“It does matter, Tripp.” Licking my lips, I lean in and press them against hers, before pulling away and looking her in the eyes again. “Tell me. I want to know.”

Her face turns red as she watches my expression, almost as if she’s afraid I’ll stop. “For as long as I can remember, Alex. It’s not a big deal, so don’t think too much into it, okay? You’re gorgeous, so it’s only natural,” she says trying to play it off, but I can tell it’s more than just that.

Well fuck. I feel like a damn idiot for bringing all of those girls around her, and now all I want to do is make up for it. Even if she isn’t my girl, I’ll still always treat her as if she is.

“Hold on fucking tight, babe.” Her arms wrap around my neck and squeeze as I grip the headboard with both hands and slam into her deep and hard, fucking her slow at first, before speeding up and causing the bed to slam against the wall.

With each thrust her screams get louder, until I have to cover her mouth with mine to smother the sounds. Not that I don’t want to hear her scream, but the sound has me close to losing my shit and coming right now. I’m not done pleasuring her yet and my legs are definitely not ready to give out on me. That means my job isn’t done.

“Alex! Deeper. . . . Keep going,” she begs. “You’re so big. . . . It feels . . . ahhh.”

Her pleas cause me to fuck her so hard that I hear shit falling off the walls from inside my room. I can only imagine that Lucas is probably getting an earful right now, but I could care less. Tripp had to listen to his sorry attempt at fucking other women. Well, now he gets to hear her get fucked good and hard . . . by the one person she trusts more than him: her best friend.

The first time was a learning experience; me breaking her in and showing her what it’s like to be cared for by me. This . . . this is me showing her that I can own her body and take care of it in any way that she wants or needs, and also that I can learn her likes and dislikes. I can be slow and sweet like a gentleman or I can fuck so hard and deep that she feels me inside her for weeks. In this case . . . I think she needs to feel me. I’ve been holding back for way too long.

“Alex! I’m . . .” I cover her mouth with mine, and grip the headboard so tight I could probably break it and rip the fucker off.

I feel her clench around me, bringing me to my own orgasm just seconds later, releasing my load inside her as deep as I can.

We’re both a sweaty, panting mess; fighting for air as our bodies lay tangled against each other. Right here, naked and in Tripp’s bed, is where I want to spend the rest of my night, and I’m not letting go until I have to . . . at least not until the morning. After that . . .

I have no fucking clue what we’re going to do.

AFTER ALEX CLEANS US BOTH off he crawls back into bed behind me, like he always has, and pulls me into his strong arms. “Wait a sec.” I try to sit up, but Alex pulls me back down and kisses the top of my head, wrapping his arms around me tighter, tighter than ever before.

“You don’t need any clothes, Firecracker.” I can feel him smile against my hair. “I can’t promise that they won’t come back off in the middle of the night.”

Laughing, I playfully bite his arm.

“Ooooh yeah . . . I like that, babe. Harder.”

“Alex.” Struggling to turn around and face him, I push his chest, but stop laughing as soon as my eyes meet his. I don’t want to lose moments like this with him. It scares me. “Do you think we can stay like this?” I ask honestly.

Cupping my face, he leans in and presses his nose against mine. His sweet breath on my lips almost pulls me in, but I stop myself before I cave. “I’ll never let us change. Didn’t I tell you that I’d always take care of you?”

Feeling my heart swell from his words, I nod my head and tangle my fingers into the back of his hair. I’ve always loved touching his thick hair. “Yeah, and you have; except for when . . .”

“But I came back, Tripp,” he cuts in. “I only left because I had to. Fighting was the only way to earn the money I needed after my mother passed. I would never fucking leave you if I had a choice. I’ve been there since you were seven. Nothing could make me stop caring about you the way I do. If anything, I only care about you more now.” He presses a firm kiss to the side of my head and then flips me back over, holding me in our usual sleeping position. “Go to sleep. No more thinking for tonight . . .”

Sighing, I grip his arm and get comfortable, knowing that there’s no way in hell I will be able to stop thinking. “Goodnight, Alex.”

I lay in silence, lost in thought and snuggled in his strong embrace for the next two hours . . . until I finally fall asleep in hopes that tomorrow won’t be awkward for either of us.

Especially since Lucas will be gone for the next week and it will just be the two of us . . . I have a feeling that Alex doesn’t know that yet.

I WAKE UP TO LUCAS leaning over me. My mind instantly goes to Alex, but when I look beside me the bed is empty. He must’ve slipped out early this morning when he heard Lucas getting ready. It’s not unusual for Alex to wake up and take early morning runs.

The look on Lucas’ face as he watches me yawn is different than normal. He looks almost worried and defeated in some way. “Just wanted to say bye before my flight. Didn’t mean to wake you so early after your late night with Alex.”

Sitting up, I blink a few times and run my hands over my face in an attempt to wake up. “Lucas . . . I–”

“We don’t talk about that stuff, Tripp. There’s no need to start now. I’m not worried. There’s no future for you and Alex, because you guys have too much on the line if things don’t work out.”

My heart sinks to my stomach hearing those words out loud. I mean . . . I’ve known all along that this could never be more than what it is, but wow . . . hearing it out loud is like someone twisting a knife in my heart and ripping it the hell out.

“I mean . . .” Lucas sits down next to me and grabs my chin, placing a rough kiss to my mouth. “The sexual tension has been building for years between you two. This is your chance to get it all out. I don’t blame Alex for getting it in as much as he can. The poor guy has wanted to fuck you for years, and now he has the opportunity. A few rough nights of you two blowing off steam and then he’ll be on to the next girl while you’ll be ready to move on with me. We both know Alex doesn’t stick to one girl for long.”