My brain swirled, and blood rushed to my face. I dropped the shovel and threw myself, wrapping my arms around him tightly, just about knocking him over with the force of my body.

He leaned over and embraced me back. I inhaled him. The warm pulses of love that invaded my body were insurmountable.

“I love you so much,” he whispered into my ear.

Pushing my lips against his, we kissed. It started gentle and tame, then escalated into the overdue passion that had been building since our time apart. All the feelings I thought were lost forever came rushing back like bolts of lightning striking every inch of my body.

He moved back, peering deep into my eyes. “I know I was hard on you, and what you did wasn’t easy. But I have to say, I’m so proud of you, love.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, pride filling my chest. “I needed you to be hard on me.”

“I can be hard on you in other ways, ” he said with a goofy wink.

I chuckled, grazing my teeth over my bottom lip. “I’d like that.”

“We could use a break here. The girls are at a birthday party if you’d like to come inside.Upstairs.”

God, I needed him so badly. “Definitely.”

Reaching down, Gavin took the small Beanie and placed him on the edge of the wood planter. “Snoops, my good sir. I’m putting you in charge of the garden. No shenanigans now. I’m trusting you won’t attack my sprouting green beans. Or call upon your colleagues.”

I laughed so forcefully that I snorted three times.

“That laugh. How I missed that laugh.”

***

We washed up, then before I knew it, I was naked on his bed.

Gavin’s movements were gentle and calculated as if he was savoring, worshipping every part of my body. While slightly torturous, I reveled in the sensations of his hot mouth all over me.

He kissed my toes, my ankles, and my kneecaps, which I discovered were quite ticklish. He moved on to lick the dips of my hips, the curves of my waist, up to my breasts, where he, not surprisingly, spent the most time indulging in his two favorite parts of me.

I writhed, needing more.

Finally, he came up to my mouth with a smirk. “I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you too.”

We kissed for some time, then I felt him slowly enter me. I went from empty to full in a matter of seconds.

I could feel every contour, ridge, and valley; his heartbeat pulsing inside me.

He was made for me. Perfectly tailored to push me to my limit, hitting me deep, exactly where I ached. The tip of him dragged against my walls, sending shock waves through my body with each thrust.

“God, you feel so good,” he growled, his jaw clenched. “I’m going to come so hard.”

“Me too,” I murmured, blinking. I clenched on his length, moments away from erupting.

“Yes. Squeeze me, love,” he muttered. I tightened on him as hard as I could go, and he moaned. “Just like that.”

His movements were hard and focused. The primal sounds coming from his mouth made me dizzy.

I stared at him, the expression of pure bliss across his face. He was rolling his hips, rubbing me on the inside just right. I was on the edge of glory, no longer able to hold back.

“Gavin,” I breathed.

He pushed himself deeper with a groan. “Grace.”