While holding her, John felt proud of both of them. For the first time, they were truly honest with one another. The heaviness in his heart slowly disappeared, leaving him relieved and excited for this second chance. “Now, would you still like that kiss?”

She answered by pressing forward.

There was electricity in Victoria’s lips as they made contact with his. The jolt stunned him and traveled throughout his body, from his arms and to the tips of his fingers. Her mouth shook him to his core so violently, he opened his eyes to make certain it was only a human woman kissing him. A human woman with a pagan goddess’s tongue to be sure. John let his eyes fall shut as she eased her tongue through the barrier of his lips. She gripped his shoulders, then his neck, and finally the sides of his face, as she pulled him down to meet her. While connected, he whipped off his hat and flung it somewhere in the office before dragging his mask from his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, John,” she whispered in between kisses. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

He didn’t ignore the admission, but he wasn’t interested in replying. His tongue was busy battling hers, sparring and sliding against her in a feverish attempt to possess her. He devoured her like a man on his death bed. As if she were the last drink of water in the desert. Her lips were soft against his, pliant and lush, and the more she gave, the more he took. Her hands slipped behind his head, fingers raking through his ponytail. Electricity gathered in his scalp, traveled through his neck to his chest. Soft moans vibrated against his lips as she pulled him near.

John’s hands traveled their own electric path. One stayed planted on her ass, squeezing and kneading her soft flesh, pushing her against his erection. The other swept up her torso and landed on her breast. He squeezed the full globe and cursed his gloved hands. He needed to feel all of her.

In frustration, he broke away from her lips and finally inhaled. With his teeth, he wrenched off his leather gloves and cast them to the floor with his discarded mask. “Victoria, I need to...”

Her eyes seemed to understand his strangled request. “Now?”

“Please.”

She nodded and made quick work of undoing her belt. “Right.”

“I mean, if it’s okay with you,” he said, watching her trembling fingers work.

“It’s absolutely fine with me,” she said with a chuckle.

John locked the door behind him. “I missed you so much.” He came back to her and slipped the ski-cap from her head, tossing it to the floor. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

As he reached up to remove his cape, Victoria’s hand caught his. “No,” she said, licking her lips. “Leave it on. Leave all of it on.”