Author's Note

"You..." he rasped in my ear, voice firm, "are so, so, so, beautiful, love--" a kiss to the tip of my nose, "it is actually--" a kiss to my chin, "unbelievable--" a kiss to my jaw, "and it is so--" a kiss to the inside of my wrist, "obvious to everyone except--" a kiss, this time to my forehead, "you. And I love--" a kiss to my lips, "you so much, it drives me--" a kiss to my right cheek, "actually, utterly, completely--" a kiss to my left cheek, he was a little breathless now, "insane," another kiss to my lips, several more all over my face.

And-- you know what?-- I was starting to believe him

***.

He was brought into her life at both the best and worst moment, just in time to see her collapse.