I pull the string holding up her dress down her arm and trail my lips over her shoulder. Her skin is soft and smells like eucalyptus.
“Well, I’m here now, and I’m never leaving again.”
Dove touches my cheek and searches my face. “Are you sure? How did Taylor take it?”
“I’m sure. And he took it like expected. He doesn’t want to see me go, but he respects my decision.”
“I hope it’s one you won’t regret.”
“I already know it was the right one. Besides, you’re looking at Las Cruces newest drug task force supervisor.”
“I mean, who better?” Dove flirts.
“I don’t think anyone.” I grin.
“Think you’re going to be able to handle a desk job?”
“If I get to come home to you every night, yes. Besides—”
“Besides what?”
“I’m sure it won’t be all paper pushing and writeups.”
“Oh, really? Planning on seeing some field action, too?”
“If duty calls.” I shrug.
“Well, just make sure I don’t have to come out of retirement and kill someone for hurting you.”
I laugh because I know it’s funny, and I know it’s true. “You don’t do that anymore. Dove Reynolds is dead. Dove Collins is a housewife looking to start fresh.”
“Yeah, except we’re not married yet,” she jokes.
I walk us into the bedroom. “We have time to talk about all that later. We have all the time in the world.” I climb onto the bed with Dove still attached to me.
“We do.” Dove slips out of her dress and is completely naked underneath.
I run my fingers over the bandage on her side. She’s still healing from the gunshot wound. But like in trueTiburonafashion, you would never know she’s injured. She endures all the pain silently, pushes through all the sleepless nights, and grieves for Stefania in her own way. She is truly the strongest person I have ever met, and in turn makes me stronger, too.
So much has shifted over the last few weeks. We’ve lost, we’ve made mistakes, our lives have dramatically changed, but one thing has always remained the same. This love we’ve found. A connection we undoubtedly share. It’s unwavering. Even when I thought I lost her. When the doctor came out of that triage room and told me she flatlined on the table. When she was in a coma and we didn't know if she’d wake up. I sat by her side everyday unable to let go, because I believed in this moment right here. I believed she wanted to be here with me as much as I wanted to be with her.
And now here we are, facing a brand-new future together. One we can mold and create to make our very own.
It’s not chickens and goats, but it’s a damn good start.
I shed my clothes just so I can feel the warmth of her body.
I’ve found that I love lying next to her just as much as I love being inside of her. It’s a novel experience for Dove as well.
Intimacy brings a brand-new kind of relationship to both of us.
We just lie there in bed watching the New Mexico sky tango with the sunset. Shades of purple, pink, and blue stretch out over the horizon and touch the peaks of the mountain range like whips of watercolor smoke.
Dove has shown me all her scars, and I have vowed to protect every single one.
“About that not being married yet.” I twirl a piece of her hair around my finger.
“What about it?”
