vivid detail, every kisses and lingering touch replaying in my mind. My cheeks flushed, and I looked away.

Regret? It should have been the natural response, the safe emotion. But as I searched within myself, I found none. I had known this would happen the moment we were left alone, the inevitability of us burning brighter than my doubts. We were like a pair of matches in the same box—one spark, and we'd combust.

It was only waiting to happen.

"What? Regretting last night already?" Cole asked, his tone unreadable, though his eyes watched me seriously.

I shook my head and sighed. "What happened between us was mutual. There's no reason to regret it."

Relief flooded his features, softening the edges of his sharp demeanor. A small smile crept onto his face, one that carried both happiness and relief. "Does that mean we're officially together now?"

I hesitated. Words felt inadequate to explain the complicated storm of emotions swirling inside me. For so long, I had resisted the pull between us, clinging to a version of myself that didn't need him or anyone.

But last night had changed something. Cole had changed for me.

We had always been connected, our lives intertwined in ways that I couldn't understand. What we had shared wasn't casual or fleeting—it was a collision of two souls desperately trying to bridge the gap between their past.

I knew, deep down, that embracing this moment was a betrayal of the person I had once been—a betrayal of the principles I had clung to so fiercely when I was given a second chance at life. The walls I had built, the promises I made to myself, all felt like they were crumbling beneath the weight of what Cole and I had shared.

But denying this now felt even worse. It felt like denying the very future I had fought so hard to reach—a future that wasn't weighed down by fear or regret, but one that embraced the possibility of love, hope, and healing.

I had spent so long running from my past, building armor to shield myself from pain. Yet here, in this moment with Cole, I realized that the walls weren't protecting me—they were trapping me.

If I continued to deny what was blossoming between us, I wouldn't just be rejecting him. I'd be rejecting my own chance to finally move forward, to let go of the chains that bound me to the person I used to be.

Sometimes, letting go isn't about surrender—it's about choosing a new path, even if it scares you. And Cole was my new path.

"Fine," I finally whispered, my voice barely audible but laden with the weight of my decision.

Cole's smile widened, lighting up his face in a way that made my heart ache. For a moment, I thought about how far we'd come. Cole had worked tirelessly to rebuild the pieces of us, proving in countless ways that he was willing to fight to regain my trust. Denying him now would be denying myself the chance to heal.

Maybe it wasn't perfect, and maybe it never would be. But for the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to surrender to what my heart wanted. And it wanted him.

Cole approached me with such energy that it was as though he couldn't contain himself. His hands cupped my cheeks, his touch surprisingly gentle as his thumbs traced small circles against my skin. His gaze bore into mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

"You won't regret it," he said firmly, his voice steady, yet filled with emotion.
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I turned my eyes to the side, unable to fully meet his gaze. "I hope not," I murmured, my tone quieter than I intended.

Cole raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a sly, teasing smirk. "Are you doubting me?"

"Should I?" I shot back, trying to maintain some semblance of composure, though my heart was racing.

His expression softened, but his next words knocked the air from my lungs. "Then how about we get married?"

"What?" I blinked, unsure if I had heard him correctly.

"In fact," he continued, his enthusiasm building, "let's get married right now. We can head to the orphanage first—then I'll take care of everything else. A certificate, a celebration, whatever you want."

He pulled out his phone, his fingers already dialing as if the idea wasn't just spontaneous but inevitable. I barely managed to grab his wrist in time.

"Wait—are you serious?" My voice wavered between disbelief and exasperation. Knowing Cole, he absolutely would go through with it.

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as he rested his chin on the top of my head. "Of course I'm serious," he murmured. "It's the only way I'll ever sleep soundly—knowing you're mine, and I'm yours." His voice dipped, rich with sincerity. "Let's make a promise, Eve. A contract that we'll never part. No divorces, no separations. Just us. Forever."

His words, so heavy with emotion, made my heart skip a beat. But the weight of them was overwhelming, and I pressed my palms against his chest, creating just enough distance to breathe.

"Cole," I began, shaking my head. "You need to slow down. I'm not ready to be your wife—not yet. I don't want a wedding right now."

He sighed, his arms loosening but not letting me go entirely. "You're right. You deserve a grand wedding, something unforgettable," he admitted, his tone softening. "But how about this—for now, we can get the marriage certificate. That's faster, and—"

"Cole!" I cut him off, a laugh escaping despite myself. "You're ruining the mood!"

The tension dissolved as his playful grin returned. "Am I?" he asked, his mischievous tone back in full force.

"Yes!" I said, laughing despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Cole leaned down, his forehead resting against mine as his smile grew tender. "Alright, I'll wait," he said softly, his voice a gentle promise. "But just know, Eve—when the time comes, I'll give you the world."

His words left me breathless, and though the moment wasn't perfect, it was ours. And somehow, that made it all the more meaningful.