Page 76 of Almost Home
That permeated the desire pounding at my temples and in my neck. Nothing could drown out the longing in his eyes or the desperate leap of my heart in response to him here.
“I want you. Yes, Wilder, I—”
That was all I got out before his arm snaked around my back and crushed me to him. His other hand pressed into the base of my skull, and our kiss set fire to every cell in my body. I pulled at him, desperate for him to be closer now that he’d come back.
Elation and relief welled up and spilled over in a laugh as he maneuvered us over the threshold and into the apartment, kicking the door closed behind us and moving until the backs of my legs hit the side of the couch.
“Let’s just—”
“Can I—”
We smiled at each other, kissed again, and I pressed my hand over his heart. “Stay with me.”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
I shoved him a little, and he clutched me tighter around the waist.
“I didn’t know you were waiting on me to ask. The way you ran out of here, I thought…” I swallowed, admittedly still a bit confused by all that.
“Sorry.Sorry.I can hardly control myself around you, and I didn’t want to rush you.” He wore a disappointed look, like it proved a failing he’d had to admit.
If only he could tell what that admission did to me. When I spoke, the sultry, low tone in my voice didn’t surprise me. “Don’t apologize.”
That gaze burned into me for one beat, two, and I shivered at the way the air pulled taut between us like even the molecules around us knew what was coming.
Somehow, his lips were closer but not touching me when he said, “I got you all wet, and now you’re shivering.”
“You’re soaked. Not a surprise.”
He brushed his lips over mine, the softest slide that didn’t quite qualify as a kiss, but still sent sparks of energy and anticipation racing through me. “What ever should we do?”
I tilted my chin and spoke one last time as my fingers found the button of his shirt. “Better warm each other up.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
Wilder
Ididn’t sleep but a few hours. I’d trained extensively on minimal sleep and could handle just about anything without a full five or more, but I preferred getting at least six. But last night, lying next to Sarah, my heart raced at her nearness.
Her head on the pillow like I’d imagined the night before. Her hair in tangles behind her, her fair cheeks only barely pink in sleep, and her beautiful lips relaxed.
We’d never had this before—hours to simply lay together in the aftermath and revel in one another. I’d never gotten to see her fall asleep sated and exhausted. I’d never gotten to wake up and know I could just stay right here, studying the fan of her lashes against her cheek, resisting touching the smooth skin of her shoulder where it peeked out from under her bright white comforter.
If I thought I’d wanted her before, I’d had no knowledge of the concept. Being with her last night gave me only a taste of the life I hadn’t let myself fully envision. And now?
A soft sigh from her broke my determination to leave her alone. I ran my fingers over her shoulder, tracing the line of her tank top to her back. She hummed, evidently not as hard asleep as I’d thought.
“Did I wake you?”
One blue eye cracked open. “No. Was I snoring?”
I grinned. “No. Wouldn’t care if you were, though.” She could saw logs all night, and it wouldn’t change my desire to be right here.
“Did you need something?” she asked, shifting from her stomach to her side and reaching to run the tips of her fingers along my beard, then down my neck and across my chest to trace the tattoos on my arm.
Her touch had a drugging effect, I’d quickly realized. It was the reason I’d avoided touching her last night for fear of overwhelming her. I’d left in a move I’d wonder about for years, but I’d returned after only about ten steps away from her porch and in the rain. On the off chance I’d read her right and she’d wanted me to stay, and then, God bless Silverton, she’d let me back in.
The process of warming each other up would forever be one of the best nights of my life. Now in the quiet of the next morning, I wanted to tread carefully. We’d taken a big step, connecting like this. It didn’t mean forever, but it wasn’t without significance. Neither of us could pretend this was casual—not for the kind of people we were to begin with, and certainly not with our history.
