Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12
 

"Eve, I love you," Chris whispered, moving over her, hoping that maybe they could
slowly adjust into the moment.  He pressed his body to hers, letting her get comfortable to the feel of his body over hers.

Eve felt his body on hers and she drew in a breath looking up at him seeing the caution in his eyes as he looked down at her.  She touched his cheek before kissing him lightly letting him know that everything was okay. "I love you Chris," Eve breathed feeling his lips come into contact with hers.

Chris kissed her as he moved his fingers over her skin, building things between them to a place where she could melt into his embrace completely, "I need you so much, Eve," he whispered, repeatedly as he dropped kisses along her skin.

"Oh Chris," Eve breathed feeling herself as complete ease beneath his touch as he kissed her. "You're my everything," she said focused on him not wanting the moment to slip away as they touched one another. 

"You're everything to me as well," Chris whispered moving his lips back to hers in a deep, fierce kiss moving his body to hers, and slowly starting to move within her. He looked into her eyes for any sign of rejection, "I love you, Eve."

Eve looked back at him taking a breath and feeling him move inside of her cautiously. She looked up at him seeing the look in his eyes and she kissed him again. "I love you too Chris," she said holding him as they started to move together slowly. 

Chris closed his eyes, trying to keep the pace slow, adjusting completely to this new situation between them. He felt her hands on his skin, heating his body as they moved with each other fluidly. 

"Chris," Eve breathed his name feeling him move inside of her as she touched his cheek urging him to look at her. "I want to look at you and have you look at me seeing the love between us," Eve said softly feeling the change between them this time around. "I love you so much."

Chris looked into her eyes, seeing the love in her eyes before he kissed her, increasing their pace a bit, "I love you Eve."

Eve let out a soft moan feeling the pace shift, but not feeling an urge to push away like before. She returned his kiss allowing herself to give in to the feel of him inside of her. "Chris," Eve breathed his name against his lips as they moved together.

Feeling her body responding to his, hearing his name, to Chris it was perfect. Chris
kissed her softly, they bodies moving with one another and it felt amazing. He looked into her eyes and whispered, "I love you so much, Eve."

"I love you too, Chris," Eve said touching his face as he looked down into her and she saw the love reflected in his eyes. At this moment she felt at complete ease with him as their bodies moved in perfect rhythm. All her anxiety from before had melted away as they connected with one another in a way she'd never imagined possible after Ryan. She kissed him again loving the feel of them together before whispering in his ear in a low raspy tone. "Chris, you make me feel so good."

"Eve," Chris whispered, their pace increasing again with those words. He kissed her slowly in contrast with how their bodies were moving with one another.  "This is so good," he whispered, kissing her again, "You're so good, I love you."

"I love you too," She said letting out another moan against his lips as he kissed her. She could feel things really building between them and now was the time she needed him more than before. She felt connected to him so much but this climax they were getting closer to having would be the test of things...the moment when she'd either panic or give in to the love she was feeling for him. She looked back into his eyes wanting to be with him every step of the way as she saw the love in his eyes. "Chris," Eve whispered kissing him again.

"I love you Eve," Chris whispered in between kisses, feeling things pick up between the two of them. Knowing that things were about to become exceedingly intense between them, he moved his fingers over her lips, "It's okay," he whispered, letting her know that they were going to be better than okay.

Eve kissed his fingertips as she felt things begin to explode between them. Feeling her body responding completely to his, she reached out to him holding him to her as her heart pounded in her chest. "I love you Chris," she breathed kissing him firmly as she felt a moan build in her throat and their bodies pushed on to that point of no return. 

"Eve," Chris moaned softly against her lips as their bodies melted to one another, completing each other on every level. He kissed her deeply as they held each other in this perfect moment. 

Eve held onto him fearing that if she took another breath this would all disappear as they slowly came down from this high between them. She looked up into his eyes seeing the love there after their lips had parted and she was grateful they'd had this moment together. She smiled at him lightly. "Oh Chris, thank you for making my dreams come true..." Eve said faintly moving to kiss him again. 

"You’ve made my dreams come true in having you here in my arms, Eve," Chris whispered, lying beside her and holding her in his arms as they kissed again, "You're so amazing."
 

"No I'm not," Eve replied softly sinking into his chest and listening to his heart beating after they'd parted from their kiss. "You're the amazing one Chris. Somehow you've managed to bring me out of my darkest moment and you've allowed me to find love and feel love.....something I'd given up on a long time ago."

"I love you, Eve. I always have. I would never give up on you, and I never have. And I won't let you give up on yourself. You have way too many great things to be appreciative of. . . not the least of which is me," Chris said teasingly before kissing her softly, "In all seriousness, we have countless moments of happiness ahead of us, and we're going to appreciate every one of them together."
 

"I look forward to that Chris as I do this time we are spending together right now." Eve said smiling at him. "Chris you really are so wonderful and though I know I don't deserve this, I love you and I'm going to keep on loving you with every breath I take." she said kissing him again. "and this....this is perfect.....everything about us." 

"You're right. You don't deserve this. You deserve better. A thousand times better, but I'm going to do my best to make this as close to what you deserve as I can," Chris said before kissing her again, "I love you, Eve. You're the only think I've wanted for so long."

"Oh Chris," Eve replied feeling her eyes cloud over with tears at his words. "How I love you." she said thinking about how much he meant to her. "And you're wrong....you're everything I could've ever hoped for and being able to love you....it's turned my life around....both of our lives around."

"It certainly has. . . you have. You've made everything that I thought I wanted so pale in comparison. I thought I needed money and power and fame. . . . all I want is to love you and be loved by you . . now that I have it,. . have you in my life. . my life is complete. I'm truly happy for the first time in my life."

"Really? You mean that don't you?" Eve asked looking at him. "You're really willing to give up all that money you could have with Julie to be with me?" she asked touching his cheek. "I mean that much to you?"

"You mean the world to me, Eve. Money is nice, but it's not that important to me anymore," Chris said softly, looking into her eyes, "All that's important to me now . . is you."

