The relief is inconceivable, the need to kiss her overwhelming. Except this time, it won’t be hard. It won’t be greedy. It’ll be a different kiss. A slow, soft, meaningful kiss. I claim her mouth, gently swirling my tongue. It’s heaven. Pure, unmistakable heaven, and heaven is not a place where I ever thought I’d find myself. It’s a million miles away from the hell that is my life, and for that reason alone, I want to tape my mouth to hers. The need coursing through me isn’t letting up, it’s multiplying by the second, each look, every word, all the touches, only deepening everything. As I predicted, I’m lost.

But found.

I will never doubt my instinct again.

But then I hear something, and I find my relaxed form tightening.

Oh fuck, no.

Please, no.

The sound has me kissing Ava more aggressively, my groin involuntarily pushing into her, and I really don’t mean to. “Oh, Jesus.” I don’t let her lips free. “Don’t ruin this.”

I hear her again. Sarah. Damn that fucking woman. What the fuck is she doing here? Forget about her. Ignore her. I’m not letting anything stop this—nothing.

I feel Ava’s nails digging into my shoulders, and I moan. Fuck, that feels good, but I know I’m freaking her out with my sudden urgency to devour her. I let her leg go, grab her hips so she can’t move, and tear my lips from hers, gasping for air. Her head drops. “The door’s locked.” It’s not locked—fuck, I should have locked it—but I’m trying my hardest to reassure her. My damn hardest.

This doesn’t end yet. This never ends.

I take her jaw and pull her face up. “Please,” I beg.

Beg. I’m fucking begging. And if necessary, I will get on my fucking knees.

She shakes her head, and I fail in my attempts to stop hardening my hold, shaking her slightly, desperate to keep her with me.

“Don’t run,” I order harshly, my heart now pounding with panic. Do. Not. Run.

“I can’t do this,” she whispers, and my hands fall away from her, a severe, unstoppable growl of frustration erupting.

“Jesse?” Sarah’s shriek makes my blood begin to boil, and I watch in a daze of horror and complete fucked-up devastation as Ava dips and gathers her clothes before running into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.