I didn’t want to stay back there with those women anyway.

“Fine,” I replied, but I wasn’t giving him my hand. I didn’t know him.

I stepped around him and shoved my way through at least fifteen girls. What the heck did four guys need with fifteen girls? Was that even possible? I ignored the sick knot in my stomach. It was likely that Krit would get a couple of these girls pawing all over him, and he’d forget about me until he was done. I would be stuck out there in the crowd, alone.

“Blythe.” Krit called out my name, and relief swamped me. I wasn’t going to have to go out there and face all those people. “Get the f**k away from her,” he ordered as he jumped down the steps and shoved the guy much bigger than him as well as a couple of the girls until he had his hand wrapped around my arm.

“Where are you going?” he asked, looking panicked.

I turned to look up at the guy in black. “He was sending me away,” I explained.

“She’s really with you?” the man asked incredulously.

“Did she f**king say she was with me?” Krit roared as he pulled me beside him and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, but they all say that,” he said defensively.

“Does she like the rest of them?” he asked in a hard voice. He was angry. Again.

“No. I’m sorry, dude. You never bring a girl with you.”

“I will from now on. You’ll see her again. Make sure the others know this one is mine,” he ordered. Then he looked down at me. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay,” I replied, but the women behind us drowned my voice out. They were trying to get Krit’s attention.

“He’s taken, beauties, but I’m so f**king not,” Green called out over the women. Then Matty and Legend joined him.

Krit walked us to the backdoor that we’d arrived at earlier.

“Are we leaving them?” I asked, glancing back at the crowd.

“Yeah, they’ll be awhile. I have a car picking us up. I was prepared for this,” he replied, then pressed a kiss to my head. “Next time someone tries that shit again, you call my name real f**king loud. Got it?”

Next time? My heart fluttered. There would be a next time.

“Okay,” I replied.

“I’ll make sure they know who you are at the next place. I should’ve thought of that tonight.”

The possessive way he sounded made me want things I couldn’t have. I knew in my head that Krit didn’t mean what I wanted him to mean. But with him touching me and holding me all the time, it was hard to remind myself that he was just affectionate. I just wasn’t positive this was safe for my heart. I had never loved anyone. A month ago I would have said I had no idea what love felt like. However, I was beginning to think that this might be it. And I knew that was not what Krit wanted from me.

A black Lincoln Town Car was waiting outside. Krit walked over to it and opened the door. “Get in,” he said with a grin.

When we were both inside and headed back to Sea Breeze, I relaxed against Krit. My eyelids were feeling heavy, and I enjoyed his warmth as I slipped into my dreams.

* * *

I woke up tucked into my bed, but I wasn’t alone. I lifted my head to look down at the hard drool-worthy chest I had been sleeping on. It wasn’t as soft as my pillow, but it was so much better. I took in the sexy musical note tattooed on his pec—it was perfect for him. I wanted to trace all the ink on his chest and arms, but he was still blissfully asleep. With his bad boy smirk gone and his long eyelashes brushing his cheekbones, he really did look like a fallen angel.

I remembered waking up with him carrying me last night, and then again when he pulled my boots off. Then his warm body had climbed into bed with me, and I had been drawn to him.

Glancing at the clock, I realized I had only thirty minutes to get to class. Krit was a late sleeper. I didn’t want to disturb him, so the kisses I wanted to cover his chest with would have to wait. With extreme care, I eased out of his arms. When my feet hit the floor, I peeked back at him to make sure he was still sleeping. Seeing him lying there in my bed made me ache for things I’d never have.

I had lived within my walls for a long time. Why couldn’t I keep them up around Krit, and protect my heart? Shaking my head, I realized no woman would be able to turn away from that. If you were lucky enough to have Krit Corbin in your life, you didn’t push him away. You soaked up every minute and made as many memories as you could.

I got ready and took a shower as quietly as I could, and decided against using the hair dryer because it would wake him. Slipping on my jeans and a new blouse I had bought for work, I picked up my heels and tiptoed out of the room.

