“I think I already love you.”
His hands cradle my face. His eyes are searching mine in disbelief. “Yeah?”
I nod.
“Do you still?”
“I’m furious at you for not calling me. I was worried sick about you, but…” I bite down on my lip to stop from smiling. “Of course I still do.”
He answers by crashing his lips onto mine.
Oh, that deep, hungry kiss. He missed me. I can feel it in the urgent way his mouth moves with mine, insistent but gentle, asking me over and over if I really, truly forgive him.
“I love you.” His confession is breathless against my cheek. “Since the first day I saw you. I had no right to want you, Elsie. No right.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Fuck. Me too.”
Our lips meet again. His hand slides under my cardigan, and his palm presses against my spine, coaxing me to melt into him. I don’t need any encouragement. I want him. All of him. The kisses are hot and long, and this time, I know he won’t pull away. No interruptions. He’s mine now.
“Come.” I slip from his arms and tug his hand.
His boots plant on the floor. “Elsie, I didn’t stop by expectin’ that from you.”
I glance at the spot below his belt. “I see.” That bulge jutting out tells a different story.
“Ignore that,” he grinds out.
“I’d rather not, if it’s all the same to you.”
“You’re teasin’ me.”
“No. I’m being completely honest for once. Last chance.”
“Last chance, huh?” He scoops me up to straddle his hips. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not wastin’ it.”
24
Temperatures climbing at dusk
Sawyer’s grip on mybackside loosens, and I unwind myself from around his hips, sliding down until my toes touch fluffy carpet. There’s no time to catch my breath or miss his hands on me. He wraps me in his arms and kisses me as though he never intends to stop, each kiss rushing desperately into the next.
Finally.
“Let’s get you undressed.” The husky words are a breathless pant in my hair.
“What about you?”
“Oh, uh… yeah.” His hand goes behind his back, and his T-shirt is up, over his head, and on the floor in a second. “We should get that out of the way.”
I stand there, slack-jawed, staring at him as he strips off his clothes in record time. This isn’t quite what I had in mind, but…
“You’re very efficient,” I whisper, trailing my fingers over the tattoos on his chest and through the crinkles of bronze hair in the middle.
He strips his belt through the loops of his jeans. “That’s the sexiest compliment a woman has ever given me in the bedroom.” He grins and shoves his jeans down his hips.
I follow the denim to the floor, sinking to my knees in front of him.
