Alec’s eyes lifted to hers. He had been staring. Coveting, really. Yes, he would always covet what he could never truly possess. Lottie held out her hand and Alec willed his legs to move. As their palms slid against each other, the shock of familiarity was as strong as ever, even through his gloves. Alec tore them off. Then, in another instant, he crushed her against his chest and thrust a bare hand into her silky hair, sending those thick russet waves tumbling out of her coiffure. Lottie stared up at him in wide-eyed surprise at his sudden movements. Alec forced himself to take a steadying breath and focus on the moment, before he gently set his mouth to hers.

The very air seemed to crackle as their lips touched, just like their last kiss, but Alec had been an entirely different man then. One whose walls were still intact. One who had no idea what he was getting into. And one who had grossly overestimated himself.

How could this be only the second time they had kissed? The thought of kissing her again had become a steady, insistent murmur these last few days. But now it was as if a whole orchestra had reached a violent crescendo. Something burst forth inside him, like a bird escaping its cage. As if kissing her freed him. Made him anew.

And he could not let her go so easily this time.

Lottie pressed her lips harder against his, kissing him like her life depended on it. Like he was her only source of air. And Alec was no better. He kissed her back with equal hunger until the taste of her lips was no longer enough. He brushed his tongue along her bottom lip. It was only a cursory, cautious lick to gauge her interest, to see if she would grant him entrance, but she let out a squeak of delight as her fingers tightened and twisted in his hair. Then she boldly pushed her soft, velvet tongue into his waiting, eager mouth.

Damn.

“Lottie, wait,” he said raggedly, breaking the kiss. Alec tried to pull back but the lapels of his jacket were fisted in her hands.

She shook her head stubbornly as she tugged on his shirt. “I’m tired of waiting.”

Alec chuckled. Try waiting years.

Before he could do something incredibly foolish, like voicing such a thought, Lottie rose on her toes and found his lips again. His arms automatically went around her and he pulled her close once again, until her entire body, every bloody, lovely inch of her, was pressed against his. But it still wasn’t close enough. He needed nothing between them—no skin, muscle, sinew—nothing until their very hearts could beat as one.

The thought gave him a start and she pulled back, concerned. “What is it?”

Alec shook his head and tried to speak, but it was far too much to put into mere words.