Page 98 of Wade’s Wrath

“You could've asked me to come home,” she insisted.

“I was trying to give you space,” he reminded.

“You were being an idiot,” she countered.

“Yes, that’s already been established,” he grumbled. She smiled, and Wade kissed her again, slower now. The kiss deepened until Harlow forgot about the room around them. His hand cradled the back of her head. Hers traveled over his shoulders, his chest, and his back—every place she'd spent three weeks remembering. When Wade finally broke the kiss, his forehead rested against hers. Both of them were breathing harder.

“Still sure?” he asked.

Harlow smiled. “Do you really have to ask that every five minutes?”

“Probably,” he said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I need you to know you can change your mind,” he said. Her teasing disappeared. God, this man was going to end up breaking her.

Harlow touched his cheek. “And I need you to know I don't want to.”

Something fierce moved across his face. “Fuck.” He kissed her and Harlow wrapped her arms around him. Wade lifted her against his body, and she gave a startled laugh and instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands supported her while her arms tightened around his neck.

“Show-off,” she breathed.

“Been waiting three weeks to do that,” he admitted.

“You've mentioned that,” she said.

“Gonna mention it a few more times.” His mouth found her throat again, and Harlow's eyes closed. She felt the warmth of his skin through her clothes. The strength of the arms holding her. The scratch of his beard and the press of his lips. Every sensation seemed sharper after weeks without him. She kissed the side of his neck, and Wade stopped walking.

Harlow smiled against his skin. “What?”

“Don't,” he warned.

“Don't what?” she asked.

“Don’t do that,” he whispered. She kissed him there again, and his grip tightened. “Fuck.”

Harlow laughed. “Interesting.”

“You're enjoying yourself,” he grumbled.

“Very much,” she said with a smile.

“Brat,” he accused.

“Asshole.” His mouth found hers again. For a while, they didn't move toward the bed at all. They stayed right there in the middle of his bedroom, kissing like they had all the time in the world. Maybe they did. That was the difference. There was no warehouse tomorrow. No Frank waiting outside. No father controlling her future. No reason to rush because the world might fall apart before morning.

Wade set her carefully on her feet. His hands remained at her waist.

Harlow stepped closer. “I proved I can live without you.”

His jaw tightened. “Still don't particularly like that part.”

She smiled. “I know.”

Her palm rested over his heart again. “But now I get to prove something else.”

“What?” he asked.