Before he could ask her what she wanted, she decided to show him. Curling her hand around the back of his neck, she brought his head down, pausing only a brief second before their mouths collided.

  ***

  Matt couldn’t remember a time when he’d been more turned on or more desperate to find a bed. Hell, any flat surface would do. He and Kristen were already tearing at each other’s clothes, kissing deeply as she walked him backward down the hall to her bedroom. A thousand times in his fantasies, he’d lived that moment. He almost feared the real event could never live up to those dreams, but somehow he knew it would.

  He kicked the door closed, barely noticing the small, feminine bedroom. Pink was the only color he saw because it covered the queen-sized bed dominating the room. If he’d had his way, he would have taken her back to his place so they could make love in his big antique bed, but anywhere would do as long as she had no regrets in the morning. He didn’t know where that thought came from. It forced him to pull back, drawing his lips from hers.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, barely able to force her eyes open.

  “You’re sure this is what you want?” He gripped her shoulders, desperate for her to see him, to acknowledge that their night together was more than just a moment of abandon. “Because once we make love, there’s no going back, and I don’t want to.” He was trying to tell her that it was the start of a relationship he hoped would last for a long time, maybe forever.

  “I know that.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I love that you care enough to ask whether I’m having second thoughts. Most men wouldn’t.”

  “I’m not most men.” When he was in, he was all in. No reservations. No holding back.

  “I can see that.” Her eyes toured his chest, settling on his defined abs. “I’ve only seen a body like yours in ads.”

  “I’m serious.” He shook her shoulders just enough to draw her attention back to his face. “I want you to want me because being with me makes you feel good, because I make you laugh even when you’re having a bad day. I want you to need me because you can’t imagine your life without me.” Her last relationship had left her jaded, and he needed confirmation he wasn’t even sure he had the right to ask for.

  She stroked his face, looking a little reverent as she got lost in his eyes. “I know it hasn’t been long, but it’s been long enough for me to realize you make me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

  He loved that he was making her life better, because she was definitely taking his to new levels of ecstasy. They hadn’t even made love yet. “I just had to be sure.”

  Peeling the rest of her clothes off, he chastised himself for putting himself out there. She may see him as an insecure guy who needed constant reassurance because he still didn’t feel he was good enough for the prom queen, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He knew he deserved her. He could make her happy, but she had to let him.

  When their remaining clothes were lying in a heap on the floor, Kristen tugged his hands, pulling him closer to the edge of the bed. Their mouths skimmed each other’s flesh as they exchanged words that fell through the cracks of Matt’s consciousness. He was beyond thought; he could only feel. It seemed her hands were everywhere, stroking him, gliding over his chest, shoulders, and arms as she opened her mouth to his. He knew even if she spent a lifetime exploring his body, it would never be enough.

  “I’ve wanted you for so long,” he whispered, coming down on top of her. “It almost seems surreal.”

  Her self-satisfied smile made her eyes glow with mischief in the dim light. “This is as real as it gets. I trust you’re about to prove it to me.”

  Taking that as a challenge, he got lost in proving that he was the real deal, a man committed to her pleasure. Stroking her and watching his fingers glide over her slick flesh as she moaned his name drove every other sexual experience out of his mind. He felt as if he’d just been practicing for the main event that would define his future.

  Her slight gasps could barely be heard over the drumming of his heart, but Matt felt every hitch in her breathing through every nerve ending in his body. “You’re so incredible,” he said. Even more incredible was the way she made him feel, as though he’d been reborn. Having her in his life erased the past few years from his memory as though they’d never happened.

  “So are you.”

  He lowered his head, teasing her with his mouth before closing his lips over the taut peak. He realized how sensitive her breasts were when just a few brushes of his tongue had her crying out his name and arching into his hand. He wanted to never forget the sound of his name on her lips when she came for him the first time. The first of what he hoped would be many…

  “Matt,” she whispered, grasping his shoulder. “I…”

  He knew she was too sensitive to continue enduring his decadent torture, but he couldn’t get enough. Experiencing her release only made him want to do it all over again. “What’s wrong, baby?” he asked, smiling as he continued to worship the most beautiful breasts he had ever laid eyes on. “Calling a time-out so soon in the game?”

  He realized his mistake as soon as her eyes darkened. She rolled over, pulling the sheet up to cover her chest.

  He kissed her shoulder. “Hey, poor choice of words. You know this isn’t a game.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder. “Are you sure about that?”

  “As sure as I’ve ever been about anything.” Life had no guarantees, but he couldn’t imagine a time when he wouldn’t be attracted to her.

  Kristen rolled onto her back with the sheet still separating them. “Being with you feels so right. And that scares me, maybe more than it should.”

  “Love is scary.” His body moved to partially cover hers. “There’s no way to avoid the fear. The only thing you can do is to move through it. Running from it isn’t an option unless you want to spend the rest of your life miserable and alone.”

  “I don’t want that,” she said, her eyes reflecting her sincerity.

