“And you came here.”
“You’re mine,” he said. “And that ain’t changing. No stupid misunderstanding between you and my mom and goddamn Skylar is going to stop me from having you.”
“I need to go back to Pierce.”
“You’re not going. Not until you tell me you don’t love me, that I don’t excite you, that you don’t want a future with me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. A small, strange sobbing noise.
“Babe,” he said softly. “Stop fighting this.”
“But … but we’re so different.”
“Are we?”
“Yes.”
“No, no we’re not. We both know grief, we both work hard, we both love to surf, to eat and drink beer, we both love to fuck. See, not so different.” He kept a tight hold on her, harnessing her full attention. “Not so damn different.”
“But I…”
“Your folks might come around. They might not. But the guys at the club think you’re a cool chick, even if a bit goody-goody.”
“I just don’t know.” She was in turmoil. Everything inside her wanted him. The devil on her shoulder was hanging celebratory bunting, and the angel hanging her head in defeat.
“Tell me what you don’t know, Leah.”
“The future.”
“If we knew the future, we’d all be scared shitless.” He lowered further so the tips of their noses were touching. “Sometimes you have to take risks. And I want you to be my risk, Leah White.”
She gulped. The words were there, right on her tongue. “And I want you to be mine, Carter Harris.”
“Thank fuck for that.” His mouth hit down on hers.
The press of his lips was like coming home. She clung to him. Pressed up against him. How could she have thought she could live without his love, without his embrace?
“Carter,” she said.
“I can’t guarantee shit like today won’t happen again,” he said. “But promise me, if I tell you to get the fuck away from a situation, you’ll go, no questions asked.”
“But what if you—”
“Promise.”
“Okay, I promise.” She went onto her tiptoes and kissed him again.
He groaned and pulled her tighter to him. His cock strained against his leathers, jutting into her.
“I want you,” he murmured.
“I want you.”
“But this time it will be different.”
“It will?”
“Yeah, this ain’t going to be fucking, babe. I’m gonna make love to you. We’ll fuck again, hard, kinky, crazy, but not now. This is love, pure love.”