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I reached up and traced my fingertips over his cheekbone, his ear, then the strong column of his neck. “Thank you.”

A small smile played on his lips. “For what?”

“For looking out for me. Taking care of me.”

“I should be thanking you.”

“For what?” I echoed teasingly.

“For letting me take care of you. It’s all I want to do—it’s all Ieverwanted to do.”

“Even after all these years?” I couldn’t stop touching him, grazing my fingertips over the warm skin of his neck and dipping them beneath the collar of his shirt.

“Let me show you how much,” he said in a voice so low it was almost a purr.

He leaned down and kissed me, and my arms wrapped around his neck of their own accord. Stephan deepened the kiss, like he was claiming me. It was so easy to let go and let him take control. I sighed against his lips, relishing the contradiction of his soft lips and the rough scratch of his beard.

I’d been desperate for his hands on me since our shower this morning, and all that desire came roaring back like a flame. I slipped my hands under the hem of his shirt and skated them up his back along his smooth skin. Each touch made him growl into the kiss. I loved that about him—those sexy, animalistic sounds. It made me feel like he wanted todevourme.

And maybe he did.

The ground was soft under the blanket, the air sweet and crisp around us. I felt young again, like a restless, needy, insatiable teenager. I rocked my hips up, and Stephan quickly got the message. He pressed his strong thigh hard against my crotch, and the desire coursing through me exploded into pleasure. I gasped against his mouth, and each tiny motion sent more sparks of pleasure rocketing up my spine.

His lips curved into a smile into the kiss. “You’re so cute.” He gripped my hip and guided the motions. “That feel good?”

“Don’t tease me,” I gasped. “I haven’t… haven’t?—”

“Haven’t what?” He pushed my shirt up until it was under my armpits, then kissed over my neck, my sternum, and the curve of my bra-clad breast.

“Haven’t done anything crazy like this,” I managed to say. “In a while.”

“How long is a while?” His breath caressed my skin.

“Since you,” I said.

His grip tightened on my hip. “Good.” His voice took on a low, possessive tone that only made me want him more.

I tugged at the collar of his shirt. He leaned back just enough to pull it up and over his head, then tossed it aside. Before I got a chance to admire his muscled body and gorgeous tattoos, he was popping the button on my jeans and working the zipper down.

I giggled as he wrestled with the tight denim. He tugged them off and tossed them aside with a restless grumble. His eyes flashed gold as his fingers dug into my thighs. It still made meshy when he stared at me like this, especially in the midday sun—obscured as it was by the canopy overhead. Knowing I had the same effect on him as he had on me made me feel hot all over.

He leaned down to kiss me again as he slid his hand over my belly and down between my legs. God, why wasn’t I wearing nicer panties?

“Mm, wet already,” he purred.

I was soaked. He rubbed his hand firmly over my pussy, like he owned it. I gasped, and my legs quivered. How could a simple touch like that feelsogood?

“Steph, please,” I whispered, as I clung to his shoulders for dear life.

“Please what?”

“I—I don’t know. Ineedyou.”

I didn’t know what I was asking for, but he did. He sat up and gripped the waistband of my panties. In one swift move, he tore them in half.

Actually tore them like the fabric was paper. I didn’t think I’d ever been more turned on in my life.

He kissed my lips, then my jaw, neck, the underside of my breast, belly… Then kept scooting down, down, down, until he was between my spread legs, nipping at my hips and upper thighs.