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Alexis stood looking out of her bedroom window watching the rain beat against it. The rain let in a calming sound that filled the empty penthouse.
He stopped in the doorway mesmerized by the sight of her. Her hair was down and it uncharacteristically was tousled as it fell at the shoulders of the soft pink sweater that lit up the room that had been filled with gray from the overcast sky.
The sight of her took his breath away. He hadnt taken his mind off of her since the moment his eyes had last seen her. He broke his stare and walked towards her wrapping his arms around her. His scent surrounded her and she grinned now that he was there.
Youre even beautiful just watching the rain, he said kissing her at her bare neck
I love the rain
I know
You do dont you, she said turning to him
All you have to do is watch you when it rains. The way youre not bothered by the hassle of it, the ways you watch it fall as if youre amazed by it again and again. Its not hard to know that about you
Thank you
For?
Knowing that
I didnt know I got such brownie points for knowing something so simple
Youre the only one who cared to know that besides my brother When I was a little girl I use to hold my face up to the window when it would rain. The rain would make the panes cool and it would feel soothing against my warm cheeks after I cried she said telling him as if she were revealing a secret.
Harrison let the tips of his fingers slide down the side of her cheeks mimicking tears as if her were visually trying to sympathize with her.
Lex when I called yesterday and asked was everything all right and you hesitantly said everything was fine every things not is it?
Before Alexis answered she went and sat down on the end of the bed
I had and interesting night the night before she said then making a face of regret
Meaning? Harrison said looking concerned as he sat at the edge of the overstuffed chair opposite of her
I cant
You cant what?
Harrison watched as she looked as if she was trying to swallow the lump in her throat
I dont want to tell you I guess, she said turning her head from him
Alexis I told you that Im here for you. Im your friend not just your lover
Ned came over she blurted out
Harrisons concerned expression quickly humbled and he was now the one with the lump in his throat
And?
And he apologized for in his words being a fool
He is a fool Harrison snapped
Harrison Alexis snapped back
Andand that is why you look as if your world has fallen apart?
We talkedwe talked about usand we laughed
And Harrison was waiting for the worst
And he made me remember, remember why I loved him
Are you saying youre still in love him? Harrison said reacting
I dont know she said addled at her quick response
Does he know?
What?
That youre still in love with him. Is he in love with you? Should I leave right now before I get caught up between the two of you, before I loose my heart again to you
Harrison dont its not like that. Alexis closed her eyes letting about a painful breath Ned and I cant
Obviously you can Harrison said almost coldly jumping to the conclusion
Alexis paused for a moment collecting her thoughts and letting herself catch her breath
When Stefan came by yesterday I told him how I honestly felt. And he told me that if I really did have feelings for you the way I said I did not to throw away a good thing by letting my past take control of me. Harrison you are the good thing, youre the best thing. Stefan also told be that it was time not only for me to love but to be loved. Im not saying Ned didnt love me, I know he did. He just couldnt except the things he couldnt change about me or the things that haunt me. And whether youre the right man to be the one that loves me back or not Stefan was right thats what I need
I want to be that Lex. I promise I do but I cant play this game with you were I rescue you repeatedly from the man you are going to be hopelessly in love with. Harrison pleaded
I have feeling for him, I was going to marry him, I love him - I loved him Harrison. But I want you, I need you, Ive fallen back in love with you. Its just about time with Ned. Time for me to get over him
So if I do have you, is it safe for me to wait for your heart?
I shouldnt beg for you to do that for me
Harrison stood up and paced the room back and forth before stopping and dropping to his knees in front of Alexis. He took Alexis hand and held it to his chest and she obliged letting his heart beat in the palm of her hand.
I may need to ask for forgiveness after saying this but I seem to be a man that has lost all control of being able to stop himself from doing anything these days
Doing? she said puzzled by the expression on his face
From saying words that I probably shouldnt say to you because it may hurt us
What could you say to hurt us?
I love you Alexis
Harrison
Not just love you, I love you unconditionally. Everything about you, your stubbornness, your laughter, your hurt, your happiness, everything that makes you, you. Your past, and the present and even the future - all of it make me unconditionally love you. He stopped for a moment to check her reaction I loved you five years ago and I love you know.
How are you so sure its love Harrison, she said questioning as if she were a confused child.
The only way I know to explain it to you is the fact that I cant get over you
You cant get over me?
Us falling apart, you leaving, time, Ned Ashton all of it. All thats between us I never got over you. I never once thought I didnt love you the way I loved you when I first realized I did."
Tears fell down Alexis cheeks
You make love sound so easy
You make it easy
Im not good at love, Im not good at believing in it, Im not good at even saying it
Then dont, dont say it because you feel obligated. The word love should just roll off your tongue. But it shouldnt just roll off your tongue until you know for sure Lex, you need time. You need time to heal, time to believe that I do love you
Harrison, I do believe you love me but time is usually what makes a man give up on me, she said wiping the tears from her face
Not if the man loved you the way I do
Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her tight mainly for reassurance for all the words that he had said. The words he wished he could have kept a secret a little while longer for fear how she would react. Fear that she would push him away, fear that she would never feel the same.
The one thing, he was sure of was that she needed him and he would be there for her.
Thank you for coming back to me just when I needed you most.
Youre welcome, he said giving her a shy smile
Alexis pulled Harrison on to the bed on top of her. She took a split second to savor how his body felt against hers.
Let me make love to you she whispered making it clear that she was not confused about how much she wanted him
The sound of the rain played like music in the background as they made love to each other
and she forgot about Ned Ashton.
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