My hands moved to her jeans, the snaps, and her hip bones, her taut stomach, the rise of her ribs just before her breasts curved made my mouth go dry. I didn’t have to ask her anything; she lifted her hips, and I pulled the jeans off and tossed them to the floor. With one snap I released the lacey bra she wore, and she lay there, trusting me, her eyes wide and her hair spilling around her like an angel. I literally lost my breath. I didn’t say anything; I reached for her hand, pressed it against my heart, and her eyes filled with liquid wonder when she felt how hard my heart raced and pounded against my chest. I stood, kicked my jeans off, my boxers, and she reached for me once more and I went once more.

With her soft body beneath mine, we melded together, like two pieces of metal that had been brought to liquid then merged to form one solid piece. I didn’t mind that she touched my scars. It didn’t shame me that she saw. As I tasted her, kissed her neck, that hollow dip in her throat, and those sweet, full lips, my hands found the rest of her just as perfect, just as pliable, just as fitting to mine. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

Finding my wallet on the night stand, I flipped it open, reached for the condom there, tore it open, and slid it on. Grasping the delicate edges of her panties, I pulled them over her hips, down her long slender legs, and dropped them onto the floor. I moved over her slowly, hesitantly yet trying to reign in my own out-of-control hunger, kissing her, urging her thighs open with my knee, and I filled her then, capturing her gasp and swallowing it, then lying as still as I could until she grew used to me. To us. I nearly lost my mind, waiting. Then I slid my mouth along her bottom lip, pulled it into mine, and she kissed me back. Her legs went instinctively around my waist, and we moved together then, like one, and I was gone again, lost again. I saw her eyes widen, squeeze shut, and the moan of pleasure escape her beautiful throat. I exploded then, wave after wave nearly taking my breath until I collapsed beside her. We were out of breath, and I pulled her to me, her entire body tucked against mine, and I kissed her damp forehead. We were quiet as our hearts slowed, our bodies quieted, and our breathing eased.

I looked at her then; so soft in the candlelight. Her mouth swollen from kissing, and her eyes damp. “I can’t stop staring at you,” she said in that soft voice, and her fingers dragged over the ridges of my stomach. “With my eyes or my hands.”

If a girl could make a guy’s heart melt, she just did. I pushed her hair over her shoulder. “So there you are,” I murmured.

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

I traced her lips with my thumb. “I’ve been looking for you my whole life.”

Then her face eased into the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen, and she pulled my head to her chest, and I drifted off into the most settling sleep I’d ever had, with Harper’s arms around me, her fingertips trailing over my skin, through my hair. Her lips grazing my temple. Healing me.

When I woke, the early hours of daylight, hazy and ethereal, moved through the room. I shifted, still entwined with Harper’s legs and arms, and as I looked up, her wide eyes were watching me, still filled with wonder.

“I told you I can’t stop staring,” she grinned, and then her brows pinched together. “I’m sore.”

I gave her a slow smile. “That’s normal.”

“You’re…so big.”

I quirked my brow. “That’s what all the girls say?”

She whopped me with a pillow. “I’m serious!” Then her eyes looked down. Saw my arousal. “Whoa,” she gasped.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Her lush body called to me, but I knew she was too sore. I would hurt her. “Let’s go make some pancakes.”

Her eyes softened. “Okay.”

I thought about jumping into a cold shower first, but I passed that idea up and gave her one of my shirts to wear. It nearly hung to her knees. And she looked adorable. She sat on the counter while I made pancakes from a box mix, and then we ate together on the sofa. It felt so…normal. So right with her. As if all the shit and hell I’d endured as a kid had led to this moment. To this girl. To the one who would make everything okay.

And the weekend passed too fast. I couldn’t keep my eyes, my hands off of her. I almost felt like a virgin myself. Everything with Harper was different than it had been with anyone, ever before. Unique. Special. Totally Harper. She filled a void I’d always know I had. The only thing is, I never thought it’d be filled. I’d never let anyone in, so close they could see the raw me. It’d been so easy to let Harper in. So fuckin’ easy. And now that she was there? I didn’t want her to ever leave. I’d only loved two people my whole life: Katy and Brax. Now, for the first time, I felt like there was room for more. It made me consider things. Consider my future. To have Harper in my life meant no more numbers. How could I fuckin’ pull that off?

It was Sunday afternoon when Brax and Olivia made it back. We walked outside to greet them.

Olivia, wearing a backpack, climbed off Brax’s bike and started unstrapping her helmet. Brax followed. “Bro, how’s it goin’?” he asked. “Half-pint?”

I pulled Harper close against me. “Perfect,” I answered.

Olivia smiled. “I’ve been feeling Brax’s stomach growl against my hand for miles,” she said, and looked at Harper. “We…were going to go for pizza. Want to join us?”

I felt Harper tense beside me; but then I also felt her breath leave her in a long exhale. A breath no one saw; only I felt.