“I’m glad you came.”

Relief was clear in Miles’ voice as he poured me a drink at the marble-topped wet bar of his San Bravado penthouse. I stood at the wall of windows and looked out over the sparkling city.

“I am, too. I think my Mom was as well, honestly. I’m pretty sure she’s been waiting for me to get back out there. She hasn’t pushed it, but she knows how lonely it gets, being a single parent. She’s not too confident about you specifically, but I think she’s just happy that I’m—I don’t know—coming back to life a little bit.”

“Coming back to life?” he asked as he brought me my drink and gestured for me to sit on the couch, which allowed me to take in the view in comfort.

“It’s been a long two and a half years,” I said pensively. “I was pretty stressed and unhappy for some time.”

Guilt flashed across his face and he lightly brushed the back of my hand.

“I’m sorry for my part in that,” he said quietly.

I offered him a weak smile and shook my head. “I would have had to at least delay my degree either way. It was…a rough pregnancy.”

I drank, needing the liquid emotional support. He did as well, watching my face.

“I tried to call you,” I murmured, treading across a sore spot in my heart. “A month or two after you left, when I knew that I was pregnant. I tried to talk to you directly; I didn’t just trust all of this to Nate casually.”

“Oh.” His face fell and he blew out a breath. “I lost my phone during the move to San Bravado. Well…it got decimated, actually. It fell out of my pocket right behind the moving van, and I ran it over. It was completely annihilated. When I went to get a new one, Nate convinced me to upgrade to a better carrier, and I wasn’t able to keep my number. I thought about calling you, but the only number I could find was for the bar, and that just seemed awkward.”

“Oh. That actually makes sense. I wish you would have just faced the awkwardness, but I guess it didn’t seem like that big a deal to you at the time.”

It hurt my heart to know that he’d meant more to me than I had to him, but I wondered how I would have felt about it all if I hadn’t gotten pregnant.

“It wasn’t that,” he said softly. “I thought about you a lot. The first year, I was so busy, I didn’t even have time to breathe—let alone date. Once things started to get more stable, and I had more staff to rely on, it seemed like too much time had passed to look you up again. And Nate kept setting me up with these women who he said were in my ‘bracket’, whatever that meant.”

“Supermodels,” I said morosely, arranging my arms to hide the soft mom-curve at the base of my belly.

“Frustrating, and horrible, all of them,” he said, equally morose.

“Really?”

“Well…no, not really. I mean, they’re all people, and some of them are smart, and some of them are less smart, some are funny, some aren’t…but they’re all obsessed with climbing the ladder in this high-stress, highly competitive environment. They’re driven, aggressive, and dedicated…all good points for employees, but I never felt like I could relax around them. I just wanted to hang out and chill, you know, but they always had an agenda. Which, again, isn’t a problem for a business partner or an employee or whatever, but I got tired of being a bullet point in their portfolios.”

“That makes sense,” I said, feeling a bit better about myself.

“So, what about you? I guess it’s pretty obvious how I’ve spent the last few years…what have you been up to? I hope you didn’t give up on the art world entirely; you’re way too smart and talented for that.” He leaned forward, seeming earnestly concerned.

Miles always had been the first to cheer me on, back when we were working together. I had missed that validation. It injected a confidence in me that I had been forced to develop on my own, and it was nice to have it gifted to me that way.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve gone the other way with it. When I was pregnant, I dug all of my old screen printing stuff out of the attic and started doing that again…more as a way to pass the time than anything else.

“And I’ve been painting as well. I didn’t really expect anything to come of it, but people really seem to like it. I started to make a little money from it, and after the twins were born, I really threw myself into it. I make a decent living now.”

“Yeah? Tell me about it.” He leaned back into the corner of the couch, crossing one leg over the other, his eyes as bright. Relaxed and intrigued, just like I remembered him. I arranged myself in the opposite corner, mirroring his posture.

“It started out small, just a few thrift-store finds here and there for friends, but then they started sharing my designs online, and all of a sudden, I was flooded with requests. It was sort of mind-blowing. Most of what I do are one-of-a-kind designs, taking thrift-store clothes and doing them up my way, but I also use the designs on T-shirts which I buy in bulk. Those are cheaper, obviously, and some of my best sellers. I do the same with jeans, which are also super popular.”

