Two weeks ago, I'd been completely floored to hear one of my best friends announce that he was going to be a father...and a husband. I'd watched him pine for a woman he'd barely known and hadn't understood it until I'd broken my own heart by being just as pig-headed as he'd been. Now, it was the fact that I was standing in the courthouse watching Alix and Sine signing their marriage certificate that gave me hope.

That, and the fact that Savannah was here with me.

Everett had come back to the hospital when she was discharged, but I followed them back to the apartment. I'd checked in with her every day, talked to her, texted her. I'd brought dinner for her and Everett both when she said it was okay. I never pushed for her to spend time with me, but made sure she knew that I wanted to be with her whenever possible.

And I kept my hands to myself as much as I could.

It was hell to do, almost painful for me to be close to her and not touch her. I'd considered myself a master of self-control, but now that I was the one being forced to deny myself with no control over when the end would come...it was a lot harder than I ever imagined it could be.

Sometimes, I hadn't been able to stop myself from putting my hand on the small of her back as we walked, or tuck a stray curl behind her ear, but I always watched her closely, ready to immediately step back if I saw the least hesitation. Just like I'd done the few times I was unable to keep myself from tasting her lips. I felt like a man dying from thirst who'd been granted a few sips of water to help him cling to life.

I'd spent my whole life never needing anyone, always able to take or leave relationships with little personal impact. My friends had been the first to break through those walls, and they'd stuck with me after Bianca destroyed them, but I vowed to never let myself be that vulnerable with another person again.

But I'd never seen Savannah coming.

"Sine looks beautiful."

I looked down at the woman standing next to me and my stomach flipped. "So do you."

Alix and Sine hadn't wanted anything fancy, so we were all in nice, but not flashy, clothes. Savannah, however, in her simple dove gray maxi dress, outshone everyone. It highlighted her gentle curves and made her legs look impossibly long for her height, both of which spoke to the artist in me as much as the man. My hands itched to run over her, to memorize this new image of her so I could translate it to clay.

"Not so bad yourself," she whispered as she smiled and held my arm a little tighter.

I didn't get the chance to reply because everyone else was clapping and moving to give the newlyweds hugs. Savannah and I followed and offered our congratulations.

"Good for you," Alix said in my ear as we hugged. "It's worth it."

I nodded. He was right. No matter how long it took for Savannah and me to work through this, being with her was worth it.

As she and I went to the limo Erik rented for the five of us, my phone buzzed. I glanced at it, a smile curving my lips as I read the text message.

Those are awesome! They're Savannah, right? Mom said not to ask you because it wasn't my business, but I told her that if you didn't want me to know, you'd tell me. Besides, I think it's awesome that she's your muse. Do you think you could make something for me when I get out of here? Nothing fancy or sexy like those ones of Savannah, but maybe something like an animal? A butterfly? It'll be a few weeks before I'm able to go home, so you don't have to answer now. Love, Ig

My mother and I were still working things out between us, but I loved Iggy from the moment I met her. The part of me that was hurt by knowing that my mom had stuck around to raise her daughter when she left me didn't touch my sister at all. All of that negative shit was between me and Veronica. Iggy and I weren't carrying all that baggage.

"Iggy?" Savannah asked, a knowing smile on her lips.

I nodded and pulled her closer to my side. "Thank you again. For stepping up and saving her when I was being an ass."

She stretched up and kissed my cheek before sliding into the back seat next to Tanya. While I hated myself for having treated Savannah badly, it was nothing compared to the guilt I would have felt if Savannah hadn't gone to meet my mom and subsequently saved Iggy.

I was going in next week to do all the paperwork to be on the donor list, and then I would plan a fundraiser where I wouldn't only be asking for money, but for blood. I'd given to numerous charities through the years, and had even donated blood a time or two in college, but I was going to put my money where my mouth was this time. Maybe I could do for someone else what Savannah had done for my sister.

This afternoon, though, I was going to celebrate with my friends and use dancing as an excuse to hold the woman I loved.

* * *

I didn't want to go home alone. My arms had been around Savannah more tonight than they had been since the day I fucked up, and instead of making it easier to let her go, it made it near impossible to even think about walking to her front door and then walking away.

"You know," she said as she leaned closer to me, "the doctors cleared me for whatever physical activity I want."

I swallowed hard, reminding myself that I shouldn't read into anything.

"And I know exactly what I want."

I closed my eyes. "Fuck," I muttered, my dick already growing hard.

She kissed my chin. "Yes, please."

I opened my eyes and kissed her forehead. "I'm not going to have sex with you."

She stared at me, disbelief in her eyes. She wasn't the only one who couldn't believe what I just said. My cock was threatening open rebellion. I'd gone longer than two weeks without sex before, but I knew that when it came to Savannah, nothing I'd experienced before counted.

"Why not?" She seemed more confused than hurt or angry, more like the woman who'd responded to an accidental insult with a laugh.

"Because I love you, and you mean more to me than getting laid." I slid my hands down to the swell of her hips, fingers flexing at the thought of being inside her again.

"So, it's not because you're worried about hurting me?"

I gave her a half-smile. "Maybe that's a little bit of it." I lowered my head and brushed my lips across hers. "But it's more about trust, and you don't trust me. Not yet anyway. And I don't want to fuck that up by pushing you too fast."

She gave me a searching look, not saying anything as we finished out the song. Then something in her eyes shifted, like she'd made up her mind, and she took a step back. For one brief, terrifying moment, I thought I'd lost her for good, but then she reached out and took my hand.

Lacing her fingers between mine, she led me over to Sine and Alix, both of whom had arrived at their little reception looking distinctly rumpled and entirely smug. They'd also disappeared for about fifteen minutes less than an hour ago, and we all pretended like we didn't know what they'd been doing. At the moment, she was sitting on his lap, his arms around her waist, his hands resting on her stomach. The expressions on their face were matched ones of pure contentment.

"We're going to take off," Savannah said with a smile. She leaned over and kissed Sine on the cheek, then squeezed Alix's shoulder. "Have a great honeymoon, and we'll talk baby shower when you get back."

Alix's eyes dropped to our linked hands, then back up to meet mine. He grinned but only said, "Thanks for coming."

I opened my mouth to say something – exactly what, I didn't know – but Savannah beat me to it.

"Good night."

And then we were heading out the door. She gave the cab driver my address, then settled against my side, pulling my arm around her. A part of me wanted to ride it out, let her direct where we went and what we did, but another part knew that I wouldn't be able to keep from feeling like I'd taken advantage of her if we didn't talk.

"What are we doing, Sav?" I kissed the top of her head. "I mean, I love being here with you, and I'll stay as long as you want but–"

"I've decided to trust you." She leaned back so she could look at me after that rather startling statement. "So, don't do anything stupid again."

My heart gave a wild thud. "I'll do my best, but you have permission to kick my ass when I do."

"Deal." She grabbed the back of my neck, pulling me down until her lips were a breath from mine. "Now, I love you and I trust you, which means it's time for you to tie me up and fuck me."

I couldn't argue with that.