She smiled. “Are you going to come home in this mood every night?”

“Maybe.” He kissed her again and tugged at her sweater. “Help me.”

Clothes flew through the air and landed in a pile on the floor.

Clare pressed her lips to his chest and teased his nipple with her tongue.

A hiss of desire escaped his clenched jaw. He quickly took control by easing her onto her back. “I love having you here when I get home,” he whispered against her breast. “I couldn’t wait to get back to you.”

Riding a wave of longing fueled by his words, Clare arched into him.

As if he had all the time in the world, he gave first one breast and then the other his full attention.

“Aidan,” she sighed, her fingers tunneling through his hair.

He looked up at her with his heart in his eyes, and her own heart contracted with the kind of love she’d never expected to feel again. The surge of emotion took her by surprise, bringing tears to her eyes.

His hands, which had been caressing her breasts, went still. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Nothing at all. Don’t stop.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

He slid down farther and eased her legs apart.

When the anticipation became too much, she closed her eyes and held her breath. At the first swipe of his tongue, her eyes flew open.

“Mmm.” His lips vibrated against her most sensitive place. “I could die right now, and I’d go happy.”

“Don’t die just yet.”

His chuckle combined with the swirl of his tongue took her right over the top.

She was still in the throes when he entered her in a powerful surge.

His tongue swept through her mouth in tantalizing strokes that, combined with the rocking of his hips, quickly took her up again. Abruptly, he withdrew from her and rested his cheek on her chest.

“Aidan? What’s wrong?”

He shuddered under the hands that caressed his back. “You make me feel like I’m sixteen again and have no control. I need to catch my breath for a second.”

Tipping his chin, she molded her mouth to his and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. With her hands on his hips, she guided him back inside of her. “You don’t need control. Not with me.” His back was soon moist with sweat, his eyes closed, his lips parted. So complete was his abandon that Clare could only hold on tight and go flying with him.

After, his breath was heavy and warm against her neck. “Clare… I love you.”

She massaged his back.

“I never imagined this would happen to me again.”

Moved by his softly spoken words, she whispered, “Me, either.”