"You said it, but I didn't believe it. Not really. I needed to get out of Sharon and find out what I could do on my own."

"Is the show going well?"

He nodded. "I've picked the a.s.sistants for the team, and we start filming in a few weeks."

"I'm happy for you."

Rob ran his hands through my hair, stroked my back. "Nadia is a pain in the a.s.s, you know that? She wouldn't tell me anything."

I smiled, rubbing my cheek against his chest. "Don't be too mad at her, she gave me your address. To update you, I'm still working at the dealership, still in school, still in love with you. And no, not dating anyone else."

"I notice you're not asking."

"It's not important." Okay, that was a huge lie. It would kill me if he'd been with someone else, but I loved him too much for it to be a deal-breaker.

"For the record, I love you. And that means I'm not interested in anyone else. There have been some photo ops, but I've slept alone since the night I left."

"Not me." I paused long enough for his eyes to narrow, then added, "I've got Happy."

"d.a.m.n, Lauren, that's not funny."

"Sorry, I tend to joke when I'm nervous. So what're we going to do about this? Us?"

"I want you back. I want you with me." The firmness of his tone sent a shiver of pleasure through me.

If it was even possible, I loved Rob more. A lot of guys would've made this difficult, pretended not to feel anything. Some of them would've refused to forgive me, but he was pure goodness, down to the bone. In all likelihood, he was better than I deserved.

"Would it be okay if we skipped to the make-up s.e.x? We'll talk about all of the important stuff afterward, I promise."

"I could be convinced." Rob swept me into his arms and carried me to the bedroom.

He had a huge bed and I was naked in it before I could do more than glance around. In seconds, he had me in his arms again, but instead of kissing me, he buried his face between my neck and shoulder. I held him, knowing exactly how he felt.

"Love you so much," I whispered into his hair. "I was so afraid you'd meet somebody else while I-"

"Stop. I met all kinds of women but...there's no replacing you. They only want the nicely wrapped package, they don't care about what's inside. Before I made anything of myself, you believed in me. You always thought I was somebody."

"You were. You are."

"s.h.i.t, Lauren, not even my own family saw anything in me. Without you, I'm empty. And no matter how far I climb, it'll always feel hollow if you're not with me."

I kissed him then; I couldn't help it. His mouth was rough satin, hungry, as I remembered. Running my hands down his back, I felt it when he shivered. Rob took over with greedy surges of tongue, nibbling my lower lip and tasting me so deeply that I almost forgot how to breathe. As we kissed, I rubbed against him, savoring the feel of his big body after so long. His c.o.c.k was so hard against my belly that it must have ached. I reached between us, and he jerked, pumping into my hand with a pained look. But he didn't try to stop me and his eyes locked on mine as I worked my fingers up and down his shaft.

"Are you trying to make me come?"

"Would it work?"

He thrust again, eyes heavy-lidded. "Keep doing that and find out."

Though I desperately needed to be close to him, I also wanted to watch Rob lose control. It must be something he wanted, too, because he didn't stop me as I stroked up and down, encouraging him to f.u.c.k my fingers, coming up against the softness of my stomach on each downward motion. His breath quickened as I watched his face. Heat built in his cheeks, a sure sign he was getting closer. When he started biting his lip, I'd know he was almost there.

"Why are you letting me do this?"

The way he growled out the answer sent a shiver through me. "You're mine. I want to come on you."

"f.u.c.k, Rob."

"In a minute." Teasing answer, last thing he said before the pleasure got away from him.

I moved with him, as much as the position allowed, and I felt like he was staking a claim-my hand, his c.o.c.k, my belly, now slick with his pre-come. Everything narrowed to his face above mine, and then he sank his teeth into his lower lip to m.u.f.fle the sound. I wanted his moans, too, so I reached up to kiss him, and as his tongue touched mine, he throbbed in my fist, coming all over me in hot spurts. Groaning into my mouth, he kissed me fierce and deep as the last pulses shivered through him.

My skin was sticky as we pulled apart. "Marking your territory?"

"Something like that. Is that weird?"

"It's hot." I squirmed, needing to come, but I didn't want to self-service when I had Rob right here.

Before I could point out the fact that I was still h.o.r.n.y, he got a washcloth and wiped off my belly and hands. Surprised, I noticed his c.o.c.k was still hard, an impressive display considering what we'd just done. I thought I'd get lips or fingers until he recovered.

He caught me staring and offered a sheepish smile. "Clearly you have no idea how much I want you, and...it's been a long f.u.c.king time."

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT.

"Round two?" I suggested with a cheeky grin.

Before I could say another word, he had me on his lap. I sank down on his c.o.c.k with a m.u.f.fled whimper, already so slick and sensitive that this felt incredible. I didn't know if I had the self-control to move without humping wildly, but he didn't leave it up to me. Rob cradled my hips in his hands and worked me up and down, watching my face as I had his.

So s.e.xy. G.o.d, I love you.

"Love you, too, beautiful." I didn't realize I'd said it out loud, until he replied and rewarded me by nuzzling my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

His mouth on my nipple sent sheer pleasure sparking through my body, amping up the hot, sweet friction. I took the lead, no longer letting him move me on him; I worked my hips in tight circles, then up and down, until I found the perfect rhythm. Riding him was one of my favorite things because his hands and mouth were everywhere while I set the pace, building to o.r.g.a.s.m at exactly the right speed. It was up to me how fast and hard I came. Right now, I wanted it quick and dirty, so I reached down and stroked my c.l.i.t. Rob grabbed my hand and pulled it back, teasing me. I gasped when his fingers replaced mine.

"Harder? Softer?"

"Harder," I managed. "Longer."

"Like that?"

