“I’m sorry if I’ve gone too far, Leanne, but I’ve wanted you for years. As soon as I realized what desire and attraction were, you’ve been the woman I wanted.”

She bowed her head, shaking it, and covered her mouth with one palm.

“I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth. I’m not even sure mere words can express how important you are to me.”

“No. You’ve lost your mind. It’s ridiculous. I’m so much older than you are.” She moved to the side of the bed, her face stricken and her arms crossed in front of her as if protecting herself from him. “The wedding and all … we’re just caught up right now because we’re here alone. You’re my son’s best friend, for God’s sake. Jay, it’s okay. We’ll chalk this up to crazy loneliness.”

Her attempt at a smile did little to appease him. There was no way he’d let her diminish his feelings.

“What I’m telling you has nothing to do with timing or loneliness or your son. Only us. And over a decade of feelings on my part for me to wade through.” She drew in a deep breath and opened her mouth. “Hear me out, okay?” he interrupted. “And be honest with yourself. There’s nothing stopping us to see what might be. We’re adults who are attracted to each other. There’s something between us, Leanne. I’ve wanted you for years. I don’t think I’m wrong to believe there have been mutual feelings on your part the last few times we’ve seen one another. Please be honest with yourself and don’t trivialize our relationship by telling me otherwise.”

Their gazes locked—in combat, he supposed, neither willing to back down from the tension circling the room.

“Oh, Jay,” she whispered, then turned to peer out the small opening between the curtains of the balcony door.

He wouldn’t give up on what they could have together.

Jay moved in behind her, he inhaled her sweet-scented mix of vanilla and strawberry. His mind raced imagining her spreading soap or lotion all over herself. He swallowed hard, shoving the thoughts away. “You’re the most amazing woman in the world in my opinion. I want to show you every bit of beauty I see. I wish you saw yourself as I do.”

He lifted his hands, cupping her shoulders and massaging the stiffness there. She sighed and lowered her head, as if enjoying the attention.

“It would be so easy to fall in to your arms and forget everything else. But Jay…” Her voice was soft and low, but he heard the indecisiveness and the deep-rooted hunger underlying her words. “I don’t live life by throwing caution to the wind. And you could have any woman in the world. I’m just an old house wife who—”

He pulled her back in tight against his chest, not wanting to listen to her denials. Jay pressed his lips to her neck, kissing his way over her skin. She gasped, then relaxed in his arms, her breathing quick and rough.

“I don’t want to be with anyone else,” he whispered against her ear. “No one else exists right now. You and me. Here and now. Hungry for each other, desperate to be together. I feel the tension in your body.” He raked his teeth along her neckline, doing a mental high-five as her hands balled into fists against her belly. “Damn it, I sense your need, too. But I won’t push you. But if you tell me to go…” He wrapped his hands around hers. “I will. But don’t think I’ll give up. I’ll keep coming back hour after hour, day after day, to show you how much I want you.”

Jay waited, arms around her, his dick ready to burst and his heart thumping to capacity. He sent up a silent prayer she wouldn’t say no.

“You’re right.” Leanne let out a breathless sigh. “I don’t want there to be anyone else here. Just you and me. But what if—?”

“Let’s pretend for tonight that what if doesn’t exist.”