I dropped my bags the moment I stepped inside, striding across the room, unable to hold back. His openness, his relaxed posture, the way he smiled without any hesitation, it all made me snap as soon as the door clicked shut behind me.
“I thought I could set the table.” He turned to face me. “And then maybe we can—”
I was on him the second his gaze clashed with mine. Pressing his body back against the kitchen counter, I buried my fingersin his hair, taking his lips in a furious kiss that poured in everything I felt, needed, and wanted from him.
I pulled back, searching his face for any kind of resistance.
“... talk…” he finished on a gasp.
“What?” I could barely hear what he was saying. The ringing in my ears was so loud that it took over everything else as all my senses focused on him.
“I thought we could,” he stammered, “… I just…” His words were lost as I bent down to kiss him again. It had been three weeks; whatever he needed to say could wait.
I deepened the kiss, his oven-gloved hands pressing into my waist as I slipped a hand to the back of his neck. Nibbling his bottom lip, he moaned, and I nearly fell to my knees and ripped his trousers off of him right there.
Instead, I fed my hand down his back, running my fingers down his spine to find his ass pressing back into my hand as I cupped him, and he sighed happily.
I knew I was rushing, but I thought it was fine to continue because he kissed me back. Until he pushed at my waist, and I stopped.
“Wait…” he gasped, looking down, avoiding my attention.
I bit back my pain, but a shock of fear took me. I was so ready to be rejected that I instantly assumed the worst.
“Please, Harry,” I begged him, wanting to do as he asked, but it was so hard. "Don't stop me. Not this time.”
He leaned away from me, pressing as far back against the counter as he could. Until his hand rose. Clenched betweenthem were the oven gloves, and he chucked them onto the counter beside us.
I was stock-still, wondering what he wanted next. Clutching at him, I dented my fingers into his asscheek, and his eyelids fluttered.
My breath escaped me as Harry’s hands returned to my waist, tugging at me, bringing me back to his lips. Then it was my turn to moan as he hesitantly explored me with tender kisses.
He ran his tongue across my lips before he lifted himself up on his toes. At my level, he could take what he wanted, and I gave him everything. He could have every piece of me, as long as he kept up those gentle sighs, and the roll of his wide body as I pressed closer into his softness.
I closed my eyes, lost in him. I could vaguely smell the quiche he’d made for me. I was starving, but I didn’t give a flying shit about food when Harry’s lips were on mine. There was only one thing I wanted to eat.
“I missed you,” I groaned as he lowered himself down, pulling away from me, but I wouldn't let him go. I followed him, bending over to stay as close as possible. I wanted him to be sure I was telling the truth. “I knew it would be hard being without you, but I didn’t think it would hurt so fucking much.”
There was a shuddering breath from Harry before he replied in a quiet voice. “Me too… I mean, I missed you too. I thought… I’m just… I’m so—”
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry.” I brought my face down, pressing my forehead against his, staring deep into his eyes. “Every single thing that has happened to us is my fault. It only took me this long to realise how much I love you.” There was the smallest of moans, exactly like the one I had heard on the phone from him.
A smile broke through my desperation.
“I didn’t realise I needed you until you were gone,” he said.
“Oh fuck,” I sighed, pressing down onto his lips again. We were meant to be talking, working out where we stood with each other, but I couldn’t hold back when I’d been waiting for him for so long.
I used the hand on his ass to pull him closer, to deepen the kiss, to show him how much I’d missed him.
“All I could think about when I was away was loving you like this.” I nuzzled him, melting at the way he softened into me. “And I wanted to tell you again how sorry I was that I had ruined us.”
“I haven’t forgiven you.” There was resignation in his voice. Harry pulled back, finally showing me some of his pain.
“Good. I don’t want you to. I want you to spend the rest of my life punishing me for this. Don’t let me forget it, so I remember what a fucking gift you are. Because that’s what this is, isn’t it? The flowers, the quiche, even the fucking apron. Are you telling me you want this?”
“This?”
“Yes, this, here. Me and you. I’m not missing out. If this is you saying yes to me, I want all of it. I want you, Harry.”