The moment his lips touched mine, I was transported back to the first time we kissed. He tasted so good and memories of our week together were front and center in my head. I’d been anticipating this moment, wondering if it’d ever happen, and now that it has, I’m more scared than ever.

“Vada…” he says my name in a pleading drawl. “Please tell me you want this as much as I do.”

I do. I want it so bad.

“I don’t want to hurt you again, Ethan,” I say, softly. “I don’t know what I can offer you.”

“You.” He presses his lips against mine again, silently pleading for me to give us a chance. “I only need you.”

I release a moan as our bodies press together and his hand wraps around my neck and holds us there, waiting for my response.

“Say yes, Vada…” he begs as his mouth brushes against mine. “Let me love you.”

God. This man was the full package, and I’d be a fool to walk away from him again. No guy has ever fought this hard for me and knowing he waited a year for me lets me know how serious he is about us, too. After a moment, I finally nod, giving him the approval he needs.

“Thank fuck,” he mutters against my lips before taking my mouth. He positions my body between his legs and kisses the hell out of me. My heels dig into his ass as he rubs his fingers over my hard nipples.

Without warning, he scoops me up and carries me down the hall. I squeal with a laugh and cling to him while he takes us upstairs. I know exactly where we’re going, and the smile on my face never falters.

Once we’re inside his bedroom, he kicks the door shut and flashes me an evil grin.

“I’ve imagined this for a long time,” I admit because it’s the truth. I’ve spent many times in my bed, getting off to thoughts of him.

“Yeah?” He sets me down on the bed, towering over me with hope in his eyes. His mouth lands on my collarbone before he brushes his lips along my exposed shoulder.

Deciding to mess with him first, I reply in all seriousness, “I want to use a strap-on and fuck you in the ass while stroking your dick until you come.”

He immediately chokes and leans back to face me, reading my expression. “Just because Nathan’s into that, doesn’t mean I am.”

I burst out laughing. “Dammit. You really did read the book.”

Smiling, he presses his lips back to mine. “Of course. Several times.”

I wrap my arms and legs around him, pressing his body to mine. “Several times?”

“Yup. Memorized it like the fucking Bible.”

“Had I known you were going to read it, I wouldn’t have gone into such grave detail about your cock,” I tease, loving the way his body feels pressed to mine.

“Speaking of which, Henry’s butt hurt that you gave him a chick name.”

My head falls back, laughing, which I seem to be doing a lot around him. “I’ll explain to him that it was for his privacy, and hopefully he’ll forgive me.”

“I’m sure you two can work out a deal.” He winks, sending butterflies straight to my core.

Leaning back, his hands push up my dress until he’s pulling it over my head, and I watch as he tosses it to the floor. His eyes widen as he stares at my bra, which happens to match the red, lacy panties I was wearing.

“I think your assistant needs a raise.” He smirks, rubbing the pad of his thumb against my nipple.

“I can dress myself, you know. She just so happened to pack everything for this trip so I could work on edits.”

“Another book?” His brows raise, intrigued.

I nod. “There’s always another book.”

“Does Nathan make an appearance in it?” He kneels back slightly to remove his shirt. My eyes trace down his chest and abs, wandering all the way down to his happy trail that leads right to my happy place.

“He doesn’t, but don’t worry, Nathan will always be my number one.” I flash him a wink as I reach over and help him unbutton his jeans.

“Good. Now let me fuck you like in chapter thirteen, because I’m in the mood for some backdoor adventures.” He grins, waiting for my reaction.

“Nice try, Casanova.” I unzip his jeans.

“A man can dream.” He shrugs, standing and removing the rest of his clothing.

I swallow as I take in his beautiful body. “Well, keep dreaming.”

“I think I am,” he says, genuinely, kneeling between my legs again and brushing his fingers along my cheek. “I still can’t believe you’re really here.”

“Me either.”

