Haven shivered in the late-September evening air, the first crunchy leaves of autumn swirling in front of us as I opened the passenger door to our Lexus. She smiled broadly to me as she slid into the seat, and I couldn’t help leaning in and brushing my lips against hers before I pulled away and shut the door with a firm click. Walking to the driver’s side, my steps felt lighter than they had in years.

The night I’d rescued her at the prison, I’d thought I almost lost her. Walker and Caelan were tracking Hunter, but had lost track right before Haven left Max. My instincts alerted me that shit was going down, and I was already on my way to her when she called. Hunter hadn’t disengaged the call, and I heard fucking everything. I’d seen red knowing he laid hands on my girl. I’d wanted to kill the bastard for touching her.

But now we had another chance together. I’d let her down once and I’d never let her down again. I’d kept Hunter restrained until Haven explained what happened, and the security cameras confirmed her story. We went home. Hunter was contained.

Haven was mine.

When Haven smiled at me, I knew she was smiling because she’d just seen victory, her innocent clients freed from prison while a guilty man, Hunter Utley, had been charged with murder and attempted abduction, among other crimes. Between what James had observed in the parking lot and Hunter’s own confession, which Walker had caught on tape, Hunter was well and truly screwed. I had gotten justice against the man responsible for my brother’s death, and we were closing in on bringing down the entire Bianchi family.

And I had Haven.

We were heading to her parents’ house in Barnstable, a little city outside of Hartford. What they didn’t know yet was that their mortgage had been paid off, they’d become the recipients of a serious windfall from a long-lost relative they never knew and never would. Thanks to Walker, a cool sum of money had been wired into their bank account. Though I’d already made amends for the money I’d stolen, I needed to take it a step further. The Wrights were set for life. It was the least I could do.

I pulled into the busy street teeming with cars, horns blasting and lights flashing, but it all faded into the background when Haven’s hand met mine across the console. We rested our hands like that, in silence, our fingers entwined. I ran a thumb over the curves of her nails.

“You look so innocent,” I said. “The picture of wholesome goodness, but I know those lavender nails clawed my back this morning when you came.”

She gasped and tried to pull her hand away, but I held fast and brought her fingers to my lips, kissing them. “And those lips, so soft and sweet, smiling like you’re as pure as the driven snow, uttered the filthiest things I’ve ever heard whispered in my ear.” I made a clucking sound. “You’re a bad girl, Haven. I think when we get to the hotel tonight, I’ll have to punish you to make you behave.”

She shifted on her seat, and I knew if I touched her, I’d find her wet for me. My own need pulsed low in my gut, and I swallowed hard. We had a ways to go before we made it to the hotel tonight. I had to face her parents first. We had a story in place if they recognized me, though Haven was pretty sure they wouldn’t. They were older now, and I’d met them only a handful of times when I’d dated Haven nearly a decade ago.

“Babe, are you sure you don’t want me to apologize to your parents?” I really needed to know that this shit was behind us, and that I’d done all I could in the present to make up for what I’d done in the past. In the last two weeks, I’d had Walker track down the names of people I’d conned, and I’d carefully made restitution with the money that was now mine.

“No,” she said firmly. “The chances of mom and dad knowing it was you are slim to none. For all of our sakes, I’d prefer to keep that in the past, Ethan. I don’t want them having anything but joy and love when they look at the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

I squeezed her hand when her voice trembled. God, I loved her.

“And anyway,” she continued. “You aren’t the man you once were.”

I swallowed, and focused hard on driving. “I’m not. But love changes a man, I guess.” Love and pain. Remorse was a bitter pill to swallow but forgiveness and redemption made it better.

I’d spend the rest of my life being the man I was now. Tad Warner… and every other identity I’d assumed over the years… were buried in my past. I had a new beginning, with Haven. And hell, I’d make every minute count.

* * *

“Right there,” I whispered in Haven’s ear, lowering my body to hers as both of her hands grasped the headboard rail. We’d gone to her parents’ house and taken them to dinner. Neither showed even a hint of recognizing me, and Haven had given them the news over dinner about the windfall. They were thrilled, though they’d seemed even more elated to see Haven’s hand tucked into mine.

After dinner, we’d seen them home and gone to our hotel. I’d rented a suite, the largest and swankiest one I could find. She now lay under me, completely naked and thoroughly turned on, after I’d taken her across my knee and spanked her to the edge of climax. I ran my hands along the length of her body, loving the way she felt beneath me, my cock sliding between her legs. I brought my mouth to her breast and licked her nipple, feeling her arch beneath me, her legs parting.

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done, Haven,” I whispered in her ear, edging at her entrance. Her knuckles whitened, her wide green eyes fixed on mine. I inhaled the scent of lemons and vanilla, purity and joy as her breath mingled with mine. Little flecks of light danced in her eyes, like meadows dotted with wildflowers.

“No more apologizing, Ethan,” she said. “Love covers a multitude of sins,” she whispered, and though I knew she was quoting something I’d heard long ago, hearing her say it made it new. Perfect.

“Yes,” I breathed, sliding into her. “And God, do I love you.” Her eyes met mine, her fingers sliding off the headboard. In that moment, I knew I would do whatever it took to keep her looking at me that way forever.

She trusted me. It wasn’t until I met Haven that earning someone’s trust mattered.

Her arms encircled my neck as I made slow, sweet love to her, my movements unhurried, the energy between us crackling like logs on a fire--hot, powerful, mesmerizing.

“And I love you,” she replied. I took her mouth with mine, needing to kiss her to seal this oath, our promise to each other transcending the past. I’d taken her many times before. We’d had hot, heart-pounding sex, but this was different. I swallowed her gasps as we came together, our bodies moving as one, chasing ecstasy.

Now, we made love.