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Tim rolls off of Lucy, collapsing onto his back next to her, their bodies slick with sweat.
“Damn, why did we wait so long to do that?” Lucy asks as she rolls over and slings a leg over Tim, her core still throbbing from her orgasms.
He chuckles, wrapping an arm around her, “If I recall, you were the one who wanted to wait. I would have taken you to bed after our first date, especially after that dress you decided to wear.”
She swats his chest, “I may have worn that dress just to tease you a little bit. And it worked, I caught you staring at my chest many times that night.”
”Can you blame me? I was half expecting those little clasps to snap and you to give the whole restaurant a show. I just wanted to make sure I was ready to cover you up if that happened.”
She giggles, “Sure. You’re so chivalrous Bradford.”
He grabs her hand resting on his chest, pulls it towards his lips then places a kiss on it. Lucy smiles against his chest as she burrows deeper into him.
They lay there in silence for a few moments, basking in the glow of their relationship taking that next step. Coming together in the most intimate of ways, learning each other's bodies, feeling each other come apart. Lucy’s hand draws circles on Tim’s chest as his runs up and down her arm.
She breaks the silence first, her voice quiet, “When did you start to have feelings for me? More than friendly feelings.”
He sighs, “Honestly? I don’t know if I could pinpoint the exact moment. I think it just happened, slowly over time. You chipped away my walls and before I knew it you were the most important person in my life. I found myself wanting to be around you as much as I could.”
”I think that’s how it was for me too. You were this constant presence in my life, strong, steady, always keeping me grounded. I meant what I said when you first asked me out, you are the most important relationship in my life.”
”I might not know when my feelings started. But I can tell you when they smacked me right in the face and I realized I couldn’t ignore them anymore.”
She tilts her head so she can look up at him, “When we were practicing for undercover?”
He nods, “Yeah. You grabbed me and kissed me and suddenly everything clicked into place. Then Tamara walked in and interrupted, and it’s probably a good thing she did. Who knows what might have happened if she hadn’t.”
”Oh I know what would have happened. I would have hauled you into my bedroom and taken complete advantage of you.”
Lucy feels his chest rumble with laughter, “You know I stood outside your apartment door for fifteen minutes debating what I should do. I didn’t know if I should leave or knock on your door and haul you into your bedroom.”
”You never told me that before. It’s probably a good thing you didn’t knock. We were both so confused, and dating other people. I’m glad we didn’t start that way.”
He grips her tighter and places a kiss to her head, “Me too. I’m glad we waited. Waited until we talked, and waited until we weren’t with other people.”
They settle back into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the city the only thing filling the room as they lay together.
Tim breaks the silence this time, “Since you got to ask a question it’s my turn now. Why did you say it was just basic biology in Vegas? Did you really believe that? Or were you just confused?”
She sighs, “I was scared. I knew what I was feeling, but I was so scared that saying it out loud would change everything. So it was easier to just pretend it was because of the undercover op, the intimacy of it all. And I was right, it did change everything.”
Tim’s voice is soft, a hint of nervousness in it as he speaks, “But it was a good change right? You don’t regret taking this chance with me? Do you?”
She sits up quickly, crossing her legs as she turns to face Tim who scrambles to sit up, his back against the headboard. She takes his hands in hers and stares deep into his ocean blue eyes. The eyes that have always seen her, always known her, that make her feel safer than anyone ever has.
“I don’t regret anything Tim. This, us, is the best change, the best chance I’ve ever taken. I am so happy with you. You make me feel so many things I never thought were possible.”
She leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to his lips, hoping it conveys all the words she wants to say but is worried it's too soon to say. She pulls back, leaning her forehead against his, small smiles on both of their faces.
“I feel the same way. After everything that happened with Isabel I never believed I could find love again, never wanted to open up my heart like that again. But then you came along and changed everything. You challenged me from day one, always pushing back on my crap, slowly chipping down my walls that I worked so hard to build. I don’t think I ever stood a chance, it was inevitable that I was going to fall in love with you.”
Lucy lets out a small gasp at his admission, her heart bursting at the words that are coming out of his mouth. Tim Bradford may be a man of few words but he sure knows how to take her breath away with them.
She stares at him, tears filling her eyes as she takes in the shocked look on his face as his brain catches up with his mouth and he realizes what he just said.
“Lucy.. I.. I mean.. I didn’t mean.. well I did mean… crap. I’m screwing this up really badly.”
She chuckles and shakes her head, “No. You’re not Tim. It’s ok.”
”I know it’s probably way too soon to be saying things like that. But I mean it. I think I’ve been falling in love with you for a long time if I’m being honest. I love you Lucy.”
She leans forward, presses a soft kiss to his lips then pulls back, her hands grasping his face, her thumbs rubbing circles on his cheeks, “I love you too Tim.”
He smiles, a smile that takes over his entire face, showing the crinkles in the corner of his eyes before he surges forward and kisses her again. His hands move up her thighs and as they do Lucy realizes that they are both still naked and she bursts out laughing against his mouth.
He pulls back, his eyes filled with confusion, “You’re laughing. We just said we love each other and you’re laughing.”
She laughs harder at his confusion, “It’s just.. we are sitting here naked. We just said I love you for the first time while we are naked.. after we had sex for the first time.”
He cracks a small smile, listening to her laugh, until he can’t help but join in. They sit there together, the laughter taking over until Lucy’s eyes are watering. Tim takes a deep breath, calming himself down as Lucy fans herself to stop her laughter.
“I’m sorry. I know I totally ruined the moment, I just couldn’t help myself. I’ll never forget that we were naked the first time we exchanged "I love yous.”
He leans forward, presses a kiss to her forehead before pulling back to look into her eyes, “Guess that will be another great story for the grandkids.”
She smiles at him, her eyes filled with nothing but love, “Yeah, it will definitely be an interesting story for those grandkids.”
She pulls him in by the neck, attaching her lips to his again and it doesn’t take long before Tim is pressing her into the mattress, whispering his love in her ear.
Later, as they lay together, drifting off to sleep Lucy knows without a doubt that it really was worth the risk.