Page 81 of Never the Same

I melted into him, dizzy and drunk on every kiss. We moved together in perfect sync, a dance that was only ours. His mouth guided mine, anchoring me to something solid, something real, which was a blessing after what I’d been through the last few days.

A few minutes later, he hoisted me off the bench, my legs remaining locked around his waist. He carried me through the gym, and I twined my wrists at the back of his neck. Somehow he managed to wrestle the door open without letting me go.

In the hall, he had me up against the wall, his mouth finding mine again. One hand slammed beside my shoulder, and the other gripped my ass as his hard length pressed into me.

I caught his moan with my tongue. He swallowed my breathless cries of surrender.

Paws scratched the floor, along with a whimper. Jason lifted his head, eyeing our company.

“Not hurting her, boy, I promise,” he said, a laugh falling under his breath, and the sound was low and sinful. “But I do need her to myself. Now git.”

“Your bed,” I begged after Ranger followed his command. “Please.”

He lightly nodded his As you wish. By the time we crashed into his bedroom, the world outside didn’t exist. Just heat, need, and him.

He set me on the edge of the bed, swept the pillows aside, and pulled the covers back in one rough motion. Then he laid me out like I belonged there, like I really was his wife in that dream.

His shirt hit the floor, and he unbuttoned the top of his jeans but left them on. His muscles flexed in the low light. “I got you dirty,” he muttered, shaking his head.

I glanced at the dark smudges streaking my arms and thighs. Probably my face, too. “I don’t care.”

His grin curved slowly and dangerously before he joined me, and I straddled him, the heavy weight of his erection pressed through his jeans. Heat spiked down my spine. Leaving on my chain, I stripped my shirt and bra off in one motion, baring myself without hesitation.

A guttural sound tore from his throat and his hand closed over my breast, the other cupping my chin to drag me back into the kiss.

I propped my hands on each side of him for support to give him my mouth.

We’re in his bed together, not a dream this time. No waking alone. This was real. Him. Me. Us.

My pulse thundered with his every touch, every caress. Every spine-tingling sensation this man delivered.

Time blurred as we lost ourselves in kisses, his fingers teasing my nipples, his other hand tracing my curves as if memorizing me.

Desperation clawed through me. I wanted his hands between my thighs. On every inch of me.

I sat upright on top of him, and he held my hips and stared at me as if I were his everything. And my God, he made me feel like I was. This me, the old me, it didn’t matter. Right now, I was his, and he was mine. That was all I knew.

“You’re so beautiful.” His voice cracked as he cupped my cheek.

“Still drive you nuts?” I smirked.

“Absolutely.”

I licked my lips, my eyes falling to his bare chest, longing and desire pulling me apart. I lazily ran my nail across his rib, following the writing tattooed there.

He removed my hand, his eyes shooting to the ceiling. “I . . . forgot, and I—I can’t forget.”

Forget what? “Because I can’t remember who I am?” Panic pushed into my throat, forcing my next words to be a little mumbled. “I still want you, that doesn’t change anything.” I freed my wrist from his hold and rested my hand over that sensitive spot on my chest. “I’m still here, remember? My soul. I’m making my own choices, and I choose you.” In a shaky voice, I continued, fighting back tears, “I choose this. Right now, right here.”

When he remained quiet, refusing to make eye contact, I rolled off and lay down beside him.

He slid his legs over to the side of the bed and dropped his feet to the floor. His spine bowed, muscles drawn tight as he covered his face with his hands. “You don’t understand.”

I shifted to sit next to him, rubbing his back, and he tensed from my touch. “Then help me understand.”

“It’s complicated.”

“I’m a walking complication. Then and now. But I’m here with you, and I want to be. Not because of a dream.” Well, maybe that dream had led me here, but I was staying because of what we had before, what I knew deep in my bones we had now.