Now that we were alone, our bodies weren’t going to wait for the reconnection we’d been starving for and even if I thought to stop this madness, I don’t think I could have.
We needed each other.
The strength of that need was too much for either of us to deny.
His lips broke away from mine, his eyes searching mine deeply, showing me he was thinking the same things I was.
I pulled away, shaking my head. Now that his lips were gone, I blinked myself back to reality.
We weren’t teenagers making out in the park, we were adults.
He looked at me with fire in his eyes, the feel of his lips still burning mine. My breasts heaved with desire for him, my eyes dilating with desire.
“Rose, I’m so sorry,” he growled.
I gasped, shaking my head. “No.”
“I don’t know what…”
His words trailed off as he just stared at me, his silence holding decades of questions.
He was the one who left. But somehow it all seemed like it was up to me now. It was hard to explain, but my body didn’t care about the past. All it cared about was getting the one thing it had been yearning for all of these years. Making love to Blade was one of the most spiritual things I’d ever experienced, unlike anything like it since, and it was a part of my story that I tried desperately not to think about, but as soon as I closed my eyes, no matter how hard I tried, those memories rushed back with a vengeance, like a drug I’d tasted a long time ago that I couldn’t forget.
He’d left me. Without a word, without an explanation. He broke my heart and it took me years to put it back together. But I’d never stopped wanting him. I knew I never would.
“I didn’t come here for this, Rose,” he said. “I didn’t mean to kiss you. I just couldn’t…stop…”
I nodded, “I know.”
“You must hate me.” His eyes were full of sincerity and regret. “I never meant to leave you. I mean,” he shook his head, running a hand through his hair again. “I just never thought things would go the way they did.”
“I was mad at first. You broke my heart, Blade.”
“I know,” he nodded.
“I wanted to hate you.”
“I can’t blame you,” he said.
“But I never really did. And I don’t now.”
“Why not? I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“Because I love you, Blade,” I said. “I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll never stop, I suppose. I tried, don’t get me wrong!” I cried, my voice cracking. “I tried to hate you for so long. But it never lasted. In the end, I’ve always wanted you and I’ve missed you every fucking day.”
If he’d shown up a year ago, I’d never have said that to him. But now, after all I’d been through with leaving Derek, I had nothing left to lose. Why should I lie about my feelings, as crazy as they may be? I just didn’t care anymore. I was tired of being someone I wasn’t.
His face softened with surprise, then slowly hardened back into desire as he closed the distance between us again.
His lips met mine, soft and gentle and full of pent up desire that washed over me like a hurricane as his kiss turned hard and purposeful.
After that, we didn’t need words.
Our bodies said it all, a long conversation between old friends that had never lost the connection that flowed so strongly between them.
His hands became part of my flesh, rushing over my skin, a river of pleasure that flowed through every inch of my being. The heat built between us until it was a wildfire of emotion ripping through us, and as I kissed him back, I knew that I’d never get enough of him.
His body was new, but the man under the skin and muscles and bones was the same man I’d always loved, the only man I’d ever truly loved.
I had no idea why he was here.
All I knew was I needed him not to leave. Not just yet. Not until I had the chance to feel his body against mine again, to feel him inside me one more time.
As he kissed me so deeply, so longingly, it was clear nothing else mattered in that moment.
I reached back, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind me as I led him to my bedroom. After Derek left, I’d bought all new furniture and bedding, removing any pictures or keepsakes that reminded me of him, wanting nothing of him left in my space, and I now understood exactly why.
Blade took a quick look around before turning his attention back to me, his lips falling again on mine, his hands everywhere, pushing and pulling at the clothes between us. I reached down, grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling it over his shoulders, gasping at the sight in front of me.
He was slathered in tattoos that weren’t there before, his skin etched with roses and leaves and animal skulls in such a gorgeous tapestry that I wanted to trace each line with my finger, studying every shadow and color.
“Oh!” I cried out, my eyes welling up as I saw the tattoo over his heart. A bright pink rose was etched into his skin, the word ‘Rose’ scrawled across the top.
“Blade, I…” My words trailed off as I met his gaze, shaking my head.
“I never fucking forgot you,” he growled, his fingers reaching up and sinking into my hair, pulling my mouth up to meet his. He kissed me hungrily, devouring my words, capturing my tears.
My fingers splayed out over his chest, my palm running over his rippling muscles. His smooth, taut inked skin was like an artfully painted canvas. I slid my hand down to his jeans, breaking the kiss, my gaze meeting his again, the heat flowing between us as I unsnapped the top button.
He growled, his lips parting as he held my gaze, his stomach muscles twitching
