“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly.

Suddenly, I feel his weight over me again. “Presley.” He brushes my hair back. “Look at me, baby.”

My eyes flutter open.

“Time has made you more magnificent than I remember. Whatever imperfections you see . . . I only see beauty.”

A tear falls from my eyes. “Why do you always know the right things to say?”

He shrugs with a grin. “Trust me—I don’t. I’m telling you what I feel. Showing you what I see. If that’s the right thing, then it solidifies what I already know.”

My heart beats against my chest and I pray he doesn’t say it. I know he loves me. I see it when he looks at me, and if he’s looking closely too, he sees it. But I can’t say it right now. We may have established there’s no right timeframe for us, and it’s crazy to think we wouldn’t fall back in love, considering I don’t know that I ever really stopped, but I won’t say it to him tonight.

I’ll show it.

To ensure he doesn’t utter the words, I lean in and press my lips to his. His tongue moves with mine as we pour ourselves into the moment. I unbuckle his belt, undo his pants, and slide them down. Zach kicks them off and flips me so I’m on top.

His dick presses against my core and I moan. “I need you.”

He pushes me so I can stare at him. I move, giving myself the friction I so desperately crave. My hair falls around me and he leans up taking control. He kisses me and drags his fingers down my back. I hold on to him, living each second in Zach’s embrace.

Zach turns me so I’m on my back again. He slithers the length of my body, leaving a trail of kisses. This is what he was fantastic at even as teenagers. His tongue and mouth had a way of working in perfect harmony, ensuring I would lose it. “Zach,” I whisper into the night.

“I need to taste you, Presley.”

“I might combust.”

The sound of his amusement vibrates against my skin, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, his tongue presses against my clit.

My fingers grip his hair as he does it again. My hips move, but he holds me still, continuing to lick and suck. Each swipe causes my head to thrash. I mumble incoherently as he takes me to new heights. I’m lost, floating, weightless, and I don’t care if I ever come down. “Zach!” I scream out as I fall back to earth. He continues until I grow still.

He crawls back up. “I could drown in you.”

My eyes open and I grin. “I could let you.”

Zach pulls his boxers down and I see him fully. Every inch of him is mine again. He was the first man I ever let inside of me, and who knows if he’ll be the last.

“If you want to stop . . .” He gives me the out again.

I bring my hand to his face. “I want you to make love to me.”

“I’m damn glad you said that.” His smile warm and assuring.

He reaches over for the condom. While he rolls it on, my stomach tightens for so many reasons. What if it’s not as good as I remember? What if he doesn’t think I’m good?

“Zach.” Fear bleeds through my voice.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes are wide as he probably senses my distress.

Now I feel stupid. “Nothing. I’m just being a silly girl.”

“Presley.” He adjusts his weight slightly. “I can wait.”

I want to laugh. There’s no way in hell that we’re waiting. I don’t want to wait either. I don’t want this to suck. “I can’t. I’m ready.”

He shifts forward, and I feel him against my entrance. “Keep your eyes on me,” he requests.

I stare into his deep blue eyes and see so much love it actually makes my chest ache. Everything I’ve lost in the last eight months has brought me here. To a man who loves me. Who has taken an interest in my kids. Meets me every night so he can hold me when I can’t sleep. He’s the boy who held my hand when my Nana died and I was too scared to go in the house. The teenager who punched Armando Delgado in the nose when he tried to kiss me, but then got him ice. He’s the man I never knew, but has always lived in my heart.

When he enters me, everything goes still. There are no crickets, no fireflies blinking, there’s nothing in this entire world but us. Our eyes stay on each other as he pushes deeper. Tears form and one spills over. It’s too much. Too many emotions, thoughts, feelings, and I can’t contain them.

Zach leans down and kisses my tear away. “God, Pres.”

“You feel so good.” I choke the words out.

“Don’t cry, baby.”

I need to explain, but there’s no way to put him at ease. “It’s happy tears. I’m so happy right now.”

They continue to run down my face as we make love. Zach wipes each one away, and whispers how perfect I am. I flip him on his back and ride him, needing to feel the power of control, and I know how much he used to like it.

“I’m close,” he says as I rock back and forth.

I ride him harder, enjoying the way his face tightens and his grip is stronger. I rake my nails down his chest and he clamps down on my wrists. “Let go, Zach.” I move as fast as I can.

He can’t hold on and he cries out my name over and over as he finishes.

After our breathing returns to normal, he takes me in his arms. I lie there with my hand on his heart. There’s a lot to say, but all I want is to be right here. Legs tangled, completely sated, and lost in each other.

“Pres?” he asks while running his finger up and down my back.

“Hmm?”

“Will you sleep here tonight?”

I lift my head and smile. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

He yanks me so I’m flush against him, and I close my eyes. I’ll stay here as long as I can, because right now, everything feels right.

“Y OU SHOULD CURL YOUR HAIR and pull it up,” Grace says as I stand in front of the mirror.

“I’m so tired you’re lucky I can keep my eyes open.” I go back to getting ready. Emily is on her way over to go out for the night. She’s going to sing at Lucky’s in town, and everyone will be there because no one is driving to Nashville.

It’s been three weeks of meeting Zach since we made love. I sneak out in the middle of the night and creep back to my bed in the morning. Thank God, I still remember the stair creaking pattern. Although, I think Mama has known for a long time. She’s made plenty of references previously to the bags under my eyes and the grass on my clothes.

“Emily said it’s mandatory you’re there.” She comes behind me, fixing my hair. “Let me pin it for you.”

After we figure out what to wear, we head downstairs. Cooper’s eyes lift, landing on Grace, and I wonder . . .

He watches her a little too long, grunts, and goes back to whatever he’s reading. Interesting.

“Hi, Coop!” She slaps him on the back of the head, and I hold back a laugh. It seems the feelings aren’t reciprocated.

“Grace.” He rubs his head. “Going to see Emily?” he asks me, trying to keep from looking over at her.

I give him a knowing grin, I answer with, “I think you should come.”

His face falls as he confirms what I suspected. “Yeah.” Grace chimes in. “We should probably have a chaperone.”