Hope's POV

"She was convinced that she could have been happy with him when it was no longer likely they should meet." I read those beautiful words written by Jane Austen, and a small smile grew on my face.

I was lazily sitting on the couch of the small living room of Heath's and my apartment in Toronto. We had moved into this amazing place in July after I spent some time with Mom and Frank.

The place was spacious and tightly sealed - which was great for the winters. Also, it had an impressive heating system that worked so well. The one at my house was nothing compared to this one. At least I wouldn't be shivering with cold this winter, I thought to myself. The two-bedroom furnished apartment was adequate for the two of us.

I was so delighted when Heath brought me here and excitedly showed me every inch of the place that would be our home for the next two years. I was expecting an expensive loft or a penthouse, but Heath didn't go for any of those. It was a cheap furnished apartment that seemed so homey and perfect.

The interior of the place was quite aesthetic. The walls were painted white and had a few colorful abstract paintings hanging on them, giving life to the plain background. The floor had articulate wooden tiles and contrasted with the overall look of the apartment. The place had white and black color furniture that was in good condition. Right in front of the couch in the living room was this medium - sized, spotless glass window that reflected the city’s busy life during the day and the peaceful serenity of it at night. It was the perfect spot to watch the sunrise and sunset.

It was August, and the wave of summer was present in the thick air of Toronto. It wasn't humid here but was close to moderate. During the day, I would wear a top or some other light article, but I would have to wrap myself in a thin shawl at night.

I heard the noisy rattling sound of the key unlocking the door, and I twisted my head to see who it was.

Heath's tall figure stepped into the apartment with brown bags filled with groceries. His hands were full of them, and he put them on the counter and heaved out a loud sigh.

I had asked him to take me with him, but he said that "all I'd buy is chocolate, and we needed other stuff to live on," so he didn't take me. He wasn't wrong, though. He had given me this Canadian chocolate that tasted so good that I immediately became a sucker for it. So I would've bought that chocolate and nothing else.

A soft kiss on my head scattered my thoughts, and I looked up at Heath and saw his blue eyes admiring me. "Did you get the chocolate?" I questioned him and in return, a soft chuckle rang in my ears.

"I did but I'm not gonna give it to you now. You can't live on chocolate alone Rose." He said as he took a seat next to me on the couch with his eyes fixed on me.

"But..." I ran out of reason and he smiled in victory.

"I'm right, so now go and please make something to eat. I don't fucking know anything about cooking and I'm hungry." Heath grumpily said. I nodded my head before saying okay and putting Pride and Prejudice on the small round coffee table. I got up and went into the kitchen to cook us something.

The night had fallen over the buzzing city, and it was getting darker and darker with every passing minute. I looked out and saw the sky wrapped in a black blanket with minuscule stars sparking on it.

Taking the pasta packet and other ingredients I lit the stove and put the pasta in the water to boil. "Do you know Marie and Sebastian are gonna stay in Hawaii for another week?" Heath asked me as he strolled into the kitchen.

"No, I didn't," I paused. "That's sad. I was hoping to see her soon so she could show me around the city." I replied while washing the vegetables for the pasta.

"I'll show you around," Heath said, and I turned to give him a look.

"You say that every day," I tittered, and went back to rinsing the green pepper.

"We'll go after dinner tonight." His raspy voice entered my ears as if he was standing next to me. I rotated my body and my face collided into his chest and heat immediately rose to my cheeks.

"How..uh...did...you...get h-here..so quickly?" I stammered as I realized how close we were to each other.

Instead of answering my question, Heath swept away the hair from my left ear with his slender fingers and caressed my cheek. A rush of tingles exploded under my delicate skin, and I began to breathe deeply. Leaning down, Heath brushed his nose against my ear, and I gasped. The tip of his nose started grazing my skin, and with every touch, a lump of sensation was forming in my stomach and was making me go weak.

"I know how to be stealth, Rose." He lightly whispered the words into my ear and I stood still as the only sound ringing in my ears was the blaring lub-dub of my heart.

"We are alone here. No one can fucking disturb us now." With every word, he marked a warm kiss on my neck, and the sensation in my belly transformed into a swarm of butterflies that began to move around the region vigorously. My hand landed on his bicep as my body began to get weak.

His lips planted long kisses from the left side of my neck to the right. With every peck, I felt the combination of hot breath accompanied by the touch of soft lips that were gently assaulting my neck. When he reached my collarbone, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. My waist was plaster to his, and my hands were tightly gripping his arms in hopes of getting the strength to withstand the impact of his kisses.

Just when I thought he'd stop. I felt the tender base of his lips touching my throat. I loudly gasped in surprise and clenched his arms as I felt myself itching with the fire burning under my skin which made me go crazy.