He sighed sadly. “Her parents insisted on taking us to lunch. They wanted to celebrate.” He winced, and I knew he was remembering my reaction to seeing them together. “I tried to talk to you. I wanted to explain.” His eyes filled with melancholy as he took another step toward me. I read the sincerity in his face and I softened, my cool resolve melting away.
“Gianna and I were never together after me and you, and we never will be,” he proclaimed.
He was standing so close to me now that I had to tilt my chin up to look at him. His eyes were haunted, like a man who’d been through hell and back over the last few weeks. Maybe he had. His clean, masculine scent invaded my nose and I longed to curl into him, to press my face into his neck like I had when we laid in bed after making love.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, sliding his palm against my cheek. “About everything. I should have just told you. I should have let you decide what you were willing to stick around for, but I panicked. I had to make my child priority number one, because I know what it’s like to not be a priority at all.”
His declaration broke me, forcing a sob from my lips. I hated that Gianna had done this to him, to us. She wedged herself between us before we even had a chance to solidify what we had, what we were feeling. And it was all because she didn’t want to lose her monthly stipend.
“Can you forgive me?” he asked, his hand sliding to the back of my neck and his eyes dropping to my lips.
I could. I wanted to. I just had to allow myself to give in. Was I willing to trust him with my heart again? It was a toss-up. He had the power to destroy me completely, but this could be my one chance at happiness, too. If I said no, I’d always regret not finding out what we could’ve been.
“Yes,” I breathed, and his lips crashed down on mine. I opened to him— my mouth, my arms, my heart. He angled my head perfectly for his invading mouth. His other arm snaked around my waist and crushed me to him. My heart soared. This was what I’d been missing since we got back. I forgot how good it felt to be held by him, to have his warm, strong arms wrapped around my body.
He deepened the kiss and I moaned. Both hands were now on my waist and sliding beneath my sweater. His kiss stole my breath, and my nipples puckered behind the thin fabric of my camisole as his chest brushed against mine.
“Taylor, I need you,” he declared, his voice thick with emotion. He was shaken and vulnerable, but he didn’t try to hide it. He let me see him. He let me see every part, every flaw. And I drank him in, wanting to know it all.
His hard body was plastered to mine and I could feel the extent of his desire pressing against my stomach.
“Dalton,” I sighed, my head lolling to the side when his lips moved to my neck. It felt good to give in. I’d been hell-bent on staying mad at him, at refusing him if he came back around, but my heart wasn’t in it. My heart wanted him. It always had.
“Take me upstairs,” I whispered. Our need was growing beyond our ability to contain it. We would combust if we didn’t do something about it. He didn’t hesitate. I was in his arms with my thighs clamped around his torso in seconds. He found the stairs and ascended them as quickly as he could while carrying me in his arms.
“Is your room the same?” He probably hadn’t been up here in years. I’d be surprised if he remembered any of the rooms.
“Yeah, it’s right-” He was turning the knob before I could finish. I guessed he did know which one was mine. It was the same one it had been for the last fifteen years.
“I know exactly where it is,” he growled against my mouth. “I used to walk by as slowly as I could, hoping you would come out at just the right moment and I’d catch a glimpse of you.”
His confession shocked me. I never realized he was standing on the other side of that door hoping to see me as much as I hoped to see him. If I heard Aiden and his friends coming up the stairs, I’d wait until they got to the top and then walk to the bathroom, or pretend I needed something from the kitchen. I was disappointed when it was one of Aiden’s other friends, but when it was Dalton, my heart would race. I’d wear my cutest outfit and fix my hair if I knew he was coming over. Most of the time I didn’t have any warning and ended up looking like a troll when he was around.
Dalton carried me to my bed and laid me down gently, covering my body with his. He kissed me like he’d gone years without kissing anybody at all. He was starved for my touch and I was happy to satiate him.
“I’ve missed you so much.” He feathered kisses over my face and along my jaw, returning once again to my lips. “I was miserable without you. I’m so sorry for putting you through all this,” he apologized again.
“I know,” I assured him, cupping his face with my hands. His stubble scraped against my palm and I welcomed the friction. I loved his face when it went untouched by a razor. “And it’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”
His lips returned to mine and he kissed me like he did that first time on the beach. It was desperate and needy and full of relief. My lips parted and his tongue dove inside. I met his invasion with my own, our mouths becoming one. He flexed his hips, grinding his erection against my center.
“Condom,” I demanded, needing him inside me right this minute. I couldn’t go any longer without having him. He pulled away from me and pressed his forehead against mine.
“Damn it,” he mumbled breathlessly. “I didn’t bring any.” My face fell as disappointment surged in my veins.
“I don’t think I have one, either.” He lifted his face and studied me for several seconds. His eyes widened at the exact moment a solution came to my mind.
“Aiden,” we said in unison. He lifted off me and we scrambled from the bed. I opened the door and tiptoed across the hall to Aiden’s room. Dalton went to the stairs to keep watch just in case my big brother decided to choose this very inopportune moment to return home. I snuck inside and went to his bedside table. I was sure he’d have some in there.
He won’t notice any are missing if I just take one, right?
I rifled through the drawer until I spotted a familiar black box. I tore one foil packet off the roll and went to shut the drawer, but hesitated. Maybe I should take two, just in case. I grabbed another one before shoving the rest inside the box and putting everything else back where I found it. His door clicked shut behind me and Dalton turned to face me. His eyes darkened, the chocolate brown turning almost black as he took me in. They raked over my body as he stalked toward me. My breathing accelerated and my pulse spiked, my steady heartbeat turning into a gallop.
Dalton plucked the condoms from my hand and backed me into my room, kicking the door shut once inside. He placed them on my nightstand and brought his hands to my shoulders, his thumbs feathering over my collarbones before hooking beneath the edges of my sweater. He slowly pushed the fabric down my arms, the soft material sliding over my skin. It was extra sensitive, and I was hyper aware of every single sensation. Goosebumps spread across my arms, but it wasn’t from being cold. I was on fire for him. Anticipation and excitement caused my skin and nipples to pebble.
Once my sweater was gone, his hands found the edge of my shirt, his fingers dipping under the hem to graze my stomach. He lifted it, his fingers leaving a trail of molten lust in their wake as they skimmed over my ribs and breasts. I raised my arms above my head so he could slip my top off completely. His hands immediately went to the waistband of my pants. He plucked at the drawstring, releasing the little bow I had tied there. He drew out the motion, and I grew more and more impatient with every second that passed.