Eve looked back at him taking in his words and thinking about what Ryan had tried to convince her....how she’d been so foolish to believe that Chris wouldn't love her if she didn't have the money Julie had. She looked away slightly letting the stupidity at having doubts consumed her mind for a moment. "I should've known that you'd feel that way Chris." she said softly. "For a while there I'd almost given hope on that love you have for me....I slipped from the truth between us and that was a mistake. I know you love me and nothing will ever make me forget that again." 

"I love you Eve. You never have to doubt me again," Chris said placing her hand on his chest, over his heart, "My heart belongs to you . . and where you lead, I'll follow." he half smiled, "I always have." 

Eve smiled back at him seeing the way his eyes lit up when he spoke to her. She loved that twinkle there beneath the surface as she felt his heart beating. "I love you too Chris and you," she said taking his free hand and bringing it to her as well, "you have my heart and everything else that is me. I love you." 

Chris slid his hand up to her cheek, "I love you so much, Eve. You are the most beautiful woman, not just physically, but of heart and soul. You're the only person I've ever been able to really connect with this way. You'll never know what that means to me," he said softly before kissing her.
 

"I think I might have some idea Chris as no one has ever reached me like you have." Eve  said returning the kiss and thinking about how close the two of them truly were and the connection they had between them. She smiled slightly looking back at him. "It looks like one of my wishes is already coming true tonight."

"Happiness?" Chris asked with a smile before kissing her softly, feeling the invisible bond between them strengthen with every passing second, "Unconditional love? Tell me when I get close?"

"I think you're getting warmer," Eve said with a smile touching his cheek, "I have everything I could've ever wanted. We're together and there's nothing between us anymore.....everything that I thought existed before is gone and we're just left with Chris and Eve and right now that's all that matters...us....this moment....these feelings....our love..." she moved in to kiss him. "It's perfect." 

"It is perfect," Chris kissed her softly before looking into her eyes and seeing that pure happiness dance in her dark eyes again. He smiled, "You're perfect," he said touching her cheek and he spotted his wedding band on his finger. He moved his hand from her cheek and looked at the ring for a second before pulling it off his finger and tossing it towards the bedside table, "no more barriers."

Eve watched him pull away looking at his ring not really sure what he was thinking as the reminder that he was still married to Julie hit her again. She watched him slip it off and discard it before redirecting his attention to her.  She touched his cheek forcing a smile as their eyes met. "Chris.....I know this isn't easy for you...." she looked away slightly. "And Julie....last you'd told me, you cared about her and I know you've promised me so many 
things tonight, but...." she started unable to ignore the obvious as something ate at he slightly as she heard the ring clang on the table top. "I don't think I can live with being the other woman if this is where this is leading regardless of how much I love you...."

"Eve, Eve," Chris said stopping her, "You're not the other woman. You're the only woman. I told you that I cared about Julie. . . I do, but as a friend only. We didn't get married because we were in love or even because we cared about each other. I married her for money and she married me to have a way to get Christina. That's all. It seemed like it was maybe more than that for a while, but I was trying to have something that I'd wanted but couldn't have. It was never love. It wasn't even close. Holding you and
loving you......that defines true love for me. You're the only woman I've ever loved, Eve. You're the only woman I'll ever love. First thing tomorrow, I'll talk to Darren about filing divorce papers."

"You mean that?" Eve asked looking back at him hopefully. She touched his cheek. "Chris you have no idea how much your saying this means to me and knowing that you love me....." she trailed off looking into him seeing the love behind his eyes. "You're really sure about this? About me? About us.....that you'd give everything else up?" 

"I'm completely sure. I'd give up everything for you, Eve. I love you so much and I can't live without you anymore. I refuse to live without you anymore," Chris said looking into her eyes, seeing the love reflected, "I love you and that's all that matters in the world to me."

Finally convinced Eve wrapped her arms around him kissing him. "I love you too 
Chris....so very much and I'm not going anywhere." she informed him kissing him again. "From this moment on we're going to do everything together and I'll never let you be without me again.....we're in this for the long run.....together." she said looking into his eyes.

Chris took her hand and laced his fingers with hers, "I love you, Eve. And you're right. Together. From now on, everything we do is together. I won't let you go through anything by yourself. You'll have me with you every step of the way."

Eve squeezed his hand meeting his gaze and smiling. "I look very forward to that Chris," Eve said softly thinking about how they'd come so far already. "I love you and look forward to us spending our lives together as it should be."

"Just as it should be. I know we don't seem like it on the surface, but we're the perfect fairy tale."

"Well we've already faced the evil villain and came out on top, so now I think you're right. Our fairy tale is just beginning and sooner than later we'll be riding off to that far away paradise together......for a little while at least."

"Think I can find a white horse in this town to carry you off into the sunset?" Chris asked with a smile.

"How about we just settle for a luxury jet to take us to that tropical island we talked about?" Eve asked with a half grin. "That we might find." 

"I definitely know I can find that," Chris  said with a smile, "We'll be off in no time, relaxing under the sun."

"Of course by then I probably won't look like such a mess," Eve replied taking note of the bruising on her arms. "I might even look good enough to wear a bathing suit on the beach." she smiled lightly.

"Now there's something to look forward to," Chris said moving his eyes down her body, "Then again, I think I like this just fine."

"Yeah well you're biased because you love me," Eve said with a soft smile seeing the way he was looking at her, "Any other person would be repulsed with what they see right now." 

"No one else matters." Chris said kissing her softly, "Because I'm the man that's going to hold you and tell you just how utterly beautiful you are."

"You're the only man who's ever truly made me believe that I was beautiful inside and out." Eve said returning his kiss as she looked into his dark eyes. "In fact now that I think about it, you're the only person I've ever found myself truly happy with and the only person who knows me.....the real me and still has found the strength to love me anyways."

"It's because I know the real you that I love you. You want people to see this image of you . . . but when it comes right down to it, you're not really her, but I know the real you and I love her without reservation."

"Flaws and all huh?" Eve asked meeting his gaze. "Well Chris.....with you I know I don't have to pretend....nor do I really want to, but this being in love, it's all new to me. I've always had to put on a show and now.....well I know I don't have to, but there are still all these ugly parts of me...." Eve started feeling a bit insecure again, but not really knowing what brought it on. "Never mind."