Taking the notebook out of my backpack, I quickly wrote Krit a note and taped it to the door before I headed to school. I was going to be late for class, but I just didn’t care. I had woken up in Krit’s arms this morning. It was a perfect day.

KRIT

Waking up without Blythe in bed had sucked. But waking up in her bed with her smell enveloping me was pretty damn nice. If I couldn’t wake up to her, then waking up in her bed with her pillow under my head was a close second. I had hoped I would wake up when she got up to get ready. I wanted to see her. Starting the day and not seeing her sucked.

I was in so deep. Funny thing was, I didn’t give a shit. I would gladly drown in her if she’d let me. For the first time in my life the hole that was always empty was full. I wasn’t trying to find something to curb a desire I couldn’t name. The unsatisfied feeling that had chased me and sent me from one addiction to another was gone. I was . . .

Satisfied.

I wanted to see my girl. My girl. I liked the way the words sounded. Letting her go was impossible. Hell, staying away from her for a few hours sounded like torture. I wasn’t going to make until this afternoon. Rolling over, I inhaled her scent in the sheets before getting out of bed. I went to grab my shirt and decided I was going to leave that here. I wanted her sleeping in my shirts. The other one was going to have to go.

Getting a shower was important, then I was going to find her. I knew when her classes were today, and if I missed her at the college, I would head over to the church. The piece of notebook paper taped to the door caught my attention.

Krit,

Good morning. You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake you. Thanks for staying with me last night. You’re surprisingly very comfortable. Do you still want me to come to Live Bay tonight? If not, it’s okay. I know I caused a lot of problems last night. I did enjoy it though. Thanks for taking me. Hope you slept well.

Blythe

Did I still want her to come? Chuckling, I shook my head. It was time I cleared some things up. It was my fault that she was so confused. I hadn’t been clear with her, and I hadn’t been sure this was what was best for her. I knew now it didn’t matter anymore. She was what fixed me. With her I wasn’t broken.

A redhead wearing Green’s T-shirt was standing in the kitchen drinking a glass of orange juice when I opened the door. I glanced around, and Green wasn’t anywhere. Fantastic. He hadn’t gotten rid of his one-nighter.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and then her gaze fell to my chest. I wasn’t in the mood for this. I wanted to go find Blythe.

I didn’t say anything as I headed for Green’s room and banged on the door. Then I opened it. A blonde was still wrapped up in the sheets and curled around his back. “Get up. Get ’em out. There’s one drinking my juice,” I barked.

Green lifted his head with one eye open and scowled. “What time is it?”

“After ten. Get them out before she eats my shit,” I said, then flipped on his light.

A string of curses came from Green and the girl in there with him as I headed back to my bathroom.

“Turn off my light, you fucker!” he called out.

“Don’t push me. I still plan on beating your ass,” I replied back before slamming the door behind me.

* * *

The girls were gone by the time I’d showered and dressed. Green glared at me as he sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee in his hand. His hair was sticking up all over the place, and he had only managed to pull on a pair of sweatpants.

“You came home in a bad mood,” Green grumbled.

“No. I came home to get ready and go see my girl. I didn’t like seeing some strange chick drinking my damn juice.”

“Your girl? Something happen last night?” he asked.

“Not what you’re thinking, and that’s not your f**king business,” I snapped. I didn’t like him thinking about Blythe and sex in the same sentence. It was some insane caveman shit that had taken over me, but I couldn’t control it or tap it down.

“What am I thinking?” Green asked, a confused expression on his face.

I headed for the door. He was being a dick on purpose, and I didn’t have time to beat his ass. I didn’t want to miss Blythe before she left school and went to work.

“Krit,” Green called out. The way he’d said my name made me pause.

“Yeah?” I asked, glancing back at him.

