Lily tightened her grip on Chase’s shoulders and pressed her face to her neck, drawing in her scent, that unique mixture of earthy mountain fragrance and crystalline air. She’d thought of that scent—missed it—every time she’d stepped out into the city these past weeks. Her senses felt blunted, as if she couldn’t quite experience everything as clearly as she had all summer. The sun was certainly just as hot, but not nearly as bright, filtered through the ever-present haze that hung over the metropolitan area. She’d never really noticed it before, but then she’d rarely actually looked up. Her world had been concrete, steel, and stone, not earth and sky and green growth. She’d lost the exhilarating sensation of being surrounded by vibrant life everywhere she looked, and the loss only intensified the ache that was constantly with her—the hollow void inside her chest that was missing Chase.

“You didn’t get hurt out there, did you?” Lily murmured, trying and failing to touch all of Chase as she carried her through the bedroom door to the bed.

“Nope. Bumps and bruises.” Chase leaned over and gently laid her on top of the covers and then eased down beside her. “Nothing serious. And right now, I’ve never felt better in my life.”

Chase’s tone was low and heavy, and she kissed Lily with slow, probing restraint. Her fierce control fired Lily’s need, and Lily tugged Chase closer until Chase lay full-length upon her. “You should keep kissing me like that, and maybe I can make you feel even better.”

Chase groaned, a sound that shot through Lily like heat lightning, bright and sharp and tinged with wild sky. She gripped Chase’s shirt and tugged it from her pants, needing skin. Needing the feel of Chase’s firm muscles, the sweeping planes of her back, the power that she longed to set loose.

Chase’s kisses came faster, harder and more insistent, and Lily sensed her tremble on the edge of control. She pulled away and struggled to form words through the longing that tightened her throat. “I want to be naked with you. I have to be naked with you. I need you.”

“Lily,” Chase gasped, her mouth on Lily’s neck, her lips tracing the pulse down Lily’s throat. “I love you, Lily.”

“Oh,” Lily sighed, a lightness of wonder filling her, “I love you too. God, I love you.”

Chase sat up, her knees on either side of Lily’s hips, and tugged at her shirt. Buttons flew and Lily laughed. “You’re ruining your shirt.”

“I don’t care. Take your clothes off, Lily.”

Lily half sat and pulled off her top and everything underneath. She opened Chase’s ruined shirt and kissed her breast. “I don’t ever want you to move.” She traced Chase’s nipple with her lips. “You are gorgeous.”