I moved without thinking, crossing the floor and skirting around the desk to his side. When he stood to meet me, I immediately lifted up on my toes to press my mouth to his.
It felt natural and good, and so, so thrilling to have him hold me again. With only the barest hesitation, he pulled me close and ran his tongue along my lips. Allowing him that intimacy, I opened my mouth for him. With a groan, he buried his hand in my hair and lifted me several inches off the ground until I met his height. Turning off my brain, I decided to listen to my body and my heart instead.
It wasn't heat and fire the way our first time had been. It was easy, comfortable; a reconnection after nearly a year. Similar to the kiss we shared on our wedding day, it spoke more of possibilities and promises than impulsiveness.
When Burke finally broke away, he set me back on my feet but kept his arms around me. "I can't tell you how grateful I feel that you accept me for who I am."
"There are two sides to you," I murmured, looking up into his face. "I choose this side, but I can't shun the other side. Both parts make you who you are."
Resting his forehead on mine, he said, "I will do my best to always be this version with you. I know I have two sides, like an alter ego, and I can't help it. I have to be that other guy in my business life, but I want to be this guy in my daily life."
"I've seen you do it with Finn; I know it's possible."
He pressed his lips to mine for a brief kiss. "I promise to try, Kinsley."
"I promise the same."
"I can't think what to do from here." He chuckled, pulling back.
"I don't know, either. We don't have to rush anything, with me being four weeks postpartum, but I want more days like today."
"I do too, but I also want to take you out. I want to have a proper date."
I pretty much hadn't ever had that. How would we make it work? "Who would watch Finn?"
"Maddie?"
At that point, I almost regretted not hiring a nanny when he suggested it. Almost. "I'll ask her."
"Any night you choose, I'll make it happen."
"It's nice to have clout."
"It is." He grinned and squeezed my hand. "How was your nap?"
"I didn't actually sleep. I laid in bed and thought about you instead."
Groaning, he ran a hand through his hair and smirked at me. "I thought about you while you were up there. We can make this work, but it might take more than either of us is prepared for."
"I know it won't be a cakewalk, so I agree to work on it with you."
"Marriage, huh?"
"They say the first year is the hardest." We knew better than most what a disaster it could turn into.
He nodded. "We've had a rocky start, but we'll do better from here on out."
"I know we will. One thing I have to work on is being open with you because I tend to shut down and keep my thoughts to myself when I'm not feeling brave enough to speak up."
"I'll try to ask you what you think. God knows I say what's in my head without thinking it through."
"You don't say?"
He kissed my temple. "This is the Kinsley I like. Funny, honest, and kind."
"Not snarky, hormone-ridden Kinsley?"
Pressing his lips together, he tried not to laugh.