"There are no ugly parts of you, Eve. Just parts of you. Whatever they are, they've brought you here, to this point in time to be the person you are. And that person is the woman I love. I wouldn't have you any other way."

Eve looked back at him smiling slightly. "What did I do to deserve you? I mean how did I get so fortunate to have you wait for me all this time?" she asked kissing him. "So many times you could've walked away from me, but you never gave up always waiting for me..."

"Because I love you Eve. You're the most wonderful woman in the world and I wanted to have you. . . . I would have waited as long as it took. Just so long as I could have you in my life."

"And now? Well now do you think it was worth the wait?" Eve asked touching his cheek before leaning in to kiss him. 

"No," Chris said looking into her eyes and seeing a moment of confusion, "It was worth waiting a thousand lifetimes for . . . not just the small amount of time that I waited."

"Chris how is it you know all the right things to make me fall in love with you all over again?" Eve asked feeling herself melt at his words. "You have no idea what it is you do to me when I hear you say something like that."

"Something like what? something from my heart? That's what it is.  Because I absolutely love you."

"I love you too Chris and if you keep this up, I'm going to have no choice but to keep finding creative ways to show you how much I truly appreciate everything you've done for me." she said kissing him lightly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Eve," Chris said touching her cheek softly, "You want to know what I could really use right now?"

"What's that?" Eve asked looking at him. 

"A martini," Chris said firmly.

"A martini?" Eve replied with a laugh. "You want a martini." 

"I don't know why," Chris said with half a smile.

"I just.....I just thought it was a different request." Eve said with a laugh, "but now that you mention it, it does sound nice."

"Well, . . . the Quartermaines do know how to do one thing right . . and that's to put a bar in these rooms," Chris said with a slight laugh before kissing her gently, "What do you say? Two martinis?"

"I say it sounds like a plan." Eve said kissing him again before watching him slip out of bed and her eyes followed him across the room just enjoying the view.

Chris glanced back and watched her watching him, "Like what you see?"

"Very much so, but somehow I think you already know that." Eve said with her eyes traveling over him appreciatively. 

Chris laughed softly, making the martinis and walking back to place one in her
hands, "Now where would I get an idea like that?"

"Oh I don't know.....maybe just intuition or something." Eve shrugged taking a sip. "As always these are incredible." 

"Thank you," Chris  said with a smile, taking a sip of his own, "Yep, that's what I wanted."

"I hope that's not all you want," Eve said leaning over to kiss him again before winking at him playfully, "then again.....if it was at least I know you're an easy man to please Ramsey." 

Chris laughed, "You know me better than that Lambert. My tastes are vast and varied," he said drawing his eyes over her.

"I realize that and I'm sure that I can come up with ways to help you resolve some of those cravings inside of you." she said reaching out to him and taking his hand placing it on her leg as their eyes met. "I'd like to be able to help you explore those tastes you have inside of you....." Eve sipped her drink again still looking at him. 

"You've been doing a wonderful job thus far," Chris said with a smile, "And we
usually find a good way to experience these tastes together, don't we?"

"Yes we have and we do," Eve said looking back at him, "I love you Ramsey and I think this night has only strengthened what we have together." she smiled at him feeling genuinely better about everything as their eyes met. "You're the best therapy a girl could ask for." she said with a bright smile. 

"Therapy, huh? I'm suppose I could get used to that. But my clinic is only open to you," Chris said moving his hand over her leg in a small circle.

"I should hope so." Eve said with a soft grin looking back at him, "because you're the only doctor who's hands I'd put myself in completely."

"That's good . . . I'd probably get jealous otherwise," Chris said catching her eyes with mine.

"I don't think you'll ever have to worry about anything Chris. I know you're the only one for me....probably always will be.....no scratch that. I know you will be." Eve said leaning in to kiss him. "I love you."
 

"I love you," Chris whispered against her lips before looking into her eyes, “Always."

"I'm going to hold you to that Chris," Eve said knowing that there was no need for her to worry. She looked back at him thinking about the first time he'd told her he loved her not so long ago. That day started something with them....something that she knew in her heart would never end. Nothing would keep them from being together again. 

"You can hold me to anything you want . . . but especially to that. I've wanted to love you openly for so long . . . now that I can . . well, my attentions will be undividedly yours."

"I like the sounds of that," Eve said kissing him again, "having you all to myself is just what makes life worth living. I love you so much."

"I love you, Eve," Chris said touching her cheek, "I love you so much. Every day ahead of us is full of promise."

"I look forward to us spending the rest of our lives together." Eve said looking back at him. "And soon that will be more than a dream. Once this divorce is finalized." she paused thinking about it for a moment. "Chris.....I know it's none of my business, but how close have you and Julie been since she's been released?" she asked feeling a bit foolish but wondering just how committed he'd been to her. 

Chris looked into her eyes and saw something that seemed odd, "What is you really want to know, Eve?"

"I know it's none of my business since Ryan and I had....." Eve trailed off not wanting to think about that as she looked at him again. "Chris, I guess what I'm asking is did you and Julie ever consummate the marriage?" she asked looking away again feeling like an idiot. 

Chris  pulled her eyes back to his, "Eve, you have every right to ask. The answer is no, Julie and I never went to bed together. I never slept with her," he said touching her cheek.
 
 

"Really?" Eve asked looking back at him for a relieved smile. "I should've known, but then I just started thinking....well it doesn't matter."

"It does matter," Chris  said touching her cheek, "You were wondering if I'd really go through with the divorce. If I was just saying things to you.  If I would go back and sleep with Julie and everything would be right with our marriage. You have every right to think it. . . but it isn't going to happen. I'm right here with you, where I'll stay."
 
 

"I know Chris," Eve said reaching for his hand and holding it to her face. "I believe you.....really I do, but I couldn't help but wonder. When Ryan had me locked away, he kept trying to drill it into my head that you'd never love me...not without the money and that I wouldn't mean anything to you." she shook her head. "I was a fool for letting him even get to me because I know he's wrong.....very wrong about you, about our love and everything."

"He's incredibly wrong. He doesn't know one thing about love to begin with. I love you Eve. And with Julie, well . . . it just wasn't there. I kept thinking about you and wondering about you. We never even got close to that," Chris met her eyes.