He was watching my lips move, making me very aware of how they moved when I spoke, and I licked them. His eyes darkened in response, and a twist of excitement wriggled deep in my core. It had been so long since I had been touched that way; could I risk crossing those lines tonight? I shelved the urge, and returned to my story.

“And, of course, I go to craft fairs and stuff, and I’ve been starting to put more of my art online. I sell prints and posters and stuff, and I’ve started trying out some screen printing from the art. I managed to transfer one painting to a canvas bag successfully, but I tend to make very intricate paintings and simpler screen prints, so using one skill set on another project has been a bit awkward to figure out. I’m still working on it, though. For now, I just use the canvas bag as my diaper bag.”

“Sounds like you’ve made it, in spite of everything,” he said with a small smile. “You’ve mentioned your mom a few times. Do you live near her?”

“Very near,” I said with a half-laughing sigh. “I moved back in with her after I dropped out of college. God, I felt like a failure that year. Single mom, college dropout, moving back in with my mom…it was classic failure.”

The shame of those months revived itself like a punch to the gut, and I blew out a breath.

“Hey,” he said gently, reaching across the space to grab my hand. “You weren’t a failure then, and you aren’t a failure now. You adapted to unexpected circumstances, and you did it brilliantly. I always knew you were something special, Shelley.”

His skin on mine washed the shame away in a wave of desire, and my heart beat a little faster as I met his eyes. He moved a little closer, bringing his scent close enough to stir my blood.

“I did eventually go looking for you,” he told me softly. “I went back to Finnegan’s to find you, but nobody there knew where you went. I sort of figured that fate wasn’t on my side, and tried to drown my sorrows, but you never left my mind. Now that I know about the twins…I want to meet them, Shelley. I want to be the daddy they deserve.”

I searched his face and found nothing but honesty.

“I’ve been waiting to hear those words for years,” I confessed. “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be with us.”

“That’s all I want, Shelley. To be with Frida and Vincent…and you.” He touched my face, trailing his fingers along my jaw. His eyes burned like blue fire, making my heart beat a little faster. “I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you, Shelley, and I’ve never stopped. Not for a moment.”

“Do you want me now?” I asked in a shaky whisper, turning my hand over in his to trail my fingers along his wrist.

“God, yes.” He pressed his palm against me, cupping my face. I melted into his palm, reveling in the warmth of him on my skin. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I said, the words catching in my throat. “I see you every time I look at the kids. You’re in their eyes, in their smiles. It breaks my heart and comforts me all at once.”

He tipped his forehead against mine, and closed his eyes with a sigh. His fingers moved around to the back of my neck, tangling in my hair.

“I wish I could take all of that pain away,” he murmured. “Tell me what to do, Shelley. Tell me how to fix this, please. I need you. I want to give you everything I have. I want to be there for the kids. I want…I want a family. With you. Tell me what you need from me, Shelley. Please.”

His plea stirred up a storm in my heart which rained softly out of my eyes. He brushed my tears away with his thumbs, cupping my face in his large, warm hands.

“Just love me,” I whispered hoarsely. “Show me how much you missed me.”

Hesitantly, he brushed his lips against mine. Electricity shot through me and he sighed heavily, kissing me more firmly. I savored his taste, his feel, his breath, falling dizzily into a whirlpool of emotion.

His arms around me, he dove into me as I opened to him, heating my body from mouth to hips with the passion of his kiss. His hands began to wander, and my body ached for him to caress my most sensitive places. Instead, he pulled away.

“I don’t want to push you too far too fast,” he said, his brow furrowing with concern. “That isn’t why I brought you here; I swear it.”

“Come on,” I said, putting my drink down as I stood, pulling him up with me. “We have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

I walked backwards through the massive, glittering penthouse in the direction of his bedroom. Excitement lit his face and he took the lead, spinning me around and taking my hand. Once in the room, he used his phone to turn the lights down and put on music, creating an atmosphere so much more romantic and sophisticated than our first night together, stumbling through his dark apartment to his cluttered room.

There was no clutter here. Straight lines and balanced space framed the penthouse. Egyptian cotton caressed my palm as I swept a hand over the scarlet-draped bed. Money infused every centimeter of space, as enticing and intoxicating as his hands on my waist.

He kissed my neck as he unzipped my dress, making my heart skip as he slid his palms over my skin to push the bodice off of my body. Half exposed, I leaned against him, tipping my head back to kiss him.

