"No. Fucking is fast. Hard. Quick." I looked down at her throat, watching it move as she swallowed. I reached up, tracing her pulse, mesmerized. "What we did last night..." I lowered my forehead to hers, pressing my hands against the sides of her neck. "It was so much better than that."

She shivered, reaching up to hold my wrists like she was seconds away from falling.

"I just heard-"

I kissed the spot between her eyes. "I'm sorry. What you heard..." My chest burned as I struggled to get the words out. What was she doing to me? What was this feeling spinning in my gut and chest? This sudden obsession to be with her, hold her, comfort her...

"But-"

"Gavin and Max are idiots if they haven't figured things out by now."

"Figured out what exactly?"

I pulled back, needing to see her face, her smile. Hearing it in her voice wasn't enough for me. "I'm crazy about you, Addison. Have been since the day I first saw you."

A soft looked passed over her features. Not just a smile or a bat of her lashes, but her entire demeanor changed. Something lit a fire in her eyes, something built in her smile too. Something pushed the air out of her chest so hard that her shoulders were back, higher, more confident. She was...content. Still, she didn't say anything. Instead, she stood on her tiptoes to press her soft lips to mine. And that's all I needed-to know she felt the same way.

This kiss wasn't fast or hard. Instead, it was slow, sweet, and everything Addie was to me, and I was to her.

And for the first time in a long-ass time, I finally knew real happiness again.

Chapter 31.

Addison Ten straight hours of rugby had frosted my brain like the leaves on the early December trees surrounding me. It's not as though I didn't like the sport. It was action packed and held my attention the entire time. But I didn't have a clue what was happening. The one thing I did know? It looked painful, and every single match, someone would walk away with an injury. This last one just happened to be a cleat to Max's temple.

Which is why we were waiting outside a hospital room at Chicago Mercy Medical Center.

What was supposed to be an overnight adventure with me and Collin and his friends was-after a day of rugby tournaments-fast turning into a dull headache.

I sat on Collin's lap, Gavin on the floor to our left with a set of brothers from the hosting Chicago rugby team. They were originally from Australia but now lived nearby, traveling with an American team across the state. One was quieter than the other. I think his name was William, but I didn't know for sure. What I did know was he had green eyes and brown hair, and looked like a hero out of an erotic novel come to life. The other guy? He had a green Mohawk, all shaved on the sides but long and hanging in his eyes in the front. His name was Oliver. Unlike his brother, he was loud and funny and reminded me of someone Lia would've loved. A punk-rocker sort. His smile bared dimples-nowhere near as cute as Collin's-and I could tell he was the type that easily charmed the panties off any girl within a fifty-mile radius.

"So that's it, then. You say these lines to a woman, and it actually works?"

"Yeah. Have the ladies on their knees in no time." Oliver winked at a nearby nurse, who in turn ran into a wall.

I laughed. The poor single women on this floor. They were doomed, surrounded by these wild men. Maybe even some of the taken ones too. Someone was destined to screw up an emergency or two because of all this hotness.

Collin nuzzled his nose against the back of my neck, seeming oblivious to everything but me. I smiled and shut my eyes, clinging tightly to his hand. It was good to see him so relaxed, even though we were technically in a hospital waiting while Max got stitches.

Things between us had changed for the better since Thanksgiving, two weeks ago. We'd grown closer, more official in a way. Granted we hadn't had the technical conversation about what the two of us were yet. But I was as much to blame for that as he was.

"...and can I give you an Aussie kiss? It's like a French kiss, but Down Under."

"Jesus," Collin mumbled, body shaking as he laughed.

"Just watch, yeah? I'll show you how it's done." Oliver stood up, his long legs bringing him in front of an orderly pushing a cart of laundry down the hall. She had to be around thirty. Pretty yet tired-looking.

"The hell is he doing?" Gavin asked William.

"The coit's gonna wind up gettin' his nuts clobbered if he's not careful."

Leaning back, Collin shoved his legs out in front of us, pulling my back flush against his chest as he touched his lips to my ears. "What's a coit?" he asked.

William looked from Collin back to his brother, frowning. "Means asshole."

"Think I'm gonna need a lesson in Australian urban slang." Gavin leaned back, smiling, with his arms over his chest.

The conversation went on around us, but all I could feel was Collin's breath on my neck when he laughed and his hand on my thigh as he rubbed it.

"You all right?" He laughed low in my ear a few minutes later, damn well knowing what he was doing to me, from the sounds of it. His free hand tightened along my waist and he squeezed, slipping his fingers under the hem of my flannel shirt.

I laid my head on his shoulder. "Perfect." And I really was. Being here with him, in this town, in his life, made me feel like I'd found my first real peace in years.

"Taking you out tonight." He kissed my temple.

"You are, huh?" I grinned, watching Oliver but completely focused on Collin's warm fingers sneaking up higher along my ribs. Back and forth they trailed over my skin in a mesmerizing pattern that made goose bumps dance along my tummy.

"Yeah. Dinner, then we talk."

"About...?" I bit my lip.

"Us."

Inside my stomach, tiny butterflies sprang to life, dancing and fluttering like they were caged and more than ready to be freed. And even though I wanted to smother my smile, hide the excitement, I couldn't.