My hands came to his shoulders, holding on as the o.r.g.a.s.m rolled closer. Tension tightened my thighs and belly. "Need you... So close. Lean back." My voice sounded thick and demanding, but Rob complied, and I followed.

Much better, pressure on my c.l.i.t. Faster and faster, I pushed down on him, and he cupped my a.s.s, working my cheeks open, so I felt embarra.s.singly exposed. Yet that only increased my pleasure; Rob could do anything to me, and I wouldn't stop him. Anything, yes. Yes. I came in a hard, clenching rush, trembling in his arms.

"Mmm. You feel incredible. But we're not done." He rolled me under him and took over.

At first, I just laid there panting, stroking his back, but the longer he thrust, the more I perked up. Soon I wrapped my legs around his hips and worked with him, digging my nails into his shoulders. The spark of pain spurred him on, so I bit his chest lightly, over and over.

He snarled a little. "Driving me crazy. No matter how much I have you, it's not enough."

"I'm here, I'm right here. And I'm yours."

He shuddered in my arms and let go, his whole body arching with the force of it. His intensity flickered me to a quiet, second peak, nowhere near as powerful as the first. But it was warm and sweet with him on top of me. I traced along his nose to his mouth, and then he lay down on me entirely, completely relaxed.

"Don't ever leave me again."

"Technically, you left, not me."

Rob cracked one eye open to give me a look. "Really?"

"Sorry. I promise I won't. I'll fight to make it work." It was a little hard to get my breath with him on top, but there was no way I'd complain.

He knew; he always did. Rolling to the side, he cuddled me against his chest. Before long, his hands tangled in my hair. Playing with it had been one of his favorite things, and I was glad I hadn't gotten it hacked off in a fit of grief.

"So now to the important stuff?" he asked.

"Yeah. This might be presumptuous but I didn't book a room for tonight."

Rob's eyes widened. "What did you plan to do if I pa.s.sed on getting back together?"

"Go back to the airport. If you don't want me here, there's no reason to stick around."

"I do. But...can you?"

I knew what he was asking. "New situations-and change-don't freak me out as much as they did. Because...I've been seeing someone. Professionally. If I move, I'll ask for a referral so I don't backslide."

I was a little afraid that he'd think less of me for therapy, like it was self-indulgent, so the silence was awkward until his troubled look deepened into a frown. "If?"

That was when I realized he was focused on the uncertainty, not my mental issues. "Well, I can't just a.s.sume you want to move in together again. Maybe you have reservations-"

"f.u.c.k that," Rob said. "I want you in my life and in my bed, full-time. I want my d.a.m.n dog back. So let's figure out how to get this done."

"Wow."

"What?"

"I was afraid this would be...harder."

"Why would I be a pain in the a.s.s over something I want so bad?"

He made a compelling point. Lying in his arms, I thought about the logistics. "School isn't a problem. As long as I turn in my work, they won't know if I move. Any hard-copy correspondence, my mom can scan and email to me." That bothered me a little, though. "I guess it's a little unethical to pay the in-state tuition rate after I leave-"

"It takes a while to establish residency," Rob cut in. "So don't worry about that."

"What about the house? I'm living with Avery now. Are you thinking of selling it?"

He kissed the tip of my nose. "I missed the way you think about things."

"What does that even mean?"

"You're such a planner. It's awesome to watch you work."

"Yeah?" It felt a little odd to be complimented for my overactive brain, but Rob gave every impression of sincerity.

"Definitely. And no, I won't sell it. That house is where I've been the happiest. I haven't given up the idea that we'll live there together again someday."

Love swelled in my chest, so sweet and immense that my body could hardly contain it. "Who knows? We'll probably be here for a while." Once I couldn't have coped with a big city, but I was stronger now. Anywhere Rob was, that was where I needed to be.

"Probably," he agreed.

"Once you make your fortune, you can fund your furniture business properly. How are you handling that, by the way?"

"The studio hooked me up with a local carpenter. He let me use his works.p.a.ce in return for some screen time on my channel, and I finished up the last of my orders a while back. Now the store's closed while I see how Hot Property does."

"I'm glad you're not flipping the house," I admitted.

"Maybe Avery would like to find a roommate and stay put? Cost of living is higher here, so it'll be tough to swing an apartment and the mortgage, too."

"But you're a big-time TV star," I teased. "Don't they pay you the big bucks?"

He laughed. "It's more than I made in construction, but for us to find a decent place that allows pets, our rent will be at least fifteen hundred, plus we have two cars to park, and that's more expensive than you'd expect."

"Wow." Until I graduated, I'd probably have a hard time finding a job that let me easily cover half of that.

"Stop scowling. Like before, I'll cover rent if you get utilities and food."

"Okay. But you don't want to stay here?"

"h.e.l.l, no. I just didn't care enough to look for anything else before. This is a furnished unit, and I'm on a month-to-month plan, because when I first got here, I didn't know if things would work out. But now that you're here, we'll find an apartment together."

"Feels kind of like you were waiting for me."

He smiled, his eyes warm and bright as a summer sky. "I was."

"You know I'm only here for the weekend, right? I have to wrap things up, I can't just take off with two pairs of panties for an international move."

"Your practicality is killing my dreams." But he was obviously joking. "Of course I do. You have to give notice, talk to Avery, get Happy. Lots to organize, so you should enjoy it."

"I'm already happy," I said.

"Funny. But I'm still glad to hear it. I'm not making you feel trapped?"

Ouch. I wished I hadn't said so much of that s.h.i.t, but maybe we'd still be clinging to each other in codependent dysfunction if I hadn't. "You never did. As I already told you, I was lying. Should I apologize again? I'll do a knee-grovel if you want."