“I’m not forcing you into anything here, am I?” I have to ask.

“No,” she breathes. “I know it’s a terrible idea, but I don’t want to stop.” I nod. “I need an escape from everything; please distract me.”

“Shut your mind off. Stop thinking about all of the other shit and focus on this.” I run my fingers along her neckline, and she shivers under my touch.

She catches me off guard and presses her lips to mine. Within seconds the slow, unsure kiss vanishes and is replaced by us. The timid gestures evaporate, and suddenly we are in our own place. All the other bullshit’s gone, and it’s only me and Tessa and her lips crushing against mine, her tongue making hurried swipes across my own, her hands in my hair, tugging at the roots and driving me fucking wild.

I wrap my arms around her and press my hips into hers until her back reaches the mattress. Her knee is bent, lifted, level with my crotch, and I shamelessly rub myself against her. She gasps at my desperation and removes a hand from my hair to bring down to her own chest. I could burst at the feeling of having her under me again—it’s too fucking much, yet not enough, and I can’t form a thought aside from her.

She touches herself, gripping one of her large breasts, and I look down like I’ve forgotten how to do anything else except stare at her perfect body and the way she’s finally letting loose with me. She needs this even more than I do. She needs the distraction from the real world, and I will gladly serve in that role.

Our moves aren’t calculated—pure passion is fueling us. I’m the fire, and she’s the damn gasoline, and there’s no sign of stopping or slowing until something is sure to explode. I’ll be waiting then, ready to fight the flames for her, keeping her safe so she doesn’t get burned by me, again. Her hand travels down her body, and she grips me, rubbing her hand over me, and I have to concentrate not to come from her hand alone. I shift my hips, resting them between her parted legs as she tugs at the waistband of my shorts. I tug at hers with one hand until both of us are naked from the waist down.

The groan that escapes her lips matches my own when I rub against her, skin to skin. I shift slightly, entering her partially, and she groans again. This time she presses her mouth to my bare shoulder. She’s licking and sucking at my skin as I push farther inside her. My vision blurs as I try to savor every second of this, every moment that she’s willing to be with me in this way.

“I love you,” I promise her.

Her mouth stops moving, and her grip on my arms loosens. “Hardin . . .”

“Marry me, Tessa. Please.” I push my cock inside her, filling her, hoping to catch her in an unfair moment of weakness.

“If you’re going to say things like that, then we can’t do this,” she says softly. I can see the hurt in her eyes, the lack of self-control she has when it comes to me, and I instantly feel guilty for bringing up fucking marriage while fucking her. Great fucking timing, you selfish asshole.

“I’m sorry. I’ll stop.” I assure her with a kiss. I will give her this time to think, and I will lay off the heavy shit while I’m thrusting in and out of her hot, wet—

“Oh God,” she moans.

Instead of confessing my undying love for her, I’ll only say the things she wants to hear. “You feel so fucking tight around me. It’s been so long,” I say against her neck, and one of her hands presses against the bottom of my back, pressing me deeper into her.

Her eyes pinch shut, and her legs begin to tighten. I know she’s already close, and even though she hates me right now, she loves my filthy mouth. I’m not going to last long, but neither is she. I’ve missed this—not only the pure fucking perfection that it is to be inside her, but being close to her in this way is something I need, something she needs.

“Come on, baby. Come around me, let me feel you,” I say through gritted teeth.

She obeys, clenching one of my arms and whimpering my name as she pushes her head back into the mattress. She comes apart, stitch by beautifully constructed stitch, and I watch her. I watch her beautiful mouth fall open as she whimpers my name. I watch the way her eyes find mine just before they close in pleasure. It’s too much, the beauty of her coming for me, allowing me to have her. I push myself into her once more, grabbing onto her hip as I spill into her.

“Fuck.” I drop to my elbows next to her, careful not to crush her with the weight of my body.

Her eyes are closed, her lids heavy as she struggles to open them. “Mhmm,” she agrees.

I prop myself up onto my elbow and stare at her while she’s not looking. I’m afraid of what will happen when she comes to, when she begins to regret this and her anger toward me grows.

“You okay?” I can’t help but trace the curve of her bare hip with my finger.

“Yeah.” Her voice is thick and sated.

I’m so fucking glad she came to my door. I don’t know how much longer I could have gone without seeing her or hearing her voice.

“You’re sure?” I push. I need to know what this meant to her.

“Yes.” She opens one eye, and I can’t fight the stupid smile on my face.

“Okay.” I nod. As I look at her, relaxing in her afterglow, it feels so nice to have her back, even if only for a few moments. She closes her eyes again, and right then I remember something. “So, what did you come here for in the first place?”

Immediately the sated, sleepy look disappears from her beautiful face, and for a moment she opens both eyes wide before regaining her composure.