“I know, I wish it too. And I love you. I’ll always love you.” He choked the words out. His body was stiff, like he was holding himself back. “Lily, I can’t stop myself anymore.”

His grip on my hands tightened as he yanked me forward to band an arm around my hips to lift me closer to his mouth for a kiss. Winding a hand into my hair, he held on as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Electricity shot through me at the touch of his lips, the taste of him, the feel of his body finally against mine, the way we used to be. I threaded my fingers into that beautiful hair I’d been dying to touch and pulled him even closer. A low growl rumbled from his chest. I wanted to crawl inside of him, I couldn’t get close enough. Stumbling backward we crashed to the couch, I straddled him as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. All those lost years were no longer between us—nothing was. Our tears had burned it all away—the fears, the doubt, the pain. Nothing had ever felt more right than this.

I pulled back and took his face in my hands. The need I saw in his eyes matched the need in my heart. I kissed him again, tasting the salt from his tears. He gripped my waist as his mouth moved down to my neck, tickling my skin and making me tremble. He caressed up my back and into my hair again to grip lightly as he pulled my face to his. He kissed me deeply, exploring my mouth. Soon, I grew restless and hungry for more.

“Luke,” I whispered on a moan. “Oh, God.” I felt him hard against my body. I moved my hands over his shoulders, down his strong arms, up his chest, then back to his face again. My fingers trembled as I unbuttoned his shirt. All I wanted was his skin on mine. “I can’t get close enough,” I breathed.

He groaned, pushing the straps of my top down to pool around my waist as he trailed his lips down my neck to the lace of my bra. Reaching behind me he unfastened it, then he buried his face between my breasts as I squeezed him with my legs and arched against his mouth. He moaned as his hands dug into my hips, pulling me even closer.

The small part of me that doubted, that made me afraid of succumbing to Luke again whispered in my ear demanding that I stop before I got hurt. I ignored my doubts and ground down against him, relishing his labored breath against my fevered skin. He grabbed my hips and pulled me down as he pushed his pelvis up into mine. I gasped as we rocked together.