She moved her hand to his cheek and kneeled down in front of him. “I’d be honored to marry you, Hazel Barrett.”

He kissed her long and hard until they parted, breathless and restless for more. Her top was the first thing to go, his next. Shoes. His—hers. Her skirt. His pants. Her bra. Things slowed and he undressed completely standing in front of her. She undressed the rest of the way standing in front of him. Her fingers danced across his hard abs that twitched under her touch. It had been so long, too long for both. Her hands slipped around his neck and she pulled him closer until their bodies were together. She whispered, “I missed you. I missed thi—”

He kissed the rest of her words away, leaving her relying on him for air. Large warm hands covered her sides, up and down. He felt his way, reacquainting himself with every inch of her torso.

Pulling him toward the bed, he stopped her just before they reached it. “No, not in that bed. I can’t. I won’t.”

The tears that pooled in her eyes reflected each beat of her heart that cried from his kindness. Loved. Protected. She felt both under his gaze. She went to her closet and pulled down a blanket and two pillows. They each took a corner and spread it out on the floor. Hazel lay down first and beckoned her. She kneeled down and then bent forward to kiss his chest.

Loving seeing her hair down, his fingers wove into it. He loved when the ends touched him when her mouth was on his body. She went lower until her mouth was around him. Closing his eyes, his mouth opened and his breath hit harder.

Opening his eyes, he watched her. When her eyes met his, he pulled her up. “I want to come inside you.” He sat up and they traded places. He also wanted to take it slow with her. For her and him.

He was between her legs, looking down over her body—so open, so willing for him. Only him. Forever. He started on her hipbone. He kissed, and then sucked the tender skin of her belly until a red mark appeared. His tongue tickled her belly button and he moved up to her breasts, covering each one with his mouth. Kissing the outside of her breast, he sucked until the blood rushed just under the surface. He kissed her lips twice and had to stop himself from marking her neck.

With his head between her legs, he sucked so hard that she grabbed his hair and moaned his name when she came. Turning to the side he sucked the inside of her thigh until her body gave in and a deep red mark appeared. His tongue ran over it several times until he kissed her sweetness and the pulsing gave way. He should care about safety… about protection. But with her, she made him lose himself before reason could catch up. Upon her, he nipped at her neck and pushed inside her warmth. His breath was jagged, the feeling almost overwhelming. When he looked at Jude, her lips were parted, her head tilted to the side, her eyes closed.

Her name escaped his lips as a moan and she opened her eyes to him. “I love you.”

In the middle of the ecstasy of it all, she smiled, her hand pulling him by the neck down to her. When their lips kissed, she said, “I will love you ’til my dying day.” Kisses. “I want to be on top.”

Their bodies were adjoined and they rolled over. She sat atop him with her hands on his chest controlling every roll of her hips, every lift, and fall. Her eyes stayed fixed on him while his hands traveled over her skin as he rediscovered the landscape of her body. Each dip and curve led him somewhere even more provocative until he was losing his senses, the storm clouds gathering. He grabbed her by the hips and thrust hard twice before he crashed, his soul shattering inside her.

When he lay there with her head on top of his thudding heart, he realized Jude was right. Taylor was drunk—sex, life, and otherwise. He was completely intoxicated by this woman. He couldn’t get enough. She had become another drug his body needed to survive despite the warning signs to be careful, to slow down. Could they sustain this high? It was all too good. He felt too alive. Life tasted too sweet. They were moving so fast. An endless merry-go-round that neither wanted to jump off. He held her tighter, and closed his eyes.

An hour later after they had rested, she held his hand above her. “Your lifeline is too short,” Jude noted as she traced the different sections of the broken line on his palm several times. He closed his hand tightly, wanting to hide his Achilles heel. He should tell her, but he couldn’t bring himself to add to her misery. He held her hand above his head, looking at hers. She didn’t squirm or move away. With her head against his shoulder, she stared at her open palm like he did. “And mine’s too long.”

Frustrated, he put her hand down and sat up. “Why do you say stuff like that?”

Her eyes flashed to his, but she stayed with her head on the pillow they had been sharing. She was tired and didn’t want to argue with him. “Nobody really believes that stuff anyway.”

Leaning forward against his bent knees, he stared at the pink wallpaper with the little white flowers. He finally closed his eyes and shook his head at himself. Lying back down next to her, he said, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not upset, Hazel. You don’t have to apologize to me.” She turned on her side, facing him, and closed her eyes. “Let’s get some sleep. You’ll need to leave in two hours.”

Turning toward her, he slid down until they were eye level. He kissed the tip of her nose, and closed his eyes. “Goodnight, Jude.”

“Sweet dreams, Hazel.”

Two hours felt like seconds. Taylor rolled over and groaned. “No. I need sleep.”

Jude shook him again. “Wake up. You need to go.” She kissed his bicep, then squeezed it. “I like your arms,” she whispered near his ears. Her hand roamed over his chest and stomach. “And your body.” Lower. Lower. “And this part of you especially.”

A sleepy smirk crossed his lips. Rolling onto his back, Taylor said, “And here I thought you loved me for my heart.”

“I do. I love you for your heart. I like you for your body.”

He sat up and she sat up with him. Kissing her, he said, “You’re gonna be my wife.”

“I am, but not if you don’t get out of here now.”

He rubbed his erection against her leg and glanced at the clock by her bed. “It’s four thirty-seven. We have time. I’ll be quick.”

“I don’t want you to ever be quick. I want it long and slow, hard and passionate.”

“It will be all those things, except slow. C’mon, I’ll make you feel so good, baby.”

The sound of baby rolling off his tongue so easily when referring to her made her heart cartwheel in happiness, but he needed to go or happy would be the opposite of what she would feel. She pushed him gently, and said, “You need to go. We’ve got plans to make and I need you alive to make them.”

With a heavy sigh, he got up. “I’ll go, but I’m coming for you, Jude Boehler, and I’m never letting you go again.”

“Swear?”

“I swear to you. Never letting you go again.”

When he was fully dressed, he kissed her goodbye at her bedroom door and then she led him to the foyer downstairs. But she couldn’t let him go without another so she took him by the shirt and pulled him to her again. Planting her lips on his, his hand went into her hair at the back of her head. They leaned their foreheads together before he kissed her there.

A light was flicked on overhead, and a woman’s accented voice said, “Good morning, Judith.”

Jude’s heart stopped at a standstill in her chest. Taylor looked at the woman in her robe staring at them as Jude’s hand fell away from him. Nadia added, “Mr. Barrett.”

“Good Morning,” he replied, not sure if he should say anything at all.

Nadia eyed Jude before turning her full attention on Taylor. “I suggest you go before the house wakes.” She walked past him and started opening the door.

Jude stood, terrified. Taylor brushed his hand against hers, and whispered, “I’ll see you soon.” When she finally looked him in the eyes, he smiled at her. “I promise.”