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“Until you,” he rasped, reaching for her, sliding his hands to her hips. “That’s why I’m here, Kristen. You pierced that damn fortress around my heart.”
Hope flared, and she pressed her palms against his chest. Was he saying what she thought he was?
“I never planned to touch you, not with you being James’s sister. Wanting you was inconvenient. Caring for you made things even more complicated. But loving you…terrified me. Because I didn’t want that pain if something happened to you.” He gave a rough, humorless laugh and touched her cheek. “The thing is that devastation, that pain hit me anyway. Even with you being alive and well several states away.”
“Well, alive, yeah. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say well.” Humor had always been her default. “I’ve been miserable.”
“Me, too.” He brushed a kiss across her lips. “I love you, Kristen. And I should’ve never let you leave Seattle without telling you.”
Any tension in her muscles eased. Warmth blossomed in her chest and spread through her body, leaving her feeling like there was bubbly champagne in her veins.
A giddy smile curved her lips as she slid her arms up from his chest and wound them around his neck. “Maybe it was because I left early and didn’t really give you the chance.”
His gaze searched hers. “There was another guy. Someone else you liked.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement.
“There was,” she admitted carefully. “But falling for you made me realize he was nothing but a silly little crush. Which, might I add, was totally unwarranted because he’s pretentious as hell.”
A flash of relief, maybe tinged with possessiveness flared in his eyes.
“Good.” His thumbs brushed circles over her hips, sending a familiar ache between her legs. “Let me know if this is too aggressive and forward, but I’m searching for firefighter jobs down here.”
Her breath caught. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to be near you—”
“I’m moving back to Washington and taking a job there. I’ve got a couple leads that sound promising.”
He stilled. “Really?”
“That way I can apply for grad school in a few years. UW has one of the best Master of Social Work programs in the country. And I can be near my family.” Almost shy now, she added, “And you. I want to be with you, Blake.”
He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his, ending her confession on a sigh of pleasure. His tongue stroked, tasted like they’d been away for years, not weeks. She kissed him back feverishly, savoring this moment and the knowledge he loved her.
When they broke apart to breathe, she pressed her forehead against his chest.
“Move in with me?” he asked.
“Oh yeah, I think we covered that I can’t afford my own place in Seattle.” She nipped at his bottom lip. “I’d love to move in.”
“Perfect.”
“So, what do we do now that you’re here?” She pressed a kiss against his chest. “Have you ever been to Vegas before?”
“No.”
“How long are you staying?”
His hands slid from her hips to cup her bottom. “Three days before I have to be back to work.”
Oh God, when he touched her like that…
“I should show you around. We can go to the Strip. Eat at a buffet, gamble a little.”
“I think I gambled enough by buying a flight down here, and there’s only one thing that comes to mind right now when you say strip.”
He nuzzled her neck before lifting her up so her legs wrapped around his waist. The hard bulge pressing against her backside had both her face and blood heating.
