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Sean meant it. He wasn’t going to let her go again.

He had had several hours to think.

He wasn’t a coward. And the only reason he had never told Autumn Jane how he felt was that he’d been afraid he’d ruin what relationship they did have between them.

He’d been afraid of losing her completely.

He tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer as they walked the three blocks to his apartment. He ignored the drizzling rain. They wouldn’t melt, not after all they had been through tonight. Maybe some of the grunge would be washed away as they walked.

“The neighbor said there’s damage to half the building. And half of my apartment is caved in. She has my cat; he showed up outside and recognized her. I’ll grab him tomorrow, then go stay with my parents, I think.”

“Or…you can stay with me. As long as you need to.”

Forever . If Sean had his way, she’d be staying with him forever.

Things needed to change between them, and he wasn’t too dumb to see that. A part of him wanted to rush her, just literally move her in with him. Carry her back to his lair like a caveman.

They could figure out just how deep her feelings went for him later.

Much later. After he’d had a chance to express to her exactly what she did to him.

He knew that was stupid. She hadn’t even said she wanted more from him than the few kisses they’d already shared. And those hadn’t been lust-filled—not with the threat of imminent death literally above them.

He couldn’t get ahead of himself. She deserved better than that from him.

Even though he had been hot for this woman for years. No sense denying that any longer. Just how much of that he was going to tell her, though, Sean wasn’t entirely certain.

He just knew he couldn’t keep going on being a coward.

His apartment had lost a few windows. It took him and Autumn Jane a few minutes to get trash bags taped over the windows and the broken glass swept up.

She’d never been to his place before. Sean had made sure of that deliberately.

If he got her into his place, he wouldn’t have wanted her to leave. Six years was a long time to hunger for a woman.

“I’m exhausted,” she said softly.

Sean busied himself by grabbing her something to wear out of the top drawer. His pajamas would be far too big for her, at least the bottoms would. But she could wear the top.

He wanted her naked. But…not tonight. He handed her the top. “These should fit. Well, the pants won’t, but you won’t need them.”

He winced when he realized what he’d said. Autumn Jane sent him a look. “I won’t?”

“Ha-ha; I meant that you could sleep in the top. It should cover you to your knees at least.”

Warm brown eyes met his.

Sean immediately lost his train of thought.

There was still a streak of dirt on her cheek, but as he leaned closer, he realized it was an abrasion. Her hair was tangled everywhere around her head. She needed a shower in the very worst way. “You’ve never looked more beautiful to me.”

The words came out before he realized he was even speaking.

“Sean?”

To hell with it. They’d wasted enough time.

Sean’s hands wrapped around her waist, and he lifted. Until her lips were mere inches away from his own.

“I’m going to kiss you now, Autumn Jane.” Sean lifted even more. Until her feet left the ground. Her fingers flexed on his arms. “Six years.”

“What? You’re not making much sense.”

“I’ve hidden how I feel about you for six years.” Sean brushed her lips with his once.

He pulled back. They’d been through utter hell tonight and he wasn’t about to pressure her. Not even for a moment.

He wanted her to know exactly how he felt about her. It was starting to sink in that he had almost lost that opportunity forever. “No more. You do something to me, Autumn Jane, something that no woman ever has before. The ball is in your court. You get to decide what happens with us next. But no more of you just looking at me like I’m one of your idiot brothers.”