Page 35

Her gasp of surprise is quickly swallowed, and I can feel the way she melts against me. All the tension she seems to carry at all times eases in my arms. That is more than enough for me.

Mia closes the rest of the distance between us. Taking any excuse to deepen the kiss. I grasp her chin in one hand, tilting her head until the angle is just right.

For better or worse, I've kissed a lot of women in my life; I've experienced kisses so bad they made me want to flee the country, and I’ve experienced kisses so good they made my toes curl.

But this…this is better than anything I have ever and will ever experience in my life.

It's better than the angry kisses we'd exchanged.

Better than the kisses we shared in Omaha.

Because with each glide of our lips, this starts to feel more real.

There's hope in this kiss—hope that reminds me we can still have everything we wanted, even though we left it broken at one time.

Hope that I have someone in my life who wants to hold on to me.

Someone who will prove to me it's worth it to stay.

She pulls away with a deep breath, heavy-lidded hazel eyes looking up at me through dark lashes. We're both trying to catch our breath, chests heaving against one another. There's only one thing on my mind, but I can't utter the words out loud. I can't ask that of her.

"Ronan," she breathes, brushing her fingers through the hair at the back of my head.

"Hmm?" I hum, leaning down to steal one more quick kiss.

"I think I'd like to go home now. "

Fuck . The moment crashes around me the way I should have anticipated it doing. Still, there's nothing worse than watching things you long for be snatched away before your very eyes.

Dropping my hands to my side, I try to put as much space between us as I can with me pressed against the hood of my car. She doesn't give me any room to move. "Right." I clear my throat. "I'll take you home."

"Ronan." She grabs my wrist, forcing me to a stop before I can squirm away from her. I meet her gaze, waiting for the rejection I'm sure to get. "Would you like to stay the night?"

Double fuck.

With one small question, every hope I'd been holding onto comes flooding back.

I don't know why it takes my breath away, but I'm shocked by the forwardness of it all.

She was the one who crawled into my lap all those years ago; she was the one who made me lose my mind with a few small movements and words. Now here she is doing it again.

I clear my throat once, then twice more, not trusting myself to say anything coherent right now. This is Mia, for crying out loud. I've wanted this for longer than I care to admit.

She flashes a flirtatious smile, and I can’t help but wonder how her goddamn lipstick is still perfect when we've spent the evening eating and drinking.

I can think of a few ways to mess it up, though.

"Are you going to answer me or just stand there, looking at me like you're ready to do this here and now?"

“Canwe pick up my dog?” Why the fuck is 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 neck back 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.

In that space, I take a second to look at her.

Her makeup slightly smudged from the rain and the kissing, her hair in disarray.

I reach behind her, removing the clip holding the strands in place, watching as it tumbles around her shoulders.

With a gentle touch, I cradle her chin, watching as her hazel eyes darken ever so slightly.

She'd left a lamp on in her bedroom, which now casts a warm glow over the room that gives her an almost ethereal look.

I press our lips together once more, groaning as a hand traces over me before she reaches for my belt.

In a blur of heated kisses and roaming hands, we get ourselves stripped down to our underwear.

I groan when I trace along Mia's left breast, feeling the lace beneath my fingertips.

I pull back long enough to look at the bra, seeing the familiar purple lace.

"You wore it for someone else, again?" I frown, tracing the intricate floral pattern, feeling Mia shiver in my arms. "Purple is my favorite color."

"I know." She sighs. "It was a deciding factor."

My gaze snaps to her eyes, my frown deepening. "Mia, if you tell me you knew I was going to show up at your door—"

"You're going to what?" She's got an intimidating, and sexy, as hell teasing smirk on her face as she shoves me toward what I hope is the bed. In all honesty, I've been too distracted to pay attention to the room’s layout. "Isn't this ending exactly how you wanted it to?"

Does it make me an asshole to say yes?

The back of my legs hit the edge of the bed, and I sit. Her hands go to my shoulders, gripping tightly. "I asked Kat—"

"Kat didn't tell me anything. I saw the two of you talking in the parking lot and then she called me. I was kind of hoping it'd be you."

"Glad I didn't disappoint," I whisper, running my hands along her bare sides, feeling the soft, smooth skin beneath my fingers.

She squeezes my shoulders, and I pull her closer until she climbs onto my lap. Her thighs rest on either side of my hips as she settles against me in a way that has both of us hissing in pleasure .

She sighs, slowly moving her hips in a circular motion that has me instantly harder, the movement offering just enough friction through the thin layers of fabric separating us. "I never thought this would happen again."

Her admission sends another wave of want through me. My hands grip her hips, leading her in the slow movements. I want to clear all barriers between us, feel her sink down on my dick, and watch the blush spread up her whole body as she rides me.

I place lingering, open-mouthed kisses along the edge of her bra, reaching behind her to take it off, and instantly replace the fabric with my mouth.

"Ugh." She groans, hips moving a little more frantically as I move to give the other the same attention. "I need you."

I lean up until I can press our foreheads together, stealing a lingering kiss. "I need you," I admit, "and I've spent the last nine years hoping this would happen again."

She pulls me into another kiss and guides me down against the bed until she can lean over me, our bare chests coming together. She trails kisses down my chest, her hand reaching below the waistband of my briefs, wrapping around me.

I can't help but grind into her warm hand as she strokes me, clearly enjoying teasing me. She presses kisses along the band of my boxer briefs. Heat flares in my chest as I realize what she's offering.

"No." I groan, tangling my fingers in her hair. She looks up at me, startled. I lead her back up my body and roll us so I'm hovering over her one more time. "I need you, Mia," I whisper against her cheek.

She turns her head to pull me into another kiss, her leg wrapping around my hips in an attempt to pull me closer while I fumble for a condom .

"Fuck." I grunt when I realize the box is still sealed. I can feel her gaze as I move to tear into it, grinning triumphantly when I have one.

She's looking at me in amusement. "Has it been just you and your hand for a while, babe?"

"I haven't slept with anyone in eight months." I move back over her, finding the spot on her neck I know makes her squirm. Her instant reaction makes me smile. "I'm clean, but we should do this safe, right? What about you?"

She nods. "Not since Bianca, but at least I have toys."

The mental images popping up in my head are magnificent, but definitely not better than having her beneath me. "Fuck, baby," I push down the lace underwear, which matches the bra. "We'll revisit that another night."

"Promise?" She bats her eyelashes at me, her foot attempting to push my briefs down. I finish the job for her and instantly start kissing my way down her chest and stomach, stopping randomly to suck bruises into the pale skin.

"Ronan." She gasps when I make it between her legs. "Not now," she pleads. "I want you."

Well, I’m definitely not one to disappoint a woman.

The moan we both let out as I push in takes me back to the first time, and I hope I can feel it again and again. I still for a second, letting us both get used to the feeling.

But her legs wrap around me, pushing at me, her head laid back against a pillow. "Ronan," she whines, pulling me in again. "Move."