“Yes,” I say, more a breath than a word.

In one movement, he thrusts his bare cock up inside me.

“Oh, my God!” I cry.

He starts making love to me there, against my hallway wall, while he’s still fully dressed and I’m wearing only my robe. The feel of him inside me…it’s amazing.

He starts to move, his pelvis hitting my clit each time he hits home, driving me wild.

“You saved my life,” I pant between thrusts.

He pauses, staring into my eyes. “I did what anyone would have done.”

“No,” I say. “Not everyone would risk their own life to protect me.”

“I would never let you get hurt, Mel. Never,” he tells me, and I know he means it.

“Thank you,” I whisper, brushing my lips over his. “Thank you so much.”

Grayson captures my mouth again in a hot kiss, sucking my tongue into his mouth and making me moan. Then he starts moving again, driving into me harder with each thrust, making me crazy with desire.

My orgasm is quick, hitting me with a powerful force, and I scream out his name. He thrusts up inside me, once, twice, and then I feel him start to climax. He groans my name as he comes undone. We stay there, panting, trying to catch our breath. Grayson’s face is pressed into my neck, his mouth soothing hot on my skin. My arms are wrapped tightly around him.

“I want you,” he says softly. His lips brush over the skin of my neck as he speaks. He lifts his head and stares into my eyes. “Not just this—sex—but you.”

“I want you, too,” I say breathlessly.

“No—that’s not what I’m trying to say. You told me that I should always be myself around you, that you want to be with every part of me. And that’s what I want. I want more. I want something good and real with you, Mel. When I woke up this morning and you were gone, I…felt empty. And I’ve never felt that before. Then I realized the emptiness was there because you weren’t.” He cups my face with his big hand, threading his fingers into my hair. “I don’t want to wake up like I did this morning, wondering where you are.”

“I didn’t want to leave like that either, but I had to help—”

“I know. And I’m thankful that you helped my brother. But now this is about you and me. And I like you.”

“I like you, too. A lot. A whole lot,” I say with a smile, and it reflects in his eyes as they light up.

“So, we’re doing this—you and me?” he asks softly.

“A…relationship?”

“Yeah, Mel, I mean a relationship.” He grins. “You and me together. I want you to be my girlfriend. And I’m not just saying that because I’m still inside you.”

My smile widens as I giggle. “Oh, well, I’m glad to hear it. But—”

“But what?” he says, frowning.

“Well, we haven’t even been on a date, Grayson—unless you count trips to the police station and getting shot at on the street corner as dates.”