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“I’m nervous.”

A kiss on my neck. “Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Noah murmured against my skin. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“That you want this. Want me.”

I nodded, desperate. “Yes.”

“Then no nerves,” he said quietly. “Let me take care of you.”

He’d already done that. More than he could possibly know. But I held on to him a little tighter and whispered my answer.

“Yes.”

Chapter 18

Noah

I’d thought about this moment. Hadn’t dared to hope for it like this, or so soon. But having Kate in my arms was everything. With her hands on me, nothing crept into my head. No doubts about who I was or what my past made me. It was clear.

And she was looking up at me like I was the best thing she’d ever seen. I didn’t know if I deserved it. But tonight, I wouldn’t deal with those thoughts. Instead, I was going to show her that she was the best thing I’d ever seen. Make sure she knew I didn’t take one second of this for granted.

I kissed her. Slowly this time, dragging us down into the heat that had hovered around us for so long. Kate’s body melted against mine. That was all it took for my body to react—more than it already had. I was so hard that I ached.

Turning her, I skimmed my hands up her hips, finding the edge of her shirt and lifting. Every inch of skin I revealed was an inch I’d fucking dreamt about.

Kate shivered when I pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it aside. Wrapping my arms around her, I rested my lips by her ear. “If you need to stop—”

“I don’t.”

“But if you do, I need you to know that you can.”

She turned to me, fire in her eyes. “I would never have thought otherwise. You’re not Max.”

The words hit home. I hadn’t even realized that was the reason I’d felt I had to say it, but it was. I didn’t want her to have any regrets.

She unhooked her bra, dropping it to the floor between us like a dare. The smirk on her lips was at war with the vulnerability in her eyes. Kate hadn’t lied. There was no fear there. But she was still nervous, and I guessed that running a business and caring for a brother with PTSD hadn’t left her a lot of time for relationships.

I reached out, touching her. Sliding my fingers over her skin. Well then, two of us had nerves then. Not because of anything that had happened tonight. Not because of those assholes. Not even because of my past.

But because every time I touched this woman, I was drawn deeper. Toward her. Toward a place it wouldn’t be easy to leave.

That I might never want to leave.

Stripping my shirt over my head, I tossed it aside.

Kate’s eyes went wide. “Wow.”

“Likewise.”

She laughed, quiet and bright. “Okay.”

“Yes,” I put every bit of truth into my voice.