I melt. My entire body becomes liquid, and I can’t help the shudder that wracks through me. Damn him and his mouth. That mouth that I know can do some pretty incredible things.

No, shut it down, Grace. Stay strong.

“Trent.” I shift in my seat. “We had sex the other day, and it led to a lot of issues. I’d like to avoid that this time, so no sex or anything close until we talk.”

“We’ll see.” There’s no mistaking the challenge we’ve both made. He’s going to make this talk incredibly difficult, and I’m going to end up naked on the table.

“I want us to move in together by the end of the month.”

“Done.”

He doesn’t blink. He just agreed? Is this a joke?

“I’m sorry,” I say in disbelief. “Are you agreeing?”

“Yes, we’ll move in together by the end of the month. What’s next?”

“Okay.” I bat my eyes in confusion. That was much easier than I thought. The last time we talked about moving in together, it ended with him storming out.

“Can we live in my house? I like your place, but mine is a little bigger.”

I know this will be where we’ll have the most resistance. He loves his house, and I love mine. However, I have three bedrooms, and he has only one. I would eventually like to have kids . . . maybe.

“Sure. I like your place just fine. How about we start moving there now?”

“Trent!” I glare at him. “Agreeing to agree isn’t going to get to the sex any faster.”

He leans back and rubs his chin. “I’m not doin’ that, sweetheart. I’m telling you we’re going to move in together this week, to your house, and now, I’d like to take you back to my bed and spend the next few hours enjoying you . . . thoroughly.”

I’m dead. He’s going to kill me with words. Trent’s hand moves to my knee and slowly creeps up my leg. “Stop.”

“Stop what, sweetheart? I’m just familiarizing myself with the lay of the land while we talk. Bein’ efficient and all.”

I need to talk faster. Much faster.

“Do you love me?” I ask.

His hand stops moving, and his eyes lock with mine. “I love you.”

“I need to hear it. I need you to mean it. I’m going to be needy. I’m going to question you. I’ve had almost twenty years of doubting us, can you handle that?”

Trent’s hands move to my face. His eyes are sad and full of regret. “I did this to you. I hate that I did. I hate that I put any doubt in your head. You’re going to have to forgive me and I’m going to have to earn that. I know this, and it isn’t anything less than I deserve. I won’t do that to you again, Gracie. I won’t hurt you like that. I plan to tell you that I love you every day, because I do.”

A tear slides down my face. Who knew that he could be so damn sweet?

“Can I kiss you?” Trent asks.

I can’t speak, so I nod. Slowly, his face moves toward mine. It’s a sweet kiss filled with promise and a chance at redemption. I hold his hands as he cups my cheeks. Another tear falls as I give my heart back to him. Each piece of it is his. I wish it could’ve always been like this, but I try to let that go. He’s here now, loving me like I always wanted.

He leans back and rubs the tear away with his thumb. “What else do you need, sweetheart?”

I shake my head. “I only need you.”

Trent’s hands don’t move as his jaw tightens. The air around us shifts and fills with tension. “Say I’m yours,” he demands.

I don’t hesitate. “You’re mine.”

“Say you’re mine.”

“I’ve only ever been yours.”

Trent stands and pulls me to my feet, his arms hook under my knees, and he lifts me. “You’ll only ever be mine.”

I touch his cheek. “And you?”

He smiles as he starts to move toward the bedroom. “I don’t see anyone else but you, Gracie. I’ll fix this. I’ll fix us.”

“I know you will.” I smile.

He kicks the door open and lays me down. My hands glide across his bare chest, and his eyes stay trained on mine. Trent’s body has always been firm, but now I’m takin’ the time to appreciate it all. His arms are big and strong and his stomach is toned and hard. I like it. My fingers make their way to his face, and his eyes close.

I run the pads of my fingertips across his lips, feeling his breath as he sighs. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” I confess.

He moves quickly, flipping me on top. My hair falls between us, and he pushes it back. “I want to see you. I want to see your face the entire time.”

I drop down and kiss him. Our tongues dance without restraint, giving and taking. He’s unforgiving as he nips at my lip. This is everything we are. The need I feel for him is insurmountable. I want him to remind me of what we were and all we can be.

“Don’t make me wait,” I say as my mouth moves to his ear. “I need you.”

Trent’s hands move up my back as I lean back, allowing him to remove my shirt. He stares at me, muttering, “So damn gorgeous,” before pushing me to my back, sliding off the bed, and taking off the remainder of his clothing.

I smile. He’s always made me feel beautiful, especially when we’re in bed.

Trent pushes me back and I watch as his body moves, loving every second.

“You’ve been workin’ out,” I note.

“It was either that or I beat the shit out of someone. I didn’t think that would earn me any brownie points.” He smirks.

“Good choice.”

He climbs back on the bed and stares at me. “Get naked, sweetheart. I’m done talkin’.”

I remove my pants and climb under the covers with him. His mouth finds mine, and our limbs tangle together. My body responds to his touch without a thought. His hands cup my breasts, his thumbs brushing across my nipples and making me groan.

When he takes one in his mouth, I buck under him. “Trent!” I cry out as my desire spikes.

He doesn’t stop. He sucks, nibbles, and massages each breast. My fingers fist the sheets as he continues to extract pleasure from my body.

When Trent’s fingers find my clit, I almost lose it. I’m so primed from his words and just being with him again that it isn’t going to take much to get me there. Thank God, because I’m going crazy as it is.