She smiled, patted my chest, and headed out. “It’s going to be cold if you don’t hurry up.”

God, she really was everything I wanted for my entire life wrapped in one petite package that packed a hell of a punch.

I stood in my doorway as she hugged Leah, then grabbed a bottle of wine for the table. Every movement was graceful, just like she was. My mind took flight and imagined another Thanksgiving in a few years, where maybe there would be smaller versions of ourselves running around, and for once, the prospect of true adulthood didn’t terrify the shit out of me.

Because I couldn’t fail if Rachel was with me. We balanced each other out, traded off times when we each needed help. We were strong, but together we were invincible.

“Holy shit, I’m in love with her,” I whispered.

“Just now figure that out, Captain Obvious?” Penna said as she walked by.

I stood there speechless until she turned around.

Penna stopped. “Wait, are you seriously just figuring that out? Because we’ve all known for a good three years or so.”

My mouth hung slightly open as I shook my head. “No. I mean, yes. I mean… Hell, I don’t know.”

“Words typically help,” she said, hobbling back to me.

“I knew I never stopped loving her, not really. But…I’m in love with her. Completely, heart-shatteringly, madly in love with her.”

Penna grinned. “Good. Now keep her.”

“How can she possibly love me back after everything I put her through? I abandoned her without a word for reasons that no longer seem anywhere near good enough.”

Penna took my hand and squeezed. “You make it up to her in every way possible. You earn her trust back, and then you never break it again. You deserve happiness, Landon. You both do. Whether or not she loves you is up to her. All you can do is be the best version of you.” She looked back over to where Rachel stood with the other Renegades, our dining room table extended to fill the living room. “Something tells me it will be more than enough.”

I walked Penna to the table and pulled out her chair so she could sit. Then I found my seat next to Rachel and kissed her soundly, uncaring that I smeared her glossy lips or that the entire Renegade family was watching.

She smiled and kissed me back. “Good thing the cameras aren’t in here, huh?” she joked as everyone gave a little hoot.

But I wanted the cameras. I wanted the entire world to know that I was hers and she was mine, and that the only person I’d ever be using those Casanova moves on was Rachel. But she wasn’t ready, because she didn’t trust me yet.

As we sat to Thanksgiving dinner, which Pax had no doubt paid a fortune to have delivered to our suite, we all took turns saying what we were thankful for.

Finally, it got to me.

“I’m thankful for our families, both biological and chosen,” I said. Then I turned to Rachel. “And second chances.”

I wouldn’t need a third.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rachel

Queenstown, New Zealand

“We’re going to be late if you keep that up,” I said to Landon, exposing more of my neck for his mouth. The man was going to have me in a giant puddle, and I wasn’t sure I cared.

“We could stay in today,” he countered, backing me against the wall of our hotel room.

“We could,” I agreed, running my fingers through his hair. Every muscle in my body clenched with the unbelievable pleasure he sent spiraling through me. It was like my neck had a direct line to my core, and Landon was taking complete advantage. I moaned when he set his teeth to the delicate area where my neck met my shoulder.

“Yes, let’s do that,” he said as his hand slipped under my halter top and underlying bikini to cup my breast. His thumb found my nipple, and I arched, wrapping one leg around his waist.

For not having sex, we were certainly pros at the hottest make-out sessions ever.

Hard against me, he strained against the material of his cargo shorts, and I grasped him through the layers of material. He was hot and heavy in my palm, and the moan he gave me when I gently squeezed him sent a fresh wave of need through me.

“Fuck,” he said, leaning his forehead against mine as I stroked his length.

“We could, you know,” I suggested. It had been two weeks since his self-imposed celibacy, and he’d not backed down even an inch.

He grasped both my hands in his and held them against the wall above my head. “Stop trying to rob me of my virtue, Ms. Dawson.”

“Stop driving me out of my mind, Mr. Rhodes,” I complained.

He kissed me long and hot, his tongue twisting around mine, drawing every ounce of pleasure he could between our mouths. With my hands pinned, I could only accept his kiss, but I leveraged my lower body and wrapped leg to rock against him. How long could this madness continue?

Three loud slams at our door were followed by Little John’s voice.

“The van is waiting on you two. Let’s go.”

“We’re not going,” Landon called, his mouth hovering just above mine.

“Like hell you’re not. Unwrap yourself from your girlfriend and get your ass in the van now, Nova.”

Landon’s eyes raked down me. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to put you on that bed and ride you until my sexual frustration is a distant memory,” I said, nipping at his lower lip.

He growled.

“But I guess we really should go, seeing as we flew all the way down here last night, don’t you think?” I asked.