Chapter 66: Animal (THIS IS IT! THE BIG ONE!)
"You are not getting away that easily, Rafe!" Nicole said, storming into his little room at the end of the hallway. "Where do you get off talking to me like that?! And lying! I can't believe I thought you were any different from EJ. You're just as cruel, if not worse!"
"Cruel? Nicole, I'm only doing what you wanted me to do. I'm giving you space, time to recuperate, think about your breakup with Eric."
"It's been weeks, Rafe, weeks since you found me on the riverbed. I've had plenty of time to think."
"And what? Poof? Your love for Eric that lasted 20+ years is gone, just like that? And his love for you, too? Because it wasn't that long ago that you told me to back off when we were this close." Rafe stood right up to Nicole, their faces so close they could feel the breath coming out of each other's nostrils.
"No," Nicole said, not backing away. "I'm not over Eric. And I know he's not over me."
"So I was right. We can't be anything more than buddies. Because it wouldn't be fair to me or him. Or you. It'd just lead to disaster, confusion and heartbreak."
"So that's the reason you don't want us to be together," Nicole said, backing away and smiling a bit. "Because you've had such terrible luck in the past with love. And you can't trust anyone with your heart! Sami broke your heart and betrayed you. And just when Carrie picked up the pieces, she got pregnant by her husband and left town with him."
"And the woman that I've fallen for took up with another man! A PRIEST!" Rafe stepped back and widened his eyes, covering his mouth. He walked quickly out of the room and plopped down on the sofa. Nicole, shocked, followed him out. She sat next to him on the sofa.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I guess I'm not really in a good mood."
"Well, I'm sorry too, and I was in pretty bad shape too. Until you said that. Rafe...what are you talking about?"
Rafe sighed and looked down. "There is something about you, Nicole, that reminded me of Sami. And I don't mean that as an insult. Your bad girl past, the way you get under my skin. I tried to look the other way, tried to fight it, and convince myself we were just friends. But there's something about you that draws me in, like a moth to a lightbulb. Because you are my light, Nicole. You're my world. And these past few months, we've been spending more and more time together, and I knew I felt something for you, but couldn't pinpoint just what it was. Well, now I know, and I think I've known for a while. I knew when you were sleeping with Daniel. I knew when you were dating Eric secretly. And I know it now, when I find myself in a foreign country trying to help you get back the child you named after me."
Rafe held Nicole's wrist, and felt not only her quick heartbeat, but his as well. He was seating, and he saw tears in Nicole's eyes as she was smiling.
"I love you, Nicole Walker. And I don't want to fight it, because I can't. Because I know that I'll always love you. You are the most precious, special woman I've ever met, and it tortures me seeing you go after other men that only hurt you when I could give you so much more." Rafe stood up, holding both of Nicole's wrists now. She was smiling and crying at the same time, but they moved closer and closer, and shared a kiss. Their first real kiss. Their mouths were moving together, their hearts beating together, for the same purpose: their love for each other. Rafe could taste the salty tears, but was relieved to know that they were out of passion, out of love and happiness this time, and not out of sadness. Their hands touched their cheeks as they kept kissing, and holding each other. Nicole put her hands around Rafe's neck and he put his around Nicole's waist. They were one.