“I used to think about kissing you again,” he said, cradling her in his arms. “I thought about it at the weirdest times. I’m starting to believe that old myth that there’s a perfect mate for every man.”

“Are you saying you want to marry me, John?”

“I don’t want to be stupid, and I don’t want to mess anything up. You’ve only been back a little while…but does it count as a proposal if I tell you I want to head in that direction?”

“I think so,” she said, tasting his ear, his neck. She tugged his shirt out of his pants and ran the palms of her hands up his chest. His skin was hot and dry; his nipples were pointed little knobs.

His hands tugged her shirt out of her pants. His lips demanded of hers, and his breathing became labored. “I want you in the worst way. Can we? Is it okay?”

Details, details. She was going to faint if he didn’t undress her right away.

“We can,” she said.

“Do you use something? We don’t want any accidents.”

Damn. “Oh, John… ” she sighed. “When I thought about coming back here…I thought you were married.”

He chuckled against her neck. “You won’t get out of it that easily,” he said. “Turn around,” he directed. She did; she would have stood on her head right now if that was what he wanted from her. He began undoing her long braid. “I figured you hadn’t covered that,” he said, digging his fingers into her hair and fanning it wide. “You never did think about the practical aspect of things, so I went to the drugstore.”

“Hoping?” she asked.

He sighed from his toes. “I’ve been hoping since I saw you again. Am I rushing you?” he asked, turning her back to face him. She shook her head as he slowly lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “I can’t get close enough to you. I can’t leave you alone. Sue me.” He reached around her and unsnapped her bra. “Ahhhh,” he said. “You’re so perfect.”

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back while he touched her breasts with his mouth. At the same time he popped the snap on her jeans, and when he raised his head again he ripped off his shirt in one perfect, fluid motion. And held her. Skin against skin. The soft, hot press of bodies. She shuddered slightly in anticipation and ground her body into his. How she had longed to have this part of her life back.

“This isn’t going to last long,” he whispered, his voice jagged and raspy. “The next time will last longer.”