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But that doesn’t mean I can’t go tohim.

I lean down, pressing my lips against his, and feel his as they curl up in a smile. His hand moves to snake around my waist, pulling me down until we’re chest to chest.

We kiss until we’re breathless and then kiss a bit more.

If he wasn’t still recovering, I might push him to do more, but I don’t want to hurt him.

As if he can read my mind, his hand wanders up my back and tangles in my hair before he presses his tongue to my lips in a silent request for permission to enter. I open, unable to stop myself despite knowing we shouldn’t do this now. The fear that had been driving me forward all week has finally subsided, and in its place is a longing for him. Everything inside of me is screaming not to waste this time together, because if this has shown me anything, it’s that we never know when someone we love will be ripped away.

It takes everything in me to pull back, but I manage. “We can’t right now, Sol. You need to rest.” My voice is breathy and deep, letting him know exactly the effect he has on me, but it’s not something I was trying to hide.

“So, let me rest. You can be in control.” Moving his hands to my hips, he pulls me onto his lap so that I’m straddling his waist.

“Sol.” I attempt to scold him, but it doesn’t quite meet the mark. I’d expect this kind of behavior from just about any of the other guys, but not Sol. Still, I can’t deny I want him, even knowing it’s a bad idea. I don’t move away like I should, and he, of course, takes notice.

“I don’t want to keep wasting time. I don’t want to look back and have more ‘what if’ moments in the future, Rena. I want to make every second count, whether we have five years or five hundred together, because you're the most important person in my life.” My eyes well with more tears, and I shake my head, but he just keeps going, ignoring me and the emotional wreck I am right now.

“I love you, Serena, and there’s not a damn thing in this world or any other that can change that. Not some asshole bad guy who wants to kill you, or sharing you with other guys, or even your scary dark shadow magic is going to scare me away. You’re stuck with me, Carrots, just like you’ve been since the day we found you crying.”

I don’t know what to say; I don’t have a hope in the world of getting anything out, let alone it having half the meaning. So, instead, I do the only thing I can think of to even attempt to show how I feel.

I lean in and kiss him. Pouring all my emotions into our kiss, all my fear, love and hope.

I’m beyond careful with my hands as I trail my fingers up his arms to rest on his shoulders. He might be covered in dressings now, but I remember.

I won’t ever forget.

I’m dying, or maybe I’m already dead. How else do you explain Serena on top of me, her lips pressed to mine?

This has to be heaven, I’m sure of it.

Serena shifts, pressing against my cock, which is, of course, rock hard right now. For a moment I’m mortified, but then she lets out a little breathy moan, and it’s all I can do to keep my hips on the bed.

I need to hear that sound again. Need her to move like that again…

I needSerena.

In every way I can have her.

I’ve never craved a woman before. I was more than happy to be single, and while it wasn’t something Pike would let me live down, I didn’t mind being a virgin, either.

I mind right now.

All I want is to bring Serena the most pleasure possible, which is going to be damn near impossible with zero experience and the fact that I still have a hole in my chest.

But this won’t be the last time. I can always make it up to her later.

Serena rubs against me again, and yeah, I’m going to have to make it up to her later because there’s no way I’m going to last long. If she keeps it up, I might not last at all. I didn’t realize how good it would feel. I mean, I’ve masturbated and watched porn a time or two, but this isn’t anything like that.

Serena pulls back, her gaze burning into mine, teeth sunk into her bottom lip, and she looks so damn good. I suck in a breath, and the scent of her arousal makes my mouth water. Living together, it’s impossible not to notice those kinds of things but to have her this close and know she’s turned on because of me…

Unable to resist, I lift my hips, and while we’re both fully clothed, it doesn’t stop the hitch in her breathing as I once again press my hard cock to her heat.

She presses a hand to my chest, opposite the gauze that wraps my left side, looking down at me with her brows raised. “I thought you said I would do all the work?”

Why the hell did I say that?

Either way, I did.