Forever Yours by Nicole Salmond

see you’ve made yourself at home.” He eyed her up and down.
    Stella blushed. She’d hoped her dress would be dry by the time he came home and he wouldn’t catch her in his shirt. Here she now stood, the shirt barely covering her legs, leaving them fully exposed.
    “Um… Yes, sorry about that.”
    “Don’t be sorry.” He grinned again. “You look much better in it than me.” He pulled the iPod out of her hand and placed it on the speaker dock, shuffling through the songs, and then pressing play. She instantly knew the song, it was Bloodstream by Stateless. Putting one hand behind his back and the holding the other hand out to her, he titled his head and politely asked, “May I have this dance Miss Green?”
    She smiled at him, thinking how ridiculous he was. “You may,” she replied, putting her hand in his. To her surprise he picked her up and spun her around in his arms.
    Both laughing he lowered her to the ground. “I’ll have you know I won the state dancing championship, twice,” Stella said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
    “Did you now ?” He held her waist pulling her closer. “And how old were you when you achieved such an accomplishment?” he said in a mocking tone.
    She tried to keep her face as serious as possible. “Seven,” she replied, they both erupted in laughter. Tristan traced her jawline as he leaned in, softly kissing her lips. She moved her lips against his feeling the softness of his touch.
    He pulled himself from their embrace, holding her head in his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about who I was-”
    She put her fingers to his lips. “It’s ok. It doesn’t matter.”
    “It does to me Stella. I don’t want to ever give you a reason to leave me or not want to be with me again. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else and I want to make this work. I want us to be together.”
    Stella’s heartbeat quickened, her breathing became more rapid. She wanted to be with him as well, but there was a part of her that was hesitant. She knew her past couldn’t be undone and she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone, but she still couldn’t help but feel resistant. She had suppressed all feelings of love in her life, and vowed to never let herself fall so easily again. But then she had never felt like this with her last relationships, she’d never felt the burning desire to be with someone like she did with Tristan. That night at the hotel had been nothing like she’d ever experienced before.
    “I want to as well Tristan but I’m scared. Things happened in my past, things I’ll never be able to forget, never be able to take back.” Stella fought back her tears. “I’m not a relationship kind of person, I haven’t been in years. Being with you will go against everything I’ve told myself I don’t want to be. But, over the past few months I couldn’t help fight the feeling of wanting to be with you, it frustrates me and terrifies me at the same time. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, I didn’t want one, but ever since you came into my life I can’t shake the feeling of wanting to be with you.” Shaking her head she continued, “I can’t even believe I’m talking to you like this. This is not me. Well… it’s not the me I’ve been for the last four years. If we do this Tristan, we have to take things slow. I’m not sure if I’m ready for this, but I don’t think I can walk away now without giving it a try. But please understand this, I am making no promises. I can’t promise you I might not just walk away one day.”
    If she was honest with herself, the last time she had a proper relationship was four years ago. She was an adult now, being a couple now would be a lot different than a high school relationship, and after everything that had happened since then she didn’t even know how to do this.
    “I understand. Whatever you want Stella, I’ll do it.”
    She tilted her head upwards, touching her lips with his. “Thank