“There’s no reason to be nervous.” Deb raises one arched brow above the top of her coffee cup.

“I’m not nervous.” My finger traces the rim of my almost empty mug as one foot bounces a staccato beat under the counter. The band is on their way back from the airport and I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting. Sean, Austin, Trent, Lexi, and Opal should walk through the front door any second if the travel time on my smartphone predicts correctly. Not like I’ve been watching the clock that closely. Okay, I have.

Deb clears her throat and lets loose a chuckle that says she doesn’t buy my bullcrap.

“Okay, I’m completely nervous.” I push the mug away and stand up to rinse it in the sink.

“He’s gonna walk in that door and you’ll be fine.”

With the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth, I meet her stare and shrug before blowing out a rush of breath. “I hope so. It’s silly with as much as we’ve talked, but this is the first time we’ll be together. In person. You know, since everything happened.”

“And you have done so much over the past three months.” She slides off the barstool, coming around the island to wrap me in her arms. “I’m so proud of you Jess. I really am.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” I squeeze her back. I’m now the proud owner of a high school equivalency degree. To most that’s probably nothing, but to me it feels like a giant step forward after years of being stuck in hopelessness.

“You would have, but you’re welcome.” Commotion at the front door followed by the chatter of voices pulls us apart. Deb’s smile is wide. “Now, go get your man.”

My feet want to run, but I force them to take steady, even steps down the hall. Everyone is inside the entryway, but my eyes are only for Sean.

His lips pull up at the sight of me and continue until a full smile fills his face. He doesn’t say a thing, but drops his bags and stalks toward me until I’m close enough to wrap in his arms. Of course I let him.

I press my face to his chest and inhale the scent that’s uniquely his. It smells like his cologne. It’s the reason I wear his shirts to bed. The smell lingers in the fabric even after it’s washed, but there’s nothing comparable to the warmth of his arms. The sure and steady beat of his heart. The safety of his love.

“God, I missed you,” he whispers into my ear.

If there’s anyone still around us I don’t take notice, tipping my chin up to meet his gaze. “I missed you, too.” The words are barely out of my lips before his mouth is on mine. Hungry and decadent, I enjoy the sensation of his kiss. His arms encircle my waist. I want him so badly.

“Sorry.” He chuckles and loosens me in the space between us. “I’ve been waiting to do that since I left.”

Saying things like that only melts my heart even more. If my body wasn’t completely amped up in this moment, I might savor it a little more.

“You already have dinner?” he asks, and nods down the hall to the kitchen where laughter and chatter amplify from the room.

“Not hungry.” It’s almost seven and I ate hours ago. I don’t want to be rude, though. “You must be starving. We can join them if you want.”

I’m certain by the lift of his brow I do a poor job hiding my reluctance. “I could eat.” His gaze never leaves mine. “Unless you had something else in mind?” He’s leaving it open. Giving me an out. Classic Sean. But I’m not the same woman I was when he left. I’ve changed. I know what I want.

Him.

Taking his hand in mine, I turn and lead him up the stairs and straight toward his bedroom. I’ve never been one to take control or set the pace in a relationship, but I’m empowered to do just that with Sean.

Inside his room, I shut and lock the door behind us. He hasn’t said a word, his eyes following my every move like a hawk. I walk to the side of his bed and connect my phone to the portable dock. My playlist serenades us through the speaker and he lifts his brow.

“Sorry, it’s not 3UG.” I grin and walk over to the candles I arranged on his dresser, taking my time lighting each one. My fingers tremble, but not with nerves as much as anticipation.

“I hear they’re overplayed,” he says, still not moving from where I left him at the door.

“They’re not bad.” I turn and slide the straps of my top off each shoulder before going to the buttons. “I have a little thing for the bass player.”

“Yeah?” His grin kicks up.

“Yeah.” I drop my top to the floor and shimmy my shorts off my hips, standing before him in only my black bra and thong. “Maybe he would join me? In bed?”

“He’d love that.” Sean doesn’t waste a second, my invitation all he needs to close the space between us and pull me into his arms. He walks backwards to the bed, his lips never leaving mine until he sits on the mattress. “You’re ready?” he says, and it feels as if he’s asking for more than my consent.

Either way, the answer’s the same. “I’m ready,” I say, my fingers finding the bottom of his T-shirt to lift it over his head. Next, I unfasten his jeans. He helps tug them off his hips and when we’re both down to only our underwear, I straddle his lap and pull his lips back to mine.

