« Okay. Go on » Her voice was steady. « I want to know things, I need to know these things. » The sparkle was back. The one that had made him fall in love with her. The one that meant fiery Cristina was still there. Burke was craving to hold her tight in his arms, to kiss her passionnately, to give way to his desire. He smiled at her as he realised that with a few words, she had again managed to mess him up.
« Okay. So, the first time I was mad at you. » She hadn't turned her look away this time. « I couldn't stand the person I was since the day I had broken with you. I hated myself but I was still thinking you were the one I hated. But it wasn't you and it will never be. Never. Never...Okay ? » His voice broke as he was uttering these three last words.
« Okay… » Cristina had barely spoken but this was enough to cheer Burke.
« I was mad at you, at me, at the world but I couldn't help waiting for you everyday. I spent hours wondering why you were here and why I was so eagerly looking forward to see you. I didn't find the answers immediatly but… »
« And now, you have ? », Cristina interrupted.
« Yes, I have found them. » Instinctively, he started to run his hand through her hair as he had done it million times before. He was uncertain if she wanted to hear the words. These three words he had told her maybe too many times but she had never said. Her cheek was resting against his palm. Her skin was silk : soft, warm and fresh in the same time, simply intoxicating.
« That's enough for today. I am a busy person. Come on ! »
Cristina had jumped on her feet and was pulling his arm.
« What are you exactly doing ? »
« I'm trying to make you get up ! So, you can show me if you've improved your running lately. »
A smile played on her face. Burke was astonished. She had stopped their first talk for months to invite him to run. In fact, that was his Cristina. His competitive, challenging Cristina. He shouldn't be surprised. He raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile as he followed her.
Thirty minutes later, Cristina stopped and leant against an oak to get her breath back.
« You haven't… trained enough … yet to beat me ! » She was teasing him while he slowly walked towards her, his hand on his waist.
« That's at least a advantage for living so far from here… » She had closed her eyes, trying to breathe slowly.
« Stop rejoicing. I let you win ». She shivered as she felt his warm breathe in her neck. He had approached without a noise and had whispered in her ear. His stomach was slightly pressed against her. He had taken her by the wraist and his powerful but delicate hands were now resting on the small of her back. She could feel his chest heave, his heart beat in osmosis with hers. Her body was filled with energy and desire. Everything that was fuzzy and messy inside her had just regained its place.
She gently moved her face and slightly brushed his lips to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Burke kissed her back softly in the corner of the mouth, half on her cheek. A sensual and tender kiss. A kiss that said « I care for you.». A kiss that said « I want you ». A kiss that said everything she had always wanted to hear.
« I love you »
« I love you too », were the only words Burke managed to utter before Cristina gripped his neck to drew him to her. Their lips met with avidity while their tongues were deeply interlacing. They were redecovering what none of them had forgotten. They both had dreamed this instant and that's what made it so vivid. Their blow on the skin, on the tongue made them shiver in the depths of their soul. They couldn't break the embrace. Nothing could never tear them appart. Their kiss lasted an eternity. Until they heard an outraged comment beside them. They looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
Burke gripped Cristina's hand and they both started to run. Their fingers were entwined when they entered Burke's appartment, then, when they screamed in delight several times this night and still when they awoke lately the next morning, cuddled up in each others arms.
Fin