Yeah, he knew exactly what fucking day it was.Seeing her grief shredded him.He would do anything to make it go away.Trade places with Peyton in an instant to bring him back and spare her and her family all this pain.
But he couldn’t.So he tugged her close, wrapped his arms around her and held on tight.“I know.”His voice was raspy, his throat clogged with emotion.
Willow sucked in a hitching breath, a tiny shudder ripping through her as she pressed hard against him, her face nestled into the base of his throat.The feel of her was almost too much.
He swallowed at the riptide of desire that roared through him.Need, longing, guilt, grief all blending together in a roiling mass that threatened to snap the chain tethering his vow not to cross the line with her again.
He couldn’t tell her the truth right now.But he also couldn’t keep his distance.
God help him, he didn’t have the strength to turn her away tonight.
So when she lifted her head and tipped her face up to search his eyes, he’d already lost the battle before their lips touched.
THIRTY-SEVEN
S
heer relief and need slid through Willow at the desperation in Tripp’s hold.She kissed him back with all the longing she’d suppressed for too long, fingers buried in his thick, short hair.
Finally.Finally, they were going to be together.
Her heart raced at the feel of all that masculine power flattened against her.She pressed closer yet, stroking her tongue along his, his raw groan filling her with a heady rush of power.Everything she felt for him, everything she’d denied herself and buried since that night on the beach after Carson’s funeral was suddenly free.
Tripp cupped the back of her head in one big hand, still kissing her while he dipped his other arm down under her butt and lifted her off her feet.She gasped, a thrill shooting through her at the show of raw strength, wrapped her legs around him as he turned and started down the shadowy hall.
They entered the cool, dark recesses of his room.There was just enough natural light filtering in through the shadows for her to make out the shape of his wide bed.
He bent over the side to set her down on it.She shimmied over, pulled him close, and shut her eyes on a soft moan when he finally lowered his body onto her like a warm, delicious, weighted blanket.
Tripp cupped the side of her face in one hand and braced his upper body on one forearm, dipping back down to kiss her.Needing more, she tightened her arms and legs around him, rubbing every sensitive place against him impatiently.
His mouth left hers to drop fervent kisses across her face.Her jaw.She tipped her head back as his lips and tongue traced a burning path down the side of her neck, hitting a spot that made her shiver.
“Years, Will.I’ve wanted you foryears,” he muttered against her skin as his hands found the bottom of her pajama top.
Yes, more, hurry...
