Page 41 of Enzo DeLuca

“Making up for lost time, I hope.” He caught her hand and cradled it palm up in his own, tracing each of her fingers as he’d once done with a blade of grass. “You really would have forgiven me for not writing?”

“Yes,” she breathed, her gaze locked on their joined hands.

“You always were too good for me.”

“That’s not true.”

Weaving his fingers with hers, he gave a little tug and she was beside him, right where she belonged. He tipped her chin up, his lips nearly on hers when she stopped him.

“Is this another friendly sort of thing?”

He choked on a laugh. “I deserved that.” Everything in him wanted her well beyond friendship.

“Ross, I need things to be clear between us.”

The sincerity in her eyes tugged at him. “Fair enough. How’s this?” He took a deep breath and laid his heart bare for her. “We’ve missed so much due to some odd misunderstanding. As much as I wish life offered do-overs, I’d rather move forward with who you are, who we are, right now. No matter what circumstance brought us back together.”

Her eyes sparkled. With tears? Desire?

“Me too,” she said at last.

He claimed her mouth in a searing kiss, and a rush of need slammed into him as she matched his sensual intensity.

He counted it a victory when she whispered his name like a prayer. There’d never been a sweeter sound. Being here, enjoying the woman she’d become eclipsed his treasured memories of their last night together by the lakeshore.

He suddenly didn’t want to do this out here on the couch like the teenagers they’d been. Too much had changed for both of them and he wanted what he hoped would come next to be perfect in new and wonderful ways.

Using his waning self -control, he pulled back, feeling a rush of masculine pride when he saw her bewildered, unfocused gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Not a thing that a bed won’t fix.” He scooped her off the couch and carried her back to the bedroom, feeling like a hero when she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his jaw.

* * *

When they were both breathing closer to normal, he stared up at the ceiling, unable to get the stupid smile off his face. Thank goodness she couldn’t see it, with her head on his shoulder and her hand toying with the hair on his chest. In this moment, his world was perfect and nothing seemed impossible.

He kissed the top of her head. “You really aren’t over me, are you?”

She looked up with a satisfied smirk on her lips, her skin flushed from their lovemaking. If he had his way, the moment, the closeness, would never end.

“Nope. Never have managed that.”

“Good.”

“It’s been on my to-do list though.”

“And now?” He didn’t like feeling vulnerable, had to work to keep his voice casual. If this had been some sort of closure sex, if she didn’t want him soul deep the way he wanted her…

“Now?” She tiptoed her fingers down his torso, around his navel and lower. “Now, I’m thinking a few other tasks take priority.”

“Good to know.” He caught her hand and raised it to his lips. He hoped the sexy smile on her face right now would stay there forever.

“So, what do you think happened?”

“Aside from the earth moving and a fireworks display?”

She gave him a light punch to the gut, but he snuggled her closer. “Oh, you must be talking about the lost letters.”