Katrina stood on the back porch watching the rain cascade to the ground. This wasn't how her girl's trip was supposed to end. Right now she was supposed to be up there above those heavy clouds crowding the sky, on her way back to California. One night morphed into two and by the third night, she knew the answer to the question she could feel he was counting the seconds to ask her again.

She glanced over her shoulder as the backdoor opened and an easy smile drew itself on her face as Keir exited.

"Rooibos or chai?" He asked, with a mug handle in each hand, one gray and the other brown.

"Chai." She answered and accepted the mug in his right hand. She eyed the mug fondly. "I can't believe you still have my practice mugs."

She shook her head as her smile grew wider, noting the flaws in the mug that were a part of the time when she and clay were mere acquaintances and not longtime friends like they were now. 

Keir blew at the wisps of steam rising from the tea, "I like 'em. They have character."

"Yeah," She traced her finger around the mug's lopsided rim, "Lots of it."

Lightning flashed across the sky calling her attention to it like a moth to a flame. Just as quickly as it appeared it was gone and she let out a contented sigh.

"I missed this."

Keir sidled next to her, leaning against the porch railing. "Rainstorms."

"Yes." She let the pattering of raindrops serenade her in a state of calm while her eyes peered away at the wind whipping through the line of trees a few yards away. "It has a way of slowing things down and making things clearer."

"What are these things it's making clearer?"

She inhaled the spicy aroma of the tea, warming up her body which was being chilled by the cold front rolling in. She should've probably put on actual clothes before going outside but his flannel pajama shirt felt like the most comfortable apparel in the house. She didn't want to take it off.

She turned towards him with a smirk, "You can just ask me the question you're dancing around."

Keir's thick eyebrows furrowed as he took a measured sip of the tepid liquid. He lowered the mug from his lips, sat it on the wide railing, and folded his arms over his bare chest while leaning back on the column.

"Katrina Bailey, are you reading my mind?"

Her smirk grew wider, "Well, I am your heart. That does give me special gifts."

"Oh, you have plenty of gifts." His gaze lowered to her lips then rose back to her eyes.

"How horny are you?" She giggled before taking another sip of tea.

"It's been three years." His hands went to her waist, pulling her to him and she went willingly. "Immensely."

"Good." She affirmed, placing her mug next to his before erasing all the space between them. She locked her arms behind his neck causing the sole of her feet to lift from the floor. A heated warmth spread throughout her core as his erection grew thicker beneath the thin, soft fabric of his pajama pants. "So, what do you want to ask me?"

"I'm glad that we're an us again..." He started, wrapping his arms around the waist causing the shirt to lift. The chilly of the air against her naked ass birthed a shiver down her back. "But what does that mean? Are you going back—"

"Home." She finished his question. "I'm already there."

"You're staying." He said it more like a question since he was in disbelief.

"Yes." She stroked the small of his neck, missing the lush curls that used to be there. "And this time no one can stop us."

"No one at all." He added with finality.

She rested her head against his chest letting the steady thud of his heart do just as the rain did; ease her mind and calm her soul. This was her forever and it was well with her heart.