Oof. His words hit me right in the heart. “I like your version of me better than mine.”

Suddenly, he flipped over, and I was straddling his crotch rather than his ass.

He sat up and curved a hand around the side of my face. “Willow, that’s not a different version of you. It’s how you actually are.”

His face angled toward mine, and my breath caught in my lungs. He paused as though giving me time to move away. Instead, I leaned closer. Our lips met softly. I placed my hands on his chest and felt the beating of his heart. Strong and steady, just like him. We explored each other tentatively, and even though there was none of the heat from our previous kisses, it slayed me because of how real it was. There was no question of whether we’d been caught up in the excitement of the moment. What was happening between us meant something, and neither of us was shying away from it.

“Ronan,” I breathed as our lips parted.

“I’m here,” he murmured. “I see you, and I’m not going to let you go.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ronan

I battled for my sanity as Willow’s hot center rested atop my raging erection.

“That might be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She studied my face, apparently unsure how to react. My heart ached for her because this woman should have been swimming in a sea of compliments.

She grabbed my shoulders and kissed me, riding the ridge in my pants as though she intended to get me off when she probably didn’t even realize she was doing it. She pulled back, her breath warm on the side of my neck.

“Wow.” She laughed. “That feels amazing.”

“I have to be honest,” I rasped. “If we don’t stop soon, I might get carried away.”

She tensed, and her forehead furrowed, just now noticing our position. “Oh, God. I’m practically giving you a lap dance. Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I smiled wryly. “I like it. A little too much.”

She reached between us and ran her hand over the outline of my cock. “I want to be with you.”

I grabbed her chin and raised it so I could see her eyes. “Do you mean that?”

“Yes.” Soft, but certain. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” She bit her lip. “I spent my teenage years daydreaming about you, but the reality is better than the fantasy.”

“I’m no white knight, princess. I hope you know that.”

Her lips firmed. “You’ve been rescuing me since day one. You just don’t realize how rare you are.”

“Nor do you.” I released her chin and brushed my mouth over hers. “Our first time should be romantic. Not on the heels of a day like today.”

She shook her head, her expression nearly giddy. “Don’t you get it? Our first time will be perfect because it’s us. That’s the only thing that matters.”

I groaned and dragged her back onto my lap. God help me, but I was going to take what she offered whether it was the right thing to do or not.