He presses his lips to mine, sweet and slow, then slides his tongue in just enough to part my lips. My hands hang around his hips before my fingertips trail along his deep V line that brings me to his erection, hard and solid. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t missed the feel of his cock, the way it tastes, the way it filled me so fucking deep, and that piercing.

I feel the warmth of his hands wrap around my body and unhook my bra. He slides it down my arms and tosses it, cupping my breasts and massaging my nipples with his fingertips. I groan at the contact, loving the way his hands feel on me.

“I told myself once I finally had you back in my bed, I’d take my time with you, but fuck, baby. I don’t think I can.” He groans, moving his lips along my jaw and neck.

“We have all night,” I remind him. “I need you as much as you need me.”

“Fucking hell,” he growls, leaning back as he grabs the back of my knees and pulls me to the edge of the bed until my ass nearly hangs off.

I squeal, grasping onto his arms. My head falls back with laughter at his urgency. “You make me so horngry,” he says with a devilish grin.

“Horngry?” I ask, amused. “What’s that?”

“It’s when I can’t decide if I wanna fuck you or eat you first.” The corner of his lips tilts up in a knowing smile.

I laugh as he brings his mouth to my pussy and sinks his tongue inside.

“Guess I know which one won,” I say.

“Yeah, I decided to spend some quality time between your legs first.”

Sinking a finger inside, his tongue circles my clit and works me up until I explode. I barely recover when he flips me over and takes me from behind.

His hand wraps around my neck, tilting my head back so he can stare into my eyes as I unravel around his length. I love the way he’s looking at me as if he can’t get enough of my body.

“Vada, fuck.” He groans, pushing into me deeper and harder. “You feel so fucking good. So tight and wet, baby.”

He pulls back slightly, the tip of his piercing rubbing against my pussy. God, I missed that piercing. Pushing back in, he increases his pace and sinks deep into me until I explode again. Fuck, he’s so good at that.

Fisting my hair, he pulls my head back again until our lips collide. He continues his rhythm, fucking me so good and hard, I can barely keep up with my breathing. I feel his body tense, his kiss deepens, and then he moans against my mouth as he releases inside me.

“Vada…” he whispers after a minute, against my lips, so soft and sweet.

“Yes?”

“Stay with me,” he pleads, running his tongue along my bottom lip. “Give us a second chance.”

He kisses me before I can respond, which gives me the time I need to process his words.

“I have three more weeks of my promo tour,” I begin to explain as he arches his hips.

“Baby, I’ve been waiting twelve long months for you. I can wait another three weeks as long as I know you’ll come back to me.”

His words send shivers down my spine because they’re everything right and perfect; any girl would die to hear them.

“I want to…” I start, unsure of how to answer him.

“Then do. Take a leap of faith, Vada. I’m not like those other douchebags you’ve dated. I won’t hurt you,” he pleads with such promise, and I want to believe his words with every fiber of my being.

Before I can respond, he pulls out of me and lies down on the bed next to me. I turn my body, so we’re facing each other, and he moves closer until our chests press together.

Cupping my cheeks, he stares directly into my eyes. “Vada, baby. I’m not proposing marriage here. I’m asking you to give us a second-chance at making this work. I gave you space because I knew you needed it till you finished your novel, but I’m only a man of so much patience. I can’t keep putting my heart on the line if you aren’t willing to meet me halfway.”

His confession hits me like a ton of bricks. This man is too good to be true, and I’d be a fool to run away from him again.

My eyes begin to water because his words are so strikingly beautiful. No man has ever fought for me and definitely not this hard. I want to savor everything.

“How would we make this work? I live in Chicago,” I remind him.

He gives me a look that says it’s not a good enough reason, and deep down in my heart I know it’s not. “Yes, and last I checked, you’re a writer, who can literally do her job anywhere.”

I swallow, realizing all the excuses I’m making.

“Vada, what is it? Tell me,” he asks, noticing my hesitation.

“If I moved here, to be with you, it’d put a lot of pressure on us to make it work. I already have a mile-long list of relationship and anxiety issues. I don’t know how it’d work with that kind of pressure on us.”

