“We’re supposed to be together. I missed you when you were gone. I’m sorry I sent you away.”

He said this as he pulled out, then eased back inside her.

She wrapped her legs around him. “You’re forgiven.” She swept her fingers over his brow, his temple, then his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Feel free to say those words as many times as you want.”

His lips curved. “Yeah, you, too.”

Then he kissed her, and nothing else was said as he made love to her with a depth of passion that was filled with a new emotion. It was as if both of them had shed the walls they’d erected to protect their hearts. And as he moved within her, she knew without a doubt this was the man she was meant to be with, that he’d protect her, and she’d protect him.

He swept his hand under her bu**ocks and lifted her hips, grinding against her as he buried himself deep.

“Trevor.” She whispered his name, and her pu**y quivered around him, tightening as she came close to orgasm.

“I want to feel your pu**y squeeze my cock. Make me come, Haven.”

She loved the gritty sound of his voice when he was deep in the throes of passion. And the way he slid against her, rubbing her clit as he thrust in and out, was her undoing. She shattered, dragging her nails along his shoulders as she came. Trevor took her mouth in a hard, passionate kiss, taking in her cries and mixing his own groans in there as he released with a shudder.

They were glued together by perspiration and clasped arms and legs. Haven was in no hurry to move. Trevor rolled to his side, taking Haven with him. They stayed like that, stroking each other’s bodies for a while until he disengaged and left for only a few seconds. When he came back, he pulled her against him and tangled his fingers in her hair, kissed her deeply, and tucked her close.

“Are you staying for a while?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“When do you have to be back in New York?”

“After I finish my interview with you.”

He looked into her eyes. “I’d like to include the dyslexia thing in your interview.”

She drew back. “You want me to break it?”

“Yes.”

“Trevor. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I trust you’ll do it right.”

She laid her palm over his heart. “I will do it right. And I’ll get those recommendations for you starting tomorrow.”

“I’ll get started on it tomorrow. And I’ll go to the literacy center and talk to them as well.”

She laid her head on his chest. “I believe in you, Trevor. I always have.”

“That’s what’ll get me through this.”

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

Together. They’d get through anything together.

Chapter Thirty-Five

TREVOR WALKED OFF THE FIELD, A MUDDY, VICTORIOUS mess. It had rained almost nonstop through the entire game against Green Bay. He didn’t know when he’d had more fun. He’d caught two passes for touchdowns, and had over a hundred yards in the game.

More importantly, they’d won, and that’s what counted the most, especially since the Hawks were on top of their division. He wanted them to stay there, which meant playing well every week. Right now they were firing on all cylinders.

Professionally, things were going well.

Personally, things were going even better. In the past two months, he’d been working with a specialist in learning disabilities who’d been patient in diagnosing his dyslexia and teaching him to read, plus work on his frustration issues when things didn’t go his way. Denise Lancaster was formidable and no bullshit, and she didn’t fall for his charm. She made him work and work hard. For someone nearly sixty and barely five feet tall, she was one scary woman.

But she was his savior, and for the first time in his life, he was starting to enjoy reading. And even better, he was learning to comprehend what he was reading. It was like the lightbulb had finally gone off in his head, and a whole new world was opening up for him. He could already imagine diving into books he’d waited his whole life to read. Sure, he’d enjoyed audiobooks, but he’d waited a lifetime to read books—really read books.

Denise told him she’d set him up with someone just as scary as she was once he moved back to St. Louis.

He couldn’t wait.

He’d flown home to Springfield and had a long talk with his mother, telling her everything he should have told her years ago. She’d cried. Hell, he’d cried, too, and they’d talked out a lot of shit about his dad. His mother apologized for not being there to help him, and he shouldered the blame for hiding everything, explaining about how he was afraid he was going to end up like Dad.