But I’m not having sex with Sarah in the garage, where anyone could walk in and see us. It doesn’t matter how badly I want her.

Icanmake the trip to the apartment faster, though.

Instead of taking Sarah’s hand when she gets out of the car, like I usually do, I scoop her into my arms. She lets out a tiny yip of surprise. “Dante! What are you doing?”

Already striding towards the door, I reply with a grin, “Bringing you back to the apartment.”

“What about walking?”

Once we leave the garage, I break into a jog, loping across the lawn and to the house. “We could. But this is faster.”

She grabs my neck, clinging tightly, though I’d never let her fall. Laughing, she says, “I guess you reallycouldn’twait for the doctor’s okay.”

“Nope.” As luck has it, Niall and Jade are leaving just as we’re coming inside, so I don’t have to slow at the door. Niall steps aside to hold the door for us, chuckling. “I guess the appointment went well.”

Already halfway across the living room, I hear Jadetskat him. “Niall! Don’t say that. You’ll embarrass them!”

“I don’t think they care,” Niall replies with a laugh.

And he’s right. I don’t care who knows. And looking down at Sarah’s glowing face, I can tell she doesn’t either.

“On the plus side of everyone knowing we’re going home to have sex,” Sarah says, “they won’t stop by for a while. Not that I don’t love everyone, but?—”

Finally stopping by our apartment door, I adjust Sarah in my arms so I can unlock the door. “We’re going to need lots of time,” I finish, my voice going rough. “Plenty of time to make up for the six weeks we missed.”

As the door shuts behind us, she nuzzles my neck, feathering light kisses against my skin. “I can’twait.”

Though my body is in agreement, urging me to hurry, to do the thing I’ve been fantasizing about for weeks, that’s not how I want this to go.

Not this first time. Not after nearly losing her.

This time, I want to cherish every moment. I want to memorize the feel of her skin against my lips and the soft scent of her hair and how she gasps when I kiss that sensitive spot by her belly button.

I want to peel her clothes off slowly, revealing her incredible body inch by inch, kissing her all over.

I want to pay close attention to her rosy nipples, sucking them into my mouth, flicking and laving with my tongue until they’re taut peaks.

And I want to give her pleasure over and over, feeling her thighs tremble around my head, tasting her arousal on my lips.

This first time, after dreaming about the woman I love for so long, I want to make every moment count.

So I do.

I bring her into the bedroom, laying her down on the bed and gazing at the most precious gift I’ve been given.

Then I unwrap her, kissing her just as I wanted, brushing hot kisses all across her golden skin.

I lavish attention to her breasts, her stomach, with that cute little swell she complains about but I think looks unbelievably sexy, her legs, and even her delicate feet with the hot pink polish I put on for her so she wouldn’t hurt her ribs trying to do it herself.

I bring her right to the edge with my mouth and fingers, plunging first one, then two inside her, feeling her slick heat quivering around them, and then I flick her swollen bud with my tongue until her hips are thrusting towards me and she’s making those sexy sounds I love.

And finally,finally, we come together.

Just like always, we’re a perfect fit.

Sarah holds my gaze as we move, and everything she’s feeling is right there—desire, need, pleasure, anticipation, affection, trust… And love.

My eyes burn with emotion; with the heavy reminder I almost lost her.