Her chest heaves as she stares at me with a mix of apprehension and hope. She’s scared to feel again, yet she craves it more than her very next breath.

I will fix her.

I will fill the gaping hole in her chest with everything in my soul.

She will feel again. I’ll make sure of it.

With my eyes never leaving her crystal blue ones, I grab onto her panties on each side of her hips and drag them down her thighs. Her eyes widen and she bites her lip but she doesn’t stop me.

This is happening.

The scrap of fabric slides over her knees and she pulls her legs out of them one at a time, her legs falling open to bare her sweet pussy to me. Once I toss the panties to the floor, I push the T-shirt up her belly and over her breasts. She takes the fabric from my hands and pulls it away from her body and off her head.

She’s naked before me.

I want her. All of her.

To consume her from the inside out.

To fill her with my strength.

Sitting up on my knees, I push my boxers down, letting my hardened cock bob out before us. Her eyes tear from mine and she eyes it warily. For someone who hasn’t made love since before the death of her husband, I’m sure she’s unsure about how it will feel to be stretched and filled again. Fear flashes over her features.

I won’t ever hurt her.

Crawling over her, I kick my boxers off the rest of the way and groan when our bare skin connects. Electricity volts between us and her mouth parts, needing the connection of our lips. I dive down and steal her lips away with mine. Our kiss connects our souls. With every slide of our tongue and breath between us, we pass along our fears and worry to the other. And together we squash them.

“Make love to me, Chase.”

Her words sing their way into my ears and through my body, warming me every step of the way. My cock that’s smashed between us throbs to grant her wish.

“I’m going to make you happy again,” I vow before I crash my lips to hers.

A needy moan ripples through her chest against mine and it’s my undoing. Grabbing hold of my cock, I slide it against her wet pussy. I push into her and inch by inch, her body stretches to accept me.

“Chase,” she whimpers.

When I’m completely pushed into her tight, hot body, I graze my nose against hers. “Do you feel how perfect we are together?”

She nods and gasps when I begin a slow thrust inside of her. It occurs to me mid stride that I’m inside of her without a condom.

“Baby,” I groan and continue thrusting, “I’m inside you bare.”

Her eyes widen but she locks her ankles around my ass and urges me to go faster. “I’m on the pill. It’s okay. I need to feel you.”

I slam my eyes closed and drive into her harder. Her body grows increasingly wet and I know I’ll come soon. She feels too good, I can’t hold on forever. This isn’t about feeling good though. Our souls are uniting and with every pound into her, our hearts grow closer. My strength mends her shattered heart shard by shard.

Slipping a hand between us, my middle finger connects with her clit and she yelps. I massage her in unison with each thrust and shove away the urge to come suddenly and without warning.

I want her unraveling before I do.

I need her to feel everything I have to offer her.

“Tori, you have no idea what you mean to me. I’ve never wanted to be with someone so bad in my entire life. You’re everything,” I whisper fiercely. “Do you hear me? Fucking everything to me.”

She nods and tears well in her eyes again. Guilt twists her features and I shake my head at her.

“Don’t feel guilty about living, baby. It’s time to live again. Do you understand me? Do it for her. Do it for him.” I kiss her. “And do it for you.”

She relaxes in my arms and flutters her eyes closed. I watch as she focuses on reaching her orgasm and the moment she cries out in ecstasy, I lose control and spill inside of her. My cock throbs out its release and I fill her perfect body with the proof of my need for her.

“Everything,” I remind her against her lips and then kiss her again.

As the evidence of our lovemaking leaks from her languid body, I relax and hug her to me, careful not to completely crush her.

“How do you feel?”

A small chuckle reverberates through her chest and into mine. “Good. Really good.”

I lift up and flash her a grin. “Just good? I was hoping for mind-blown. Fucking ecstatic. Ruined for any other man. But good? I guess I need to practice my moves some more.”

Her lips break into the most beautiful smile and if I hadn’t just given her everything I had to give, I’d make love to her all over again.

“We may need some practice,” she teases.

She’s absentmindedly tracing the little angel forever drawn on my heart and I can’t bring myself to tell her the meaning, so I drop down and press a kiss to her forehead. “Baby, I promise we’ll practice until neither of us can walk. Now, let’s get showered—this time my efficient way, with both of us in the shower at once—and then grab a late lunch so we’ll have the strength for all this practicing you plan on doing.”

When I pull out of her and sit up on my haunches, I admire how my lost angel has a glow about her now. She’s finding her way again and with my help. I’ll never leave her side. Ever.

“What?” she questions with a frown.

I grab hold of her hands and pull her into a sitting position. “Nothing,” I lie.

She’s fucking everything.

She raises a brow in disbelief. “You’re a terrible liar.”

Shrugging my shoulders, I climb off the bed and pull her to her feet. “Better than a horrible lover.”

“That one’s still up for debate,” she laughs.

“Who’s the terrible liar now?” I say as I hunch and haul her over my shoulder.

Her squeals and her giggles are music to my ears as I strut toward the bathroom.

She’s fucking everything.

“Just try it,” I tell her with a growl, the fork poised in the air near her mouth.

Her eyes narrow at the calamari I’ve stabbed and drenched in marinara. “I can see its legs. Why would you make me eat that little baby squid?”

I roll my eyes. “Its deep fried, baby. Stop thinking about it as a living animal and start thinking about it as food. Now eat it.”

We’re sitting side by side in a corner booth and have been enjoying light conversation about our jobs and other simple stuff. It’s been quiet and relaxing—the air between us now changed. Different. Easy. Perfect.

She slams her eyes closed and parts her mouth open to accept the food. But, with the dim light shining on her beautiful face and painted lips open and waiting, I decide the food can wait. I drop the fork to the plate with a clatter. Sliding my palm over her cheek and to the base of her neck, I tug her to me and smash my lips to hers. She tastes like the wine we’re drinking—sweet and fucking delicious.

A moan enters my mouth as I kiss her. I slide my palm down her neck and over her breast and continue my journey until it rests on her bare thigh.

“Now that I’ve had you,” I mutter and suck her bottom lip through my teeth, “I’ll never have enough of you. I plan on taking your sweet pussy again soon.”

Not caring if anyone can see us, I slip my hand under her skirt and tease her through her panties. She whimpers and squirms as I touch her.

“Would you let me finger you right—”

“Ahem,” someone clears their throat, interrupting us, “How is your appetizer?”

I drag my mouth from hers but leave my hand where it is so I can regard the rude waiter. His eyebrows are at his hairline as he unmistakably takes pride in interrupting our little make out session.

Wiggling my finger and eliciting a gasp from Tori, I meet his gaze. “Delicious. Absolutely delicious. I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough. In fact,” I continue while pushing her panties to the side and slip my finger inside of her, “I could feast on this delicacy all night long.”