“There’d be no pressure, babe. I know writing is important to you, and I have my pottery, so I’d never put you in a position to choose one over the other.”

“Okay…” I finally respond with a nod, giving him the reassurance he needs.

Enthusiastically, he grabs my face, and our mouths collide together. I laugh against his lips at his eagerness, and he smiles in return.

“As long as Henry doesn’t try to eat Oliver.” I grin, weaving our legs together.

He presses a long kiss on my lips. “No promises.” Winking, he pulls me off the bed and starts leading us down the hall, and before I can question what he’s doing, he brings us to the bathroom.

“Showers just haven’t been the same without you.” The corner of his lips tilt as he runs the water.

“You know? I’ve been thinking the exact same thing.” I grin, letting him lead me inside.

“Good, because I plan to make up for lost time.” He pins me to the wall as the water cascades down on us. His fingers find their way to my pussy while I stroke his shaft. He wastes no time hooking my leg around his waist as he slides back inside me. “I don’t know how I ever lived without this—without you—and now that I have it back, I’m not letting you go.”

I love his possessive side, even when he’s being overly sweet about it.

He fucks me into oblivion, my breaths coming out in heavy pants. I dig my nails into his arms, holding onto him for support as he rips me in two.

Every part of me tightens as another wave of pleasure surrounds me.

“God, I’m so fucking close,” he mutters against my neck as my hand tangles in his hair. “But I want to be inside you all the damn time, every single minute possible. How’s it I can’t get enough of you?”

“I thought a lot about this over the past year,” I admit.

“Oh yeah?” I feel him smile against me. “Did you think of me when you touched yourself? Did you get off on those thoughts?”

“Well, you read the book,” I tease.

“Ah, yes. Chapters two, three, six, and fourteen,” he responds without missing a single beat.

I chuckle, amused he really did memorize the damn book.

“Chapter six was my favorite, I think. The way you screamed so hard during your orgasm, you ended up taking a lamp out.”

“Oh my God.” I blush, laughing at him. “To be fair, the lamp wasn’t supposed to be there.”

Without replying, he pulls out, turns me around and pins my chest to the shower wall.

“Chapter thirteen,” I blurt out.

“What?” He leans his head over my shoulder almost as if he needs clarifying he heard me correctly. “Are you sure?”

I look over my shoulder and grin widely. “Absolutely.”

His eyes widen before scraping his teeth along my shoulder. “Fuck, Vada. You’re trying to fucking ruin me tonight, aren’t you?”

“Only in the best way possible.”

I feel his cock press against the small of my back. Shaking my ass, he drags the tip up and down my cheeks before positioning himself against my opening. He moves the showerhead so it’s not directly on us before leaning back and pressing a hand on my spine till my back is arched enough for him.

He takes me by surprise when he kneels down, spreads my legs, and starts stroking his tongue along my slit. “Relax, Vada,” he demands, soothing his hands along my hip. “Do you trust me?” he asks, and I don’t hesitate to nod because I do. I really do.

He slides a finger into my tight hole as his tongue works my clit. My body relaxes against his touch, although the feeling is foreign. He loosens me up until he thinks I’m ready and when he stands back up, he slowly eases inside me. At first, it’s so tight, and the pressure is so uncomfortable, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Then he slides in a bit more and wraps a hand around my waist, holding me in place.

“Touch yourself, baby. It’ll help you relax, so you don’t tense up,” he tells me, and I oblige.

Sliding a hand between my legs, I rub my clit and feel the buildup as he slides in some more.

“Holy fuck,” I blurt out at the intense sensation. I’d never felt anything like it.

“You feel so goddamn good, Vada. Fuck, I won’t be able to last much longer.”

A few moments later, my orgasm builds and everything tenses.

“Vada! Fuck, oh my God.” His strained voice echoes through the shower as his climax hits him hard.

Breathless, we stand under the water together, both sated and defeated. He spins me around and captures me with a kiss.

“If you can still walk after that, then we’re not finished.”