Like an agitated cat, Kiera smacked me on the chest and stormed off. Unfortunately, she was heading in the opposite direction of the food. Laughing a little harder, I grabbed her elbow and turned her around. “Food’s that way. Unless you had something else in mind?” Her eyes simmered, and I could almost see all the erotic possibilities that had just flooded her brain. I couldn’t wait to explore some of them with her later.

God, how did my life go from complete crap to complete bliss? And why couldn’t I shake the feeling that all of this…was temporary.

After Bumbershoot, Kiera and I went to the apartment that she shared with her sister, Anna. She’d moved in with Anna after I’d kicked her out last December, a dark time I hated thinking about. The apartment was tiny, but thankfully it had two bedrooms, so the girls didn’t have to bunk up. I kind of hated that Kiera still lived here—I was ready for her to return to me. My place was so cold without her. It felt huge with her light gone, and very, very empty.

Throwing open her apartment door with a dramatic flourish, I led Kiera into her place with a wide smile on my face. This afternoon had been incredible, and I was still buzzing with energy. Energy I now wanted to release…

The second Kiera set her purse on a nearby table, I grabbed her. Before she could truly comprehend what was going on, I had her pinned to the closed door. Like she was a magnet, drawing me in, my mouth instantly lowered to hers. We connected, and I swear physical sparks erupted in the air. Being with Kiera had always been like that—electric, powerful…undeniable. She was my greatest blessing and my biggest weakness.

Memories tumbled through my brain as the heat between us escalated. Memories of meeting her for the first time, watching her from a distance…wanting her. Memories of having her, memories of losing her. Pain tightened around my chest just as surely as love warmed my soul. Would I ever be able to let the past go? The betrayal, the heartache…the agony.

Yes, I had to. Kiera was everything to me, and I wouldn’t lose her to my insecurities. We would keep moving forward, and eventually, the past would be so far behind us, the pain would lose its hold on us. Right…like how the pain your parents inflicted on you is gone? That’s the past too, idiot.