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“Canwe pick up my dog?” Why thefuckis that the first thing I say?

Her amusement just grows, hazel eyes twinkling with it. “Yes, we can break the rules of my lease and sneak the puppy in.”

I surge forward, pulling her into a kiss that's also different from all the rest of them. This one is deep, passionate. It has intent from the second our lips connect.

She groans into me, her body practically going boneless. I scoop an arm around her, keeping her upright.

When I pull away this time, a dazed look has replaced the flirty smile. It brings a smirk to my own lips. I give her one last peck on the cheek, removing my arm from her waist. "Get in the truck, Sheridan."

This time is nothing like last time.

There's no TV playing in the background, no blinding lights surrounding us, no adrenaline from making an Olympic team, nor the impending fear that someone will end up walking in on us.

This time, it's just Mia and me. And a confused golden retriever on a leash. By the time we reach her apartment, heavy rain pours down around us, making the streetlights look hazy as they glimmer off every raindrop on Mia's face.

She's holding my hand, and I can't help but stop and pull her closer. She holds my gaze with an intense look. I want her more than I've ever wanted anyone. I want to feel her underneath me as I press her into the mattress. I want to know if her light scent tastes as good as it smells. I want to relive every moment from that night so long ago, but make it better. Because this means something different now.

We're not kids figuring our lives out anymore; we're confident adults, looking for someone to build a life with.

"Mia," I murmur right before I capture her top lip between mine. With a shiver, she curls closer to me. I move to deepen the kiss.

We stand in the rain, lost in each other, until her hands reach up to run along my jaw. That's when I feel the tremble in them and remember we should get inside. Lezak tugs on his leash in agreement.

Once I pull away, I press a lingering kiss to the top of her forehead, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.

"We should go inside," she breathes out before I get the chance.

Reluctantly, I pull away from her enough to allow her to lead me into her building. I have every intention of dragging her closer and resuming the moment the elevator doors slide closed, but at the last minute, an older woman calls out for us to hold the door.

And she lives two floors above Mia.

So instead of pressing her against the wall and making her melt, I keep my hands to myself and try to be on my best behavior, while Mia makes small talk with her neighbor. Eventually, the doors slide open on Mia's floor, and we depart with a wave before rushing down the hall.

I try to wait patiently behind her as she unlocks the door, but the anticipation is too much. I slide an arm around her waist and pull at her shirt until it’s untucked, fingers sneaking underneath to touch bare skin. Mia gasps, the door finally open.

I’m done behaving.

As soon as we step into her entryway, I spin her around until I can kiss her. I hear her bag and keys clatter to the floor but am too distracted to care. Instead, I bend slightly, my arms winding around her thighs before I lift her into my arms, the action immediately breaking our kiss.

"Ronan!" Her hands scramble to grip my shoulders, her legs tightening around my waist.

My attention, however, is drawn to her neck. I kick the door shut behind me. With a groan, she cranes her neckback to give me more access. When I take a step toward the hall, her legs tighten around me in a quick warning.

Breathing hard, I pull myself away from her neck and look at her with a frown. Has she changed her mind?

"The door," she breathes out, fingers tangling in my arms.

I stare at her for less than a second before the meaning of her words catches up with me. I step closer to the door, reaching behind me for the lock as I dive back into her neck. She giggles before squirming in my arms until she can reach the lock.

I rest my forehead against her shoulder, catching my breath until I hear the click of the lock. "Now can I take you to bed?"

Mia's smiling when she leans down to connect our lips again, both her hands cradling my jaw. This kiss is softer than the others, but I don't care, because with this kiss, I get to remember what it feels like to have her smile pressed against mine.

I groan when she pulls away again, but she just presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth and squirms until I put her down. “Let me get Lezak some water and make sure he’s comfortable.”

Her simply caring about my dog shouldn’t be the turn on that it is, but I stand there dumbfounded as she grabs her bag and keys, stashing them on a table he can’t reach, fills a bowl of water, and makes him a warm spot on the floor with blankets. In less than a couple minutes, she’s coming back to where I still stand and my body moves on instinct, lifting her into my arms again.

Once we make it to the bedroom, I relax, and let Mia take control for a bit. Just as I suspected, she's immediately into it. Her fingers move under the hem of my shirt, swiftly pulling it up, and over my head. Both of us smiling as we separate for that brief moment.