She kicked off her shoes and unzipped her jeans, urgently pushing them and her underwear down her hips so she could step out of them quickly. She wrapped her arms around me, bringing her leg up again. We kissed deeply, desperately. My mouth moved up her neck, her jaw, sucking and nipping at her lips right before I lined myself up and surged inside her. Our mouths broke apart, our eyes meeting as she gasped loudly. I clenched mine closed at the tight, blissful grip of her surrounding me. I was inside Tenleigh. Joy expanded in my chest as I started moving. She moaned again and leaned her head back against the shelves behind her and panted out, "Yes, yes, yes." I tried to go slow. It'd been so long. I reached between her legs and stroked her, my mouth against her throat as she moaned.

"Jesus, Ten, you feel so good." I couldn't help the ragged groan that followed my words as I felt the orgasm swirling in my abdomen. I moved my fingers on her faster. She was so wet. I lifted my head and gazed into her eyes as her moans became louder. "Kyland, I . . . I . . ." she choked out.

"I know, Ten, I know." And then she was clenching all around me as her head fell back again and she cried out.

"I'm coming, Tenleigh," I gasped as I jerked into her one final time. My orgasm hit me with so much force, I fell forward on her, unintelligible words flowing out of my mouth as the pleasure moved in waves to my stomach, my legs, all the way down to my toes.

We both stayed like that for several minutes, our breaths raspy as reality flowed back in. I felt like I was home—complete. I stepped back and Tenleigh pulled her jeans up and slipped her shoes on while I tucked myself back inside my zipper. Her cheeks were flushed and when she brought her head up, she looked slightly shell shocked. I smiled softly at her and leaned in and kissed her, smoothing the pieces of hair away from her face that had fallen out of her ponytail.

"I guess . . . I guess we both needed that release," she said quietly, glancing to the side.

I shook my head. "That's not what that was for me, Tenleigh. It was more than that. Tell me that was more for you, too."

Her eyes met mine again and she let out a breath. She nodded. "It was more than that for me," she said quietly. Hope surged in my chest even though she looked conflicted by her own statement.

We both startled slightly when we heard a car pull up outside. "That's probably Jamie," she said. "He was going to stop by before work."

I nodded, feeling relief in the fact that I knew Jamie was only a friend.

Tenleigh stepped away from me.

"I better go anyway. I have to be at work. But maybe I can stop by tomorrow?" I asked hopefully. "You tell me, Tenleigh. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

She nodded, biting her lip. "Why are you working at the mine?" she blurted out.

I paused. "Why? Because I need a job and those are the only ones available." Liar.

She pursed her lips and shook her head. "I don't understand. You were going to leave. You were never going to look back. If Joey really isn't yours, if you lied about that to make me leave, then why stay?"

My heartbeat sped up. I could barely remember my name right then and I needed to form cognitive answers? "It was just for the best. I realized Dennville is my home. I decided to stay. That's all." She looked unconvinced, but remained quiet. "I better go. I'll be late," I said.

She nodded. "Okay. I'll see you later then."

"Yeah," I said, feeling hopeful for the first time in nearly four years.

"Have a good day."

I smiled. "You, too, Tenleigh." I didn't kiss her again. She looked so conflicted. But I wasn't quite ready to take my eyes off her either. I didn't want to leave. Like before, I never wanted to leave. I started backing out. When I got to the door, I pushed it open with my back and smiled bigger. She smiled back at me, but she still looked wary. The door shut between us. Outside, Jamie was sitting in his car talking on his cell phone. I gave him a brief wave as I got in my truck and pulled away.

As I drove, I felt the euphoria expand in my chest of having just touched Tenleigh, of having been inside her. God, I could still smell her sweet, musky scent on my fingers. I hoped I'd said enough to convince her that I still loved her—that I'd never stopped. Things were still up in the air, but I finally had hope—something I hadn't had an ounce of for four years.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Tenleigh

I stood there unmoving after Kyland walked out the library door. I wasn't sure what to think . . . what to feel. What was I doing? What were we doing? Was I really even entertaining the possibility of starting something with Kyland again? Was I really willing to put myself in a position to start loving him again? Had I ever really stopped? Had I really just stripped my pants off and had intense sex with him up against the library wall? I groaned and brought one hand to my forehead. I didn't know what to do.

The door to the library opened and Jamie walked in. "Hey, you okay? You look sick."

I groaned softly. "I think I am. Unfortunately, there's no medication for my ailment."

"I hear heroin shuts out the pain."

"Simmer down, pillbilly. I'm not on the road to illegal self-medicating just yet. However, the operative word is yet."

"Well, you let me know. I hang on the corner of Gutter and Skinsores."

I laughed softly.

He came over to where I was standing and leaned against the shelf. "Kyland? I saw him leaving."