We’d finished dinner an hour ago and were currently on the couch, a movie playing. It was something romantic, not what I would have chosen, but for Cora this was all her call. She held the reins, called the shots. She was the woman that could make me walk through fire if it meant she’d smile for me.

I glanced over at her, the couch not that big, but she seemed so far away. Without thinking, because I wanted her close to me, wanted her pressed right up against me, I reached out and took her hand in mine. I pulled her toward me gently, and she looked surprised at first, but gave me the warmest, sweetest smile after. When she was pressed right against me I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, just keeping her close.

It felt so damn good, so right and perfect.

This was perfect, right. It was everything I’d even imagined, and I hadn’t even proposed yet. I was just sitting with my girl watching a movie, but it was utter perfection.

The movie was more background noise for me as I thought about what to say, how I’d proceed. I wanted to tell her how I felt, what she meant to me. I wanted to explain that even though this might be the craziest fucking thing both of us could experience, all it had taken was one look at her to know she was supposed to be in my life.

She was always meant to be mine.

No time like the present, right?

“Cora?” I said her name softly, my throat feeling so thick all of a sudden. I shifted on the couch and saw out of the corner of my eye that she was looking over at me. I looked at her then, staring into her eyes, feeling my heart jump into my throat. “It’s been a long time…” The rest of what I was going to say stalled in my mouth, on the tip of my tongue.

“It has,” she said with this sadness in her voice. “But you’re back now.” She smiled and it lit up the whole fucking room.

“When I was overseas there wasn’t a day that went by, for all eight of these years, that I didn’t think about you, worry about if you were okay.” I reached out and cupped her cheek, her skin so smooth, so warm. I wanted to kiss her then, but I refrained, wanting to get these words out first. “It’s always been us against the world, hasn’t it?” I murmured. She nodded slowly, and I could see she was straightening beside me, her body becoming a little tense. Maybe she knew where this was going. “You were always in my heart. You always have been and always will be.”

A few moments of silence passed, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“I feel the same way, Xavier,” she said, her voice soft. I stroked my thumb across her cheek, marveling at how perfect she was. It was time I was honest.

“It’s only ever been you,” I whispered, being honest about this for the first time in my life.

I love you. You’re my everything.

“I love you.” I inhaled slowly, knowing what I was about to say might break this. “I’m in love with you.” Her eyes widened and I heard her sharp inhalation. She didn’t respond for long seconds, and as I listened to the clock ticking down the time in the background, I knew that no matter what, I was glad I’d finally admitted how I felt.

And then, catching me totally off guard, she leaned forward and kissed me. Her lips were soft, warm, and the scent of her had me groaning. The kiss was soft, very intimate, and as much as I wanted to pull her onto my lap and deepen the kiss, I held my position and let her lead.

It started off soft, almost tentative. Just our mouths pressed together, her warm, sweet breath moving along my lips, the slightest bit of pressure letting me know this was real.

God, this is real. This is so fucking real.

But just as I groaned, about to snap and take control, she pulled away. I wanted to bring her back to my mouth, to devour her lips, plunge my tongue inside the sweet, hot depths of her and never let go. I wanted to be lost in Cora, so fucking lost that I would never find my way back.

She placed her hand on my cheek and I leaned into her touch, closing my eyes, just letting myself absorb the feeling of her touching me. I couldn’t help myself then. I wrapped my arms around her waist and hauled her on top of me, her legs on either side of my waist, her chest pressed to mine. She gasped, her mouth so close to mine I wanted to kiss her until she was breathless.

I didn’t want to be a bastard, not with her, not ever, but there was this rawness in me that wanted out. I might never have been with a woman sexually before, never wanted one if it wasn’t Cora, but I knew what I wanted to do to her, with her, and fuck, was it dirty.

“There were times I didn’t know if I’d see you again, if I’d ever be able to look into your blue eyes, hold you, tell you how much you mean to me.” Her voice was thick, her emotions clear.

I rested my forehead against hers, closed my eyes for a long second, and struggled with my own feelings, with this moment. “That would never have happened. I couldn’t stay away from you.” I pulled back slightly. “Those eight years were the hardest I’ve ever gone through.” I cupped her cheek, her skin so warm under my palm.

“Xavier,” she whispered and closed her eyes. “You’re really here,” she said almost to herself.

“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I love you.” Her body felt good on mine. A shuddering breath left me. For long moments we just stared at each other, neither speaking, hell, not even breathing. The heat between us was tangible, the chemistry intense and honest. I didn’t want to leave this moment. Ever.

“I have always wanted you like no other. No woman compares to you, has ever had my interest.” I swallowed, my throat tight, my mouth getting dry. I was nervous saying the words out loud.

I would have done anything to make this moment last, to keep it forever. She looked at me then, my cock jerking at the sight of her, at the way she watched me, wanted me. I could see that in her face, in the way she looked into my eyes, the longing there.

She shook her head. “No more talking.”

My heart thundered in my chest at hearing her words. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long. So fucking long.” I didn’t mean to say the words out loud, but they spilled from me before I could stop them. “But I don’t want to rush you, pressure you into anything—”

She shook her head. “I’m done waiting. I want to be with you. I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

My cock jerked. The fucker was so hard, so ready to claim Cora, to be buried deep in her body. I’d be the only one who touched her, who knew how tight she was, how wet she got. I looked into her eyes, the blue taking me under, holding me down. She was my life.

I couldn’t help myself. I never had been able to where she was concerned. I leaned in an inch, our mouths so close if I said one word they’d brush together. “Tell me what you want and it’s yours. What I am, all of me, is yours, Cora.” With my hand on the back of her head, holding her close, not wanting to let her go, I knew that I had to give her room. I couldn’t force anything on her, not even my love.

“I want you,” she whispered. “I’ve always wanted you.”

I couldn’t help but groan in pleasure.

“I don’t even know what’s going on,” she said, but I could hear in her voice that she was right here with me.

I knew she was just as into this, just as swept into the desire, love, intensity, as I was.

“What’s going on is exactly what was meant to happen right from day one.”

* * *

I couldn’t breathe. It was like a dream, one I’d had countless times over the years. I was on his lap, Xavier’s arms holding me close, his mouth an inch from mine.

I’d fantasized, dreamt of having Xavier close to me, telling me all the things he wanted to do to me, with me. My heart was in my throat, beating wildly, threatening to choke me. The flavor of him on my lips from our kiss was addicting, having me craving more, needing it like I needed to breathe. I felt how hard he was between my thighs, a testament to how much he wanted me.

I was on his lap, my legs on either side of his waist, his big body settled back against the couch. Xavier watched me for long seconds, his gaze heavy-lidded. He made me feel like a woman, all female when I was around him.

“You’re it for me. I saved myself for you, Cora.”

I breathed out heavily. “I saved myself for you, too,” I admitted. I could have found it hard to believe a man like Xavier, one so attractive, so masculine, could have saved himself for me, but I trusted him, believed him without fault. I couldn’t think, couldn’t even breathe. I didn’t want to think anymore.

I just wanted to act.