"Really?" Eve asked meeting his gaze seeing the love in his eyes as her heart sank and she looked away. "I wish that I could've been able to say the same about Ryan and I. I never loved him Chris......it was always you, but there was that brief time when I'd let him take me because I didn't feel I deserved better.." she sighed. "I realized just how horribly wrong that was, and then after, well I just wanted to die, but now that I have you.....I'm grateful 
that I didn't." 

"Eve, things happened because it was a desperate situation," Chris  said before looking away from her, "Things happened between me and Julie because....well, I thought I owed her something, to be a husband to her. Nothing happened between me and Julie . . . but not because I couldn't or wouldn't.  She couldn't."

"Oh," Eve said watching him turn away as he'd finished saying what he said.  She looked down at herself not quite clear on what to say to that. It hurt to think about, but at the same time she had no right to say anything. He'd been with his wife and she with a madman that she'd given herself to time and time again.  She looked over at him trying to mask the pain she was feeling. "So you wanted to then?" she asked knowing she should drop this, but it tore at her. "I mean since Julie is your wife and all." 

Chris  couldn't bring his eyes back to her, feeling guilty for even thinking of sleeping with Julie. "I guess I did. I mean . . . I think I did. At the time, I kept hearing how much she loved me and I repeated the same words to her. I think I was wanting that kind of love. And now . . . . " he closed his eyes tightly, "I thought about the possibility of you being in Kevin's arms and I think I wanted that same thing for me."

Eve heard what he was saying and took it all in realizing that she'd hurt him more than she'd realized before. Hearing him tell her about Julie hurt terribly, but the hurt in his voice when he'd talked about her being with another man, it broke her heart. She looked at him feeling the distance between them as the tears rolled down her cheek. "I'm sorry Chris..." She said faintly looking down as she started to cry. "This is all my fault. I left you feeling 
alone all this time making you feel like second string in my life, when all this time you loved me.......tried to be there for me. Time and time again I abused you." she said sliding out of bed and moving towards the window. "And for what? For a serial killer! I'm the one who led you to Julie with my selfishness and now, well look at us, I'm tearing you apart again." she looked out into the night feeling the cool glass of the window as the tears rolled down her face. "I'm sorry.......for everything...."

Chris heard her words, the strain in her voice and he realized that she was blaming herself for everything, including his mess with Julie.  He stood and walked over to the window to stand behind her, "Eve, you're not tearing anything apart. You didn't lead me to Julie. That was my own stupid mistake. And while you may have overlooked my love for you, I didn't
exactly stand up and tell you how much I loved you either. I kept hiding it from you over and over again," he stopped and touched her shoulder, "You even asked me point blank if I was in love with you and I made light of it as if it were a joke. If anyone should feel guilty, it's me. If I had told you that I loved you when I first realized it, you never would have been with . . . . him in the first place. If I hadn't been so afraid of your rejection, you never would have suffered at his hands. If I had been the man you truly deserve and told you right from the start just how much I loved you, you never would have been hurt this way. He never would have done those things to you. It's my fault, all of it," he said removing his hand and walking across the room, "I don't deserve to be here with you now. I should be in a jail cell right alongside him because I'm just as responsible for this mess as he is."
 

"No Chris," Eve said turning around to see him walking away from her, "you're wrong there. Everything that monster did to me was not your fault. You couldn't have known and I'd have been too stubborn to listen because you're so good for me. Chris, all my life I've run from what is good for me and this......this ordeal with Ryan was my wake up call......telling me just how far I've fallen." she said now in full blown tears as she stepped towards him. "If I didn't have you with me now, I'd have surely died a thousand deaths. 
You're the one thing that kept me alive Chris.....you still are the reason I'm here." she looked away as the rest of it all came back to her. "Back at the lighthouse when I was with Ryan and I'd thought I'd lost you, I just fell apart completely. My world felt as if it had come to an end and everything Ryan did wasn't important anymore....it wasn't worth fighting. In fact I'd even contemplated ending my own life," she explained shamefully stepping towards the window. "I had the opportunity and I came so close, but something stopped me and while I didn't see it at the time, I now know that it was you......that even though I'd thought I'd stopped believing, it was your love that was keeping me alive...keeping me strong...."

"Eve," Chris said softly as he turned back to look at her, crossing his arms across his chest before lowering his eyes to the floor, "I was so selfish and you were the one that suffered the consequences. I wanted you in my life so badly that I couldn't face the possibility of turning you away completely. I thought you would see me for the loser that everyone else
does and run. . . especially if I told you that I loved you. I couldn't face not being able to see you at all. . . if I had just told you and not been so afraid . . . my fear led us to this. My selfishness and my fear.  If I had just been man enough to tell you that I loved you......you never would have been in Ryan's arms to begin with.....you never would have suffered at his hands or been driven to the lengths that you were.....I gave you hope but at the same time, I put you in all that despair to begin with. I love you so much, and I know that I don't deserve your love after everything that happened because of me."

"Chris please don't say that. It's not true." Eve said turning to look at him. "You--you're everything to me and if I lost you....." Eve trailed off. "Chris not being with you put me in such a dark place......darker than I've ever been before and I can't lose you. Don't put the blame on yourself here because if you turned away from me now, I'd surely die." she cried harder. "This way my fault--my stupidity and I'm the one who caused this.....not you. 
You never meant to hurt me and if anything I'm the one who hurt you and as time goes on, I see that's all I'm doing and I hate it. I hate hurting you."

"You're not hurting me, Eve. I did this to myself and to you," Chris said finally reaching out to her and taking her in his arms, to hold her as he looked at her, "You did not do this. You couldn't know how I was feeling because I didn't tell you. You're not hurting me now. My god, Eve, you're the one thing that makes my life a bright place. I wake up every morning wondering if I'm going to see your smile or hear your laughter or get to touch you. I wake up thinking about how much I've wanted to hold you and kicking myself for being so stubborn for so long. I think about how I've waited and for all the wrong stupid reasons. If I had just told you," he closed his eyes, placing his forehead to hers, "None of this would have happened. If I could have just put aside my fears and told you, took you in my arms and kissed you and repeated that I loved you over and over again. If I could have just been a man in love instead of a man so afraid of losing the world's most perfect woman, I could have held you in my arms and never let Ryan near you. I'm so sorry I couldn't be that for you, Eve."

