Have to stop

Carson holds his gaze on Misty, his thoughts all colliding in his mind. He'd made a decision... after yesterday, he'd had it all planned out. But seeing her again... none of it mattered. It had been that way since the very first day he'd met her. No matter his plans, no matter his determination, she could change everything in an instant, just by being there. He'd wanted to walk away... he'd wanted to realize his mistakes and simply move on from it all without looking back... without another chance to mess things up. He'd made up his mind for good. But now... receiving her gift... knowing she still cared so much... seeing her here... being close to her once more... How she had such power over him, he would never know.

Feeling her hand on his face, he closes his eyes for a moment before looking back at her with a look that held so many thoughts and emotions. He was at war again, with no answers in sight. Oh, how he wanted to start over. And just as badly, he wanted to walk away and not take another chance.

A whisper comes without him even thinking. "I've missed you so much."

Reaching up, he takes her hand from his face, planting a gentle kiss on her fingers. Something he had told her so very long ago comes back to him once more. "You've got me so messed up that I don't even know which way is up anymore."

His eyes roam hers, forgetting his surroundings, or the pain in his hand. He didn't know what he wanted. He didn't know what he needed. All he knew that whenever Misty was around, he felt alive... and it was a feeling he'd been without for far too long.

Drawing closer, he cautiously pulls Misty towards him, not knowing if it was good idea or not, but almost unable to help himself. She was the only woman who ever had affected him like this.

Carson cradles her cheek with his hand, running his thumb down to her lips and chin. "You're going to have to stop doing this to me," he whispers.

In the next moment, his arms are wrapped around her in a warm embrace, his lips pressed to hers.