Even in the dark, Liam’s eyes shine bright. He won’t hurt me. He won’t betray me. He’ll be patient and kind because that’s who he is. My hands tangle in his hair as we stand together. Our foreheads touch and he holds my face as I hold on to this moment. I’m at peace in this very second. No hurt consumes me, no fear, just Liam. I close my eyes and allow myself to feel and pray.

Please, Aaron, be okay with this. Please understand I’ll always love you, but Liam makes it a little bit better. He’ll be good to me. So please, forgive me.

I lift my head and press my lips against his. His hand cradles my cheek and he holds me as we kiss. I grab his neck and feel the weightlessness from letting a little part of myself go. He kisses me adoringly and cautiously, allowing me to lead but still commanding me. I lose myself a little more as I moan when his hand presses against the small of my back.

“Let go,” he says against my mouth. “Let me take it for you.”

Before I can say anything, his mouth is on mine again. Our tongues thrash against each other as the kiss becomes hungry. He pulls me close so there’s no space between us. The low sound resonates through his chest, sending shivers down my spine. It’s sexy, and before I know it, my hands are traveling to his chest. I pull his shirt out and my fingers trail up his chest. I want to feel his skin.

Liam breaks the kiss. “Natalie,” my name is both a plea and a request.

“Shhh,” I instruct him as I unbutton his shirt. “I want to feel your heart.”

My hands glide up and he trembles beneath my touch. We stand here with my fingers resting on his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath me. He’s alive and here with me. His hands stay at his sides as he once again lets me decide where I’m going with this.

“I want to touch you so bad,” he admits and his hand lifts then drops. “I’m fighting every muscle in my body right now.”

“Stop fighting,” I say without thinking.

Liam grips my arm and pulls my hand down as his lips find mine again. He kisses me roughly. Taking from me whatever I’m willing to give. I don’t know how far I can go, but right now I’m lost to him. I don’t see, feel, or want anything but him. My mind shuts off completely and for once I’m living in this moment. In the field with him, I’m not drowning. Liam breathes the air into my lungs for me. The life that left my soul months ago, when it was ripped from me, starts to find its way back. I’m alive in his arms. His touch elicits the part of me I closed off to come back and ignite.

“Liam,” I sigh when his lips leave mine and he kisses my neck.

“Tell me to stop.”

“Liam,” I breathe his name again as I feel his tongue glide against my collarbone.

“Tell me this isn’t wrong,” he says in between kisses.

I grab his face and force him to look at me. I need him to see it in my eyes. I want him to know I’m here with him and only him. “This isn’t wrong.”

He closes his eyes and pulls me against his chest. We hold each other as our breathing comes back to normal. It’s crazy how much he frees me from myself.

“I could stay here forever,” Liam says, breaking the quiet.

“I’d love to see it during the day.”

“One day, sweetheart. Let’s head back to the car before I do something stupid.” Liam releases me and takes my hand and we start to walk back up the path. “I’ve come once during the day, but at night you feel the peace. You can see the light through the black. The stars and the moon remind me that life is short and I need to live each day. My job demands I respect death.”

“Respect death? How can you say that?” I ask with doubt dripping from my voice.

He stops and stands before me. “Without death there is no life.” Liam pauses as if weighing his next words. “When one of us dies, it’s not in vain. We don’t go lightly and if I don’t respect the sacrifice someone made in honor, then what?” Liam asks.

“There’s no respect in death for me. It takes from you. It makes things go dark and gray because there is no solace for the remaining. I’m left here, picking up the pieces of my destroyed life because of death.” I choke on the words as he shifts uncomfortably.

Liam steps forward and I instantly regret my words. “Your life isn’t ruined. It’s altered. Things didn’t go the way you thought, but you have Aarabelle, you have friends who love you, and hopefully you’ll have me. I can never replace him and I never want to. He was my best friend and I’d give anything to have taken his place so you didn’t have to hurt.”

“Liam,” I try to stop him, but he puts his finger to my lips.

“No, I would. I hate seeing you hurt. I hate knowing Aarabelle will grow up not knowing him. I feel guilty getting to touch you, kiss you, and hold you in my arms. But I respect that Aaron saved more lives than we’ll ever know. He gave his life because he was going over there to make sure his team had what they needed. He’s a hero to the men he helped. A patriot. And for that, I respect death.” Liam’s hand presses against my shoulder and he opens the car door.

I don’t speak because I don’t trust myself. I climb in the car and let the weight of his words come down around me.

He was my hero too, and I lost him.

The drive home is quiet as we both feel the emotions settle. There’s a lot to be said, but not tonight. Tonight was our first date, and it doesn’t slip past me that I spent a good majority in memories or tears. I know that if I were with anyone other than Liam, it would’ve been the date from hell.

The car stops in my drive and we sit awkwardly.

“Liam? I know it might not seem like it, but tonight was sincerely special to me.”

He leans over and grins. “You’re special and deserve a night out.”

“I just need time to get there. I want us to keep seeing each other. I want to be . . . well, whatever we are.” I laugh and wring my hands nervously. This is so uncomfortable it’s a little ridiculous.

“We’re friends, Lee. Friends who kiss a lot.”

I smile and let out a shaky breath. “I like kissing you.”

“I’m glad. Now come here and show me just how much.” Liam’s voice is husky with desire.

I shift slightly and give him exactly what he asks for.

“Hey, babe!” Reanell screams as she runs over. “You look amazing.”

“I look like crap,” I reply as I look down at my sweats.

“Yeah, I was being nice. You look like shit.”

Leave it to Reanell to be so sweet.

“You ready for the gym?”

Reanell and I decided we needed to get off our butts since it’s summer, and if I have to get in a bikini, I’d like to not jiggle so much. Even though there’s not an ounce of fat on her five-foot-three frame. She’s the kind of woman people hate to be friends with, naturally skinny even though she eats a bag of chips in one sitting. Has long, dark brown hair that always looks as if she spent hours doing it when she just woke up. But her eyes are most coveted—she has hazel eyes framed with the longest black eyelashes. I want to hate her, but then she opens her mouth and is the kindest person I know, so hating her is impossible.

“Can we go out to lunch after?” she asks as she sits on the couch.