Eve cried at his words feeling herself so completely torn up inside as he held her. "Chris you're the one thing in my life that's keeping my going. I love you so much and you've brought me back to life again. I never knew what it was like to have someone care about me......someone need me and love me, but you, you've proved it time and time again. You did so many things for me and if I'd only been smart enough to see that, then I never would've let Ryan into my life.....into my heart because all along the man I was meant to be with, the man I loved and will always love felt alienated because I was just a fool. I never should've tried to push myself towards Ryan when I had everything right before my eyes and now, well I feel as if I have the world in my hands when I feel your arms around me. I love you Chris and nothing will change that. You are my heart, my soul, my very existence and I need you so much. You are my one true love and that will never change."

Chris looked into her eyes and kissed her softly, "I love you Eve. With everything that I am. I don't want to hurt anymore. I don't want either of us to hurt anymore. We've done too much of that already. I just want to hold you and kiss you and love you. I want you to know that every time I look at you, I feel like my life has been worth something because I've had the perfect opportunity to love and be loved. You are my love, Eve.  You're my heart. You're my world."

"I love you Chris," Eve said with tears falling down her face as she touched his cheek lightly before pulling him into a deep embrace. "How how I love you," she said holding him as if she'd never let go, knowing that she never wanted to. 

Chris  held onto her tightly, 'I love you Eve. More than I'll ever be able to show you in one lifetime. I love so much," he said through an emotionally strained voice holding her to him.

"Don't ever let me go Chris," Eve said letting the tears fall from her face into his chest as he held her. "Just promise me we'll stay like this forever....together as it should be."

"I promise. A thousand times and then again, I promise," Chris said placing his cheek to her head, holding her to him, "We'll always be together."

"I love you Chris," Eve said feeling the warmth of his body to hers just wanting this feeling to stay with them as she felt safe and secure in his arms loving him so completely.

"We're never going to be apart," Chris said softly as he held her, forgetting all the past pain and just focusing on her in his arms, where he’d always wanted her to be.

Eve closed her eyes just feeling him and she let out a soft sigh. His arms were always so inviting and he had her heart. Finally she looked up at him urging him to lower his head slightly so she could kiss him. "I love you Chris and this.....this feels like home."

"This is home, Eve. You'll always find the home fires burning here," Chris said kissing her once more tenderly, "I will always love you."

"And I will always find my heart with you," she said kissing him again as she felt him tighten his hold on her and she felt the emotion behind their kiss.

"You're my heart Eve. I've waited so long to have you love me. It's more than I ever dreamed it would be. . . a thousand times better."

"You're my every dream come true Chris," Eve said holding him. "I need you so much and what you do for me.....there's no words to explain it.......other than I love you." 

"I love you Eve. I need you more than you know. And I'm always going to be here with you, just like it should have been for always."

"I know that Chris, and right now there's nothing I want more than to lose myself in your arms like this forever." Eve said kissing him again holding him against her trying to keep this moment alive as long as possible. 

Chris  pressed his lips to hers, moving hid fingers through her hair softly, "I love you Eve Lambert."

"And I truly, completely, whole-heartedly love you Christopher Ramsey......always will." she said feeling as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders as she felt him scoop her into his arms holding her close to him. "I love you so very much."
 

Chris looked into her eyes as he held her in his arms moving back across the room
with her, "You're the world to me."

"And you are everything to me," Eve said touching his cheek cupping his face in her hand as she kissed him lightly. 

"I don't know how it happened, but you're the best thing that ever happened to me, Eve," Chris said softly as they lowered onto the bed and he held her in his arms gingerly. He looked into her eyes for a moment before kissing her softly, "I love you."

"I love you too," Eve said returning his kiss. "You're the most wonderful thing that's happened to me......a dream come true." 

"What happens when we wake up from the dream?" Chris asked touching her cheek
gently as he looked into her eyes, "I don't ever want to. I want to keep us here, right here, in this moment forever."

"Then I guess we should hold onto this and never let it go because this dream...." Eve said touching his face, "it's going to be our reality from now on......this will stay with us forever."

"Forever," Chris whispered, sealing the deal between them before he kissed her so gently and slowly.

"I love you Chris," Eve said after their lips had parted and she looked up at him. She touched his face wanting to memorize everything about him in this moment. 

"I love you, Eve," Chris said softly, turning his head to place his lips against the skin of her hand.

Eve closed her eyes allowing myself to get lost in the feel of his lips against her skin. He was so perfect....her dream come true and how she loved him.

Chris looked back at her, caressing her cheek gently and watching as her eyes opened to look at him. He just took this moment to look at her, memorizing how perfect she was to him, how much he loved her and thinking of how he was going to show her over and over again.

"I love you Chris," Eve said softly seeing the look in his eyes as she smiled at him. He was just so wonderful and being with him seemed to erase the outside world completely.
 

"I love you Eve. I want to spend the rest of my life right here in your arms," Chris said softly, kissing her gently.
 

"That sounds like heaven." Eve said returning his kiss intensely as she wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."

"I love you Eve," Chris whispered, holding her to him.
 

"I love you too Chris......so very much." Eve said kissing him again as she felt the warmth of his arms around her. 

"We've come through so much together already and we will continue to do that together," Chris said before kissing her slowly at first but it soon grew into an intense kiss.

Eve reciprocated the kiss wanting him and craving all of him as she held onto him. She loved him so much and she could feel everything growing between them as he held her heart so completely.

Chris moved his lips to her neck, tasting her skin slowly, "I love you Eve," he whispered moving his fingers over her body slowly.

"Mmm.....Chris...." Eve breathed his name completely enticed by his touch as his fingers played upon her skin enchanting me with their magical spell their love had cast between them. 

"You're so beautiful Eve," he whispered, moving his lips further down along her body, "Perfect in every detail."

"I only feel perfect when you're with me like this.......you make everything go away except for the feel of your love." 

Chris moved hid mouth back to hers, taking her mouth in a gentle yet hungry kiss, "I love you Eve. You mean everything to me."

