“Thursday would be fine.” She wondered why he had to leave town. Probably some clandestine operation, Mr. Spy-Man, she thought to herself.

They strolled the rest of the way to Olivia’s house, holding hands. Alexander walked Olivia up the steps to her front door and she turned to face him, dreading another awkward moment.

“Olivia,” Alexander said breathlessly, pulling her body into his. He stroked her hair again. She could get used to the feeling of his body next to hers, warming her in the cool Boston night air. She leaned her head back to look up at him. Would he freakin’ kiss me already? Olivia thought. She licked her lips as she stared into his eyes, hoping he would get the hint.

“Oh, Olivia.” He pulled her face into his chest, resting his chin on her head as he gently caressed her back. “You have no idea how badly I want to put my lips on you.” He exhaled loudly. “God. It’s taking all of my resolve to not taste you right now.”

“Then why don’t you?” Olivia took a deep breath. He smelled so good.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to stop at just kissing you, and I couldn’t live with myself. I mean, after what almost happened to you Friday,” he floundered through his bullshit reason. He was more concerned with her being his long lost Olivia. How could he get close to her? Would she ever forgive him for letting her down all those years ago?

“But what if I want to kiss you?” Olivia looked up at Alexander again, a pout on her face.

“You will, I promise, Love.” She felt butterflies at his term of endearment. She wanted to hear that again. “But when the time is right. And it will be amazing.” Alexander needed more answers.

“A little confident of your skills, aren’t you?” Olivia laughed, pushing him away and taking a step back.

“Maybe. I mean…” He looked slightly exasperated as he ran his hand through his hair. It made his already disheveled hair look even sexier. Olivia started to feel a pulsating sensation between her legs as Alexander closed the gap between them once again. “Don’t you feel this thing between us? The one thing I learned in my time overseas and after my father died was that life is precious.” He stared down at the woman in front of him, his fierce green eyes intense. “I’ve never felt this way about someone after only knowing them for a few short days. I can’t focus at work. I can’t do anything without thinking about you. All these feelings are so foreign to me, Olivia. I don’t know what to make of it. I normally couldn’t give two shits about actually taking someone out, but with you, I don’t know. I’m not only interested about getting you into my bed. I just want to see you smile. This is such a strange thing for me.”

Olivia felt her heart drop into her stomach. She felt the same way. All thoughts were of Alexander. She had forgotten about Simon altogether until Detective Wilder brought him back to the foreground earlier that day.

“God, Olivia,” he breathed, pulling her back into his arms, desperately needing to feel her small body against him again. “What are you doing to me? There’s something about you that keeps me coming back to you. I can’t explain it. And I’m not sure I want to.” He took a step back, holding onto her forearms. “Let’s just enjoy this thing, because I am.”

“I am, too,” she giggled, making Alexander’s heart soar. He loved that sound.

“When can I see you again? I have to leave town Thursday, but maybe tomorrow?” He looked at her with a hopeful expression on his face. In the meantime, he was determined to get answers, even if that meant calling in some favors.

“Umm…” She hesitated, unsure of whether she should tell him about singing in a band.

Alexander’s heart dropped, noticing her apprehension. “What is it? Are you seeing someone? I mean, that’s fine if you are,” he rambled nervously.

“No. It’s just, well… I kind of used to sing in a band when I was in college. And my friend Kiera tricked me into going to that bar last Friday and they were playing, and I sang a bunch of songs with them, and now I guess I’m part of the band again and we have a gig on Friday, but I have to go to rehearsal tomorrow.” Olivia let out a huge breath, gauging his reaction.

His face turned pale and he had that look again. Like he was searching his brain for something.

“That’s probably not your scene, huh?”

He snapped out of it. “No. No. Sorry, that’s not it. Déjà vu moment again. Well, can I come and watch? I mean, one of these Friday nights? Do you mind?”

“No. Of course not. I’d love for you to come. You can meet Kiera. When do you get back into town? Will you be back Friday?”

“I don’t think so, Love. How about Sunday? Are you available? I’m hoping to get back into town late morning and I’d like to see you.”

“I can do Sunday.” Olivia smiled, happy that she had another plan to see him. She gazed at him, seeing the heat that was building behind his emerald eyes, and started to breathe heavier.

“Oh, screw it,” he said, pushing Olivia against the door to her house, tilting her chin up. Before she knew what was happening, she felt his soft, full lips on her mouth. She opened her lips in response to his, giving him permission to enter with his tongue, his movements gentle but, at the same time, forceful, as if staking his claim. Olivia felt his growing arousal against her abdomen. She deepened the kiss in response.

Alexander traced his fingers up and down the side of her stomach, making Olivia moan in his mouth. He pulled away and they both stood on her front stoop, panting.

“Holy crap,” Olivia exhaled, trying to catch her breath. In all her twenty-seven years she couldn’t remember ever feeling so lightheaded after a kiss.

“You’ve got that right.” He laughed. “You should go inside before I pin you against that door again.” He stared down at her, his eyes full of desire.

“I don’t mind,” Olivia said playfully, batting her eyes.

“Get inside, please,” Alexander said softly, bringing his lips back to hers and planting a soft kiss on her lips.

“Okay,” she replied, his lips still not leaving her mouth. “I have to get my keys.”

“You can’t do that from this position?”

“It might be hard not being able to look down.” Olivia smiled.

“I really like the taste of your lips.”

Olivia moaned at his words and he pulled his mouth away. She frowned from the loss of contact as she fished her keys out of her purse and turned to unlock her front door. Alexander was behind her immediately, wrapping his arm around her and caressing her stomach. Olivia backed into him, arching her neck to the side, giving him access to it. He brushed her hair away and kissed her neck, inhaling her scent. She wiggled her butt against him, feeling his growing erection.