The club is set up so that the dance floor and bar are inside, and the seating area, where we were sitting earlier, is outside on the balcony so it’s quieter and easier to talk. I think that’s where he’s leading me, but instead he stalks out of the club, down through the restaurant, and back outside the way we came in a couple of hours ago.

I’m curious, but keep my questions to myself as he holds on tight to my hand while speed walking to the boat. Helping me on board, he says, “I’ll apologize later for the abrupt ending to our first date, but I needed to do this without an audience.”

His mouth slams onto mine catching me by surprise, but breaking the small amount of control I was holding up. I press back, attacking his mouth in a desperate way, trying to convey just how much I want this. I’ll let him lead because I know it’s important to him, but he’ll have no doubt how much I want him.

His grip on my body is possessive and demanding. Those big hands roam over my waist and back, and thread through my hair. The thing about Tanner’s insistence to do everything the right way this time (besides being incredibly sexually frustrating) is that in trying to give me exactly what I want, he’s doing the opposite. I want to get naked, dammit.

People change. Their needs and wants evolve with time and experiences. Two years ago, I was a girl who was terrified of getting her heart broken again, but I’m not that girl anymore. I’ve realized in that time that I’ve broken my own heart more times than anyone else. I’ve let people walk all over me, I’ve been afraid to ask for what I want, and I’ve dated people who were all wrong for me because I couldn’t risk wanting my best friend and having him reject me a second time.

“Fuck, kissing you isn’t enough.” He rests his forehead against mine. Our chests lift with each ragged breath. “I was afraid I was two seconds away from mouth fucking you on the middle of the dance floor.”

“That would have livened up that place, for sure.”

“Yeah, sorry it was a little quiet tonight. We’ll come back another time when it’s busier.”

“Not necessary. I would have blocked them all out anyway. You have that effect on me, you know? I forget other people are around.”

“Same.” He grins.

I sit across from him with my feet up on the side of his seat as he drives back to the house. He keeps one hand resting on my ankle. The fifteen-minute ride felt short on the way here, but the anticipation building as Tanner guides us home in the dark makes every minute feel longer than the last.