Andrew’s face paled, and he yanked his hand out of her grasp to grab her face between his palms. His touch was gentle, but his expression was fierce. His eyes searched her features, as if he was making sure she was really here in front of him, breathing and alive. “I can’t…” he rasped. “I can’t even think about that.” He crossed the threshold onto her side of the car and pressed his lips to hers so fast, she gasped into his mouth. “I can’t,” he repeated against her lips, brushing them over and over again with his own.

She should pull away. But he felt so good and tasted even better. She’d missed him so much, missed this. One of her hands went to the back of his head and the other grasped the front of his shirt, pulling him closer, her touch as desperate as his. She opened her mouth and his tongue entered with a groan that sounded ripped from his chest. She stroked his tongue with hers, leaning up and in to him as best she could, wanting to be closer. Closer. Beside him and inside of him, forever and always.

Even that might not be enough.

He pressed his forehead against hers. “What are we doing?”

“I have no idea,” she breathed.

“Please, come upstairs. I can’t do this anymore. We have to fix this. Figure it out.”

Could they figure it out? She was willing to try, if he was. She nodded. “Okay.”

The second they met near the hood of her car, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her against him. Thighs, hips, and chests pressed together, not an inch of space between them. He sighed, deep and heavy, like the breath leaving his lungs was something he’d been holding onto for weeks. He hugged her, his arms a vise around her, as if he was afraid to let go.

Lauren buried her face in his chest, inhaling deeply, taking in his scent. Her heart and stomach clenched simultaneously, love and desire for this man competing within her, each trying to prove themselves the victor. She traced the hard ridges of muscle in his back with her fingers, loving the murmur of satisfaction he breathed into her hair.

“We going upstairs?” she asked.

“Mmm-hmm.” He didn’t budge, his chin resting on her head.

“Andrew?”

“Dammit woman, give me a minute.”

She smiled, turning her face to the side and resting her cheek against his heart. The strong rhythm was soothing, and she let herself relax further in his embrace, content to stay as long as he wanted.