She’d been giddy when he’d asked her to come to the dance at the resort. Dancing with Trent had always been one of her favorite things. Her whole life was brighter since he’d been back, and now she had even more wonderful things to look forward to.
Trent paid the bill and then they made their way down the sidewalk toward home. He shrugged off his sweater and turned her toward him as he helped her put it on.
“You’re cute when you’re tipsy.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“You’re hot all the time.”
She went up on her toes and mashed her lips against his in a messy, needy kiss. His strong arms circled her, bringing their bodies flush against each other. He buried his hands in her hair, tilting her head, angling her just the way he liked, and she immediately surrendered to their passion. The kiss was warm and wonderful, sharing oxygen as he loved her mouth with all he had. Reese’s insides were humming with need, and every kiss, every urgent touch, brought her desire for him even closer to the surface.
A car drove around the corner, putting them momentarily in a spotlight, and they came away breathless. They hurried several blocks in the chilly evening air, until Trent pulled Reese into an alley between two shops, where it was pitch-dark and they were blocked from the bay breezes.
He pressed his body to hers as he kissed her again, his hands traveling up and down her hips as she rocked into him, feeling the strength of his arousal, the ache of his lust in every stroke of his tongue. She couldn’t resist palming him through his jeans. He moaned as he slid his lips to her neck, kissing and sucking as his hand slid between her legs.
“Reese,” he whispered against her lips. “You’ve turned me into a teenage boy. I want to take you right here, right now.”
“Take me,” she urged him. “Here. Now.”
He cupped her face between his hands and kissed her. It was a rough kiss. A kiss that matched the urgency rushing through her and drove her hand to the button of his jeans.
“Yes,” he said between kisses. “Now.”
She didn’t stop unbuttoning his pants as they stumbled deeper into the alley, away from the road. She managed to get his zipper down, pulling a groan from deep within his lungs. She could barely see in the dark alley, but she could feel his heart thundering in his chest and could feel each heavy breath against her cheeks, her lips, her neck, ratcheting up her fervor.
She tugged his pants down, and he lifted her up and claimed her mouth, groaning as he shoved her skirt up above her waist, lifted her legs to wrap around his hips, and shoved her panties to one side.
She sank down upon his hard shaft, both of them beyond words as the breath whooshed from their lungs and their bodies ground together.
His strong arms guided her up and down. She used his shoulders for balance, digging her nails into his muscles.
“Faster…harder…Trent…” She barely comprehended what she was saying as he took her up, up, up, and higher still. When he sealed his lips over the crest of her shoulder and bit down as he thrust into her, they both cried out, spiraling over the edge.
He silenced her passionate moans with kisses as they rode out their orgasms, thrusting and clawing for more. Finally, Trent backed them against the wall, holding her close, until their bodies began to calm.
“You’re shaking,” he said as he helped her straighten her clothes a short while later.
“Aftershocks.” She fisted her hands in his shirt to stabilize her shaky legs.
“Jesus, Reese. I didn’t mean to do that here,” he whispered. “When I’m with you, I forget everything except how much I have to have you.”
“I loved every single second of it,” she said as she went up on her toes and kissed him again. “And even though some things have changed between us, I’m glad we still need each other just as much as we always did.”
“More, Reese. I need you even more.”
He was right. Even their desire for each other was bigger now. Bigger and better than before. And maybe it was that knowledge that helped her cautious worries stay settled for the first time as they took yet another step toward their second chance at forever.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
THE NEXT FEW days flew by in a blur of laughter and loving. Morning, noon, and night, Reese tumbled faster and faster over the edge of lust and into a love that was deeper and truer than she’d ever known love could be.
By Friday afternoon she was so excited to dance with Trent that she could barely concentrate on the mural. She was debating walking down to Annabelle’s boutique to look for a new dress to wear, when she spotted a group of teenagers heading her way.