“Oh my God.” My hands grip the headboard. I’ve never done this before. I’ve never ridden someone’s face, and Reed senses my hesitation, my embarrassment that has me tensing against his mouth.

“Take it, Beth. Fuck, just take it.” His hands grip my thighs, urging me down until his voice is muffled. I gasp, tossing my head back when he slips his tongue inside me. My hips begin to move, hesitantly rocking. Faster, just a little faster.

“Reed, my God.”

I stare down at him, looking into his eyes as he lets me coat his mouth, as my wetness drips down his chin. His tongue is everywhere, inside me, on my thighs, flicking my clit. He begins to moan, his hands falling away as I move with eagerness. I fist his hair, holding him still as I shamelessly grind against him, chasing my orgasm.

Faster. Almost. So wet. Oh, God.

My head falls back. My breath hitches. Reed slaps my ass, shoving me over the edge as a burst of colors explode behind my eyelids. I chant his name. I beg him to give me this.

I gasp when I feel his teeth sink into my thigh. My head snaps down.

His eyes are pinched shut as he moans against my wet skin. His arm is moving against my calf.

Looking over my shoulder, I catch the first spurt of cum shooting onto Reed’s stomach, the next rolling onto his hand.

Oh my God. He got off on what I just did.

Shifting my weight, I kneel beside him.

He grabs the towel and wipes off his stomach, the top of his hand, then pulls me flat against his chest so we’re nose to nose. I quickly wipe my hand over his mouth and chin, removing any trace of me before he bats my hand away.

We look intently at each other. I’m ready to ask what we’re doing, what this is becoming, but he silences my words with a finger to my lips.

“I want this,” he says, moving his finger along my cheek, tucking some of my hair behind my ear. “Whatever this is between us, I want it. I can’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t been with anyone else since you kissed me that first time. I don’t want to be.”

I smile, leaning into his hand as it caresses my face. “I want this too. So much.”

He stares at me thoughtfully, looking all over my face. “Beth, I’ll never hurt you, but you could very easily hurt me. I can’t want you more than I want you right now. I can’t. What we’ve been together when it’s just been us, that’s what I’m offering you.” His other hand cups my face. He inches me closer. “You and me. You understand?”

I look back at this man, at the pain he’s lived with that burns slow beneath the charming exterior I fell for. He loved that girl, and she made a fool out of him. He’s worried I’ll do the same thing.

God, I hate her. How could she hurt him?

I could never do that to Reed. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, even if he’s scared to give it to me right now. He needs to see that I’ll never hurt him, and it could take time, but I want time with him. I want this. I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want this. I can show him that I’m not like her, that he can love me without fear. He can love me.

No one will ever love you the way I do.

I shut out Rocco’s voice and press my lips against Reed’s. “You and me. Let’s do it.”

“Yeah?” He slides his hands down my back, cupping my ass, smiling when I nod vigorously. He kisses my chin. “I haven’t been a boyfriend in nine years. I might suck at it.”

“You were a good fake boyfriend.”

He rolls his eyes, laughing. “I still can’t believe you roped me into that shit. Jesus.”

I punch his chest. “I didn’t rope you into it! You agreed on your own, remember? At the pizza place? You came outside and dropped the whole ‘you and me’ line. That was all you. I was set on going to that party alone.”

In one quick motion, I’m flipped onto my back and he’s settled on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress.

“All me? Sweetheart, I had spent the past three days stroking my cock, thinking about nothing but you and that damn kiss. Then you walk in looking hot as shit, smiling at me like you do, reminding me how completely fucked I was over you already. You roped me in, Beth. You did it the second I looked at you that night at McGill’s, and you did it again when I saw you that day at Sal’s. I would’ve agreed to anything just to spend more time with you, but that was all you. Nobody else would’ve gotten to me like that.”

Goodness. Filthy and sweet. I don’t stand a chance here.

My face feels ready to split wide open with the smile I’m holding in, until I see the somber look wash over Reed’s face. I brush his hair out of his eyes. “What’s the matter?”

He opens his mouth, pinches it closed again, hesitating, then sighs.

“Reed, what?” I urge him.

“I want to know what happened after your mom died.” His hand keeps my head from turning away, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t. This might be hard for you to talk about, I get that, but it’s going to be real fucking hard for me to hear it. I don’t like thinking you were alone, Beth. I want to know what you went through, all of it, and I want you looking at me.”

I nod against his hand, swallowing back my reluctance. He’s shared things with me that weren’t easy for him to talk about. Walking in on Molly with that other guy. The proposal. It’s only right I do the same.

He settles on his side, tucking me close to his warm body, keeping his eyes on me as I roll over to face him. His hand strokes my arm, a fluid, soothing motion that calms my mind.