It had been one of the greatest relationships of her life, however short lived. For the last few months of her senior year Danielle was blissfully happy, and in love with one of the greatest guys she had ever known. She took his virginity, and, in turn, he helped her loosen up and enjoy life more. But they grew apart over the summer and decided to part ways amiably. After driving her home for the last time in awkward silence, he pulled into the driveway and turned to her, “You know, in five years when you’re out of college and I’m rich, I’ll give you a call.” She forced a smile and climbed out of his car and waved him, and her amazing relationship, goodbye.

She moved on, finished college, and enrolled in medical school. Throwing herself into her work made it easier to forget him…but not quite. Which is why the message came as a complete surprise to her. It was after an especially hard day at school when she heard his voice on her answering machine, causing her to freeze in her tracks.

“Hey Danielle, it’s Tom. Just calling to let you know that it’s been five years. Call me back.” As he listed his number, she slowly walked towards the phone, called him back, and made plans for Saturday night.

She was sitting on her bed and strapping on her heels when her doorbell rang. She quickly glanced at the mirror. She had chosen a flowy black dress that dipped low, hugged her figure, and fell just above her knee. Strappy black stilettos added an additional three inches to her short frame, and makeup accentuated her large blue eyes and high cheekbones. Tucking a stray blond curl that had fallen from the clip behind her ear, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

Standing on her welcome mat and holding a bouquet of purple roses was Tom.

“I hope purple is still your favorite color,” He said with a goofy grin. “If not, I have my florist on standby with a dozen pink, yellow, and red ones.” With a laugh she took the flowers.

“Actually, it still is my favorite. And these are beautiful, thank you!” She put them in a vase, grabbed her coat, and locking the door behind her, followed Tom to where he had his limo waiting.

As they drove to the restaurant where he had reserved a quiet table, he brought her up to speed on his financial success, which stemmed from a very successful chain of hotels. The latest one had just been constructed in downtown Boston, only twenty minutes away from her school. When they reached the restaurant he opened her door for her, pulled out her chair, and poured her wine. Danielle was floored by how little he had changed, and how much she was still attracted to him. The chemistry that had existed between them five years ago sparked once again. Every time their fingers would brush or he caught her gaze and held it, her heart would begin pounding. He pretended not to notice, and the conversation flowed easily, though she did shift uncomfortably in her seat when the topic turned to her love life.

“I haven’t really dated anybody since we broke up,” she admitted with a blush. “I just haven’t had the time, what with double majoring in bio and psych, and applying to Med school, and…why are you looking at me like that?”

He stared at her innocently. “Looking at you like what?”  She reached out to gently slap him but he quickly grabbed her hand. “Let’s get out of here; we can have drinks and dessert at my place. The view is unbelievable” Unable to control her racing pulse she nodded and followed him out of the restaurant.

“You weren’t lying,” she said incredulously as she stood in front of the picturesque windows that overlooked the harbor on one side and the city on the other. Lights flickered softly in the water, and the moon cast an ethereal glow over the now dormant metropolis. She finished the glass of wine he poured her. When she turned around to ask for more she found him staring at her. She cocked her head to the side asked him what he was looking at.

He took the glass from her hand and placed it on the table. Then he gently reached up to caress her cheek. “God, you are so beautiful.” Turning away from his touch, she stared up at him.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Doing what? Baby, what’s wrong?” He asked her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“This!” she said, pushing his hands away, then gesturing to the suite, “and this! Tom, I think you’re a really great guy, but what we had is gone. It didn’t work out and I was upset about that, but I’ve moved on. I’m at a very critical point in my life, where I just don’t have time to worry about this. I have so much work to do; I haven’t even had time to indulge in myself, let alone in men. I mean,” she said, throwing her hands up, “this is the first time in god knows how long that I’m wearing something other than jeans, scrubs, or sweatpants. But I like my busy schedule. Wake up, go to class, go to clinical, study, go to bed. Structure works for me. I know where I am in my life, and then here you are, out of nowhere, expecting me to change. Why? Why couldn’t you just let things be?”

He took a step towards her.” You want to know why?” She nodded and moved back, the smoldering look in his eyes making her heart race. “The real reason why I couldn’t just let it go? Because for five years you have been following me, taunting me, driving me over the edge.” He kept walking towards her until her back was against the cold window, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted in surprise. “Every day images of you run through my head until I can’t concentrate. When I close my eyes at night, you haunt my dreams, making it impossible to sleep. Every time I make love,” His fingers grazed her cheek lightly as he wound her curls around his hand, “it’s you that I see beneath me. Your hair spread out on the pillow, you calling my name as I make you explode with pleasure. You’re the reason that I’ve worked so hard. These hotels? This empire? I only did it because of you!” He pulled his hand from her hair and shrugged. “But tell me you don’t want me. Tell me you haven’t thought about me every day, wished things could have been different between us. Tell me you don’t feel anything, and I will stop. I’ll bring you home, and you won’t have to hear from me again. Just tell me,” he paused, “that you don’t love me.”

