Hope's POV

I open the door and put the key on the table. I close the door behind me and walk in. But I stop dead in my tracks at the sight is front of me. Stefan. Having wine on my couch. Why ?

What the hell does he want ?

"Well I want you." His raspy voice says.

"Huh ?"

"You asked, ' what the he'll does he want' I said 'I want you'" he says again.

"Really ? Prove it. Cuz I don't really believe it since you dumped me on our anniversary night. For what ? Work. It's always work. Do you know how that feels ? Rejected ?" I snap. Tears brim my eyes.

"Yes. I feel rejected. I want you. I know I screwed up. But I am sorry okay. What does he have that I don't ? Huh ? What ? I have money, car, everything a girl wants. I have everything he doesn't."

"He has one thing."

"Whats that ? I promise I will give it to you."

"That attitude. He loves me. And even though he is surviving to make the two ends meet, he is grateful. You aren't. You are so caught up in your little bubble that you didn't notice anyone around you moving away. You think you can buy everything and he knows he can't get anything but I know he won't ever leave me alone. Unlike you. Money can't buy everything and it certainly won't buy you me. I don't need money, Stefan. I need love. I want love. And no doubt you gave me that more than he can ever give me but you lost it along the way. We vowed to be together. But you left me. He would never leave me." I cried. I had all these emotions bottled up inside of me for so long. But now I don't think I can control them. The bridge is breaking.

"But I am here now. I want to take you back."

"That's not enough."

I say and turn to move around him. But two arms snake around my waist and he pulls me back to his rock hard chest.

"I don't think so, sweety. I am not buying it. Hell can break loose for all I care. I am not losing you again."

"Fine. Be that way. I will not came back with you."

"You will baby. And on your own. Till then, I am moving in with you."

He tightens his hold on me and starts giving me butterfly kisses on my back. I shiver in his hold and I can feel him smirk on my back. He turns me around in his arms and then unties his tie. I know what follows but this is wrong. I can't do this. He left me. He can leave again. I can't have my heart broken.

"Stefan stop. I am in a relationship. I won't betray him. And no you are not moving in with me."

"Till what I know this apartment is on rent and the man that does own it will be more than happy to give me some space."

"You can't do that."

"Oh baby, watch me." He says and puts a kiss on my lips.

"I will move out."

"No you won't. You don't have a place to stay and you don't want to bother your friend, Stella since she is struggling too."

"I can move in with Conner." I don't know why I said that. I wanted to spite him I guess.

But his reaction is instant. He tightens his hold in me even more and pulls be closer to him. His breath fanning on my face and his eyes flickering between my eye and my lips.

"Then I will release hell on him too, if that's what it take to keep you with me." He whispers and leans down a little.

"I won't do that. Just don't put him through anything. Please." The last thing I want is for someone else to suffer through this.

"Don't move."

"Okay"

He leans in and captures my lips in his and then holds me tightly against him. I squirm a little but he is having none of that. He pushes me to the wall and holds my hands above my head. He looks at me with lust in his eyes and then he flushes his mouth on me again.

He pushes his tongue inside my mouth and our tongues fight for dominance. But he wins eventually. I can feel his tongue exploring my mouth. After a while I stop struggling and kiss him back. We keep this up for what seems like eternity and then break away. He releases my hands and we both gasp for air.

The realisation of what I had just done hits me like a brick. I cheated on Conner. And I feel horrible for it. Stefan sees my inner turmoil and says,

"Stop over thinking it. I just wanted to you to forget every memory you have of him kissing you."

I can't believe he said that.