I woke up to Ziggy staring at me from his position seated at the edge of the bed. He wore nothing but his underwear and a smile. "Good morning," he said with a coy smile.

"Good morning." I blinked, finally noticing the abundance of sunlight flooding in through the windows. Sleeping over was not the plan, and neither was waking up after he did. I wiped my eyes and the remnants of my mascara blackened my fingers. "Shit."

"Stop it, you look beautiful. This isn't the first time you've been in my bed, you know." That was true.

He handed me a mug filled with a foamy latte. I sat up to take it from him. Careful to keep myself covered with the sheet. He leaned in and kissed me softly. His lips tasted sweet and brought back detailed memories. I looked at him and realized I was still reeling from last night.

I took a sip to avoid stroking his ego with a compliment. "This is delicious. Thank you," I tell him as he continues to watch me.

"Of course." His grin perks up. "I'm glad you stayed."

I smile over the rim of my mug. "Me too."

We watched each other, our true thoughts hidden behind our cheesy grins, the words silenced by sips of oat milk foam.

My eyes drift over his body and I still couldn't believe how good he looked. If he didn't have the port scar near his left shoulder and the two surgical scars on his abdomen, it would be easy to forget anything happened to him. I hope he wore those scars proudly. He seemed to already.

"Do you work today?" he asked, tearing me from my thoughts.

"Yes, but not until tonight."

His smile darkened. "Good." He sat down his mug. "We have time then."

"Time for what?" I watched his teeth snag the corner of his sultry grin. I laugh, "Oh, God. Again? Already?"

"You should put your coffee down."

"I just woke up. What I should do is shower and spend time with a toothbrush."

"Put the coffee down, Sabine."

The playful tone behind his animalistic endeavor made me smile uncontrollably. It felt easy to be near him, comfortable now that there was nothing separating us any longer.

He reached for my mug but I pulled it away. He caught me by my wrist and took it from me with the other hand. When he turned to set it down, I moved under the covers in an attempt to weasel away. "Don't you dare try to run!" he said with a laugh.

I squealed as I tried to wriggle away from him, but he caught me by the waist, pulling me back to him. As I pretended to struggle, my ass brushed against him. I did it twice more just for fun.

He took my hip and pressed me against him. I felt his excitement. The laughter calmed when the desire began to win out.

As he placed kisses on my cheek, his hands began to explore. I reached behind me, rubbing my hand against him, feeling him harden in my grasp. Both of his hands slid from my hips to my chest, heightening my desire before one slid down between my legs. He caressed me gently, moaning softly into my ear as he delved a finger inside me. I was ready.

After a brief tease, he slipped himself from me and laid me down onto the pillows. When he went to grab a condom, I stopped him with a hand. "Do you need to use that?" I asked him.

"No. Do you need me to use it?"

I shook my head. He looked and me hungrily and tossed it aside.

He moved to my side, his hand cradling my head as pulled me into a kiss. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned my hips away from him and pulled them back. With my backside against him, I felt him at my entrance. I curled up my knees, lifting my top leg to rest against him. As he pushed inside me, I moaned against his lips. With a hand on the back of my knee, hitched my leg up and pushed himself deeper.

He moved slowly at first, letting me feel every unshielded inch of him slide against all the right places. His lips moved from mine and he picked up his pace.

The relaxed yet erotic position made the pleasure spread through me languidly. The soft, orange glow of the sunrise mimicked the ease of our passion.

I looked back at him, and my body tensed with pleasure when I saw how much he was enjoying himself. He caught me looking and stared into my eyes as he moved faster. I called out with a sudden rush of pleasure. With a hand, I reached back and pulled back into a kiss.

With a groan, he pulled himself from me and moved from my back. I rolled onto mine as he laid between my legs. Pushing back inside, I felt myself teetering on the edge.

I held his face in my hands, taking his lips whenever possible as he moved. When it became nearly impossible, I opened my eyes to find his gaze.

Staring into his eyes, our connection felt so intense. I wouldn't look away and neither would he. We both moaned in our own pattern as we gave in to the feeling. I began to get lost in the fog of pleasure. He took me exactly how he wanted me, and I felt as if I needed nothing else.

His weight shifted, his hips pumping against me in a way that unraveled me. "Oh, Ziggy, right there," I moaned. "Right there, don't stop." He did just that. His only move was to lean down to kiss me, running his tongue against mine between each sultry caress of his lips. I could take it no longer.

I stifled a scream as I fell over the edge, surrendering to the feeling once more. Pleasure coursed through me, my body arching back as the orgasm overtook me.

Rush after rush, my strength left me. I collapsed beneath him. He continued on, the feeling drowning me as my overly sensitive core heightened every move he made inside me. He groaned just before I felt him find his release.

His face twisted in ecstasy was the most beautiful thing I had seen. As he came down, his strength left him. He leaned into me, brushing his nose against mine. His lips hovered for just a moment before he kissed me. I hummed happily.

When the kiss ended, I smiled. "You're really good at that," I said.

He chuckled. "I know."

I gave his shoulder a playful nudge and laughed at his cockiness. But, when I saw the pensive look on his face, I quieted. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said just above a whisper. "I think . . . I think I just realized this is what I wanted. This is what I was afraid I would miss out on."

I trailed my fingertips up and down his back. "Great sex?" I tried to joke.

His dreamy grin remained. "No," he said. "Being this in love."

My heart fluttered so hard I lost my breath.

He slipped from me unintentionally, calling both of our attention. He reached over and grabbed some tissues. When he moved to clean me, I took them from him. "I can do that," I said with a playful tone to cover my fluster. "Thanks though."

He gave me a flirtatious grin. "Anytime."