Dropping her gaze, she feebly shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Good,” he said, before taking the last step towards her and hungrily capturing her mouth with his. She surrendered to the warmth of his embrace and leaned in, deepening their kiss. When he saw that she wasn’t resisting, his hand snaked around her waist and pulled her into him. Her fingers grasped at the front of his shirt. They ravenously explored each other, rediscovered each other.

A moan escaped her throat as he dipped down to kiss her neck and collarbone. She dug her hands into his hair and lifted his head to meet her gaze. A look of understanding passed between them. He silently took her hand and brought her over to the king size bed, where he kissed her again before turning her and reaching for her zipper. Inch by inch the creamy smoothness of her back was revealed as he undressed her. She moved her hair to the side as he slid the straps down her shoulders, and her dress pooled at her feet. Stepping out of it, she turned to face him wearing only her black satin bra and panties. She watched as his eyes approvingly traveled the length of her figure, taking in her full breasts, small waist and the gentle curve of her hips. He smiled crookedly as he fingered the waistband of her boyshorts. “Did you wear these for me?” She shrugged innocently.

“Why? Do you like them?” He groaned and pushed her back on the bed, climbing on top of her and kissing her passionately. He only pulled back enough to allow her room to work the buttons on his shirt and push it from his shoulders. He shrugged it off and threw it on top of her dress while she ran her hands over the firm expanse of his chest and over his rigid biceps, his arms rippling in restraint on either side of her body as he held himself above her, allowing her to explore his body. When her fingers brushed his nipple he pulled her hand away. Danielle used the opportunity to throw him off balance and flip him over with a laugh, which quickly died in her throat as she settled above his erection.

His hands rested lightly on her hips as she slowly reached up and took out the clip that held her messy hair in place, letting it fall loosely around her shoulders and back. It covered his hands as he moved to unhook her bra, revealing her firm breasts. She tensed as he ran his thumb over her nipple, which peaked under his touch. Allowing herself to be rolled over, she lay helpless and writhing in ecstasy as he teased her.

First he lazily drew circles along her burning flesh, igniting a fire wherever he made contact. His mouth then took over, biting, kissing, and licking the skin that his fingers had just caressed. Her back arched as he bent down to take a nipple lightly between his teeth. Her breaths became ragged and heavy. Her eyes met his as his fingers dipped down lower and hovered at the waistband her panties, and what he saw there startled him. Pure, sensual energy shone in her blue eyes, and he had to force himself not to rip off her panties and thrust into her right then and there. Instead, he slowly slid them down her legs, followed by a trail of kisses. As he pulled them off, he planted a kiss on the arch of her foot and pulled his body up so that he was lying beside her.

She watched through heavily lidded eyes as his hand traveled up the length of her inner thigh, hesitating slightly before brushing her opening, already slick with desire. As he slid a finger into her, his thumb began circling her throbbing bud. Waves of heat spread through her body and she squirmed next to him, inviting him to push another finger inside of her warmth. A wordless plea tumbled from her lips, but was silenced by his mouth covering hers as he pulled his fingers from her and began rubbing her clit roughly. He swallowed her cries as she writhed beneath him, the gentle heat overwhelming her body before exploding in a dizzying burst of passion.

As she was coming down from her intense orgasm, Tom quickly shed his pants and positioned himself above her. He kissed her deeply as he slowly and lovingly entered her, his throbbing flesh enveloped by her liquid warmth. Her already sensitive skin burned as his body covered hers, joining them as one.

She wrapped her arms around him and he began thrusting inside of her, faster and faster. The delicious friction was almost too much for them, but he was determined to see that she was completely satisfied. His hands roamed her body while he kissed her fiercely. As the tension inside of her grew, he whispered into her ear: “I never stopped loving you.” The words alone brought a sob from her throat as she came, and came again. Her muscles contracting around his hard length for the second time brought him to the edge of insanity, and he was unable to hold it any longer. He called her name as his body tensed and he experienced his own powerful orgasm. Five years of repressed sexual tension, desire, and heartache all erupted in one pivotal earth shattering moment, completely draining him.

His shaking arms held him above her long enough for him to pull out and collapse next to her on the bed. His eyes still closed, he waited for his breathing and pulse to return to normal. He clumsily reached for her. As she snuggled up next to him, she pulled the blanket around their bodies, creating a warm cocoon. Exhaustion swept over both of them. As they drifted towards blissful oblivion, she whispered, “I love you too.” He pulled her close, planted a kiss on the top of her head, and they both fell asleep.

It was a ray of sunshine that finally woke Danielle up the next morning. As she stretched languidly, she was suddenly aware that the spot next to her was empty. With a smile, she picked up the lavender orchid that lay on the pillow next to her, and opened the note that lay beneath it. In his messy handwriting, a single phrase was printed: “Will you be my valentine?”

She couldn’t help it. She threw her head back and laughed, before nestling back under the covers to wait.