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“I haven’t been tricking you. The only person I’ve been fooling is me. Pretending that my attraction to you is nothing more than a distraction from the shit going on around me. Telling myself that it’s better if I don’t get close to you because I’m terrified of having my heart broken when I leave. Refusing to acknowledge that you’re the best damn thing to come into my life.” I hoped like hell he saw the truth in my words. “I care about you so much. And this thing going on between us, I don’t even know what to call it, but it means a lot to me.Youmean a lot to me.”

Did I have a crush on Shep? No, it was much more than that. I couldn’t define it, but I’d always have a place for him in my heart, that much I was sure of.

His brow knitted. “You’re serious?”

“Completely.” My palms clutched his jaw. “I don’t need time to think my plans over. I don’t want to go anywhere. I just want to be with you.”

Then I kissed him. I had only meant to touch lips before releasing him and assessing his reaction, but his warm mouth felt so incredible that I couldn’t pull away. And besides, he wasn’t pushing me away either. His lips parted when I deepened the kiss. The groan that came from him lit a fuse inside me. I wanted more from him. So much more.

Oh hell, I wantedeverything.

Large hands cupped the back of my head while drawing me nearer. At that, I launched myself at Shep, throwing my arms around him and straddling his lap. He caught me and didn’t miss a beat, returning my kiss with as much fervor as I dealt out.

We couldn’t get at each other fast enough. There were too many clothes, too many barriers between our bodies. I wanted them gone, stat.

“Your bed,” I panted between kisses.

He didn’t answer as he carried me to the back of the house, never once taking his lips from mine. I clung to him, arms around his neck, thighs around his waist while he supported my ass with his hands. His grip on me was firm, squeezing and pulling me ever closer.

In the hallway, he pressed my back against the wall, releasing my mouth only to run his scorching lips down my neck, nipping and sucking as he went. I turned my face skyward as goose bumps spread across my body. Goddamn, I wanted him. Needed him.

Shep paused to rest his forehead against mine.

“Why have we stopped?” I gasped when he ground himself against me.

“I have to know this is what you really want before I get you naked on that bed.” His breaths came rapidly, his voice rough and strained. “Do not misunderstand me. I need to be inside you more than I need my next breath, but you should tell me to stand down right now if you’re not sure about this.”

His lips returned to my neck while he waited for my answer.

I gripped his hair as I fought to catch my breath. “If you even think about stopping, I’ll have to hurt you.”

“Thank fuck for that,” he mumbled against the sensitive skin behind my ear.

And we were off again. It was my turn to lay claim to his neck now, and when I breathed him in, oh my God, he smelled divine. Soap, pine, and Shep’s intoxicating scent. I couldn’t get enough of it.

He took long strides toward the bedroom. When we got there, he tossed me onto the bed and wasted no time pulling my shirt over my head and the boxers down my legs, leaving me bare before him. He towered over me, gazing at my body like he was a starving man and I was his next meal.

“So fucking beautiful.” Shep crawled up the bed to meet me.

My skin tingled where he placed a chaste kiss on the inside of my ankle before wrapping it around his hips. I dug my heel into the firm muscles of his lower back and dragged him closer. My heart stuttered when that elicited a smile from him. A short time ago, that seemed impossible.

I flashed him a sly grin in return before yanking his shirt over his head. When my eager fingers fumbled with his fly, he helped by shucking off his jeans, boxers going with them. Good to know he was as impatient as me.

His lips crashed to mine with urgency. Heat pooled low in my belly with his body pressed against me, his hard length between us.

I wanted to touch Shep everywhere, run my lips over every inch of golden skin, explore every muscle and scar on his body. I wasn’t sure how many days I had left to memorize everything about him. Even if I had weeks, months or years, it still wouldn’t be enough.

I pulled him closer and kissed him harder. His lips were soft but full, and they fit to mine perfectly. I could spend hours devouring them, never coming up for air. It was sweet relief not holding back anymore. To show him how much I wanted him was gratifying.

I reached between us and his whole body tensed above me when I took him in my grip. Damn, he was hot, thick, and hard as smooth, sculpted marble. Before I had the chance to do anything more, he groaned, grabbed my wrist, and pinned it above my head.

I pouted. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s been a while between dances. If you’re gonna enjoy this like I want you to, keep that hand up there.”

How long had it been since Shep was with a woman? If he wanted to slow things down so this would last longer, I was on board with that. Well, I’d try, but I couldn’t make any promises.

I did as he asked, and he rewarded me with searing kisses down my neck and collarbone. My free hand clutched his hair when his mouth found my breast. While one large palm squeezed gently, his tongue swirled over my hardened nipple. Dear lord, his touch ignited me.