She shook her head again. “It wasn’t your responsibility to go after me, and it wasn’t your fault. I was the one too weak to face the good that was right in front of me.” They stared at each other for long seconds before she found herself leaning in just a little bit closer. The fire only Tank could bring out in her rose swiftly, and she clutched at his shoulders. Bunny knew she was rushing things, but right now she didn’t care. All she wanted to do was wash away the past, the time she’d missed out on, and be with the only man she’d ever loved.
“Bunny, baby, what are you doing?” His voice was deep and husky.
“I’m being reckless, selfish, and just wanting to forget about what I’ve missed out on and be with you,” she whispered that all on a breath, looking him right in the eyes, and hoping her didn’t turn her down.
He has every right to.
Yes, he did, but she could see he cared about her still, could see he wanted her.
She saw him glance down at her mouth, and she licked her lips as if she had no control over the act. Bunny couldn’t hold her emotions in check when there was all this sexual chemistry, all these memories swamping her, coursing through her veins, her very cells. It was like a living entity between them, drowning her in sensations and needs. Her hands were shaking, her heart was pounding, and beads of sweat trailed between her breasts.
“It feels so fucking good to have you touch me, Bunny,” Tank whispered.
She had her palms flat on his chest, and ran them up and down, mesmerized by every inch of him. His skin was warm and smooth, hard and powerful.
“Bunny,” he groaned out her name, his voice hoarse, his focus was on her mouth.
“We don’t have to rush into anything.”
“I know that.” She kept looking at the ink on his chest, tracing the sharp lines with her fingers. “You’re all I’ve been able to think about since that night I walked away from one of the only good things in my life.” She lifted her gaze to his face. “I’ve regretted my actions every day, Brendan.”
Not thinking anymore, just acting, Bunny forgot about everything and anything that didn’t have to do with right here and now. She rose up on her toes, braced herself against him, and placed her lips on his. The electricity that slammed into her when she had her mouth on his was so intense that she couldn’t stop the moan from leaving her.
Tank smoothed his big, rough palms up her arms, gripped her shoulders, and pulled her impossibly closer. For a few seconds, they held their position, neither really kissing the other, but their lips still pressed against each other. He was the one to pull back, and for a second she couldn’t even breathe at the sight of the raw masculinity and arousal that covered his face. Bunny didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if she should just turn and put all of this behind her, run again like the coward she was, or just tell Tank she still was in love with him.
“Tank,” she whispered his name. “I do still care about you. I do still love you—”
Before she could say anything else Tank had his hand behind her head, pulled her forward, and had his mouth close enough to hers she felt the warm pants of his breath along her lips.
“If this is what you want then I’ll give it to you, Bunny. But no more running, no more turning your back on us, on what we could have. We work this shit out together, as a team.” He was silent for a second. “You’re my woman, and I won’t let you walk away a second time.”
“Tank, I am tired of running. I just want to feel like I belong somewhere.” She took a steadying breath. “And I’ve only ever felt that way when I was with you.” She wouldn’t cry. “I was a coward back then, but I won’t make the same mistakes twice.”
His face was still so close to hers, and his warm breath smelling slightly of whiskey moved across her lips. She swallowed again, felt her nipples bead, and had wetness coating her between her thighs. The longer he stayed silent, the more nervous she became, and the higher her arousal climbed.
He groaned right before claiming her mouth.
“I fucking want you, baby,” he said against her mouth. “You’re the only woman that has ever held my heart, Bunny. I love you.”
“I love you, too. I love you so much, and I’m so sorry for leaving the way I did.”
“No more apologies, baby. You’re here with me now, and that’s all that matters.”
She kissed him harder but felt him pull back slightly again.
“I’m different than I used to be, Bunny,” he said softly, his voice like sandpaper along her flesh. “You should be afraid of me now. I’ve done things that can never be undone.”