“I don’t even remember,” I gasp, “what the fuck I was trying to say.”

The laughter begins to calm and I sit up and push my hair off my face, panting and wiping the tears from my eyes. When I glance at Josh, he’s grinning at me, his eyes soft and loving, and I think the storm is almost over.

He tosses the phone on the nearby dresser, pins me in his gaze, and sighs. “Come here, Cara.”

Staying where I am, I slowly shake my head back and forth and take a long, deep breath.

“No?” he asks quietly, and again I shake my head. He crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes. “Come. Here.”

“Why?”

He raises his eyebrows and doesn’t answer, the dimple in his cheek still winking at me, waiting for me to do as he asks.

Finally, I stand, walk around the bed, and stop a few feet in front of him. “Now what?”

His eyes travel leisurely down my body and back up again, taking in my hair and eyes. No part of me goes untouched by his eyes.

“I can’t stay mad at you when you laugh like that,” he murmurs. “I love it when you laugh.”

“Josh?”

“Yes.”

“I love you.”

He doesn’t move.

“I really need . . .” I hate how my voice quivers as my emotions surge to the surface.

“What?”

“I really need you to hug me.”

He watches me for a long moment, then closes his eyes and exhales deeply and folds me into his arms, holding me hard and close, and I begin to cry in earnest, relieved that he’s here.

“I love you too, Cara,” he whispers in my ear.

“I’m so sorry,” I cry.

“Me too.” He kisses my head and runs his hands up and down my back.

“I thought you didn’t want me.”

“Cara, how could you think that?” His arms tighten more, as though he’s afraid I’ll run again. “After everything we’ve been though?”

“I know it’s stupid now, but it just sounded so horrible and I didn’t think to ask you who you were talking about.”

He swoops down and lifts my dress over my head and me into his arms, lays me gently against the soft sheets, and then stands up.

“You’re entirely overdressed,” I inform him with a shaky smile.

He yanks his shirt out of his jeans and strips out of it, giving me an awesome view of his muscular torso. He unfastens his belt buckle and jeans and hastily shoves them down his legs, along with his shorts, and comes back to me, completely naked.

“That’s better.”

I reach out to take his beautiful cock in my hand, but he pulls back and takes my hand in his, kissing my knuckles as he joins me on the bed.

“I’m gonna have to take a rain check on having your sweet hands on me, sweetheart. I want you too much right now.”

He covers me and pushes his forearms under my shoulders, cradles my head in his hands. His face is just inches from mine, his body flush against my own from our chests all the way down to our feet. His erection is pressed against my belly.

“Love the way you feel,” I murmur, and brush my fingertips up and down his back.

“Cara,” he whispers, and sweeps his lips over mine softly. “I love everything about you.” He nibbles the corners of my lips before kissing me again, just as softly. “You take my breath away.”

“Josh—”

“Let me finish,” he whispers, and drags his lips down my jawline to my ear. “I love everything about you.” He tugs my earlobe between his teeth, making me squirm beneath him. “I love your sexy curves.” He kisses down my neck to my collarbone. “I love how your eyes are amber when you’re pissed, hazel when you’re happy, and bright green when you’re turned on, like you are right now.”

He lifts up onto his elbows so he can smile down at me, his dimple winks at me, and I kiss it gently.

“I can’t get enough of your sweet smile.” He nibbles my lips again and grins at me. “You take me to a place that no one else can. You own me.”

I pull my fingers down his face, not noticing the tears falling down my temples, and frown up at him. “You said that before.”

“I don’t think you understand, baby. I’m yours. Always. You are it for me.” He rests his forehead against mine. “You destroy me.”

“You are everything I’ve ever wanted,” I whisper. “You make me a better woman.”

“Baby,” he whispers, and brushes his thumbs over my cheeks. He pulls his hips back and sinks completely inside me. He rests there and gazes lovingly down at me. “No more running.”

“No more.” I cup his ass in my hands as he begins to move, slowly and reverently, sending goose bumps all along my body. The head of his cock drags along my pussy. I clench around him, moving my hips with his.

“You always feel amazing.”

“Mmm.” I grin. “I was just telling Jill last night about how amazing it is to make love with you.”

He stills and stares down at me and then throws his head back and laughs. “How much did you guys have to drink?”

“Three bottles.” I shrug, then giggle again.

“Ah, baby, when you giggle, your pussy clenches on my dick in the most crazy way.”

“I don’t think we’re supposed to laugh when we make love,” I inform him haughtily.

“No?”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Okay.” He kisses me deeply and pulls his hands down my shoulders, my sides, and up to my breasts, brushing his thumbs over my nipples.

“Oh, God.”

“You like that?” He does it again.

“Yeah,” I gasp.

He leans in and kisses me deeply, his hips pick up speed, and he continues to worry my nipples, sending a straight line of electricity from my nipples to my core, and I feel myself begin to shudder around him. His hands glide down to cup my ass, and he tilts my hips up, sinking even farther into me.

“That’s it, my love. Come for me.”

“Oh, sweet Jesus,” I mutter, and fall apart in his arms, circling my hips and pulsing against him as he pushes as far inside me as he can go and cries out as he comes with me.

“I love you, Carolina,” he gasps.

“I love you too, Joshua.”

* * *

“Thank you.” I smile at Jill and give her a big hug as Josh pulls our bags out of her car.

“For what?” She hugs me tight.