Lust surges throughout my body as I rock my hips over his erection. I find my rhythm in the music and hold on to his shoulders for support. Our breaths mingle. Between kisses and touches and whispered admiration, we seek out and learn the other’s pleasure. It’s teasing and temptation all in one, and when I cannot take it anymore, I push him back onto the mattress and climb over to reach for a condom.

He shucks his underwear and I do the same. When our bodies join together again, it’s almost enough to make me come.

“Jess,” Sean whispers as his hands trace my breasts and cup them in his hands. His mouth goes to each one, his tongue and fingers working each nipple into a hard point. My body aches for more. After only the memory for months, I can’t get enough of his touch.

I rock up and down, back and forth, grinding my clit against his body with each twist of my hips. The way we fit is a delicious concoction, a dose of desire, and I drink it all in.

Moans. Touch. The smell of my own arousal from where our bodies meet. It pushes me closer and closer to the edge. A ridge I want to ride as long as I can without crashing over, because as much as I want the release, I also don’t want this to end.

“I want you,” I pant and Sean’s lips press against mine.

His thumb goes to my clit and he takes over, that one finger rubbing back and forth over my bundle of nerves while his other hand guides my hip. “I’ve got you,” he says, and that’s all it takes.

My desire explodes and crashes, the tingle of it working through my limbs to the tip of my toes as I call out his name.

“I’ve got you, Jess. I’ve got you,” he chants into the shell of my ear as he thrusts up with his own release. His hands wrap around me and pull my body down to his so our lips meet.

My heart hammers in my chest with a beat I swear races to match his.

“God, I missed you,” he says, and again it’s full of the same desperate need. As if we haven’t come close to quenching the thirst that’s been building from three long months apart.

My lips pull into a satisfied smile and I lift my chin to rest on his chest so I can meet his stare. His gaze is like a shot of adrenaline straight to my heart, and I never want him to stop looking at me this way.

“I swore I wasn’t going to jump you the second I walked in the door.” His lips pull with a wicked smile. “Thank you for doing it for me.”

A giggle escapes my lips and I look down, letting my hair fall forward to block the blush that surely marks my cheeks. Why I’m embarrassed I don’t know, other than I’ve never been so bold in the bedroom.

“Hey,” he says until I meet his gaze. “Thank you for making this special.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I wish it were longer.” He groans and rolls me to my side so he can bury his head into the crook of my neck. “We’ll have to make the best use of our time.”

“Good plan.” I sigh as his lips trace the sensitive skin there with a gentleness that scatters goosebumps across my flesh.

“Do you have to work?” He pulls back and props his head on one hand while his other splays across my hip.

“Nope.” I pop the word and his smile grows. “I took all four days off. I hope that’s okay.”

“Perfect.” He presses one kiss to my forehead. “Because I have a surprise planned.”

“What?” I draw out the word and laugh.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s just a little something to celebrate your accomplishments.”

I blow out a breath and shake my head. “You didn’t have to do anything. It’s just a GED.”

“It’s not just anything. I’m fucking proud of you. I promise you’ll like it.”

“As long as it involves us spending time together, you’re probably right.”

“Of course.” He winks and his stomach rumbles between us loudly enough to make us both laugh. “Maybe we should find some food first?”

“You know Deb made enough to feed an army.” I laugh and pull off the bed, picking up my clothes on the way to the bathroom. I use the restroom to clean up and then he does the same.

He catches me in his arms before we’re fully dressed. “I don’t plan on sleeping much tonight.”

The desire from his words spreads heat all over my body and I tilt my chin. “Oh?”

“I can’t believe we’re here.”

“Your bedroom?” I shake my head, confused.

His eyes slam shut and he lets loose a chuckle. “I can’t believe we’re finally here. Together. That I don’t have to hide how I feel about you anymore. That you want me, too.”

“Sean?” I reach up and frame his jaw with my fingertips to meet his stare. “I’ve always wanted you. I wanted you before I could have you, but now . . . it’s so much more, don’t you think?”

He opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something, but before he does he presses his lips together and nods. “Yeah. That’s exactly right, Jess.” His stomach grumbles again and a sheepish grin pulls at his lips.

“When was the last time you ate?” I laugh, pulling out of his embrace to shrug on my shirt.

He reaches down to retrieve his shirt. “Lunch? Breakfast? Honestly, I don’t remember. I was so excited to fly home.”

A smile spreads across my lips and I nod. “Well, come on then. Let’s go get you fed.”