“Hollyberry,” he murmurs, his tone half warning, half plea. “You have no idea what you’re asking for.”

“Oh, I do,” I counter, brushing my lips against his. “I’m asking for you.”

I see the second his restraint finally snaps, when he wants me too much for anything else to matter. With a low growl, he pulls me into his lap, his hands firm but careful as they settle on my hips. His mouth captures mine in a kiss that’s fierce, consuming, and leaves no doubt about how much he’s been holding back.

“I’ve missed this,” I whisper against his lips, my fingers threading through his hair as he presses me closer.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed it,” he rasps, his hands sliding up my back, holding me like I’m the only thing keeping him grounded. “But if we do this, I’m in charge. We go slow. I mean it.”

I nod, breathless. “Slow is fine. Just… don’t stop.”

Jack’s lips twitch into a grin, his resolve clearly crumbling. “Slow it is,” he murmurs, and his mouth finds mine again, the promise of what’s to come making my heart race and my body hum with anticipation.

For now, the world outside doesn’t matter. It’s just us—Holly and Jack finally giving in to what we need.

Jack stands with me in his arms, his mouth still on mine as he stumbles toward the bedroom I’ve been sleeping in. He sits me gently on the bed, his hands going to the hem of my T-shirt. I liftmy arms, and he pulls it over my head, a deep groan emerging from his throat when he sees I’m not wearing a bra. My joggers are next, eliciting another growl at my lack of underwear. The only piece of material covering me is the bandage around my thigh.

It suddenly dawns on me that this is the first time he’s seen me naked. Our first time together at his cabin was under a blanket, and I was wearing his shirt. I’m overweight with big boobs and a soft stomach, but Jack looks at me like I’m the most exquisite thing he’s ever seen, like every curve and dip of my body is a treasure he’s desperate to explore.

“Fuck, you’re killing me, Hollyberry,” he murmurs, his voice thick with lust as his hands settle gently on my hips, his thumbs brushing over my skin like he’s committing every inch to memory. “You’re so goddamn beautiful.”

“You make me feel beautiful,” I whisper.

Jack whips his T-shirt over his head and tosses it on the floor before removing his sweatpants. Like me, he’s not wearing underwear, and my mouth waters as I look my fill.

His body is stunning, with long, efficient lines, every inch packed with tough muscle. A light trail of hair narrows down his midriff, thickening between his legs where erect his cock angles away from his body.

Still standing by the side of the bed, Jack reaches out to gather me against his chest. I shiver at the sensation of so much bare skin, so much hardness. I’m a jumble of nerve endings held together with a blush.

“Did you ever imagine we would be doing this?” I ask in a wondering tone.

“About two seconds after we met,” Jack says roughly. “And I haven’t stopped since.”

A grin tugs at my lips as I lean forward to kiss his bare shoulder. “Me too.”

Jack’s head lowers, and the light, erotic pressure of his mouth sends pleasure coursing through me, his beard a delicious abrasion against my skin. Every time I think the kiss will end, he finds a new angle, a deeper taste. My body heats from the inside out as if he’s pouring sunshine into me. Dazed with pleasure, I slide my arms around his neck, sinking my fingers into his thick hair.

He eases me back on the bed and climbs beside me, one hairy leg settling carefully between mine. “If anything hurts, tell me, and we’ll improvise.”

“Improvise, huh?” I waggle my eyebrows, my playful tone masking the nervous flutter in my chest. “You have a plan for that, too, Mr. Always Prepared?”

Jack’s lips curve into a wicked grin as his hand slides up my thigh, stopping just shy of where I want him most. “Holly, I’ve spent the last week imagining all the ways I could make you feel good without risking this beautiful leg. Let’s just say my ‘improvise’ game is solid.”

Heat blooms across my cheeks, but I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “Is that so? Well, show me what you’ve got.”

His deep chuckle vibrates against my skin as he leans down, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Challenge accepted.”

His mouth trails a line of soft, teasing kisses down my neck, each one lighting a fire beneath my skin. His hand shifts, gripping myhip with gentle strength, and I arch into his touch, every nerve alive and reaching for him.

“Jack,” I breathe, his name a plea on my lips.

“Tell me what you need,” he murmurs, his lips skimming my collarbone as his fingers trace slow, maddening circles on my uninjured thigh. “I want to hear it from you, Holly.”

My hands tangle in his hair, pulling him closer. “I need you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “All of you.”

He pulls back to meet my gaze, his dark eyes burning with equal parts desire and tenderness. “You have me,” he says, his voice raw and certain. “You’ve always had me.”

And then his mouth is on mine, claiming and consuming, as his hands map my body with a reverence that makes me feel cherished.