Without another second of hesitation, he ran his hands over my torso to my breasts, taking my mouth with his as he caressed my full cups, groaning as my breasts spilled over his palms.

I spun in his arms as my dress fell to the floor, leaving me in nothing but my matching underthings and heels. He swept his hands down to my hips, extracting an anxious beat in my heart as he touched the stretch marks and softness below my belly button. But he didn’t seem to notice. He groaned with desire as his fingertips trailed over the lace hem of my panties, and I gasped as he cupped my aching warmth in his hand.

“I forgot how responsive you are,” he whispered in my ear. “I love the way you move under my touch.”

“Then make me dance,” I told him, pulling him toward the bed.

He stripped quickly, gazing at my body as he peeled off his clothes. He had filled out as well, his hairier chest boasting more rippling muscle, his shoulders broad and strong. Cut abs drew my eyes down to the V between his hips and the throbbing, eager member between. I swallowed hard, suddenly consumed with desire.

“You’re so freaking beautiful,” he murmured, pressing his body against mine.

His kiss made my head spin. He surrounded me with his arms, his scent, with the slick sheen of desire. Pushing me farther onto the bed, he joined me on top of it, tracing his fingers over my palms and down my wrists. Hot chills shook me to my core and I moaned, then gasped as he pulsed against me in response.

“I want to savor this,” he murmured, moving his hands to my breasts.

He unhooked my bra with practiced fingers and tossed it away. Groaning, he took them in his hands and buried his face in them, moving his mouth from one hard, sensitive nipple to the next, sending erotic warmth racing down my belly to pool between my hips.

Gasping, I tilted my hips against him, grinding a dance against his hard body. His tongue flicked flames over one nipple as his rough thumb drew circles over the other.

Tremors quaked through me, building a need deep inside me, igniting a fire storm of lust between my thighs. His free hand moved to press against the aching desire, sliding between lace and soft skin to part me with gentle insistence. A sob of pleasure ripped from my throat as his fingers sank into me, as his palm pressed against my swollen clit.

Hands and mouth worked my body until I was crying out, arching against him, drawing his fingers deeper into me with every desperate movement of my rocking hips. He responded, intensifying his attentions, stoking the fire inside me until my legs shook, until I pulsed around him. My nails sank into his shoulders as I cried out his name, ripped over the edge of ecstasy by his fingertips. As the gasps of powerful pleasure slowly subsided, he moved up my body to take my mouth in his with a primal growl.

He teased me, sliding his hot, hard cock against the hot wetness of my swollen desire. Whimpering, I moved against him, begging for him with my body as he tortured me with anticipation. I took his mouth desperately, sucking his tongue as my hips rocked into him. With a groan of pleasure, he finally sank into me, filling me to my limit.

“Jesus,” he panted against my throat. “How do you feel so good?”

“Same way you do,” I moaned, dancing beneath him to slide up and down his throbbing member. “I forgot how big you are.”

He chuckled low in his throat and drove deep into me, filling every inch with his soft, smooth length.

Tangling my legs around his, I danced in rhythm with his powerful thrusts until he shook me to my core, a pleasurable pain that I had almost forgotten. I bit his lip and raked my nails down his back, releasing the vixen that had lain dormant inside me for so long. His eyes darkened then closed and he froze, trembling on the edge.

“Not yet,” he gasped, wrapping his arms around me to roll us over so I was on top. “Show me what you got, woman.”

Giggling, I traced circles over his chest with my nails, then reflected those circles with my hips. He groaned, running his hands over my thighs to my hips as I danced around him, sliding over him, bouncing against him. He watched with enraptured eyes, cupping my breasts and drawing circles over the hard peaks with his thumbs. Pleasure flowed like lava over my body, melting in a hot pool around him. Our slick bodies moved as one and he pulled me against him, desperate for my mouth.

Giving as much as I took, I opened my mouth to him, letting him twist his tongue around mine. His strong arms crushed my breasts against his muscular chest, his hips driving him up into me as I slid against him, riding him toward the edge.

Every touch was electric, sending lighting over my skin, vibrating the heat at my core, melting me again over him. He gasped, hardening even more inside of me, triggering a cascade of pulsing, molten lust.

Frantic hearts beat as one as we fell together into the abyss of pleasure, our bodies entwined together as I came around him, as he filled me up. A blissful eternity passed in warm, liquid spasms. Gazing into his hazy eyes, I fell into love all over again.