She responded immediately, her body melting against mine, her hands fisting in my shirt. The kiss was desperate, hungry, all the longing of three days apart crashing together. I backed her toward the altar steps, unable to stop myself, unable to think beyond the need to touch her, taste her, claim her again.

When the back of her legs hit the first step, she broke the kiss.

"Here," she breathed against my mouth. "Right here, Gabriel."

"This is insane—"

"I know." She pulled her sweater over her head, revealing a simple white bra underneath. "Do it anyway."

My resistance crumbled to dust.

I helped her out of the rest of...