“I want you. I want you to be mine. More isn’t good enough for me anymore. I want more than more.” Though her words are open and honest, from the way she sits, with her arms crossed, leaning back against the door, it’s obvious she’s bracing herself.

As if I’d reject her.

Reaching across the distance she put between us, I pry one of her hands free and kiss her palm. A slight curve of her lips is my reward.

“I want to tattoo my name on your forehead, so every guy in the world knows you’re mine.”

The curve grows, but she keeps her gaze on our hands. “That wouldn’t be very attractive.”

“I’d use a really nice font. I swear.” I lift her hand to my face, trying to get her to look at me. Time to get serious. “I’m already committed to you, Holly, but if you want the words, then let’s go for it. You’re my girlfriend. I’m your boyfriend. We’re exclusive.”

That earns me her eyes, and they glint with happiness. She drops her hand from my face, only to use it to push the armrests out of her way, so she can crawl over to straddle my lap. Then, she takes my head and kisses me slow, driving me mad with want. Our lips separate enough for her to whisper to me, “I’m your girlfriend. You’re my boyfriend. We’re exclusive.” Another deep, searching kiss before she leans back, her gaze now full of excited mischief and a volcano’s worth of heat.

We need to get up to her apartment. Right now.

HOLLY

We race each other to the elevator.

I stand on one side of the tiny compartment, my hands tucked behind my back, pressed flat on the cool wall, so I won’t reach for him. Not yet.

Ben keeps to his side, leaning back against the paneled wood with his thumbs casually hooked in his pockets. But I can see his chest rising and falling with deep breaths, the pulse in his neck pounding. The same rapid rhythm pushes at my heart rate.

The urge to attack him, rip his clothes off, and climb him like a jungle gym has me digging my fingers into the wall for more purchase.

Ben might appear to be in shape, but I know better than anyone that his health’s not one hundred percent. I should try to be gentle.

Hopefully, I can remember that once I have him naked.

The ding announcing our floor sounds, and I already have the apartment key in my hand. While I fumble to fit it in the lock, Ben moves to press his body against my back. He’s like a warm, sexy blanket that came straight out of the dryer. All I want to do is wrap myself in him. When I finally turn my key and the knob, I stumble forward, my legs not wanting to move away.

My coat, purse, and shoes all get tossed to the side. When I turn back to Ben, he’s leaning on the now-shut door, watching me with sparking eyes that set off a wildfire in my belly.