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“Yeah, I recall you didn’t hold back the first time,” he says and flinches.

I move closer. “You might be interested to know my answer has changed.”

“Oh?" He arches a dark brow.

“I wasn’t looking for love when I met you. Quite the opposite—I’d convinced myself I didn’t need it. That it wasn’t worth the risk and love stories only happened to other people. Not me.”

“And now?”

“Now I realize it just…happens. It’s not something you choose or plan. It doesn’t matter if it’s the right or wrong time…if you live in a different city…if he’s a sexy thief who’s charming as hell…”

“Guilty.”

“I learned you’re so much more than that, though.” I trail my finger along his stubbled jaw. “You’re also kind, loyal, courageous and honest.”

My words seem to light him up and he closes the small distance between us, his lips crushing mine. The kiss we share is passionate and full of promise. I feel a shift between us. One that assures me there is no going back now, only forward, and I couldn’t be happier.

When we finally come up for air, Knox gently cups my face. “Know what I learned?” he asks.

“What?”

“Love doesn’t ask for permission.”

He’s right, and I couldn’t agree more. “No. It’s kind of like quicksand. The harder I tried to escape, the more it sucked me under.”

“You’re comparing me to quicksand?”

I laugh and push a hand against his chest. His fingers snake around my wrist, bringing my knuckles to his lips and pressing a kiss to each one.

“So now what? What’re you going to do, my Sparrow? Fly away? Or surrender to me? To us? To love?”

“I think it would be wisest to surrender.”

“Good answer. Because I don’t know if I can make this any clearer.

I want you every day for the rest of my life.

I need you to fall asleep beside me every night and wake up next to me every morning.

I love you, Hunter, and I’m not letting you go.

Ever. So, you may as well give in, because if you run away again, I’ll come find you. ”

“I wasn’t planning on falling so hard and fast…so completely. But flying to your rescue was the best thing that ever happened to me. You, Knox Remington Beckett, are becoming my world, and that’s a little scary.”

“Don’t be scared. I will never hurt you,” he promises. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” I say with perfect honesty. “Completely.”

“Good.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Now why don’t you get naked so I can fuck you properly. Skin to skin.”

My pulse speeds up and I yank my tank top off, tossing it aside, my bra following. Knox wastes no time stripping down, too, and then he lifts me up into his arms and carries me into the bathroom.

Knox is moving at a much more leisurely pace than earlier and he slowly lowers me to the floor, letting my body slide down his. He’s kissing me deeply, our tongues dancing, and I can’t get enough. Leaning into him, I shamelessly rub myself against his rising cock.

“Slow down, Sparrow,” he murmurs. “This time, I’m going to explore and touch and taste every single curve.”

“Mmm,” I moan into his mouth. Unable to help myself, I reach down and wrap my fingers around his thick cock. Squeezing. Stroking his steel length until he grits his perfect, white teeth and groans. “I don’t mind fast.”

He hisses out a breath, wraps his hand around my wrist and tugs it up. “Keep doing that and I’m going to blow.”

“Go ahead,” I whisper, encouraging him. “If you want, you can blow in my mouth.”

He growls in response. “Later. First, we’re going to fuck in the shower. Slow and hot. That work for you?”

“That works for me.”

He turns, putting that biteable ass of his on display, and flips on the water.

After adjusting the temperature, he pulls me in with him and we kiss beneath the spray.

So languid and deep. Fog steams up the glass doors and I can’t stop running my hands over his wet, muscled body, so hot beneath my touch.

I’m about to combust with need and desire suffuses me, making every nerve ending tingle. It’s electric.

Being with Knox is beyond exhilarating, and when he lifts me up, sliding his hands under my ass and pressing my back to the cool tiles, I feel the last bit of the wall around my heart crumble and collapse.

And I’m free.

Free to be myself, free to love this beautiful man and soar into the future with him.

My head drops back as he licks along my collarbone then trails his mouth downward to worship my breasts. I arch, offering more as he sucks and laves my taut nipples.

“I need you,” I rasp, nails digging into his muscled shoulders, circling my hips, trying to draw his cock inside my dripping pussy. I’ve never felt this kind of overwhelming need. One so powerful, so all-consuming, that I’m shaking.

Knox grips my hips, lifts me up and notches the head of his cock at my entrance. Our gazes lock—no condom—and he hesitates.

“I don’t want anything between us,” I say, urging him to do it. To fill me completely with no barrier.

It doesn’t take much convincing.

I slam down as he surges up, and our bodies connect fully. Nothing ever felt so right. The plan to go slow is short-lived as a wildness takes over, as we claim each other and exchange silent promises.

When he reaches between our bodies and begins rubbing my clit, I lose whatever control I’ve managed to hold.

With a cry, I bite down on his shoulder and my inner muscles squeeze hard, rippling around his cock.

His thrusts grow harder, faster, and then a groan rips from his throat as he spills his release.

“Damn, Sparrow,” he rasps, still lightly pumping. “So much for slow.”

He pulls back, grinning wickedly. Always so handsome and charming.

“I didn’t know you were a biter,” he teases, and I flush, lightly touching the red mark I left on his shoulder.

“I guess you bring out my wild side.” I press a soft kiss over the love bite.

“I like it. This is just the beginning,” he tells me. “I’m going to learn everything about you. The basic stuff like your birthday and middle name. Every one of your favorite things—favorite color, food, movie, song, book. Every. Single. Detail.”

“Every detail, huh? Like how many beauty marks I have?”

“So far, I’ve counted fifteen.” He starts dropping kisses on each one, and I laugh.

“What else do you want to know?” I love this side of him. Ernest, honest, boyish.

“Everything. Your dreams, desires, wishes, fears. The way you walk, talk, laugh, cry. I want it all. I want every little piece of you from top to bottom, inside and out.” He traces his thumb along my jaw, over my bottom lip. “What about you? What do you want?”

As I consider his question, I realize it’s been a long time since someone asked me what I want. “Ever since my dad died, I haven’t had a best friend,” I tell him softly. “We used to do everything together, and I miss that. So, I’d like a man who can be my lover, but also my best friend.”

“I would love to be your best friend,” he says, and I’m not sure if it’s tears or the spray from the shower, but my eyes get misty.

Okay, so I’m crying. Big deal.

Knox tightens his embrace. “I love you, Hunter.”

I sniff and blink hard, scared my voice is going to crack when I answer back, “I love you, too.”

It comes out more like a choked whisper, though, and then Knox is kissing me, and I know I’m never letting this man go. And, best of all, I know he isn’t ever letting me go either.