He removed his hand from my arm and covered his face, overcome by the guilt.

“Shh, Col,” I said, prying his hand away so that I could see him. “You can’t go there. You can’t think like that. Everyone has done things they aren’t proud of. At the time, you were doingwhat you thought was best. Every day, we grow and learn to do better.”

“What do I do now? How do I live with myself?”

“By remembering who you really are, in here.” I took one hand and pressed it against his chest, feeling the steady beating of his heart under my palm.

“I don’t know who I am,” he admitted defeatedly.

“Then I’ll remind you. You’re loyal, protective, and brave. You’re a father and an alpha. You’re strong and handsome. You have a devilish smile when you think you’re getting away with something cheeky,” I joked. “You’re tough, with a surprisingly gentle touch. You’re a friend.”

“It’s not enough,” he said sadly.

“You are enough,” I argued.

I could see that his thoughts were spiraling. I could only think of one way to break through the guilt that was threatening to overtake him. Without another thought, I cupped his face in my hands and planted my lips on his, melding our skin together. For a moment, he seemed shocked, but once the realization of what I was doing struck him, he responded enthusiastically. His soft lips had been drawn tightly together, evidence of his stress and despondency, but as I pressed mine into his I began to feel them loosen. My lips parted and my tongue caressed his lips gently, urging them apart.

The kiss, which had only begun as a means of bringing him out of his mental anguish, suddenly transformed into something else entirely. It had been years since I had felt this pull inside of me—since the first time Colson and I had made love, all those years ago, when life had seemed full of endless possibilities as long as we were together. Years, since I hadwanted to give myself fully to a man and allow him to see me for all I was and all I could be.

Desire filled me. Like a summer rainstorm, hot and steady, it washed over me. It was an unstoppable force, and I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had given in completely—until Colson and I fed the hunger that had been growing between us ever since fate had brought us together once more.

“Mm,” he moaned against my lips.

My heart raced as I realized his thoughts had been following my own. His hands reached under the oversized shirt I was wearing as a nightgown and pulled it over my head, discarding it on the bed beside us before grasping my full breasts. In a flurry of fabric, the rest of our clothes came off. I looked at him hungrily as tightness pooled deep in my abdomen. The anticipation of our coupling was all I could think about. I licked my lips and pulled him closer as I laid down on the bed.

“Are you sure?” he asked, panting against my collarbone as he trailed kisses down my neck.

“I’m sure,” I replied confidently.

His tongue traced down my chest and lapped at my nipple, stimulating it into a point as I moaned with pleasure, and his hand reached down to explore my legs and ass. His calloused fingers were delicate against my soft skin, causing goosebumps to erupt as each touch electrified my senses. I took in a shaky breath as I shivered at his touch.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said in a low voice. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me, or to himself. “Like an angel. How did I get so lucky to find you again?”

“Let’s not worry about that now,” I whispered. “I just want to be in this moment with you right now.”

“I’m not worried about anything,” Colson assured me. “How could I be when I have the most beautiful woman in the world in my bed?”

His fingers slipped inside me, and I threw my head back, allowing him to pleasure me in whatever way he wanted to. He hooked one finger inside of me, putting pressure on the front of my vaginal opening where my pleasure was intensified, as he pulled it in and out. I moaned at the movement and my eyes closed as I focused on the continued tightness in my belly.

“Yes, Col. Don’t stop,” I begged.

He continued the motion, diligently keeping the pace he had struck as my breathing came in short spurts. The warmth that had started in my abdomen began to spread and sweat accumulated on my skin. I could feel that I was close to my climax.

“Do you want me to make you finish?” Colson asked, knowing I was near my peak.

I nodded as I bit my lip, unable to bring myself to speak. His mouth lowered itself to my nipple, joining in the stimulation. My back arched as the pressure was released. With one hand I muffled my exclamation as my body shook with the force of my orgasm.

“You’re so wet, Chris,” he said huskily. “I want you so bad.”

“Take me,” I whispered. I may have finished once already, but that didn’t mean I had any intention of being done.

Colson shifted so that his shaft was lined up with my entrance as he hovered above me and pulled one leg up to rest on his shoulder. His erect cock teased my lips as he kissed the ankle.I sighed in frustration, wishing he would put us both out of our misery and give himself to me.

“Impatient, are we?” he asked, pressing the tip of his penis onto my quivering clit.

“Aren’t you?” I replied breathlessly.

He kissed my ankle once more as his hands caressed my inner thighs. The length of his shaft slid between my lower lips, coating itself in their wetness.