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My hunger doesn’t end there, though, and suddenly, I’m between her legs, tearing the scrap of cotton from her body and crushing my mouth to where she’s hot and aching for me.

“Tate!” She arches off the bed, oversensitive from my earlier teasing, her fingers twisting in my messy strands, anchoring me in place. “Yes. Yes, oh please. I’m so close already.”

I smirk against her center and slowly, painfully, inch away.

“No!” Her head falls back, tears clinging to her lashes. “I can’t take anymore.”

“Look at me.”

She half scowls, half pouts down the length of her body.

“I’m here with you. Always. Now”—I lower my head, nibbling her clit—“come on your husband’s tongue before he gives you his cock.”

I eat as if I haven’t fed in years. I don’t let up until her cries grow hoarse and she’s thrashing around. Then, with one final, long lick, she shatters. And fuck, she soaks me. The bed. My face. I drink it all up, lapping at her pussy, not wanting to waste a drop.

“Ahh.” She pushes at the top of my head. “Enough. Oh god, I think I…”

I grin, lips glistening. “Yes, you did. I love it when you squirt down my throat, soaking me.”

“I haven’t done that in a long time.” She chuckles before sagging into the mattress, gesturing a time-out.

No chance.

With a firm grip on her ankles, I yank her down the bed, and away from the wet patch on the sheets. She hardly reacts, drunk from her orgasm. But I don’t want fast or rushed now. Yes, we’ve been intimate since I returned, but this isn’t fucking or chasing our releases.

It’s a reunion.

She’s finally welcoming me home.

And suddenly, hovering above her, emotion clogs my throat.

Her tipsy smile straightens when she catches my expression. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, feeling foolish and incapable of putting my feelings and fears into words. But she’s my other half, and with that title comes the ability to read my mind and body language. I let her roll us until her legs bracket my hips, her hands resting on my chest.

“The day you left, you took half of me with you. I left my ring in here, didn’t change the sheets, pretended everything was okay, and tried to get on with my life like there wasn’t a gaping hole in my chest.” She drags her nails through the short hairs between my pecs. “A part of me never thought we’d get back here, and I know there’s more to discuss, and the circumstances of your return weren’t ideal, but…” She drops her chin. “I don’t know how much longer I would’ve survived with my heart on the other side of the country. My best—” She sucks in a breath. “My best friend was gone because I sent him away, and I need you to know I didn’t take my ring off because it was over. I took it off because the weight of it on my finger reminded me of what I was losing.”

“Tally Girl,” I whisper. She nuzzles into my palm when I reach up. “You never lost me.”

“Didn’t I?”

“No, baby. We just got a little lost along the way.” I tap her nose three times, the simple gesture springs fresh tears to her eyes. “But we’re back on track. Almost ten years ago, I vowed a lifetime to you. Do you remember the song we danced to?”

“Of course.” Absentmindedly, her fingers drift to my ribs, tracing the treble and bass clefs adorning my skin. Unintentional or not, it’s kismet. “Our song. You sing it to me every year on our anniversary. But…”

“We weren’t together last year,” I finish. “But you were with me. Here.” I press my fingers to hers, guiding her along the melody I could recite in my sleep. “This life, next life, all our lives, they’ll find our love in every timeline. Through thick and thin, I’m all in, and don’t you ever doubt it.”

Her smile wobbles as she listens to me sing. The lyrics float past my lips, easier than breathing.

“We’re timeless, lasting through the ages.”

And then her eyes widen, hands trembling where they’re trapped between mine.

“I knew I should’ve taught you to read music. This isn’t from commemorating a new album. I was celebrating our love. You weren’t there with me in person on our anniversary, so this was the next best thing.”

“You said the tattoo was the last song in your new album.” She stares at the notes in complete astonishment.

“Because it is.” Craning my neck, I press a kiss to her heart. “It’s our song.”