RENT A HEART

CHRISTOPHER's POV

WARNING!!!! READERS DISCRETION IS ADVICED.. CHAPTER R18.

"How do I put this… hmm," Eve's father said, his expression unreadable, a frustratingly enigmatic mask that offered no clue to the news he was about to deliver. I held my breath, every nerve on high alert, praying desperately that the next words out of his mouth would be good news.

"The surgery was successful," he finally said, his lips curving into a warm, reassuring smile. I didn't miss the collective sigh of relief that rippled through the room, a wave of pent-up tension finally breaking. Without thinking, I pounced on him, wrapping my arms around him in the only way I knew to properly express the overwhelming gratitude flooding my veins.

"There's no need to thank me," he said, chuckling softly and patting me on the back. "It could have gone another way, but your father was a fighter. He pulled through."

"He'll be out very soon and moved to the ICU for observation and monitoring. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to wash up. It's been a long night," Mr. Adolf said, his weariness evident in every line of his face. He turned and left the room, leaving us to process the joyous news.

"Thank God!" Eve exclaimed, her voice thick with emotion. She threw her arms around me, and I gladly reciprocated, holding her tight. She'd been my rock, my unwavering source of strength and support, ever since we met. She was truly the woman of my dreams.

Part of me was overflowing with joy that my father would be well and healthy for the foreseeable future, at least until we found a suitable heart for transplant, which I was now more confident than ever that we would. But another, equally powerful, part of me was giddy with excitement about finally marrying Eve as soon as possible.

"Let's go freshen up. We'll come back when he's already settled in the ICU," I said to Eve, my voice brimming with anticipation.

"Are you sure we shouldn't wait here?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"No, sweetheart. Your father said the surgery went well, and I believe him. Dad can wait for us beside, he's not going anywhere anyway. Now come on," I said, taking her hand and leading her towards the elevator.

"Such dark humor," she said, chuckling softly and playfully punching my arm. I just smiled, reveling in the lightness of the moment.

Everyone else who had stayed overnight made plans to freshen up and go about their business, promising to return to the hospital in the evening to check on my father.

"I'll go and prepare a sumptuous meal and be back before eight. Don't bother eating out, you two," Eve's mum said, pointing a playful finger at us, her eyes twinkling. We nodded obediently, grateful for her thoughtfulness.

The driver whisked us away from the sterile environment of the hospital, taking us to Eve's house as it was closer than mine.

She led me by the hand as we went upstairs to her room. I immediately slumped onto the bed, my body aching with a bone-deep weariness. Thankfully, it had all been worth it.

"I'll go and change," she said, her voice soft and soothing, and disappeared into her closet, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stared up at the ceiling, trying to urge myself to stay awake.

The bedroom was dim, lit only by the soft glow filtering through the blinds. I lay sprawled on the bed, the exhaustion finally claiming me. The relief about Dad was there, but it felt distant, almost surreal. Then, the closet door creaked open.

Eve emerged, a vision in soft white. A towel was wrapped tight around her small frame, another draped around her shoulders, catching the light. I sat up and stared at her ethereal form, she too stared back at me as though she wanted to say something before she looked away and left for the bathroom.

I winced, a sharp pang of longing shooting through me as my member began to stir, hardening with insistent need, before subsiding again, leaving me sprawled back on the bed, wrestling with a conflicting mix of emotions.

These past few days of emotional turmoil, brought on by my father's health crisis, had made me completely forget just how much I desired Eve. Now that everything seemed to be returning to normal, my body couldn't help but react, responding instinctively to even the mere image of her.

Few seconds later the bathroom door, cracked open, I sat up again and wondered if she was coming out already when she just went barely seconds ago.

The white towel still wrapped around her body, water glistened on her skin, and a few stray tendrils of hair clung to her cheek. She looked... unbelievably beautiful.

She took a step, then another, towards me. But stopped. I saw the hesitation in her shoulders, the way she chewed on her lip. She was fighting something. Then, a shaky breath. "Chris?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you want to shower with me?"

That single invitation shattered the fatigue clinging to me. It was like a shot of adrenaline. I sat bolt upright, the weariness instantly forgotten.

Without a second thought, I yanked off my shirt, kicked off my pants. My boxers were the only thing between me and her, and I didn't hesitate to shed them. Barefoot, heart hammering, I practically ran after her as she disappeared into the steamy haven of the bathroom.

The air hit me like a wall, thick with humidity and her scent. I could barely see her through the swirling mist, just a hazy outline near the showerhead. She turned as I entered, her eyes locked with mine.

"Eve," I breathed, my voice rough.

