When we lived together, I was an open book. I told him everything knowing that he would accept all of my truths.

“Dance with me, Katie.” He holds out his hand as a Frank Sinatra tune fills the air. “You used to love this song.”

I slide my palm against his and let him pull me to my feet. “I still love this song.”

“I still love you,” he whispers so softly that I can barely make it out.

“Me too,” I want to say back, but I don’t.

He guides me to a small area next to the sofa. Taking me in his arms, he rests his hand on my back and tugs me close as we sway to the music and the very first song we ever danced to almost eight years ago.

***

I don’t stop him when

his hand glides down my back. It lands just above my ass. I move closer to him, knowing that’s what he wants.

It’s what I want too.

I didn’t come here thinking that I’d sleep with my ex-fiancé, but it’s the only thing I can focus on right now.

We’ve danced to seven or eight songs. I lost count after the third. Most of them had a much higher tempo than the Sinatra song, but we haven’t stopped our slow dance.

He presses his cheek against mine. His voice comes out in a low growl. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Emotion wraps itself around my heart. It squeezes until a breathless sound comes out of me.

He inches back to look in my eyes. “Have I told you that you’re even more beautiful now?”

I shake my head. A smile that blooms from somewhere deep inside of me floats over my lips. “No.”

“You are.” His gaze drops to my mouth. “You’re breathtaking.”

He is too. The Gage who left five years ago was gorgeous with a mop of hair and a lean body, but now I’m looking at a striking, muscular, hot-as-hell man.

It could be confidence or maturity or maybe time has sculpted him into who he is today.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he growls. “You want that.”

He’s not asking, but I don’t care.

He knows I want to kiss him. He must know that I want more.

His lips meet mine in a slow, deep kiss.

Any hesitation I might have brought with me tonight melts under the brush of his tongue against mine and the taste of his breath.

He breaks the kiss. “I want you, Katie.”

I look into the same green eyes that I stared into when he broke through my virginity under a bite of pain. They are the eyes that held fast to mine when I had my first orgasm with him deep inside of me.

My home is in those eyes.

“I want you,” I whisper back before I press my lips to his again.

Chapter 38

Kate


Tags: Deborah Bladon Second Chances Romance