  “Neither do I.” He smiled, trying to put her at ease. “So I guess there’s only one thing for us to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Trust each other.”

  “Trust each other.” She repeated the words as though she needed to try them on for size. After a period long enough to make Matt fear his heart had stopped beating, Kristen said, “I think I can do that.”

  “Good.” He would always be there to break her fall, and in time, she would believe that.

  She kissed him, mirroring the passion he felt. “There are condoms in the drawer.”

  Condoms. Matt cursed himself for not thinking about protection. He was diligent about safe sex, and the fact that he hadn’t been the one to suggest it proved she was the only thing on his mind. Reaching into her nightstand, his jaw tightened when he saw a photo of her wrapped in Robert’s arms. She was wearing his ring, planning a future with him.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, sitting up and kissing his shoulder. Her eyes drifted to the picture. “Sorry, I guess I forgot that was in there.”

  Matt knew it was ridiculous to feel jealous of a man who was no longer in her life. She had a right to a past. He couldn’t help but wonder if they would have been each other’s only lovers if she’d fallen in love with him in high school. Forcing himself to focus on the present, he wasted no time taking care of the business at hand before rolling onto his back and reaching for her.

  She covered his body with hers, smiling at him as her long, silky blond hair created a curtain on either side of them. “Does this mean I have to do all the work?”

  He laughed, taken aback by her sarcasm when he thought she would have been apprehensive. “Definitely not. I just wanted to watch you.” He brushed her hair away from her face so he could look into her eyes. “You’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  She glanced down at his Robin tattoo. “Are you sure about that?”

  “I’m talking about beauty that comes from the inside, not surface beauty.” A frown drew creases between her arched brows, and he grinned. “Don’t worry, you have both. In spades.”

  “Nice save, Hudson,” she muttered. She linked her hands with his as she explored his chest with her mouth. “Hmmm, tastes even better than it looks.”

  “Keep that up,” he said, when she moved dangerously lower, “and we’re never going to get to the main event.” He blanketed his body with hers, nudging her legs apart with his knee.

  She took the hint, impaling herself on him slowly and carefully. Her eyes studied him with curious intensity. In seconds, their bodies found a staggering rhythm that confirmed Matt’s instincts were right. Years ago, his heart led him to her. Years later, his body and mind were leading him back. He gripped her hips, trying to slow a pace that threatened to do him in. He cast an approving glance over her smooth, tanned skin as her breasts bobbed with the gentle rhythm of their bodies. Her head was thrown back, her hands planted firmly on his chest, as her breasts surged at the intimacy of his touch.

  He reached for her and took his time to kiss her thoroughly. “I’m in love with you. You know that, don’t you?”

  She tensed, as he suspected she might. But he didn’t care. He hadn’t lived on the safe side of the street for years, and he didn’t intend to move back.

  “I…”

  “It’s okay,” he said, tightening his arms around her. “You don’t have to say anything.” He focused all of his attention on her body as a ploy to protect his fragile heart. If he stopped her from saying something he didn’t want to hear, he could enjoy the bliss for a few more minutes.

  “I’m falling in love with you too, Matt.”

  Like fireworks on the fourth of July, her whispered admission set Matt off. Thankfully, she was right there with him.

  Chapter Eight

  Matt should have looked utterly ridiculous in her tiny bedroom, amidst the pale pink pillows and soft white bear her brother had given her for her birthday the year he died, but he didn’t. He looked as though he belonged there. In her bed. In her arms. In her life.

  Opening one eye, he grinned at her. “You’ve been staring at me for a while. Any particular reason?”

  It was too early to wake up, especially when she could lounge in bed with a gorgeous man. So instead of throwing off the covers and telling him about her early meeting, Kristen snuggled deeper into his arms with a contented sigh.

  He chuckled as his strong arms closed around her. “My sentiments exactly.”

  “Hmmm…” She kissed his chest. “I could get used to this.”

  “You’re not the only one,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  She loved that for the first time, she felt as if she was not only on the same page as the man in her life, but the same paragraph. Their feelings were evolving at the same time.

  “What’re you thinking about?”

  Dare she tell him? Why not? Sometime between the first and third time they made love, she’d vowed she would always be honest with Matt, even when it meant being vulnerable. “I’m just glad we’re both…” It felt a little strange to admit she was in love with him. Those feelings took months to emerge. Of course, nothing about Matt fit the mold.

  “What?”

  “Feeling the same way about each other.” Kristen held her breath, fearing he may tell her he’d said those things in the heat of the moment.

  But instead of disappointing her, he said, “Yeah, it does make life a hell of a lot less complicated.” He kissed the back of her hand. “So can you be my date to the anniversary party or will you have to work it?”

  She tipped her head back to look at him. “If I tell you I can’t go with you, will you ask someone else?”

  Matt smacked her bottom soundly. “Tell me that was a joke.”

  Feeling properly chastised, she couldn’t hide her smile. He’d put her mind at ease about them being exclusive without her having to ask. “I think I may be able to squeeze in a few minutes alone with you, especially if your mother is as good an assistant as you think she will be.” She had no doubt Nancy would be a pleasure to work with.

