“What if—”

She placed a finger over his lips, stopping him. “You jumped into marriage once to do the right thing. I can’t let you do that twice.”

He covered her hand with his, pulled it away. “I’m not jumping.”

“Yes, you are. I know you’re feeling the pressure. The fight tonight proves it’s time for us to leave. This isn’t where we need to be. As long as we’re here, the pressure is only going to intensify until we’re fighting about what the right thing to do is.”

“It feels like we’re running.”

“We’re circling the wagons, not running. We really need to focus on what we want and not what others want of us under the current circumstances. You’re not running for president, and my fans aren’t going to stop reading my books because I’m not married. We have all the time in the world to make a decision that will affect the rest of our lives.”

He tilted his head and searched her with his eyes. “I don’t ever want anyone to look at you the way he did because you’re pregnant and not married.”

A big part of her heart melted in that moment. Her head kicked in and her mouth stated the obvious. “And if I’m a single mom down the road because we jumped . . . where will you be then?”

“That isn’t going to happen.”

Dakota offered a smile, let his hands go, and hiked her plaid skirt up to straddle his lap. “You’re right.” She kissed his forehead. “I might be single.” Her lips followed the side of his face, down his jaw to hover over his lips. “But I’m not alone.”

He took her lips and wrapped his arms around her hips. Dakota wasn’t sure what felt better, the expanse of his hands on her ass or his mouth, his tongue searching out hers.

For the first time in weeks, this wasn’t a good-night kiss, a parting good-bye. His hands found the skin under her shirt and inched up, his thumbs tracing the outline of her underwear and tickling the fullness of her breasts. The sensitive skin under her bra had her gasping with the contact. “I’ve missed you.”

He held her with one hand, pushed away from the couch with the other. “I’m right here.”

Holding on with her legs wrapped around him, Dakota kissed the outside of his ear while he walked to the bedroom. Inside he sat her on the bed and pressed against her.

Perfect. The feel of his weight as she tugged the shirt from his shoulders and tossed it to the floor. Nothing would be better than this.

Walt’s lips met with hers before detouring south. The buttons over her breasts didn’t stand a chance. They popped and at least one flew as Walt explored her skin.

“This outfit has driven me mad all night.”

Reaching around him, Dakota attempted to zip her boots down, only to find the task too difficult. Giving up, she ran her hands over his back and down his firm ass. “Serves you right for not making a move these past weeks.”

He stopped exploring her breasts with his lips to look up. “You wanted me, too?”

“I did.” She eased her hand inside the waist of his jeans. “But I think it’s sweet you held off.”

He stared at her eyes and purposely pinched her breasts. “Sweet?”

“Sugary goodness.”

Walt dipped his head, pushed her bra aside, and nibbled.

There was nothing sweet or delicate in how he brought her nipple to a peak and moved to the next. Heat rushed to her breasts with a tingle and took a swift downward spiral. She moaned, let herself enjoy the sensation of being in Walt’s arms.

Her shirt went one way, her bra another. His lips moved down her breasts, her stomach, and hovered. Was he thinking of their child deep inside her?

Walt’s eyes met hers, hot, and needy. Then he tugged the zipper of her skirt down and tossed it with the rest of her clothing.

“Boots,” she said.

“Keep ’em on.”

With knee-high boots and nothing else, she moved up on the bed and crooked her finger.

Walt fell into her seconds later, his clothes on the floor beside hers.

He filled his palms with her butt and then ran them to the tops of her boots. The smoldering heat in his eyes pressed the right buttons, made her squirm under his stare.

His mouth started at her knee, trailed up her leg. She trembled as her head fell back and he used that sinful mouth on her, bringing her to a fierce, hot rush of release.

Weak and panting, Walt pressed inside, not giving her time to think.

“I’ll slow down,” he managed. “Next time.”

Their bodies moved together, skin to skin, his lips fused to hers as he sucked the rest of her energy and swallowed her whole. Her body was ripe, open, and responding to every thrust.

She pulled her lips away, desperate for air, her second orgasm was close, just over the next plunge until it was on her. Walt moaned, took more until pleasure rippled through him and emptied into her.

He mumbled something that might have been in a different language.

“I think you killed me.”

“Serves you right,” he whispered next to her ear. “You’ve ruined me for anyone else.”

The feeling was mutual . . . so in sync it frightened her.

The tender moments after making love left her vulnerable and weak. Even with Walt, she’d placed so much weight in these moments only to be left alone.

Walt pulled his weight off her frame, traced his fingers through her hair. “You’re frowning.”

She closed her eyes, unable to take the intensity of his stare.