“All I know is I’m way past the point in my life where I have any desire to play games.”

“I never got to have that stage. I had to grow up awfully fast.”

“I want to give you everything you’ve never had.”

“Grayson…”

“Too much?”

“You’re making my heart beat fast.”

He laid his hand over her rapidly beating heart. “I’ve never made anyone’s heart beat fast.”

“Now you have.” She covered his hand with hers. “We should go.”

“I know,” he said, but he made no move to let her go. Rather, he moved them so he was above her, gazing down at her with so much emotion that Emma couldn’t process it all. Then he kissed her, making her forget about the late hour, her impending departure, the question he’d asked her and everything other than the pleasure she found in his arms.

He made slow, sweet, sexy love to her, as if they had all the time in the world rather than only a few hours before they would go their separate ways. For now, anyway.

She wished she could bottle the way he made her feel when he touched her. He loved her with unrestrained passion that he didn’t try to hide or mask as anything other than exactly what it was. The raw emotion she saw in his expression touched her deeply and had her clinging to him when she came harder than she ever had before. He was right there with her, holding her tight against him as he lost himself in her. It was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful moments she’d ever experienced.

His lips brushing her cheek made her aware of tears that she hadn’t known were there. “Don’t cry, sweet Emma. We’re going to figure this out. Now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting you go.”

With her arms around him, she held on tight to his assurances. “I have to get back to the Abbotts’.”

“I know.”

She felt his reluctance as he withdrew from her and helped her up. They took a hot shower together and got dressed in silence, the weight of the intense intimacy they’d shared hanging over them as they ventured into the predawn darkness. By then, it was after four o’clock, and Emma felt ridiculously guilty for staying out so late.

“I’m sure you’re worried about offending my aunt and uncle, but after having raised ten children, there’s literally nothing that surprises them anymore.”

“I’d never want to take advantage of their hospitality.”

“You haven’t. Don’t worry. They’re super cool. They’d never think a thing of it. Besides, my uncle and grandfather have made it their mission in life to see us all married off. If that were to happen with us, they’d find a way to take full credit.”