I slowly work my arms out of the shirt.
Her eyes widen. “Luke…”
“I love you.”
The words surprise me. They’re completely true, but they erupted out of my throat with barely a thought.
She reaches toward me, touches my chest, gazes at the tattoo that travels up my left arm. “My God. You’re beautiful.”
I haul her to me and crush my lips to hers. They’re already parted, so I dive in. I kiss her with untamed passion, with all the love I feel for her.
I kiss her as though it’s the last time…
Because it may very well be.
I inch backward toward my bed and let go of her just long enough to push my open suitcase onto the floor. The clothes spill out, but I don’t care. I’ll deal with it later.
Right now I have Katelyn in my arms.
And for the next couple hours, until my bus leaves at midnight, I’m going to take her.
Make love to her while we’re both naked, let her see me as I am, and I’ll see her as she is.
The lights will stay on, and I’ll make every second count.
Because I’ll need this memory to get me through what’s to come.
41
Katelyn
I forewent dessert at dinner with Alicia so I could get to Luke faster. I wasn’t hungry anyway after he left so abruptly. The caviar tasted like salty mush, and my pasta was flavorless. I smiled and nodded while Alicia drove our conversation, and as soon as we were out of the restaurant, I hailed a cab and asked the driver to bring me here.
I should be angry at Luke. Angry that he left his shift. Angry that he wasn’t going to say goodbye.
But this kiss…
Anger dissipates as passion coils through me. I want the kiss. I want more than the kiss.
I want Luke. All of him.
So he’s leaving to take care of an emergency. Wouldn’t I do the same thing? He’ll come back.
Back to me.
He deepens the kiss, a groan humming from him and into me. His chest, his abs, his shoulders—all beautifully light bronze, like a surfer god from LA. He could be a Renaissance statue. He pushes his erection against me.
And I don’t want to run.
I never want to run from Luke. He’s everything I want. Everything I need.
He rips his mouth from mine and meets my gaze, his brown eyes burning. “Tell me to stop,” he says. “Tell me to stop now.”
“I… I don’t want you to stop.”
“Please, Katelyn. Tell me. Because if you don’t, I’m going to fuck you. I’m going to fuck you hard. No gentleness like the last time. I’m going to take you the way I want to take you. Like a wolf taking his mate. You’re mine, Katelyn. Mine.”
“Yours…”
“I’m not kidding.” He cups my cheek. “I’m burning for you. And if you don’t say no… If you don’t leave right now—”
“Yes.” The word comes out on a high breath. “Yes. Do it. Do it all. Please, Luke. All of it.”
“Baby…”
“You don’t have to be gentle with me. I’ve been through hell and back, but back is the operative word. I love you too, Luke, and I want to give you what you need. What we both need and want.”
“I can’t be gentle. Not this time. Not when I’m wanting you this badly.”
“I’m not asking you to be. I’m just asking you to be Luke.”
He narrows his eyes. “What if I’m not Luke?”
“Then be the wolf. I don’t care. Be what you are in this moment.”
“God, baby.” His mouth comes down on mine once more, and he kisses me with desire, with passion, with an intoxicating intensity that’s nearly as intimate as the act itself.
We kiss for several timeless moments, and I almost think I could be satisfied with kisses alone…until he cups my breasts.
He breaks away from my mouth. “Take off that blouse, Katelyn.”
“Don’t you want to take it off for me?”
“If I take it off, it’ll be in tatters.”
God, those words. He’s an animal. A beautiful, sexy animal. I want my blouse in tatters. I want him to rip every shred of clothing off me until there’s nothing left but scraps and buttons.
I kick off my black pumps and stand in my bare feet.
But I make no move to remove my blouse.
“I’m warning you,” he says, his voice dark and raspy. “I’ll ruin it. I want to fucking ruin it, Katelyn.”
Arrows shoot through my body, all landing in my pussy. God, my pussy. I’m slick already, soaking my panties.
“Do it,” I say, only now realizing I’m speaking through clenched teeth. “Do it, Luke. Or whoever you are. Do it.”
His hand is on the satin faster than lightning. He parts the shirt, and the pearl buttons go flying. He tugs it out of the waistband of my pants, turns me around, and pulls it off my arms.
I’m turned on, ready to—