She sat awake in bed watching an inticing drama, and sipping on expensive red wine. She wore a black negligee and her face was natural. Beach curls framed her soft face, which was sun kissed from a day horseback riding. She leaned over and applied a pale, pink lip gloss to her lush lips. Her phone lit up, and she took a moment before glancing at the screen. It was him.

“Do you want to come by tonight?”  He asked.

“Of course, just give me a few minutes to change,” Livvy texted back. 

“I’ll leave the door open for you,” he said.

Livvy arrived at his place wearing denim shorts and a bohemian style top. It didn’t take long for them to become horizontal on the sofa. She was feeling playful and sexy; he was eating her up. Their moments were simple and sometimes brief, but she felt connected to him. She’d look into his eyes and everything else faded away. It was amazing, and she had never felt that way before, with anyone else. She struggled every day with how she felt for him, because they weren’t together. He was a part of her life, but she craved more. He was the man she wanted to love. She wanted to say those three, complicated words. He was passionate and true with her, but he didn’t allow himself to fully fall for the beauty. It would be the fall of a lifetime. 

He hugged her tightly as she walked out of his place and headed home. She looked into his eyes before leaving, and the words almost left her lips, but she refrained. She wasn’t sure how to express herself, because she had opened her heart to him a year before. The intense feelings weren’t going anywhere, but she felt as though she was running out of time. Life doesn’t stand still while we plan and think. Life is ever changing. He had plans for himself, and so did she. She drove home listening to a rock song and thinking about him. His eyes pulled her in and his touch ignited her. “I love you,” she whispered to the still air around her.

A week faded away, and then two. Summer days were drifting by, and Livvy couldn’t get him off of her mind. She couldn’t sleep and found herself texting him. Her eyes were heavy and her heart was distracted. 

Rain trickled down her bedroom window, as she sauntered out of bed. She threw a sweater on over her minimal outfit, and slipped into strappy sandals. She arrived at his place and within seconds of being outside of the car, she was soaked. Her lavender tank top became see-through. Her black, lace bralette clung to her wet skin. She stood on his front step, dripping. He answered the door and realized how badly it was raining. She hurried inside and he ran into the bathroom to grab a towel. Wet curls flowed down her raindrop kissed face, and draped over her bust. She looked into those incredible eyes of his, as he wrapped a towel around her shoulders. He pulled her in close and massaged her with the towel, attempting to dry off her cold body. He looked at her intensely. She looked beautiful and she wasn’t even trying. 

They sat down on his bed together, and he covered her with a blanket. She was so tired and yet, wide awake. His presence made her feel at home. They talked about nothing and she laid her head on his firm chest. 

“Are you comfortable, Liv?” He questioned with a strong voice.

“I’m perfect, hun,” she whispered. 

“What’s on your mind? You seem distracted,” he replied. 

“You are, actually,” she said sweetly as she looked at him, with her head still rested on his chest.

“What about me?” He asked.

“I’m in love with you and I can’t go another day without saying those words out loud. I go on dates, talk to other guys, and at the end of the day there’s only you,” she exclaimed with bright eyes. 

The rain stopped instantly, as they sat up and looked at one another. She looked out the window and smiled. 

“You bring the storm, and you also bring the calm after. You’re different than anyone else I’ve ever known, and I love you Livvy,” he admitted with a passionate kiss. 

Livvy awoke to a text from him. She had closed her eyes after texting him about not being able to sleep, and she was hit with a horrible pain. The beautiful words had been just a dream. She rolled over and sighed. She looked at the clock. She threw on a sweater and ran out to her car. She pulled into his driveway and he peered outside, unsure of who was there. He noticed it was her and a confused glance appeared on his face. She ran up to him and kissed him. He enjoyed the kiss, but wondered what was happening. 

“I love you. I’m in love with you. I can’t sleep because you’re all my heart thinks about. I know that this isn’t what you planned for. If I sound crazy and you don’t feel the same, I’ll drive away and let you go back to sleep,” she said with confidence.

“Don’t you dare go anywhere. I love you too, crazy girl.” He kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. 

Rain poured down and Livvy clung to him. He looked at her, soaking wet and beautiful, and she whispered in his ear, “We’re a storm.”