"Chris," Eve spoke his name taking in his kisses as she held him to her. "I need you so much baby." she said rolling her hands over his skin tasting his kiss as it deepened.

"I need you too baby." Chris breathed against her lips, kissing her deeply, moving his fingers over her skin, "Eve," he whispered moving himself above meeting her eyes with his.
 

"Chris I love you," Eve said touching his cheek softly as she shifted her body slightly to give him some room to make himself comfortable as he moved in over her. She pulled him in for a kiss letting him know just how much he meant to her as she felt his body pressed to hers. 

Chris moved hid body over hers slowly kissing her intensely before sinking into her with the same gentle care that they'd proceeded with thus far.  He looked into her eyes before kissing her once more, "I love you Eve."

"I love you too Chris..." Eve breathed feeling him inside of her again as they were connected on so many levels. Their lips met again tenderly as her body adjusted to his and they started to move together. 

"Eve," Chris whispered as their pace remained slow and so gentle.  He was in awe of what she did to him, "I love you baby," he whispered, kissing her again.

"I love you too Chris......so much more than you'll ever know." Eve said kissing him again feeling as if in this moment she needed him more than ever as if she had been alone, something horrible would've happened to me, but being with him she felt so full of love and she needed him. "I love you..."

"No more pain between us," Chris whispered, looking into her eyes, "Only love.  I love you so much," he whispered, kissing her again as they moved with one another, "I love you, Eve, I'll always love you."

"And I will always love you too Chris," Eve said kissing him again and again never wanting to lose this as things picked up between them, "you feel so perfect with me and I want this to last forever....." 

"You're never going to lose me, Eve. I love you too much to ever be without you again," Chris whispered kissing her repeatedly.

Eve held onto him feeling the intensity of their love making continue as they exchanged sweet whispers and tender emotions between one another. "I love you...." she breathed against his lips.

"I love you..." Chris breathed kissing her again as things picked up between them, taking them to a whole new level that they'd never been to before.

"Chris," Eve breathed his name feeling the intensity of their situation as he made love to her. This time around things seemed so amazing between them different than before and feeling as if so much weight had been lifted off her shoulders she kissed him intensely feeling her body pick up the pace with his as she held nothing back and allowed herself to be completely free and uninhibited with him at last. 

"Eve...." Chris breathed as their bodies completed each other so thoroughly.  He kissed her deeply as there were no more barriers between them, just the love between them and the intensity of this moment together. 

"Chris," Eve moaned his name feeling things building towards an explosive climax as her body reacted beneath his drawing him in deeper as their lips met again. 

Chris kissed her again, moaning her name against her lips, "Eve..." Their bodies came together in the most explosive climax.

"Chris," Eve cried out his name feeling her body rocked with sensations as their climax rushed through the both of them leaving them with an intensity that she'd never felt before in her life. She kissed him as the initial power of it subsided and he melted into her arms. "I love you Chris." 

Chris regained his breath slowly after what had just happened between them, "I love you Eve," he whispered, kissing her deeply, "I love you"

"I love you too and I can't think of anything better than this." 

"I can," Chris said with a smile before kissing her gently, "Holding you in my arms forever."

"Baby I love you so much," Eve whispered returning his kisses. "You're everything to me Ramsey." 

" I love you Eve. So much," Chris whispered, kissing her softly.

"Chris......I don't want to be without you ever again." Eve said running her fingers through his hair as she took in the feel of his kiss lingering on her lips.

"You'll never have to be without me again. I'm never going to leave you, Eve."

"I realize that Chris and I was a fool to think otherwise. You're the only man for me.....the only one I'll ever have in my heart." she said holding him. 

“Eve, before I met you, I was so very lost.  All that’s changed with you.”

"This feels so right here....Chris...." she said touching his face. "When this thing with Julie is settled, let's run away like we talked about  before.....making love on the beach.....maybe even get married at some little chapel somewhere and make this official..." she said unable to believe she'd just spoken those words.

"You mean that you'd actually like to be Mrs. Chris Ramsey?" Chris asked with a soft smile as he moved his fingers over her lips, "You don't know how long I dreamed about that. Making you my wife and loving you forever. I'd love to marry you.......the sooner the better.....Eve....you don't know how happy you've just made me."

"Really?" Eve asked surprised by his reaction as I looked at him. "There's nothing I'd like more than to be Mrs. Chris Ramsey.......well scratch that, right now I don't think I'd want the title for anything in the world as it's not a position I'd like to be in given the circumstances, but when it's over with Julie, I'd love to be your wife and have you all to myself forever." 

Chris looked into her eyes and smiled before kissing her deeply, "I love you Eve. And in my heart and in my soul, you're my wife already. You have been from the moment you said that you loved me."

"Oh Chris," Eve said so completely touched by what he said. She kissed him tenderly, "and in my heart you're already mine as you carry every part of me with you. I love you and you are my heart......my love...my life."

"Eve," Chris said softly looking into her eyes and feeling more love in this moment than he ever had in his life, "I love you so much, Eve."

"I love you so much too Chris," Eve said cupping his face in her hands as she kissed him knowing in her heart that he was the only man she'd ever love as time went on. He was the only one who had touched her in such a profound way and for that he'd always hold her  heart.

"You mean everything to me, Eve. I love you more than you'll know," Chris said with a slight smile as their lips parted.

"I think I might have some inclination." Eve said touching his cheek. "Thank you....for tonight....for everything." 

"Thank you for loving me, Eve," Chris said before kissing her softly.

"It's one of the best things I've ever done." Eve said kissing him in return. 

"Really?" Chris asked looking into her eyes, "You really think I'm worthy of your love?"

"You're more than worthy honey," Eve said cupping his face again. "You're the one I was meant to find and all my love that I'd kept locked away is meant for you."

"You don't know what it means for me to hear that. For so long, I thought I wasn't good enough for you. But to hear you say that I'm worthy of your love, it sets me on a cloud."

"Chris you're everything to me.......everything that matters and you're more  than worthy." Eve said kissing him gently. "I'm so happy that we were able to make love tonight and that we're able to feel this love between us...it's the one thing keeping me alive."

"Our love is strong enough to carry you, Eve. It'll always be between us and it's the most beautiful thing in the world."

