She nodded, but he felt her tense at the mention of his sister. “Tank’s with her.”

He’d text the guy and make sure he stayed there for a while. He needed this time with Erika. A last few hours together before she left. There was so much he wanted to say...yet he had no idea how. It was too soon to claim he was in love with her, but there were no other words to describe the overwhelming sensations running through his body and heart when he was with her, when he saw her, when he thought of her.

She was it for him. He knew that. As crazy as it sounded, he’d fallen fast and hard for his sister’s best friend. Now, he had to figure out how to show her. Find out if she was feeling even a fraction of what he was. Where they went from here, how they made this work, he wasn’t sure, but if she wanted him, he was willing to try. More than eager to explore this connection between them.

He backed away slightly and kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks and finally her lips.

Taking her hands, he wrapped them around his neck, and placing his hands under her thighs, he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her to his bedroom.

She continued to kiss him as he made his way blindly into the room and set her down on his unmade bed. Breaking their connection, he unzipped her jacket, removed it and tossed it aside.

Seemingly lost in a silent turmoil, she quietly removed her sweater and bra, then her jeans and underwear and, naked, she lay back against his pillow, waiting for him.

God, her leaving was going to suck the life out of him.

Dropping his towel, he lay on the bed next to her. Not touching, not kissing, just lying there staring at one another. Two people who’d connected on so many levels in such a short time...or perhaps the connection had started that night in the forest when he’d held her while she’d slept. A night when they’d been a source of unexpected comfort for one another.

He could see so many of his own conflicted thoughts in her eyes and he reached for her, pulling her closer. “You’re sure you can’t stay longer?” He kissed the top of her head as his hand slid the length of her side, caressing each delicate, soft curve, trying to commit each inch of her to memory.

“Unfortunately not,” she said, and he could hear her desire to stay in her voice.

“Well, let’s not waste any more of the time we do have,” he said, gently guiding her onto her back and lying on top of her. He supported his weight on his arms as he separated her legs and placed himself between them.