“Are we at the right terminal? I saw multiple exits…” I murmur, scanning every person coming through the gate. Every time I catch sight of a ball cap, my heart skips a beat—only for my breath to whoosh out again when I realize it’s not him.
“We’re at the correct terminal,” Ev confirms in that signature low rumble of his.
“And he landed? We checked?”
“We checked. He landed.”
I check my phone for thegazillionthtime. Still no text. “He didn’t have a delay, right?”
The bearded giant sighs—loudly. That’s my answer.
“Should’ve brought a sign,” I mutter, frowning at some of the funny cardboard ones people are holding up.
“No, you shouldnothave,” he says sharply. “We’re keeping a low profile, remember? We’re not here to sign autographs, take pictures, or answer a million questions. The bus leaves in an hour.”
“Yeah,but what if I miss him?” I toss over my shoulder at an eye-rolling Ev. “What if we’re at the wrong exit and he’s already outside looking for me? What if—”
Aforcecollides with me. Hard.
Completely unprepared, I lose my footing, trip over Ev’s mammoth feet, and hit the floor—for the second time this tour. Only this time, it’s not because of a pair of screaming girls and a tampon avalanche. No.
This time, it’s because of the 220-pound quarterback currently trembling on top of me, whimpering into my neck, pressing frantic kisses to the skin just above my collar.
Tyler.
Finally.Fucking finally.
In the rush of chaos, everything seems to freeze. Time stalls as my arms lock around his broad, sweater-clad back, pulling him in so tight I’m scared I might bruise his ribs. My heartbeatthunders in my ears. I’m overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions—joy, disbelief, relief so intense it nearly knocks the wind out of me—as I sink into everything that ishim.
“Ohfuck, yes.” I almost moan the words, gasping as I grab hold of his gorgeous face, fingers digging into his cheeks to lift it. Ignoring the sting in my back, the damn moisture in my eyes, I trace the contours of his sharp jaw with trembling hands—marveling at the familiar lines and angles I’ve missed more than words caneverexpress.
I pull him in, planting feverish kisses all over this stunning motherfucker. His lips feel both familiar and foreign at the same time.
A cackle slips from my mouth against his. Euphoria bubbles in my chest as I hold him close—so close, so tight—reaffirming that he’s real. Oh fuck, he’s really here. My face finds his neck, and I shudder, gasp, laugh—clutching him like I’ll never let go. Vowing that Iwon’tlet go. Vowing that I’ll never let it happen again—never go this long without him.
Never again.
God, he smells amazing.
“Are you done humping on the filthy floor like a couple of dogs in heat? People are staring.”
I ignore Ev, because he’s an idiot—and because all my earlier worries about being recognized have just flown straight out the window. Instead, I reel back as far as I can and stare at Ty. Atmylove. And he stares right back—his brown-gold eyes lit up, glossy, breathtaking.
“Hey, baby,” I murmur, cheeks straining from the sheer force of my smile.
“Hey, you.” His smile is radiant before he closes the distance, pressing his lips to mine, slower this time, and comes home to me.
It’s magical, phenomenal, fuckingspectacular.
It’s like hearing music after months of silence.
It’s like I’ve been out of tune for ages and he’s the only one who could set me right.
It’severything.
When our lips meet, something breaks open inside me. Every moment of longing, every ache of missing him, every flicker of fear if things would be different after being separated for so long, it all dissolves in this one phenomenal kiss. His warmth envelops me, and for just these few perfect seconds, I forget about the world outside; I forget the distance, the pain, the troubles. It’s just him and me, together again, as it should be.
When he gasps against my mouth, lips parting just enough for my greedy tongue to find his, he pulls back, eyes wide, voice rough.