"I know that," Eve said kissing him before smiling lightly. She reached over to the dresser seeing one of those mints in a foil package. "Take this," she said popping it into his mouth before winding the foil into a circle and taking his hand. "This here Chris.....it's a symbol of my love for you." she said slipping it on his finger where his wedding ring had once been. "Now this is official. We're bound to each other forever."

Chris smiled as he looked over hid finger with the foil ring, "I love you so much, Eve Lambert," he whispered before kissing her softly. He picked up another one and smiled as he unwrapped the mint, and slipped it into her mouth. He twisted the foil into a circle and made a little point at the time resembling a diamond, "This is a small token of the love I have for you. Because we've got simple beginnings, I will make sure our love is the most beautiful think in your life."

"It's beautiful Chris.....all of this and I'll cherish it forever. This is the best gift anyone has ever given me." Eve said kissing him again. "I love you so much.....with everything and now we're going to be together forever. I am yours and you are mine."

"Then I now pronounce us man and wife in our hearts and in our souls," Chris said with a smile before kissing her softly, "I love you, Eve."

"And I love and adore you Chris Ramsey, husband of mine....." Eve kissed him again, "and someday it'll be official legally, but for now, this, this is what matters and this is what we'll always have." 

"This is everything we need. Everything else is just details," Chris said before kissing her once more, "Husband and wife," he said putting their hands together to look at their "rings" over one another, "Just as it should be."
 

"Yes it is," Eve said feeling tears of joy escape her eyes as he held her hand. "Today you've made practically every one of my dreams come true Chris." 

"I want to spend the rest of my life making the rest of your dreams come true. I want it so you never have to want for anything."

"Chris I know it's going to happen. In time we'll have everything.....we already have it, but the other stuff, well that will be an added extra." Eve said smiling at him as she touched his cheek. "You're my dream come true." 

"You're mine. Looks like we've finally made it to happiness Eve.”

"Yes we have," Eve said holding him with a smile, "Now since we're on our honeymoon here, where do you think we should start this celebration?" she smiled again.

Chris smiled, "Very good question, my lovely bride."

"How about with a martini?" Eve suggested brightly. "Seems appropriate." 

Chris smiled, "Lovely idea."

"Chris wait....." Eve said reaching out to him. "I just need a moment more.....just one more moment of you holding me."

 Chris smiled holding her in his arms, "You can have as many moments of me holding you as you want."

"I'm going to hold you to that." Eve said kissing him. "I love you so very much." 

"I love you too Eve, my wife," Chris said squeezing her to him, "I love you, a thousand times I love you."

"I love you too......so very, very much." Eve said her heart full of love. "Chris you have every part of me completely.......I love you.......oh how I love you."

"We're a loving couple, aren't we?" Chris asked with a smile before kissing her, "I love being able to love you. and I'm never going to stop."

"Good because I never want you to........we were meant to be together.  Kind of like one of those super soap couples that have gone through hell and back to be together, but here we are and it's going to last."

"Yes it is," Chris said with a smile, "We're going to last forever."

"Yes........yes we are because I love you......" Eve said solemnly. "With all that I am I love you."

"Eve, I love everything that you are. From this perfect nose,' he said pulling a fingertip of the tip of her nose, "To that smile you have when you're completely happy to the sympathy you show your patients. . . .even right down to those nights when you'd get lost in a pint of ice cream."

"Hey don't knock ice cream because can teach you the therapeutic benefits of ice cream." Eve smiled at him. "In fact perhaps we should get some later and lose ourselves in it." he winked at him.

Chris smiled, "Somehow I think ice cream's appeal just went up about a thousand
fold," he laughed before kissing her once more.

"Well what can I say, you help me bring out the best in everything especially chocolate fudge brownie ice cream." Eve said returning his kiss. "It's my favorite and well, I think it might be pretty good later...." she smirked lightly, "....on you."

"Funny thing about that," Chris said with a smile, "Here I was wondering what Ice cream would be like as a side dish to you."

"Well perhaps we should put those curiosities of ours to rest and just order dessert now." Eve said matching his smile. 

"hmmm, that's not a bad idea,' Chris  said with a smile kissing her once more.

"Well then honey, what are you waiting for?" Eve asked with a grin.

"Well, there's just one thing. I don't want to let you go long enough to get the phone," Chris said with a smile.

"Then don't," Eve said reaching across the bed her hands lazily roaming over for the phone. 

Chris fanned his hand out down her arm until his fingers were laced with hers, dragging her hand back towards him as he kissed her.
 

"Mmm......Chris....." Eve breathed his name as he kissed her again. "Why do I get the feeling we're not going to wait for ice cream?" she asked holding him. 

"Did I do something to give you that impression?" he asked with a slight smile before kissing her again, "I'm sorry. that wasn't my intention," he said before kissing her again.

"That's okay....I like this turnabout." Eve said returning his kisses. 

"Do you?" Chris  asked moving hid lips over hers, "What about that ice cream?" he
said starting for the phone.

"It can wait." Eve said not wanting to let him go. 

"Oh well.....in that case," Chris said taking her back into his arms and kissing her again.

Eve laughed slightly as their kisses continued and she felt his arms around her. "Very nice." 

"You like that? You mean I rate better than ice cream? I'm feeling my ego expand now," Chris  said with a laugh moving his lips along her neck.

"You're far beyond any ice cream......far beyond anything else I've ever loved in my life Chris.....you're sheer perfection." Eve said holding him close. 

"Careful....you know that my ego knows no bounds," Chris teased covering her mouth with mine.

"As does my love for you," Eve said returning his kisses. 

"I love you Eve," Chris whispered before kissing her again.

"I love you too," Eve said holding him in her arms as she felt his body against his. "Our love it's so much deeper than anything I've ever known and we're so connected on so many levels."

"That's so good, isn't it?" Chris asked with a smile, "I feel complete with you...like a part of me was always missing until you."

"I know exactly what you mean." Eve said with a soft smile. "I love you so very much and nothing will ever change that." 

"Nothing will ever change my love for you. Nothing ever has, and there is nothing that could come along that would."

"Good because nothing will ever change what I feel for you.....I love you Ramsey." 

