feeling?”
“Yeah, that’s it. We’re not those kids anymore, but this thing between us hasn’t changed.”
Her eyes were full, bright, as she nodded in agreement. “Do you still hear the warning lights? The sirens?”
“All I see and hear is you. But I don’t want you to be hurt. Even you said you didn’t want to feel the pain when you had to leave again.”
“I know. And it will hurt, but I would hurt a lot more if I didn’t feel you, kiss you, touch you.” She grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it up. “Here. Now.”
He knew exactly what she meant. He thought he might shrivel up and die if he didn’t do all those things. Once the shirt was over his head, he tugged it the rest of the way and threw it behind them. Her shirt was next, the loose material landing next to his on the floor. Her bra was pink lace, cupping two beautiful mounds of creamy flesh. In the bright kitchen lights, he could see the network of scars running down her shoulder, over her collarbone on her right side. He kissed the raised skin as he unclipped her bra in the back.
When the bra fell, too, he ran his hands over her breasts, fingers tracing her stiff peaks. “You’re beautiful. Just as you always were.”
“I feel beautiful when I’m with you.”
“You are beautiful, Mia.” He kissed her. “And when I’m with you I feel like I’m good inside.”
“You are.” She braced his face with her hands. “You are good.”
That was what bound him to her so tightly, that she made him feel as though he were a good man. That he deserved love and success and happiness. And her. He kissed her again, feeling all of that now.
“Can we go back, Mia? Can we have this for a few days, then return to our separate lives with more fond memories?”
She opened her mouth, but a rapid knock at the door stole away whatever she’d been about to say.
“Raleigh! Miss Mia!”
Cody’s voice. They both barely pulled on their shirts before Cody burst in, Rose behind him. “We brought dinner! Hamburgers and crinkly fries.”
Rose came to a halt as she took them in. “Oh, crap. We interrupted something, didn’t we?” she mouthed.
Damn, was it that obvious? Then again, a guy’s body tended to give away certain things, and Raleigh was way aroused. “It’s all right.” It wasn’t, but what could he say? The kid was happily unwrapping a package of ground beef.
“I figured we’d supply dinner, since you’ve been buying meals lately,” Rose said, still looking apologetic. “Cody wanted to eat here, and I was too tired to fight him on it.”
Raleigh wasn’t sure if Rose had saved them from making a painful mistake or spoiled something incredible. Maybe both at once. But no words encouraging them to stay longer came out of his mouth.
Mia looked flushed and not the least bit annoyed at suddenly having company. Maybe she saw the interruption as a saving grace, then. “We have boxes of food and staples we figured you might be able to use. I hate to see them go to waste.” She indicated the three boxes.
“That would be great. Thanks.” Rose glanced over at her son. “Cody, wash your hands.”
“Already did, Mom.” He was carefully fashioning the meat into patties.
Raleigh and Mia traded a shrug. There was still heat in her eyes, hunger. He wondered if he looked the same, knew he felt the same. He tore his gaze away and turned to Rose. “I’m going to grab a quick shower while the burgers are cooking, clean up for dinner.”
Mia blinked. “Yeah, me, too.” She tugged her shirt away from herself. “I’m all hot and sticky.”
“Hmm, I bet,” Rose murmured, no doubt taking in Raleigh hungrily watching Mia. “You go ahead. I’m handling dinner tonight. Long as you don’t want anything gourmet.”
Raleigh chuckled. “You know what I fix for dinner.”
Mia grabbed a couple of towels from the hall closet and handed him one. “There’s soap and shampoo in the guest bathroom. I wish we could…” She nodded toward her room.
So no, she didn’t see it as a saving grace.
“I know.” But with Rose and Cody in the house, now was definitely not the time.
She drew her finger down his chest, leaving a trail of tingles. “We will pick up where we left off.” She let her finger rest on the waistband of his pants, then slid it just under the edge. “Tonight.”
“Definitely.” He reluctantly headed into