Chapter 24
She didn’t pull away. He took that as a positive sign. It took a few seconds to register that she was actively kissing him back, tangling her tongue with his, and he groaned. He stepped closer and pushed his thigh between her legs.
Her arms wrapped around his waist and he felt her fist his shirt at his back.
He moved away from her mouth and trailed across her jawline to her neck. “God, Rowan. I’ve missed you so much.”
“You haven’t been lacking for company,” she said.
He lifted his head to look in her eyes. “It wasn’t the same. It was never the same. You are, and have always been, the only woman for me. The only person in the world who getsme.”
Her eyes flitted between his as she searched his gaze. She pushed him back and his heart sank when she stood. “You know, it would be really convenient right now if you had a couch downstairs because your bedroom is a really long way away.”
A wide grin took over his face. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. You can pick out all the couches you want.” Bending down, he hooked his arm behind her knees and lifted her, cradling her in his embrace as his legs ate up the distance between the kitchen and the stairs.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tilted her head to kiss his neck, and giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Last night I was thinking I wanted you to sweep me off my feet like Rhett Butler and carry me up to your bedroom.”
He almost stumbled on the first step when she licked along his jawline and sucked on his ear. “Jesus.”
“Don’t trip,” she said.
“Maybe you shouldn’t do that while we’re on the stairs,” he replied.
Her mouth didn’t leave his neck. “What should I do, then?” she said against his skin.
“Just hold on, Scarlett.”
She smiled against his neck.
Concentrating on climbing the stairs, he cursed how many of them there were. He was slightly winded when he finally reached the landing of the second floor, but he didn’t pause on his way to his room. There was no way in hell he was going to give Rowan a chance to rethink her decision—it had been hell keeping his hands away from her all day.
Although, with the way her fingers were clenched in his shirt, that might not be a worry.
Finally, his bed was in sight. Rather than tossing her onto it like some cheesy romantic comedy, he set her down at the side of it. He would give her a chance to run, if that was what she wanted.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure.”
Relief was sweet as it coursed through him. He hadn’t been a monk, but he hadn’t lied when he said it wasn’t the same. There was always something missing. A piece that never fit quite right.
Rowan fit. In every way that mattered and he wanted to savor this moment.
He lowered his head as she raised hers until their lips fused. Gently. Now that she was here, he was in no rush.
She ran her hands up and down his chest until stopping at vee of his shirt. She slipped the buttons out of the holes, one-by-one until it hung open.
His stomach muscles clenched when her fingers touched his skin. He wished he’d gone to the gym more. He wasn’t fat, but he’d lost some definition the last few months he’d been on the road. She’d always liked circling her fingers around his abs when they were together.
Rowan tugged at his belt buckle and he stopped her.
“What?” she asked.
“Let’s leave my pants on for a little while longer. If I take them off now, I’m not going to be able to take my time.”
