I felt her hand on my knee. She wanted me and I wanted her. We had waited half our lives to be together again. I opened my eyes and tried to blink back the tears that had gathered.

She touched my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Sutton. I know I screwed up. I never meant to hurt you and I know I did.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me. She straddled my lap and cradled my face in her hands. “I’m sorry,” she whispered before kissing my cheek. “I’m sorry.” She kissed the corner of my mouth. “I’m sorry.” She claimed my lips.

I grabbed her hips and pulled her to me. I couldn’t get close enough to her. She was so familiar but so exciting. This wasn’t the shy teenager who was nervous to touch. This was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered before pressing her hips down and kissing my lips hard.

I tasted merlot and warmth. My hips rolled into hers and my hands slipped under her sweater. Still so warm and inviting.

Her hands left my shoulders to pull the sweater over her head. She dropped it behind her. “I’m sorry.”

I cupped her face and brought it closer to mine. “You don’t need to apologize. The past is forgotten.” I kissed her, sucking in her bottom lip and scraping it between my teeth. She made a slight gasping sound and plunged her tongue into my mouth. She gave me everything she could in that kiss. I ran my hands up her neck and wrapped them in her hair. I was overwhelmed and I needed for us to be naked and in my bed, not on the couch. I stood with her in my arms. She automatically wrapped her legs around my waist. I told Crowbar to stay and carried her to my bedroom, kicking the door shut in my wake. “Are you sure about this?”

She touched my swollen lips. “I’ve never wanted anything more than this moment.”

I lowered her onto the mattress and ripped off my T-shirt and kicked off my sweats.

She held her hands up. “Wait.”

I froze not knowing what to do. Did I push too far too fast? “What?”

“I want to look at you. You’re even more beautiful than you were when we were younger.”

I melted but stood still. I wasn’t as lean as I was in high school, but I was stronger. I slid out of my boxers and took off my bra. I watched Parker unbutton her pants and I helped slide them off. Her blue lace bra and panty set made my mouth water. Seeing her like this confirmed what I’d assumed: she was still petite, but her curves were more pronounced and her breasts fuller. She took my breath away.

“You’re still so beautiful, too.”