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Stephanie's heart pounded almost uncomfortably fast inside her chest, her eyes watering as she felt Sean caressing her hair.
All she could think was what had she done? While she didn't regret making love to him, she couldn't help but feel an emptiness inside. What if he didn't feel the same way about her that she felt toward him? And damn it... She was going to start bawling at any second...
The brunette suddenly jerked up from her position, startling O'Haire in the process, her eyes now spilling the tears that flooded them. She gazed at him, crestfallen, and the dark-haired man's heart nearly broke at that look.
"Steph? Honey, what is it?" he asked softly, reaching out for her.
"It's... I..." She shook her head. "Sean, I can't do this..." she cried, a sob escaping her. "I can't have sex with another man and have it not mean anything but..." More tears spilled down her cheeks as her chin quivered. God, but she hurt...
O'Haire blinked, getting her meaning crystal clearly. So, that's what she was thinking? But of course - she was engaged to marry Paul Levesque, and he didn't love her, and sex was only one of the things he used her for - so why wouldn't she think the same of him?
"Stephanie, look at me..." he said, his blue eyes gentle as he gazed at her. "I am not Paul Levesque - I'm only me - Sean..." The shaggy-haired man shrugged. "I'm not him, and I don't think of act like him," he continued, the fingers of his right hand gentle as they brushed against her cheek, wiping at her tears.
Stephanie didn't speak as she stared almost plaintively into his eyes. Then, "So... So, what just happened between us meant..."
O'Haire let out a soft chuckle. The brunette was undeniably adorable and precious - and it nearly hurt his heart.
"Steph, I love you."
The young woman's heart began to thud like a bass drum as she absorbed his words.
"Y-you...?"
Sean gathered Stephanie into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Yes, I really do," he admitted. He held her away just enough to gaze down into her eyes, his thumb tipping her head up by her chin. "I wouldn't have said anything to you so soon out of fear of scaring you off, but... in this case, I knew I had to."
The brunette managed a tiny smile for him, her breath catching in her throat. He loved her... He really did. He was being completely honest - and she felt she owed him the same consideration.
She bit her lip shyly - shyness was a strange emotion for her to feel considering what they'd done only a few minutes past. Her blue eyes lowered for a beat before meeting his again.
"I love you, too..."
Wordlessly, Sean moved his hand to her cheek, his other moving up to her other one, and he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her fervently. Stephanie kissed him back with everything she had, the passion nearly dizzying her - and then... Then, she found herself beginning to cry again, and she pulled away from him.
He stared at her with confusion.
"Steph... Sweetheart, why are you crying? I thought you'd be happy..."
She shook her head. It wasn't that she wasn't absolutely ecstatic about O'Haire being in love with her - it was that her entire world, all her new-found happiness was only going to come crashing down around her - and soon.
"It's..." She met his concerned gaze and explained. "If I can't get out of the wedding... I can't-" A sob escaped her, and she burrowed her face in her hands weakly. "I can't lose you, Sean!"
The muscular man's heart wrenched at her anguish, and again, he gently pulled her against him.
"That's not gonna happen..."
When she raised her head to look imploringly into his blue eyes, he spoke again, full of determination. "Neither of those things will happen - not if I have anything to say about it."
Stephanie blinked and sniffled.
"What are you going to do?"
Sean raked one hand through his hair as he held her with the other.
"I haven't figured that part out yet," he admitted. "But I'll come up with something as soon
as possible." He pressed a kiss to her lips again, the brunette instantly responding and
seeming to melt further into his touch. "I vow to you, Stephanie - I'll fix it so you never have
to deal with that bastard Levesque again... And then we can be together in peace."