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"Buns of steel. That's me. I ride horses, hide in my prison, and work out. Simple but effective life. And now…" He slid his hands along her arms and raised them over her head. "And now I add sweaty, twisted-pretzel time with a gorgeous single mom to my workout plans."

She laughed, even as heat seemed to rise from her skin. "I love pretzels."

"Me, too. Let's be pretzels." As he said it, he dropped to her side, then dragged her into his arms. Their feet tangled up with each other, and then he stopped. "Shoes. We're still wearing shoes. This is never going to work out for me. I exercise barefoot, and I definitely want to get this sexy-times workout correct."

She held up her foot. "I concur. De-boot me, my prince."

"That's so hot." He rose to his knees, grinning when she put her feet on his chest. "I've been dreaming of freeing your cute little feet since I first met you. Dreams do come true, even for men like me."

Her heart started to pound as he untied her shoes, taking time to slide his hands down her calves as he worked on the laces. "It feels like a boot seduction," she said.

"I'm a cowboy. I'm all about the boots." He slipped one off her foot and set it on the bed. "I'd toss it across the room in a show of untamed lust, but I like to have my boots nearby. Just in case we need to run."

The reminder of their situation, and the danger that was still hunting them, grounded her in a hurry. How long did they have until life changed for them? She knew from her own life that everything could change in an instant. This might be her last moment with Jacob, her last chance to feel what she was feeling. At any second, Lucas might call with news that would strip away this moment with Jacob.

She didn't want to miss out. She needed him. She needed this chance to be with a man who made her feel whole, not scared or less than.

She sat up and pulled her shirt over her head. "Now," she said.

Heat flickered in Jacob's eyes. "You call the shots, sweetheart." He made quick work of her other shoe, then he finished disrobing while she did the same. When he turned back to her, and his gaze traveled along her body, sudden nervousness pulsed at her.

Was she enough for this amazing man?

"Hell, yes," he whispered, his voice filled with awe. "Being with you makes me realize that it was worth all the battles I fought to get to this moment. You're worth everything."

Tears filled her eyes at the genuine honesty in his voice, and she held out her arms to him. "Come to me, Jacob."

He moved across her, settling on top of her, allowing her to pull her to him. He kissed her tenderly, almost reverently, as if she were a fragile illusion that would shatter if he pushed too hard.

He wasn't wrong. She felt like that moment was exactly that. A glimmer in time that would be gone before they both knew it.

She placed her hands on either side of his face. "Jacob."

He pulled back, searching her face. "What?"

Words filled her, words that were so much more than what she was ready to say. Declarations. Emotions. Dreams of forever. She couldn’t even let herself dream them, think them, let alone admit them to him.

"Nothing," she said. "Kiss me."

He didn't move. "If you're having second thoughts—"

She smiled. "Exactly the opposite. And the thoughts I'm having are a little much."

His beautiful face softened. "Oh. Got it. Me, too." He didn't say more, and she didn't ask.

Instead, they both allowed the moment to fill them, the magic of kisses and touches that neither of them had experienced for so long. Their laughter, their teasing, the fun mixed with their need and desire.

After what felt like hours of the silliest, most intimate, most heated explorations and kissing, she ran her fingers through his hair. "This is fun, with you. I didn't know it could be fun."

He looked up, his arms wrapped around her thighs. "So much fun," he agreed. "You're sexy as hell. I could spend all day here with you."

"All night?"

"All month."

"All year?"

He scooched up her body and settled his hips between her thighs. "All forever, Phoebe." Then he kissed her at the same time he sheathed himself inside her, finally surrendering to what they had been wanting and building with all their laughter and explorations, not giving her a chance to express a reaction to his declaration.