Kate took his words at face value; even for what they had been through, they had burned each other enough in their short, volatile history together that she had started to just accept he'd forgive her, eventually.

She lowered her head, brushing her lips against his gently. "Good," she breathed. "Because I meant it when I said I don't wanna do this without you." Her hands snaked between them to undo the belt of his pants in a fluid motion, a smile playing across her lips. "Especially this."