Luke lay in the dark, gently stroking Summer’s back. She’d been asleep for more than an hour, her even breathing like a metronome tracking the moments until he left her, and he’d be damned if he slept through a single one.

The way she’d given herself to him, taking off her clothes like it was the most natural thing in the world, cuddling in the crook of his arm like she’d been there a hundred times before… It was too much.

More than he could easily walk away from. More than he had any right to wish for or keep.

She stirred in her sleep, settling again without waking, and he kissed the top of her head. She smelled good, like flowers and berries, and he let his eyes close, committing it to memory.

Summer.

He was grateful for the night they’d shared, more grateful than he had ever been for a moment in time. But it couldn’t last, any more than he could erase the past and wipe her memory clean of the consequences.

It wasn’t a matter of forgiveness. She’d forgiven him as best she could, or else she wouldn’t be here in his arms. It was a crack, a fissure in the bond that connected them, the structure forever unable to bear true weight. This night was a moment, a fleeting connection like a bridge just strong enough for the two of them to race across before it collapsed.

He twisted his torso to see her better and she moved closer to him in her sleep. Even like this their bodies fit together, every curve and muscle cradled perfectly by the other. The warmth of her body rose up between them, carrying her scent, and he dipped his head to lightly kiss her lips, parted in sleep.

Blood rushed to his cock from that one simple touch and he stroked his hand down her back from her shoulder blade to her waist. He had to have her. He would always have to have her.

She whimpered in pleasure, still not completely awake, and he wrapped his arm around her midsection, holding her to him. He was stealing time and he knew it, but his need for her was too great to be denied. He had to touch her, had to stroke her, had to be inside her one more time.

He sucked lightly on her neck, her legs parting as she gasped.

“Luke.”

He moved up her body to see her face, her eyes heavy-lidded and pupils dilated, the lightest smile playing at the corners of her mouth. It was his name that had put that smile there, his body she was opening to, draping one silken leg around his hips. They kissed, his tongue teasing and tasting her, desperate for more.

Her breasts filled his hands and he squeezed, her softness spilling out between his fingers. He needed to taste her, to hear her intake of breath as he suckled and pulled at those glorious nipples. He took one in his mouth, lapping at the pink circle and hard center with his tongue, taking it deep in his mouth while his fingers pinched its twin. She writhed against him, holding him to her breast and whispering encouragements.

He was desperate to be inside her but he held off, savoring every touch and moan. She rolled on top of him, kissing his chest and trailing her mouth along his abdomen, and his cock dripped in anticipation of her next stop. Then her hands were on him, one clenched tightly around the base, the other cupping his balls and gently kneading, her breath hot against his shaft.

He ground his hips, knowing what was to come, and she kissed the head of his cock before taking him into the wet heat of her mouth. His breathing was ragged, all sensation centered on what she was doing to him, the pull of her body on his nearly sending him over the edge.

He twined his fingers in her hair and led her back up to the pillow, turning her onto her back and moving down to her belly. He kissed her there, gratitude like a balm for his tattered soul before moving lower and loving her with his mouth.

She was ready for him, the lips of her sex wet and swollen with need, and he touched her with gentle strokes of his tongue. She came apart in his hand, the orgasm overtaking her quickly, leaving her trembling beneath him.

He reached for a condom, sheathed himself, and moved back on top of her. He entered her swiftly, filling her completely with a single stroke before resting his forehead on hers and thrusting again. It felt like their souls were touching, the meeting of their bodies matching the meeting of their minds.

Summer.

He kissed her jaw, tasting the salty bite of her skin.

Summer.

It could never be like this again. This connection only came around once in a lifetime, if you were lucky, and he was not a lucky man.

Summer.

He pushed into her with a yell, her fingers caressing his back, her nails digging into his skin, and he started the climb to orgasm. The moment shattered into pieces, fragments, tiny moments no bigger than a memory. The hitch of breath. The thrust of her hips up to meet his. The tremor of her muscles as she clenched him once more.

He rolled onto his side, pulling her with him, breathing hard. He’d been given a great gift.

One he didn’t deserve and wouldn’t be able to have again.

This was good-bye.