I laughed at her comment, and the cuteness of her anger. She was right, but still, I had to tease her. “I thought I was a prick?”

She shook her head at me, but then she grabbed my cheeks and pulled me into her—a silent demand to kiss her. The feel of her soft lips on mine almost made me whimper. It had been…so long. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight, and I finally felt whole again. Utterly complete.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” I murmured.

Her hands tangled into my hair, sending fire down my body. “I’m just glad you’re here,” she answered.

I pulled away from her hungry lips to look at her, to let this moment fully seep in. Because it was starting to feel like a dream, and I couldn’t quite banish the horrible feeling that I was about to wake up. Absorbing the feel of her, the smell of her, the heat in her eyes, the shape of her lips, I whispered, “I’ve missed you…so much.” I didn’t know how I’d have enough strength to leave her again. I couldn’t think about it yet.

Smiling, she sought my lips again. “I’ve missed you too.”

Long minutes passed as we stood there, kissing in the lightly falling snow. I could have stayed there forever, with my arms locked around her, reveling in her passion as I fed her my own, but I could feel her trembling…and not because of me.

I pushed her back during a break in our lips. “We should go. You’re frozen.”

Her jaw shook when she answered me. “I’m fine.”

I had to smirk at that. She was far from fine. “Your teeth are chattering,” I said.

She leaned up, trying to pull my head down, trying to find my lips again. “I don’t care…”

Her refusal to stop kissing me was adorable, but if she got much colder, warming her up would be painful, not pleasant. With an amused laugh, I grabbed her waist and forcefully twisted her around, making her let go of me. Then I pulled her into my body, her back against my chest, and slung my arms over her, doing what I could to keep her warm. In her ear, I told her, “Well, I care.”

She leaned into me, and my heart started beating faster, my body started responding. There was more than one reason why I wanted to get out of here. “Besides, I can’t make love to you out here…”

She immediately stepped forward and grabbed my hand. Leading me away, she said, “You’re right…it is getting pretty cold.”