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“Run.”
He pulled back just far enough to look at me. “Not a chance. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I abandoned you at the hotel.”
I smirked. “Yeah, not cool.”
“I know. Dick move. Won’t happen again.”
“I commute your sentence.”
“Sure about that?” He kissed the tip of my nose and then slid to my ear. “I’d be willing to get on my knees and ask forgiveness.”
I shuddered. “Your place?”
“Fuck yeah,” he confirmed.
We left the courthouse hand in hand, not caring who saw us. Jack Montana was waiting in the lobby, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“Told you it would work,” he said to me with a grin.
“Thank you,” I said. “I owe you one.”
“You owe me nothing. Seeing Beau’s face when he walked in was payment enough.” He clapped Beau on the shoulder. “Take care of her, man. She went through a lot of trouble to set this up.”
Beau looked at me with something like wonder. “How did you even pull this off?”
“I have my ways.” I tugged on his hand. “Come on. I believe you owe me dinner.”
“It’s not even nine.”
“Then breakfast. I’m flexible.”
He laughed again, and the sound was everything. We walked out into the morning sunshine together, leaving the courthouse and all its legal formality behind. I followed behind him in my car, silently encouraging him to speed up. I needed to be naked with him.
37
BEAU
The sight of her in the rearview mirror, her bumper practically connected to mine, almost made me laugh. She wasn’t letting me out of her sight. We pulled into my driveway in a squeal of tires that would have earned me a ticket on any other day. I killed the engine and was out before she’d even parked, meeting her at the front door with hands that shook just a little as I fumbled the key.
The second the door shut behind us, she was in my arms. I lifted her without thinking, her legs wrapping around my waist like they belonged there. Our mouths crashed together, desperate and sweet all at once. I’d been afraid I’d lost her forever.
“I missed you,” I murmured against her lips, carrying her toward the stairs. “God, Darcy, these last few days have been hell.”
She silenced me with another kiss, fingers threading into my hair. “I know. Me too.”
We barely made it to the bedroom. I set her down on the edge of the bed and stepped back just long enough to look at her. She was already reaching for my shirt, popping the buttons with impatient fingers.
“Slow,” I said, catching her hands. “I want to cherish this.”
Her eyes softened. “Okay.”
I took my time undressing her, peeling away the blouse and pants like unwrapping the most delicate gift. Every inch of skin I revealed felt like an offering. When she was down to nothing but the lace of her bra and panties, I shed my own clothes, letting them fall where they landed. Her gaze tracked over me, hungry and warm.
I eased her back onto the mattress and followed, settling between her thighs. The kiss this time was slower. I savored her, pouring everything I hadn’t been able to say into it. I hoped she understood how terrified I’d been she’d never come back.
She pulled me closer, her hands sliding down my bare back. I kissed my way down her throat, her collarbone, taking my time with the soft swell of her breasts. Her hands roamed my back, nails gently scratching across my skin.
I needed her right then. I knew there’d be time for more later, but in that moment, I had to be inside her.
