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“Both.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.” I fight to keep my composure when he takes another step, our bodies now mere inches apart.

“I’ve been an asshole these past few weeks.”

“You think?” I square my shoulders.

“I just wanted to do right by you.”

“And you thought ghosting me after months was doing right by me?”

“No. That was a selfish dick move, and I’m sorry for it. But it was the only way I knew how to...”

“How to what?” I urge him to continue.

“How to get you out of my system.” He blows out a hard breath, the warmth of it sliding across my face. I inhale the scentof him, all mint and musk. God, he even smells like perfection. “I thought time and distance would dull the way Iachefor you.” His fingers tangle around mine and he lifts my hand, flattening it against his chest.

I can feel the thrum of his heartbeat, nearly as fast and erratic as mine.

“And how did that work out for you?” I ask softly, trying to force breath in and out of my lungs in slow, steady pulls.

“How does it look like it worked?”

His fingers graze my other arm and I swear I feel that simple toucheverywhere.

“What do you want from me, River?” I ask in exasperation, refusing to let him distract me. If he wants me, he’s going to have to say it.

“I already told you.”

“Tell me again.”

“You.”

I have no idea how my legs manage to keep my body upright because it feels like the ground sways under my feet, turning the world sideways.

He slides my hand from his chest seconds before his appears at the small of my back, pulling me flush against him. I damn near groan at the feel of his tense muscles pressed against me.

“I can’t make you any promises.”

“I’m not asking for any,” I reassure him.

He leans in, sliding his nose against mine.

“You better be sure, Red. I’ve spent months dreaming about this body.” His hand slides from my back to my hip, his other hand coming up to grip the other. “Once I start, I may never stop.”

“Good.” I barely get the words out before his lips crash to mine with so much force it pushes me backward, his grip on me the only thing that keeps me in place.

I open for him immediately, moaning into his mouth when his tongue slides against mine in a way that feels like he’s been kissing me his whole life.

“Keep making noises like that and this is going to be over way quicker than I want it to be.” He husks against my mouth, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth before biting down gently.

I damn near come undone.

“Quick is good.” I smile as he kisses the place his teeth just were. “Means we can do it again even sooner.” I wrap my arms around his neck, laughter bubbling in my throat as he lifts me straight off the ground, my feet swaying in the air as he moves.

Moments later, I find myself pressed against the wall of windows.

My shirt comes off first, then my bra, the cool glass biting into my skin as he pushes me flush against it, his head dipping as his mouth closes around my nipple, nipping and sucking in a way that lights a fire straight through me. He moves to the other side and repeats the process, dragging the nub between his teeth, causing my back to arch, unable to stifle the cry that breaks through the otherwise silent room.