His eyes were big, and he had sat up straight. The disbelief on his face had left his jaw hanging slightly open. “You,” he said, and shook his head as his eyes studied me like I was some strange creature from outer space. “You haven’t . . . Y’all haven’t . . . had sex?”

I dropped my hand from the doorknob and took one step toward him and stopped myself. Controlling my possessiveness was going to be a challenge. “Don’t,” I warned. “Don’t even think about Blythe and sex in the same sentence.” The barely controlled fury in my voice wasn’t something he missed, but his stupid-ass expression didn’t change.

“You . . . holy f**king hell. I’ve heard it all. Never in my life.” He started laughing.

The motherfucker had started laughing.

“You’re already acting like an insane obsessed man protecting some precious jewel! At least warn the rest of us once you do the deed because I might move out. You get any more possessive of that girl, and people are going to be scared to breathe the same air as her.”

“Shut up!” I snarled. I didn’t need to hear this. He was making me sound f**ked up.

His expression sobered, and concern flashed in his eyes. “Just remember your issues. Don’t do something stupid. You’ve always dealt with being off a little with your addictions, but I’ve never seen you like this.”

“I’m fine!” I growled.

“Just don’t kill anyone. Right now you look ready to take out any man who gets too close to her. You can’t be that way. She wants you. Hell, man, I’m pretty sure she loves you. I ain’t ever seen a girl jump in front of guy trying to protect him like she did. Remind yourself that she wants you. Not someone else. Don’t f**king end up doing life because someone touched her and you broke his neck.”

Chapter Seventeen

BLYTHE

Although I had been late for my first class, I hadn’t missed much. The professor had been late too. In my second class, Principles of Macroeconomics, we had had to listen to a lecture on fiscal policy. I had almost fallen asleep.

Grabbing my backpack, I swung it over my shoulder and started for the door as soon the professor dismissed us.

“Blythe. Right?”

I paused. Someone had said my name. I hadn’t spoken to anyone in any of my classes. I turned around to see that the owner of the feminine Southern drawl was a striking redhead with breathtaking green eyes. Her hair was long, but she had it pulled over her shoulder in a low ponytail. The Bon Jovi T-shirt she was wearing looked like it was vintage.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied.

Her smile was one of those that shouldn’t be attractive because it was so big, but somehow it fit her and made her even more of a head-turner. Two guys had actually just walked by and looked her way. She seemed oblivious, though.

She held out her hand for me to shake. “I’m Low Hardy. Trisha and Rock are really good friends of mine. And Amanda is my sister-in-law. I saw you at Daisy May’s party, but I had just walked inside when you were defending Krit and then leaving.”

I shook her hand and felt a small little bubble of excitement that someone knew me. Had I made enough connections in town that people were starting to actually know who I was? The idea that I was fitting in for the first time in my life was thrilling.

“It’s nice to meet you, Low. Sorry, I didn’t get to meet you at the party. I wasn’t, uh, well, I was learning. Friendship with Krit is a learn-as-you-go thing,” I explained.

She studied me for a moment with a pleased smile on her face. “I can only imagine,” she replied.

The urge to defend him rose up in me again, and I had to shove it down. She was agreeing with me, not attacking him.

“You going to lunch?” she asked. “I normally head home right after class because I hate leaving Eli with a sitter too long, but today his daddy is home with him so I have a little time.”

We walked out together, and I glanced down at my phone. “I have to be at work in twenty minutes. It’s a ten-minute drive, so I can’t today. I would like to sometime, though,” I told her. She reminded me of Trisha. There was no judgment in her eyes, and she wasn’t sizing me up. She just accepted me and wanted to get to know me.

“I’ll see if Marcus can stay home one day next week. Or better yet, you can come back to my place after class and have grilled cheeses with me and Eli,” she said, smiling.

Eli had to be her son. She didn’t look old enough to be a mom. I started to respond. but the words fell away when my eyes locked on the tall beautiful man leaning against my car with his arms crossed over his chest and his sunglasses covering his blue eyes.