The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Zane stared at me incredulously. I tilted my head as I tried to make sense of his earlier statement.

For my benefit, he explained patiently, "Even if you trust me around Suzy, you should still be careful. What if... What if Suzy and I crossed the line? What will you do then?" I blinked at him.

He grabbed me by my shoulders and spelled it out for me, "I was hoping you'd get jealous. At least then I'll know you love me."noveldrama

"Just because I don't get jealous doesn't mean I love you any less," I countered gently as I snaked my arms around his waist. "As far as I'm concerned, open communication and mutual trust are the keys to a healthy, long-lasting relationship." Now, it was Zane's turn to be confused. "But how can love exist without jealousy and possessiveness?"

"We don't have to conform to others' ideas of love," I said. "Something must have happened in their relationships to trigger feelings of mistrust and jealousy, but we've never had a problem we couldn't work out together. So, why should we have to replicate what others have?"

I stared at him evenly. He seemed a little taken aback by my explanation, not that I blamed him. He had never dated anyone before me and didn't know right from wrong.

He held my gaze for a long moment. As comprehension dawned on him, he chuckled and agreed, "You have a point. We decide what we want out of this relationship, and it doesn't matter if our idea of love differs from the norm as long as we're comfortable with it." He fixed me with an uncertain look before adding, "So, I guess what matters is that we're happy together, right?"

I nodded in confirmation. "That's

right. For a couple to work out in the

long run, they must know each

other's needs and wants. All that matters is that your significant other can fulfill your emotional needs."

Upon hearing this, Zane cupped my face and kissed me. My eyes fluttered close as I melted into the kiss. When it ended, I patted his back gently and said, "We still have guests downstairs." He held my hand and said, "Let's head downstairs."

Zachary sat in the car as it idled across the street from the villa. He told Portia earlier that he would be studying in the library and wouldn't be home as early. Portia did not object to this.

...

He turned and stared at the well-lit

villa across the street. He could

already picture the cozy scene beyond the windows. It was probably the same scene he had seen every day before he broke Annalise's heart.

Annalise would cook him a hot and tasty dinner each evening. She would sit with him and watch him eat, her hands cupping her face as she praised him for his appetite.

As the memory flickered across his mind, Zachary wondered how he had let Steven talk him into antagonizing Annalise.

Just then, the front door of the villa

opened. Several silhouettes

appeared on the doorstep. Zachary watched as a man and a woman got into the car with a little kid in tow, while another three figures stood by the door.

Zachary stared at Annalise, and he could see her expression under the bright light. She looked... happy.