"I love you Eve," Chris whispered kissing her again, "More and more all the time."

"I love you too.....so, so very much." Eve said kissing him again overcome with the intense urge to hold him to her. "I'm never letting you go.....not ever and nothing will change that...." I kissed him again. "We're perfect for one another in every way." 

"Yes we are. Hold onto me forever Eve. I'll never let go of you," she said feeling her arms tighten around him.

"I will always hold onto you. I love you so very much and right now there's nothing that I want more than to be with you.....like this.....forever...."

"You'll have me.....forever. No one and nothing is ever going to come between us Eve. We won't let them. I love you too much to let go of you when I know how good we can be together. I wanted to make you happy for so long and now that I've got that chance, I'm not letting go of it."

"I just want us to get away.....to keep the world away from us......to keep Ryan and Julie far from our lives here and let it be just us.....you and me together in our future..."

"It's just us, Eve. It will be just us forever. Julie and Ryan will both be distant memories because our love will erase them."

"I can feel it already." Eve said kissing him before reaching out for the phone with a playful laugh. "I couldn't resist." he said dialing room service.

Chris laughed, "Tease," he said watching her dial room service.

"Don't worry honey.....I promise to follow through, but we needed something sweet....besides this..." Eve said feeling her stomach rumble slightly. "You've helped me work up quite an appetite."

Chris laughed, "I have to admit. I'm a tad hungry myself," he said kissing her shoulder gently.

"Yeah well I thought we could use a treat," Eve said with a soft grin as she heard a knock on the door. "Perhaps I should get that."

"Maybe I should," Chris said still holding her and kissing her neck again.

"No really....I think I should...." Eve said letting out a moan as she felt his lips on her skin knowing full well that she had no intention of going anywhere. 

"No.....I think...." Chris said moving his hands down her body slowly, "It's my place to go...." he said moving his lips over her skin.

"Really I think that I should......" Eve said with a soft moan feeling him working his magic on her body as she moved into his touch craving his caress and the tenderness of his lips.

"No....really," Chris  said kissing her skin slowly, tenderly as he moved his fingers over her most responsive areas, "I think I should."

"No Chris....." Eve said letting out a moan as he knew all the right places to stimulate in her.  She let out another breath hearing the knocking once more. "I really think that...." she trailed off.

"Eve," Chris whispered moving his lips over hers, "I think I’m the one," he said kissing her deeply moving his hands over her body in slow calculated movements. 

"Oh you're right there Chris....." Eve breathed caving in as she felt his hands working their spell upon her as their lips met. "you are the one...."
 
 

"You're the only one," Chris whispered before kissing her deeply as she moved her hands over her body, loving the warm response she was giving me.
 

"Chris......." Eve said hearing the knocking gradually die off as she started to lose herself in his arms loving the feel of him against her as ice-cream became a distant memory.

"I love you," Chris whispered, moving hid lips over her skin very slowly seeing the pleasure on her face.

"I love you too," Eve breathed feeling the warmth of his breath against her skin as he kissed her tenderly and her skin felt ignited at his every touch.

Chris moved his lips slowly back to hers, kissing her deeply as he pressed his
body to hers, "Eve..."

"Chris...." Eve breathed against his lips tasting his kiss as she felt his skin to hers. "I love you so much....."

"I love you..." he whispered moving inside her very very slowly, "I love you....I love you..." he breathed kissing her deeply.

"Chris," Eve breathed his name feeling herself eagerly accepting him as he moved 
at a very drawn out pace causing her to yearn for more. "I love you......." she said kissing him again feeling her need for him overtake everything else as she pulled him to her wanting to love him and to be loved.

"I love you...." Chris whispered again moving his hands lazily over her body as they made love in a slow pace, taking time to appreciate every solitary moment, "Eve....I will always love you."

"I love you too Chris.....with all that I am, you'll always be a part of me." Eve said kissing him again feeling the connection between them as he touched her and she in turn touched him making love to him on so many levels as their lips met. 

"This feels so good.......so perfect," Chris spoke against her lips as they moved with one another complimenting one another perfectly, "We're right together."

"So very right," Eve agreed with a soft breath as they kissed again and she let out a soft moan. "Chris......I don't think I'll ever get tired of any of this....." she said kissing him again as they continued to move together. "This is the only truth I've ever known in my life....this loving you."
 

"This is the only pure thing I've ever had in mine. Loving you. Nothing can touch this....this perfection we have," Chris breathed, kissing her again feeling this build between them slowly, "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Eve replied feeling the tenderness behind his kiss as they made love. Being with him was so magical and in it's own way every time was something new and beautiful. "I love you so much," she said kissing his lips longing to show him how much he loved him.

"Tell me we're forever Eve. I know it in my heart," he whispered kissing her again tenderly, "I want you to know it in yours." he said moving his hand over her heart feeling the tempo beneath his hand as their bodies moved with one another in a mystical dance that had become all their own.

"Chris you and I will have an eternity together and what you're feeling right now, is my love for you." Eve said kissing him again feeling herself captivated by the spell between them as they made love. "I was meant to love you and spend forever with you...in your arms, loving you and needing you. Chris I will never, ever lose sight of what I feel for you or what we have between us. We.....we are meant to be forever." Eve said kissing him hungrily as their bodies continued to seal the promise of the words spoken between them.

"I love you Eve," Chris breathed, kissing her deeply with mounting passion as things built and continued to build between them, "With all that I am, good and bad, I love you. I will always love you."

"And I will always love you to Chris," Eve said feeling the heat rise between them as they made love. Feeling the need built between them she wrapped herself around him taking him in wanting him, needing him more with each second wanting to fill the room with their love as she moaned his name again. "You're the only one for me." 

"You've always had me Eve. You've always had my heart," he breathed, feeling each passing moment move them towards a greater peak than they'd ever experienced. They'd found themselves in this great love but only now did he realize how truly lost to her he was.

"I love you Chris," Eve said feeling the intensity their love explode between them as her heart filled with the love between them.  She knew now that she could never be without him and in this instant she realized just what a hold he'd had on her. Those words they'd spoken to one another meant so much and in her heart they were together joined at the soul forever and nothing could take that away from them.