His phone began to ring from the bedside table. He turned to grab it, and when he looked at the screen, he cursed.

"Yeah?" he answered. He looked at me as I rolled over to watch him. "Yes, sorry. Of course, I'll be there." He hung up with a heavy sigh. When he turned his screen back on and saw the time, he cursed again.

"What's wrong?"

"I have a shoot in an hour and a half." He ran his fingers through his unruly hair. "It will be quick. You should come with me."

"I only have my clothes from last night."

"We can shower here and swing by your place for clothes."

Ziggy always got what he wanted. "Fine."

He walked into my empty apartment with me. He tried to hide the surprise from his face. "I'm never home, don't judge me," I told him. He laughed. "I'll hurry."

I ran into my bedroom and put a more feminine version of his; tan pants, a basic, white button-down, and sneakers. I crossed the hall toward the bathroom to brush my hair, but I stopped when I saw him.

He stood awkwardly in my front room, his hands in his pockets, swaying to a song in his head while he studied the pictures hanging on the wall. I hadn't seen him in many real-world situations. He had always been right where I left him in his hospital room. Now that he was in my home, all tattooed, well-dressed, and handsome, he looked like a figment of my imagination. It made me want to do anything and everything to keep proving he was real.

He looked over and spotted me staring. I rushed into the bathroom to finish getting ready.

The shoot was set up in a huge studio space. Three models looked like a set of triplets in similar gowns, an array of people fluffing and powdering them off to the side.

Ziggy led me by the hand to one of the seats behind an array of small screens and a computer. I had no idea what any of it was.

"Hey guys," he said to two people standing at one of the monitors. They were both so similar to him with their stylized, dark hair and tattoos on every visible portion of their skin. "This is Sabine," he introduced me.

"This is her?" the man asked. He came over and kissed both of my cheeks. "It's nice to meet you, finally."

The woman came over and did the same. "We've heard a lot about you, Sabs." She smiled, revealing her lip frenulum piercing. "A lot about you."

My eyes widened with surprise. Ziggy chuckled. "This is Ray and Kris," he pointed to the opposite person I expected.

"Thanks for saving our guy," Ray said.

I smiled at him under a confused brow. "I didn't save him."

He gave me a knowing grin and a wink. "Sure you didn't." The two turned back to their work.

Ziggy pointed me to a chair behind us. "Just hang out. This will be over quicker than it looks, I promise." I nod and smile when he gives me a kiss on the cheek.

I sat down and tried to get comfortable. There were so many people bustling around. I watched Ziggy discuss something on the computers with Ray and Kris before entertaining the models, hairstylists, and others on the set. I started to feel out of place, so I pulled out my phone to distract myself.

Between Instagram posts, I watched him and tried to figure out how it all worked. The models sat on the expensive chaise while he and two other people positioned them and gave them instructions. Walking back a few steps, he took a knee and lifted the camera. At the same time, one of his posts showed up on my feed. The final, saturated image looked nothing like what was sitting before me. I looked up and watched as the shots came up on the screen. My jaw dropped.

After quite a few shots, he told the girls to relax and came over to look at the results. The three discussed for a few moments, pointing to the various gorgeous images.

He looked over and gave me a smile before returning to the set. I noticed I had been smiling too.

Ziggy was such a different person when he worked. It was amazing to watch him in his element.

"He's so talented. And he's nice. That's a rare combo."

I looked over my shoulder to find two of the stylist standing together watching the way I was. They were both young and pretty, looking like models themselves with their perfect makeup and hairstyles. When I realized they weren't talking to me, I turned back to my phone.

"Oh, come on. Just admit you think he's hot."

"Okay, fine. I'd fuck him in a heartbeat." My phone stopped being interesting.

"Right?" They both giggled. "I'd fuck him with you."

I put my phone back in my pocket and started to tie up my hair. If they thought I wouldn't fight for him, they'd be damn wrong.

When I started to stand, I spotted Ziggy walking over to me. My anger dissipated. He hung his camera from his neck and leaned in to kiss my lips. He lingered, running his hand over my cheek before pulling his lips slowly from mine.

My eyes fluttered open. "Almost done, I swear," he said.

It was as if he knew what I needed without me saying a word. "Take your time," I said with a wide smile. "I'm good here." He grinned and walked back to the computers.

I looked over my shoulder at the stylists and failed to hide my smugness. They both stared back. One gave me a guilty smile.

Ziggy dove me to the hospital for my shift. I showed him where to drop me off.

He pulled into a parking spot and I couldn't help but notice how surreal it all felt. A healthy Ziggy dropping me off at the place he thought he would be stuck at until he died. I always knew he would make it, but I didn't know if expected any of what came after. My chest ached at the thought.

He grabbed my hand and I looked over at him. When I saw the concern in his expression, I felt nervous. "We can make this work. You and me," he said like a statement rather than a question. He stared at me with those hazel eyes, and I could see nothing but the longing behind them.

"Yeah," I said. The smile pulled at my lips. "I think we can."

He smiled at leaned forward to kiss me. I breathed him in while his lips were against mine. Another reminder that this wasn't a dream.

I knew I never wanted to go back to the days where I had to fight my desire for him or keep my distance. Right then, I wanted nothing more but to have him in my life as much as possible, for as long as possible.

He pulled away from the kiss with the same smile. "I love you." He said as a finality, leaning away to allow me to leave.

I grabbed my bag and started to climb out of the car, but stopped. I turned back to him and said, "I love you too."

He turned to look at me with surprise. I got out of the car without another word and began walking toward the building. Before I went through the doors, I turned back to look at him, catching his huge smile.

That smile was exactly what I needed.