She didn't say anything, just reached out a trembling hand, her fingers brushing against my chest. The contact was electric. My skin tightened, every nerve ending screaming to life. The world narrowed to just her, the feel of her touch, the frantic rhythm of my heart.

I stepped closer, closing the space between us. The water poured over us, drenching our skin. Her hands moved, tentatively at first, then with growing boldness, exploring my chest, my shoulders, the curve of my back.

With each touch, my body responded with a ferocity I hadn't felt in days. My muscles clenched, a shiver ran down my spine, and a low groan escaped my lips.

I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs tracing the delicate curve of her cheekbones. "Are you sure?" I whispered, needing to hear her say it, to be absolutely certain.

She nodded, her eyes shining with a mixture of desire and vulnerability. "More than anything."

Her answer unleashed something primal within me, pushing me to the very edge. I lost all control, all restraint.

I lowered my head, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, a kiss born of desperation, of pent-up emotion, a kiss that spoke of longing and relief and a fierce, all-consuming love.

Her fingers dug into my shoulders, pulling me closer, as if trying to merge our bodies into one. My hands found her waist, her hips, the soft curve of her back, molding her body to mine. I felt her arch against me, her breath hitching in her throat, a low moan escaping her lips.

And then, with a shared groan, I lifted her, her legs instinctively wrapping around my waist. The contact was immediate, explosive. I pushed inside her, eliciting a loud moan from her. The hot water, her soft cries, the urgent rhythm of our bodies, the overwhelming rush of love and relief drove me crazy.

When the storm finally subsided, we clung to each other, gasping for air, our bodies slick with sweat and water. The shower continued to cascade around us, but neither of us moved. It was as if breaking the contact would shatter the fragile peace around us.

Slowly, awareness returned. The chill of the tile nipped at my skin. Eve shivered against me. The tenderness of her breasts rubbed against my chest as our breathing calmed. It was a simple act of tenderness that did more for me than any of the love making we just did.

"Cold?" I murmured, my voice hoarse.

She nodded, nuzzling her face into my neck.

I stepped out of the stream, the cold air hitting me instantly. With her my arms I carried her out, her legs still hooked around me, refusing to let go, and I did the best I could to support her and get out of the shower, but the slippery floor was doing it's best to prevent that.

"Hold on tight," I said. My legs were starting to shake slightly, and I could feel the exertion building.

She tightened her grip, and with slow, deliberate steps, I carried her out of the bathroom. The bedroom was cooler, a welcome contrast to the steamy heat we had just left behind.

The bed, with its soft sheets and fluffy pillows, beckoned. I lowered her gently, my knees protesting with each step.

She clung to me until her body made contact with the mattress, before finally releasing her grip. Our eyes met, locking together in a silent exchange of love and gratitude.

I lingered for a moment, suspended above her, my body supported by my hands on either side of her head. I simply watched her, drinking in her beauty, her luminous eyes reflecting the soft light, her lips curved in a gentle smile. She was my wife-to-be, the woman of my dreams, the woman who held my heart in her hands, and I couldn't help but silently thank whatever force had brought her into my life.

I brushed a stray strand of wet hair from her face, smoothing it gently behind her ear, and smiled down at her, my heart overflowing with tenderness.

A soft, radiant smile crept onto her face, mirroring my own. She reached out a hand to caress my cheek, her touch light and feather-soft. "I love you," she whispered, her voice filled with an adoration that melted my soul.

That simple declaration, spoken with such sincerity and emotion, was all it took to shatter any remaining defenses I had.

"I love you too, so much," was all I could manage to say, my voice thick with emotion. I lowered my head, bridging the distance between us, and reconnected my lips with hers, sealing our love with a tender, lingering kiss, an invitation to continue what we had started in the shower, but with a slower, more deliberate pace.

She scratched my back as I kissed her neck, her body shuddered as my hands slowly explored her body. Her heavy breathing filled the room as the tension built up once again.

The exhaustion from the day was quickly forgotten.

Finally, spent and utterly content, we lay tangled together, the damp sheets clinging to our skin. I pulled the covers over us, tucking her close to my side.

Her breathing was soft and even, and I knew she was already asleep. I gazed at her for a long moment, memorizing every detail of her face. The way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek, the soft curve of her lips. She was my world, my everything.

With a sigh of contentment, I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally pulling me under. As sleep claimed me, I felt her warm presence beside me, a constant reassurance that I was not alone, that I had found my home, my anchor, my sanctuary. And in that moment, I knew, with a certainty, that I would die a thousand deaths before I would ever allow anything to happen to her.