I sat up instead and faced him, pressing my nose to his as I whispered, "I'm okay with talking."

He ran his thumbs across my lower back. "Kissing too?"

I nodded.

"Good."

Just as my lips touched his, a loud smack sounded from behind us. The woman Oliver had approached screamed, "How dare you say that to me? I should have you arrested."

Collin rubbed the tip of his nose across mine, and even though I didn't get the kiss I wanted, his affectionate touches were almost as intoxicating.

"What'd you say to her?" Gavin laughed.

I glanced at Oliver. The cocky smile he'd worn all day was replaced by a frown and furrowed brows. He looked like he wanted to rip someone's head off.

"Answer him, man." William sighed, rubbing a hand over his mouth. Unlike Gavin, he didn't look amused.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Gavin laughed harder, shoving him in the shoulder. "A smack in the face was for nothing?"

"Jesus, just say it." William leaned back against the wall, chin high.

"It's never failed me," Oliver growled. "Don't understand."

"Because you always do it when you're full, that's why," William groaned.

I frowned, staring back and forth between the brothers. "Full?"

Oliver's grin turned teasing, an obvious escape mechanism from getting burned. "Full is drunk. It's what you Americans call it, no?"

"Brother, leave it." William stood, a good inch taller than Oliver.

"No, I wanna hear it. Tell me what you said to that lady," Gavin said, moving to stand between my line of sight and Oliver's.

"Told her I wanted to..." Oliver leaned back against the wall next to his brother.

"-get lost in her outback." William finished his brother's words, smacking Oliver upside the head as he sat down next to him.

Just then Max walked into the waiting room, a massive bandage covering his head and, like always, a smile across his face.

"Fuckers!" His hands shot up over his head. Then he looked at me. "And miss." He winked, and I rolled my eyes. "I am ready to get shit-faced."

Gavin shook his head, while Oliver jumped up to chest-bump him. Collin settled his forehead against my back. I couldn't stop grinning.

These men were ridiculous. And pretty damn awesome too.

"I didn't take you to be a deep-dish kinda woman."

Melted cheese dripped down Collin's chin as he tried to take a bite of his pizza. His face was an adorable shade of pink from getting windburned all day.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." I took another bite myself.

He wiped his lips with his napkin, and his dimpled cheeks puckered inward. "Very true."

The small talk was fine, but I couldn't help but wonder when we were going to delve deeper into the good stuff. He'd made it very apparent we were going to have an "us" talk tonight, but he'd yet to bring it up.

Collin's dark hair fell over his forehead as he leaned across the table to cover my wrist. My fingers twitched, wanting to brush the softness back with the tips. "Let's play a game."

"Another game?" My pulse spiked.

His lips tilted into a slow, sensual grin. "Yep. Five questions each, no holds barred, ask away. Only one pass."

"Just one pass?" I took another drink of my soda and licked my lips to keep the wetness from spilling down my chin.

An Italian ballad played softly in the background, and my chest warmed with contentment. Regardless of the fact that my dress was entirely too short, I slouched a little lower in my seat and extended my legs out in front of me. Our feet brushed, and I couldn't help but smile.

A candle flame danced between us, and the way the light reflected off his sparkling eyes enthralled my soul.

"Yes. One pass. But I go first."

"That's not fair." I chuckled, mind scrambling as I thought about what I wanted to know. There were so many things to ask and so few questions to ask them in.

"Perfectly fair, I'd say. I came up with the idea, so I ask the first set."

I leaned forward on the table, moving so our hands interlocked. Part of me did it so I could hide the sudden trembling of my fingers. He was giving me a chance to know him, so it was only fair that I was ready for him to know me too. The idea of sharing my past didn't come easy to me, but still, if we were going to be together, I wanted full disclosure, no holding back.

"Then ask away." I stared down at the silverware, too scared to see the judgment in his eyes when I told him the truth about my family.

"Favorite color."

I blinked, looking up. On his face was a soft smile. One that said We're in this together.

"Yellow."

"Yeah?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"Yep. It's...a happy color, ya know? Like the sunshine and sunflowers, bananas and lemons."

One side of his mouth curled up. "Lemons and bananas, huh?"

I refused to let myself grow embarrassed. I was who I was and wouldn't change for anyone. "And sunshine too. Don't forget that. It's the sign of summer."

As if he finally understood, he nodded and brought my knuckles to his lips. "I'm good with yellow and sunshine."

"So"-my pulse slowed-"what is your favorite holiday?"

"Easy. Fourth of July. Means freedom. Gives me serving as a marine more of a purpose."

"I get it." And I did. A marine was a breed of human who deserved so much more than just a nod, pat on the back, or "good job." They fought for me, for America. But Collin was an exemplary man for so many more reasons.

"Tell me about your mom."

My throat went dry. "Um..." I frowned, taken aback by the sudden change in direction of our little game. I knew it was coming, but getting no warning sucked.

"You gotta tell me, Addie. I need to know what breaks you so I don't let it happen again."

A small smile crept over my lips at his sweet words. "You can't take my bad away, but thank you for wanting to try."

"I can take it away if I want to. Replace it with all good things instead. That's my plan, but first I gotta know the truth."

Letting go of his hand, I leaned back in my chair and toyed with the paper napkin sitting next to my plate.