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The declaration took her breath away. How was it possible that after all these years, he would finally admit to his feelings so freely?

“What if things don’t work out, Tobias? What if after all this time, it’s too late?”

He stood and neared, and then pulling her to her feet and tipped her face up. “That’s just it. I don’t want to lose any more time. We’re both stubborn as hell and I know how scary this is for you. I mean, it wasn’t easy to admit how I feel.”

“I admire you for it,” she whispered. And then she allowed herself the freedom to wrap her arms around his waist. “Oh, Tobias, I don’t know that I’m as brave. I am so scared of the resentment you have to have for me. I was wrong on so many levels.”

He placed his cheek on the top of her head. “I don’t resent you. Not you, right now. The nineteen-year-old Tori, now her I don’t like very much.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle. “She was an idiot.”

The deep rumble in his chest when he laughed made her smile. It was time to take a chance to let the true feelings take over. Perhaps they would crash and burn. Who knew for sure? But Tori agreed with him. She didn’t want to lose any more time or moments.

“I love you,” she said into his chest. “I have always loved you, even when I hated you, I loved you.”

“I know,” Tobias quipped, jumping when she pinched his side. “Ow. That hurt.”

Tori laughed. “You had no clue.”

“I know that when I enter a room you always straighten. You keep an eye on me when I am around and you defended me once.”

She looked up at him with brows drawn. “Defended you?”

“Yep.” Tobias nodded. “Taylor told me that one day people were saying that I wasn’t good enough to run this ranch on my own and you jumped in and stood up for me.”

After a long breath, Tori shrugged. “It’s one thing for me to be mean to you. Anyway, it’s the truth. I know you have a steady head for business.”

“You love me?” His expression was a combination of awe and happiness. The way his eyes shined made Tori want to hug him tighter.

“Yes, Tobias, I may as well admit it. There were many times I wished I didn’t.”

When his mouth covered hers, Tori wanted to devour him, to take everything he had to give and even more. It wasn’t enough, not by a long shot. If only she could freeze the moment forever. The warmth of the sun on them, the steady cool breeze and the wonderful feeling of his hard body so tightly against her were overwhelming.

More. She needed to be skin-to-skin, to feel the length of his limbs entangled with hers.

“Make love to me, Tobias.” She got the words out between kisses. Each time he pulled up just a bit, she pulled him down for more. The hunger was uncontrollable, every fiber of her being screaming for his touch and kiss.

He closed the doors as they worked their way into the house. “The dogs will be fine, there’s water and places for them to chill.”

There could have been a raging storm and Tori would barely notice. In two steps, Tobias swooped her up in his arms and stalked to the bedroom, one she’d never been in before.

It was classically Tobias. A huge bed centered on the widest wall and a dresser across from it with a giant flat screen tv above it. In the corner were two large dog beds and other than a side table on one side of the bed, that was the extent of the furnishings.

Once again, he took her mouth with his and while trailing kisses down from her neck to her shoulders, Tobias unbuttoned her blouse. Tori tugged at his shirt and once he dragged it up over his head, she almost cried at the beauty of him.

Her fingers itched to trace over every muscle and ripple. Losing control, she tugged off her shorts while he removed his jeans and, without hesitation, they crashed against one another, excited at the prospect of what was to come.

The prodding of his erection against her stomach only added to Tori’s excitement, her breaths short and quick. Tobias took his time, slid her to lie across the bed fully naked and on display for him to take in.

His lips curved. “I am going to apologize now for what is going to be a quick release.”

Tori stretched her arms to him. “I want you too much to wait.”

And then he came over her, the large heaviness of him so very perfect while at the same time sending her senses so high, she dug her fingers into his shoulders and down his back. It was as if by some strange instance, they could absorb into one another and become one.

Tobias understood her need, but he teased her, his mouth moving away from hers to suck in her left nipple. At the same time, he toyed with the other pert peak.

A moan escaped and Tori bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming. Not that anyone could hear them, but she didn’t want to alarm the dogs.