We hold each other as our mouths move in harmony. His tongue slides against mine, and I moan. He yanks me even tighter against his body as he kisses me relentlessly. My arms encircle his neck, keeping him where I need him. He leads, then I lead, each giving and taking.

I don’t remember the last time I was kissed with so much force.

His lips leave mine and trail down my neck. He holds my head back as his tongue tastes my skin. “Zachary.” I groan as he finds his way back to my mouth.

Our arms hold each other so close it feels as if we’re one person. I can’t feel anything except him. He’s a part of me, and I’m a part of him.

Each second that I’m in his clutch I don’t think. My mind floats on a cloud as he holds me secure. I’m safe and there’s no pain. He robs me of the thoughts that have haunted me and replaces them with the sun. All I feel is warmth. All I see is light. All I feel is joy.

He breaks the kiss and we both struggle for breath. “Holy shit,” he pants.

“Yeah.” I try to slow my heart. “Holy shit.”

“Pres,” he says with tenderness. I look up and his thumb brushes against my lip. “Are you—” He stops before starting again. “Was that okay?”

Another part of my heart becomes Zach’s. “Yeah.” I smile up at him. “That was okay.”

There are no guarantees that this will work, but I don’t want to live the rest of my life wondering. And if we still can kiss like that . . .

“Good.”

“Zach?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a lot of things that we need to talk about. I’ve only been a widow for a small period of time. The boys aren’t ready to see me with another man,” I explain. I have to do what’s right for them. “I’m not saying we have to hide, but while we’re figuring things out, I don’t want to rub anything in their faces.”

He nods. “I’ll let you lead the pace on this, but I’m going to be around a lot. I’ve spent half my life without you, and I’m not letting more time get away from us.”

“Okay,” I acquiesce. “I can handle time around you, I guess.”

His eyes shift from hard to soft. “You guess, huh?”

“It’ll be painful, but I’ll suffer.”

Zach’s hand grips the back of my neck, threading his fingers in my hair. “Suffer?”

The pace of my pulse accelerates. My bones liquefy as he tugs gently, causing my scalp to tingle.

Slowly his mouth closes in, but he lands against the top of my neck. The warmth of his breath mixed with the cold trail from his tongue causes my stomach to clench.

“I don’t think you know suffering with me.” His low voice is seductive. “I was a boy then. I can promise you that I’ve grown a lot.”

“Mmmm,” I moan as he nips at the the bottom of my ear.

“There won’t be suffering. Just a lot of pleasure.”

Oh. My. God.

“Promises, promises, Zachary.”

“Oh, darlin’.” He pulls my head back, forcing me to look into his denim blue eyes. “I promise that and a whole lot more.”

Slow is going to be really difficult when he’s saying things like this.

I may cave a hell of a lot sooner than I ever thought. Because if I couldn’t resist a fumbling teenage Zach, I’m sure as hell not going to be able to keep away from the confident, sinful, and hot as hell man before me.

Zachary

H OW THE HELL DID I get so lucky? What did I do to deserve this chance? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. I never thought I’d see her again. It seemed the world had decided that long ago, yet I’m holding her in my arms.

I kiss her lips once more. Since I’m waiting for her to realize she shouldn’t do this, I to take every chance she gives me to touch her.

“Let’s head back.” I stare into her green eyes and see the fear. “Pres?”

She looks away and twists her bracelet, “I just don’t know where or how we’re going to sleep.”

I want to laugh at how damn cute she is. She’s got nothing to worry about. Other than me sporting wood all night at the thought of her so close, I won’t push anything. I promised her time, despite the fact that Presley has always been my demise. She’s the one thing in this world I’ve always known was right.

“Relax,” I say, trying to calm her nerves. “You’ll get the tent and we’ll all be out by the fire.” I have no idea if that is Wyatt’s plan, but that’s what’s happening. There’s no way she’s going in that tent with Vance or my brother, who can’t seem to keep his hands to himself.

She lets out a huge sigh. “Okay. Sorry, I’m being ridiculous.”

“Come on.” I begrudgingly let go of her. We make our way to where the guys are, and I try to figure out a plan.

There may be a lot of good between Pres and me, but there’s a whole shit ton of crap between us too. I need to be really smart with how I proceed. I can’t spook her, and I can’t let her think I’m not interested. Because that’s ridiculous. But it’s only been a week since Felicia moved out. Just like my worries about whether she can love again after her husband, she’s probably worried about the same thing.

“You all right?” she asks.

Her green eyes glimmer in the moonlight. I step closer because I need to kiss her. I have to feel her mouth on mine, reminding me that she’s fucking here. She’s here and not some crazy dream I’ve been imagining. I keep moving until there’s no distance between us. When her breath hitches, I step back. “Shit.” I close my eyes and look away.

“Hey.” Her hand presses against my arm. “What’s wrong?”

I don’t want to admit this crap to her. She doesn’t need to know how the inkling that she’s willing to give us a chance, makes me this happy. Because if there’s any hope for us left in her heart, I’m going to find it and hold on for dear life. Presley is mine. Always has been. Always will be. I’ll make damn sure of that.

“I was going to kiss you,” I confess. It’s true, and it’s the only part of my thoughts I’m willing to part with.

“Why did you stop?”

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

This girl. I can’t figure her out, which was never an issue. I used to be able to see into her mind no matter how hard she fought against it.