My gaze drops to her lips, and she lets out a little relieved exhale. I capture it as my mouth meets hers. I’m greedy for it. I want every breath, every sound, every word. They’re mine now, and as she arches her back so her hips meet mine, I know she’ll give them freely.

The tips of my fingers touch the waistband of her jeans, and I groan softly at the smooth skin above them as my hands work her blouse up higher. Somehow, in a way that is both messy and sexy and so us, we make it into the apartment with the food in tow and without losing contact with each other. But as soon as the door shuts behind us, I’m on her again with more searing kisses, devouring her whimpers and moans and fumbling with the buttons on her shirt.

She takes a step back, dragging her bottom lip through her teeth. Her fingers trail a seductive line from her collarbone down the V of her neckline before she starts undoing the buttons of her shirt one by one.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks as her fingers work another button free.

“I have never been more sure about anything in my entire life,” I whisper as I track her movements. The fly of my pants presses uncomfortably against my cock as more and more of her silky skin is exposed. “Are you?”

She laughs a little, and if I could swallow that sound, too, I would. I’d keep it in a bottle close to my heart.

“Yeah. It’s…um…it’s been a while, though.” Her fingers finally free the last button, and her shirt slides to the floor, exposing a simple black bra.

I step closer to her, unable to keep my hands to myself any longer. My palms meet the skin at her waist, and I grip lightly.

“I can be gentle if that’s what you want.” I’d do anything for her, but when I kiss her neck and taste the salt of her skin, I know that’s going to be a difficult promise to keep.

“Maybe.” She tilts her head to give me better access to her neck. “Right now, I want your shirt off.”

“Hmm,” I hum into her skin. “Seems fair.” I tug my shirt over my head and let her drink her fill of my exposed torso.

Scarlett comes back to me, running her hands up my chest and tangling her fingers in my hair. “I missed you.”

I clutch her close. “You have no idea how much I missed you.”

Her gaze meets mine, the haze of her desire clearing a bit. “I didn’t want to leave you, Ryan. I need you to know that. So much had happened, and I thought—”