“I want to make love to you so badly it hurts,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’m so fucking tired, and I’m a little drunk, and I’m not going there until I know I can give you the best I’ve got.” He wove their fingers together and pressed them into the mattress, on either side of her head. “But I am going to kiss the hell out of you.”

She lifted her head to brush his ear with her soft lips. “Never stop,” she said, her voice breaking.

He made a sound deep in the back of his throat before taking her mouth in a rough kiss. A few minutes passed, the sounds of their heavy breathing echoing against the walls. She pulled her hands away from his fingers and ran them all over his back and shoulders.

“Do you have any idea what I feel for you?” he asked.

She nodded. “I feel it.”

He lifted his hips, shooting her a strange look. “I can’t help it.”

Lauren laughed, curling her fingers through the belt loops of his jeans. She pulled him back down to her, loving that she affected him like that. It made her feel powerful, and wanted. “I meant I can feel the emotion behind it. That you care for me.”

He relaxed against her, still keeping his weight on his arms, his expression softening. “Can’t help that, either.”

She pushed against his chest, rolling them to the side and switching positions. He kept his arms around her when he landed on his back, and she stretched out beside him, her body half on top of his. His skin was warm and smooth, and he smelled so good she wanted to wrap herself up in it. Her hair fell down across his chest, and with a shaking hand he gathered it behind her head.

With one hand she stroked his face and could hardly believe he looked at her with such affection. “But you, you idiot man, apparently don’t know what I feel for you.”

He opened his mouth, but she put her lips on his. She kissed him for several minutes and moved her lips to his ear. “I love you.”

Andrew froze for a second, then jerked up on his elbows, the movement startling her. She pulled back, and he searched her face.

She smiled and nodded, understanding the question in his eyes. “I really do.”

He dropped onto his back and took her face gently between his hands, punctuating each sentence with a kiss. “I love you, Lauren. I love you. So damn much. You’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.”

On Saturday morning, Lauren and Andrew spent several hours at Children’s. At first, she was worried he might not want to go, with the recent scan results and news about needing more chemo.