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I gave her your number at the office. I guess I should’ve mentioned that earlier.”

  “No need, she called me yesterday. As a matter of fact, she’s stopping by my office today so we can discuss the party.”

  Matt groaned, covering his face with one hand. “I probably should have mentioned she can get a little intense. She was the President of the PTA for years, and I still turn the other way when I see the parents who were on her committees.”

  Kristen laughed. She could tell Nancy loved her son and wanted the party to be a success because it was so important to Matt and his friends, but she wasn’t worried about his mother trying to railroad her. “I think I can handle it.”

  “I sure hope so.” He glanced at the clock. “I guess I should hit the shower. We’ve got a board meeting this morning, and I still have to go home and change.”

  “Do you need a ride? Hey, did you remember to text Lawrence last night?” She would hate to think that that nice man had wasted countless hours waiting outside of her building.

  “Yeah, I texted him just as you were drifting off the first time. I told him he could head home but asked him to pass by your place around eight to pick me up.”

  “So he knows we spent the night together.”

  “Is that a problem?” When she responded by burrowing closer, he asked, “Are you saying you’re not ready to go public with our relationship?”

  “No, I’m not saying that at all.” If she wasn’t ready, she wouldn’t have invited him to spend the night.

  “Good, ‘cause personally, I was thinking about hiring a skywriter.”

  Kristen loved that even though he was one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, he had no qualms about letting people know he was seeing someone. “Not a bad idea.”

  There would be plenty of photographers capturing their anniversary party. It was part of her job to ensure that. Her friends in the press would let the world know she and Matt were a couple. Especially Robert, who refused to accept that she wouldn’t consider taking him back. Even after seeing her with Matt at the reunion, he had stopped by her office and asked if she would go to lunch or dinner with him.

  “Why so quiet?” he asked, running his fingertips up and down her spine.

  “I was thinking about Robert.” She wanted to build their relationship on a foundation of honesty and trust, and that seemed like the best time to start.

  “Excuse me?” His hand stilled. “You wanna tell me why the hell you were thinking about him?”

  “It’s not what you’re thinking. It’s just, if he finds out we’re a couple, he might back off.”

  “He’s been harassing you?” Matt brushed her hair back so he could see her face.

  “Not exactly. He’s just been persistent. He wants me to give him, us, another chance.”

  “Are you tempted?”

  He was trying to sound nonchalant, but she practically felt the tension seeping from his pores. “No, never.”

  “Good.” He tightened his arms around her. “If you want me to tell him to back off, I’d be happy to.”

  She couldn’t deny his offer was appealing, but since she and Robert still occupied offices across from each other, they had to be civil to each other. “I can handle him.”

  “Just say the word, and I’ll handle him for you.”

  Kristen loved that Matt was so protective. He would be an excellent husband and father someday, if their relationship ever progressed to that stage. Patting his chest, she said, “About that shower…”

  “Care to share?”

  “I’d love to.” In fact, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  ***

  Matt tried to focus on the business at hand, but it wasn’t easy when his thoughts kept drifting back to Kristen and the incredible night they’d shared. He hoped they would be able to recreate it that night… if she was free. The board members had dispersed before Matt noticed only their operations director, his good friend Grayson Barrett, remained.

  “You wanna grab lunch downstairs?” Matt asked, sliding his tablet back into its protective leather sleeve. He was supposed to take notes during the meeting, but he’d barely remembered to turn the thing on.

  “Can’t. I’ve got another meeting across town in an hour.”

  “Okay.” Matt stood to go downstairs and grab a sandwich from the deli. “I’ll catch up with ya later.”

  “Actually, do you have a minute? There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

  “Sure,” Matt said, reclaiming the seat across from his friend. “What’s up?”

  “It’s about that hot little blonde I saw you with last night. She got a boyfriend, or what?”

  Matt and Kristen had crossed paths with Grayson as they were leaving High Rollers. Matt had introduced her as the event planner for their anniversary party. Evidently his friend hadn’t been perceptive enough to realize she was more than that to Matt. “Yeah, she does. Me.”

  “Damn.” Grayson grinned and rapped his knuckles against the walnut table. “I should’ve known you’d beat me to it. When did you guys start seeing each other? Last I heard, you were dating that chick who left town ‘cause she got the bit part on that show… What the hell was it called?”

  “That’s ancient history.” Matt was a little embarrassed that not only could he not remember the name of the show, he could barely remember the name of the girl. “Kristen and I knew each other back in high school. I looked her up when I saw a magazine article about her business. I thought she might be the right person to plan our party. Turns out she was.”

  “Well, she’s hotter than hell, that’s for sure. Still, I thought you weren’t looking for anything serious. After the number Robin did on you…”

  Grayson knew how much marriage meant to Matt, and he’d been one of the first people to rally around him when Matt holed up in his house, trying to come to terms with the fact his marriage was over. “Kris is nothing like Robin. Trust me on that,” Matt said.