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“You’re welcome.” I’m reluctant to answer and I honestly don’t know what they’re thinking.

The door clicks shut, and I hear her flip the lock. Then she comes back into the living room, crosses to me, and puts her hands on my face, pulling me in for a soft kiss. My hands go to her waist, and I hold her tight. Maybe too tight. I need to feel her, and I can’t let go.

She deepens the kiss, letting me taste her, and my pulse slowly stops racing. Damn, she tastes sweet. Sweet like the only woman I’ll ever need.

With a soft sigh, she pulls back, her forehead pressed against mine.

“You lied,” I breathe. I know the cops are gone and they can’t hear me, but I feel like there are ears everywhere, listening for anything I might say to implicate myself.

The only person here is her. She opens her eyes, strokes her fingers through my hair, and looks seriously into my eyes as if this is the most important thing she’ll ever tell me. My heart thuds. It can’t take much more adrenaline, but the truth is in the air between us, and I’ve never felt her love so strongly before.

I’ve never felt any love so strongly before. I didn’t know it was possible to experience this depth of feeling.

I’m alive. I’m so alive for the first time in years. Maybe decades. Those were such simple words out of her mouth, and out of mine, and yet they carry more meaning than most things I’ve ever said.

“Don’t ever say that out loud again,” she tells me beneath her breath. More simple words, but I won’t. I won’t ever say them again. She goes up on tiptoes for another kiss, then slides one of her hands over my chest until she can grab my hand. “Come on. Let’s just watch some mindless TV and go to bed. That was enough excitement for one night, I think.”

I pull her back toward me, capturing her in my arms.

“I love you.” Her eyes go soft and shiny and overflowing with love. I can practically see her heart there when she looks at me. “More than you’ll ever know.”

We make it to the sofa, but neither of us turns on the TV. I lay her back on the cushions and push her hair out of her face and kiss her, letting my body take over.

Both of us need gentleness tonight, so I take off her clothes slowly and carefully, kissing every bit of exposed skin I find along the way. She arches underneath me, making little sounds and pulling me as close as she can. I drag my lips over so much soft skin.

I kiss down over her ribs and over the soft dip at her belly and lower, to where she’s wet and eager for me already. She whines when I kiss her clit and lifts her hips to make it easier for me.

I take my time with every inch of her. The tender skin at the inside of her thighs. The curve of her calf. Between her legs. Loving her for loving me. For covering for me and cleaning up after my mess.

I crawl over her, her taste everywhere, and push myself inside her, slow and savoring every moment.

I stroke into her, emotion swelling up in my chest. I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore. I don’t have to let all that pain consume me. I’m free to enjoy the pleasure of her. To give her more pleasure in return.

It’s too much. How could I ever be worthy of her?

“I don’t deserve you,” I say into her mouth, fucking her as slow as I can so that it lasts. I want it to last.

She pushes on my shoulders and turns us over so she can ride me, running her fingers through my hair again and looking into my eyes. I think I’ll always get a thrill from looking at her like this.

“You deserve more than me,” she says, her voice trembling. She grinds down on me in intoxicating circles. I won’t be able to hold out if she keeps this up. I’ll have to fuck her again. Once isn’t enough for tonight. It will never be enough. “I love you so much. There’s nothing you could ever do that would make me not love you. You know that, right?”

“I know.” I’m telling her the truth. After what she did for me tonight, I could never doubt her. “I know.”

“I’ll protect you.” Her mouth meets mine for a kiss that matches the movements of our bodies. Slow. Soft. Deep. “I promise.”

And then I breathe something I know I shouldn’t, “I love you, Haley.” I say it so low, I don’t know if she hears me, but she doesn’t stop her movements, and she kisses me deeply like she needs me more than ever.

HALEY

10 years ago

He’s gone.

He’s gone, and I don’t know what to do.

I can’t think. He’s gone, and that means there’s nowhere for me to look for him.

He’s gone, and in this place, that can only mean I’ll never see him again.