Her hands massaged him through his shirt. “I can relate to that.”

“You almost died and all I could think about was how much I regretted sending you away. I wouldn’t have the chance to have you in my life again.” He swallowed against the lump in his throat. “What do you call it? It was a reality bitch-slap.”

Her lips curved and she smiled. “It was, huh?”

“Yes. I saw a future I didn’t want. You wouldn’t have been in it. It won’t be easy for me to change but I’m motivated to try. All I have to do is think about going to bed without you beside me and knowing you won’t be the first thing I see when I wake. It’s a bleak outlook. I want you in my life. You will make it a better place.”

“Damn.” She shifted her hands to his shoulders, curving them there. “Kiss me.”

“Are you going to live here with me, Kat?”

“I’m all in if you are. I’d have you shake on it but I really want that kiss. You have the best mouth. Have I ever told you that?”

“It’s been awhile. I might be bad at this.”

“I’m willing to risk it.” She grinned. “I’m willing to risk everything when it comes to you.”

“Me too.”

Darkness lowered his face, focusing all his attention on her mouth. He could remember some of the basics. He’d been taught how to kiss but it had been a really long time. It was important that he do it well for Kat.

She closed her eyes when their breaths mingled and her lips parted. He gently covered hers with his. They were soft and so Kat. He darted his tongue out, tracing the inner line of her full bottom lip. Her fingernails dug into his shirt urging him to continue. Her tongue met his and he growled, his control slipping. He took full possession of her mouth, kissing her deeply.

It all came back to him when she moaned, meeting his passion. He rolled, making sure they didn’t break the intimate connection. He tore at her shirt, careful not to get her skin with his fingernails. Material ripped and she shifted, helping him remove it from her body. She tugged, trying to destroy his shirt.

They rolled again once she was bare from the waist up. He helped her by using his nails to claw at his own shirt. She hooked her fingers inside the holes, stronger than she seemed when she shredded it apart. Her hands spread across his skin, almost frantically exploring every inch. He hooked the waist of her leggings, shoving them down her hips. He hit gauze and halted, afraid he’d hurt her.

Kat let him go and reached down, shoving at them herself. He rolled them again, almost right off the bed. He growled, breaking the kiss, and lifted up. “Damn. We should move to the floor.”

“Only if you’re on the bottom. Rug burn is a bitch.” She lifted her hips, getting her pants down, and kicked them away.

His allowed himself to admire the length of her beautiful body. He removed what was left of his shirt, tore off his boots and shucked the pants. Her bandaged wounds only served as a reminder of how close he’d come to never touching Kat again. “You’re mine,” he snarled, lunging at her.

She didn’t flinch or seem alarmed. Her arms opened and she wrapped them around his middle when he came down on top of her, her nails raking down his back. She spread her thighs wide to accept the girth of his hips. He ached to take her, to be inside Kat and know her warmth. The smell of her arousal was strong enough to know she was as ready to be taken as he was to take her. He wanted to kiss her again and went for her mouth. She twisted her head at the last second, preventing him from making contact.

“Stop!”

“What?”

She adjusted her hold on him and pushed against his chest. He lifted up a little and she turned her head to stare at him. “Condom. I’m not going to have you destroy our new bedroom walls or mess up your hands. You might have forgotten but I haven’t. Tell me you have some.”

“I do. They are in the nightstand drawer.”

“Get them.”

Darkness held her gaze. “No.” He adjusted his hips, brushing the tip of his dick against her pu**y, finding the right spot. He pushed forward slowly, entering her. She tensed, her nails digging into his chest but a low moan broke from her lips.

“What are you doing?”

“Not allowing anything to get between us ever again.”

Her legs lifted and wrapped around the back of his thighs. She locked them, her thighs gripping his h*ps to hold him in place. “I could get pregnant.”

“I’m willing to risk it. You thought Salvation was cute, didn’t you?”

Kat appeared stunned and turned-on at the same time. “He’s adorable but what are you doing?”

“Proving that I’m serious about you and making our relationship last.” He shifted his hips, thrusting forward despite her attempts to keep him still. Her pu**y gripped him as much as her legs did but he still managed to sink every inch of his dick inside her body. “I’m all in, sweetheart.” He nudged her face aside and nipped her throat. She moaned and caressed him. “Relax and enjoy this. It’s the first step in mating. I’m claiming you in every way.”

Kat eased her grip on him and lifted her legs higher, wrapping them around his ass. “You better not regret this. I’ll kill you. I remember what else you keep in your nightstand drawer.”

He nipped her again. “I’m certain. I love you, Kat. You won’t have a reason to shoot me.”

She twisted her head to look up at him. “Say that again.”