Chapter twelve

Richie caught her in the water, pulling her back up to her feet. He pushed her hair back and Sarah wiped the water from her face, catching her breath.

Had she heard him right? Did he really say that? What else would he have said? She heard what she thought she heard.

Then she realized she had been waiting to hear the words, she felt exactly the same. “I love you.” She copied his words and made them her own.

Richie reached for her, pulling her close against him. “I love you.” He said it again to confirm it before he covered her lips with his. He kissed her sweet and tenderly until Sarah let his tongue slide inside, letting it slide next to hers.

“I love you too.” Sarah said firmer when they broke apart. She loved hearing those words, glad they could finally say them.

Now she was sure of what to do, it answered so many questions.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist and played at the small of her back.

For a few minutes they just held each other, staring into each other’s eyes. Captivated by their love they forgot where they were.

“I’m glad you finally said it.” Sarah said, a smile still on her lips.
“Finally?” He asked confused.
“Oh.” Sarah said confused, maybe she was wrong. “I thought you were going to say it a few days ago, it seemed like you were.” She explained.
“You noticed that?” Richie asked surprised, he thought he had made up quite well for his slips.
“When we came back from the hospital and you said you were glad I was okay.” She continued to explain how she knew.
“So when you said, “me too,” you actually meant?” He left the question open, not entirely sure if he should finish it.
“That I love you too.” She ended his sentence.

He pulled her even closer for another kiss.

“Why didn’t you say anything then?”
Sarah shrugged, “I wasn’t completely sure.”
“Of what?”
“That you really meant to say something else.”
“I love you.” He said again, pointing out what he had meant to say a few days ago.

It made Sarah feel all jittery when he said it, a smile even happier appeared on her face as she repeated his words.



Later that afternoon they were packing to go to the next country. Off to Finland, which was also on Sarah’s list of countries to visit. She’d have to find that list at home and cross some countries out after this tour.

Richie tucked the plastic bag from the store to the bottom of his bag, making sure Sarah wouldn’t see it or find it. He planned to give it to her as a present but he wasn’t sure about when or what occasion. Her birthday was still two months away, too long to wait; he’d have to think of something later.

He finished packing and watched Sarah pack her own bag. He watched the way she moved, picking up things and bending over to put them in her bag, he could almost see inside her shirt.

When she stopped moving, he looked back up at her, thinking he had been caught, he smiled at her but she didn’t say anything, maybe she didn’t notice.

“Ready to go.” She said instead.



They had dinner on the plane once it leveled out in the air. The flight only took a while.

By the time they got to their hotel, the skies had already turned dark, night was approaching.



Just like last time they arrived at the hotel, Richie phoned room service for cold packs once they entered their room. He didn’t forget about her even though the water had helped to relax the muscles of her ankle and foot.

After their bags were brought to their room, they turned on a movie and snuggled together on the bed.

When the movie was boring him but gave him an idea, Richie spoke. “Maybe we can go do some touristic stuff tomorrow.” He suggested.
“Do you know any places?” She wanted to see the city, she’d love to but didn’t know what places there were to see.
“No, but that’s why we have a road manager.” He explained how easy it would be to find something to do.
“Is there anything you do alone?” She joked.
“Loads of things.” He paused to think. “The bathroom! I do that all by myself, although I don’t mind sharing the shower.”
Sarah laughed at his joke. “Maybe I feel like sharing some time.”
That certainly raised his attention. “Really?” He asked hopeful. “You don’t feel like sharing now?” He tried.
“Not yet.”



Since the afternoon Sarah had been thinking of his words and of what they meant. The words had convinced her. She knew she had feelings for him before, how couldn’t she?

Before, she hadn’t been sure if those feelings were love but when he said it, she knew it was. With knowing that, she also knew to trust him completely.

She had been thinking of what to do. It wouldn’t be to prove she loved him but because she wanted to. The effect he had on her the first time they kissed only got intensified every time he kissed or touched her but she needed to know first and now she did.



Richie turned off the tv when the movie was over, then reached to turn off the light on his night stand. He lied down in the bed and opened his arms for Sarah.

She snuggled between his arms and rested her head on his shoulder, his arms wrapped around her when she was settled.

“love you.” He kissed her hair, he could smell her shampoo.

Sarah twisted a little and placed her hand on top of his chest.

Since she was sleeping in her underwear, so did Richie, using the boxer shorts he usually never wore at all.

She couldn’t help herself when her fingers started playing with his chest hair.

As she did, he softly stroked her back, he found it relaxed her.

She felt braver and moved her hand down, where she found more hair to play with.

A groan escaped him when Sarah’s fingers slid over his abdomen, the sensations surged straight to his groin.

Gently, he took her hand and rested it back on his chest, lacing his fingers through hers.

Richie waited for her to fall asleep, in only a few minutes he felt her body relax against his. He carefully moved her off of his shoulder and got up.

“Where are you going?” Sarah asked half asleep.
“Just the bathroom, I’ll be right back.” He leaned down on the bed to say it before leaving.


Sarah waited for him and when he returned she got comfortable in his arms again. He seemed more relaxed than a few minutes ago. She thought she knew what he had done but surely wasn’t going to ask him. Now that she realized she had her own needs, she couldn’t blame him for having his.

“I love you too.” She covered the place where his heart would be with the palm of her hand before she closed her eyes.