Chapter 46

The moment she touched him, Xavier lost what little control he'd been managing to maintain.

Her hand was on his neck, pulling him forward, drawing him down to her. He shouldn't have said the things he'd said. Once, he'd promised himself that he'd never speak of her again - avoidance had seemed like the easiest option at the time - but he should have known better. You didn't forget a woman like Penny. You didn't pretend she was never in your life. Their relationship had changed him, morphed him in ways he was still discovering, years later.

And now she was pulling him into her arms, and he was tired of holding back.

His mouth fell on hers, hot and eager. Desperate. That kiss earlier today had happened in a moment of pure relief - and it had only served to stoke the fiery pit of desire inside of him. One taste wouldn't be enough, now.

Her hand moved up into his hair, and the other one joined it. Her fingers tangled in the strands, tightening and pulling, drawing him back to long, hot