I wet my lips, staring into his eyes. “My momma was a drug addict. That’s how she died. It was sudden, and not something I could’ve prepared for. I didn’t have enough money lying around to stay in the trailer we lived in, so I packed up everything I could fit into my car and I moved into that.” I touch his hand on my arm that had gone still. “Can you keep doing that?”

He blinks several times, nods, then continues the path his hand was taking.

“I ran out of money pretty fast,” I continue. “But it was the loneliness that scared me, not starving to death. I hated not having anyone to talk to. It’s why I freaked out last night and begged you to stay on the phone with me. I got home, saw that note, and I panicked.”

“You told me you didn’t live in your car that long. What happened?”

Inhaling deeply, I shift my head closer to him on the pillow. “Please understand this, Reed, I hated being alone. I was terrified I’d never have anyone to talk to again. When someone finally did talk to me, and bought me food, and offered me a place to stay, I took it. I know it sounds crazy moving in with a stranger, but I did what I had to do.” I drop my eyes to a spot between us. “I only lived with him for a couple months before I found out about my aunt. Then I moved here.”

Reed tilts my head up. “Were you with this guy?” he sternly questions, holding my gaze.

I’m slow to answer. “In the beginning, yes. When the relationship changed, I stopped being with him.”

With a heavy sigh, Reed drops his hand away from my face. “What do you mean, when it changed?”

I can’t get into this. Not with Reed. I don’t want him knowing this ugliness.

“Relationships change,” I explain, keeping my voice even. “We stopped being with each other, and strictly became roommates. There’s really nothing more to it.”

This isn’t a lie. I’m just leaving out a few details.

What good would telling Reed the whole truth do me? Or him? Rocco is a part of my past. He isn’t in this future I want with Reed. I don’t want even the memory of him in it.

Reed, seemingly satisfied with my response, leans close and buries his face in my neck. “You’re fucking brave, you know that? My brave girl.”

I close my eyes, moving my fingers through his hair.

We stay quiet for several minutes. Our hands explore each other, light touches that turn hungry with the more time that passes. Limbs tangling together, we get lost in the sheets as breathless promises are spoken against my ear.

“Never would’ve let that happen if you were here. You never would’ve been alone.”

I hold him tighter, kissing his mouth, his jaw, scraping my teeth against his shoulder. He flips me underneath him and pulls against my hips, bringing me to my knees.

“I have to be inside you,” he murmurs, squeezing my ass, running his finger along my slit. He moans when I shudder. “Mm. Do you like that?”

My head falls forward. “Yes,” I breathe.

I should feel vulnerable like this. I’m completely exposed to him, and I know he’s staring at the most intimate part of me, closely, his warm breath heating my flesh. But this is Reed. I’ve never felt more alive than when he touches me, when he stares at my body with that raw need burning in his eyes. The silent promise of wicked things.

“And this . . . do you like this?”

I bite my lip through a moan when he presses against the tight ring of my ass. “Mm.”

God, who knew that could feel so amazing?

He laughs darkly. “I could fuck you right here and you’d love it, wouldn’t you? You’d beg me for it.”

“Reed.” I squirm as one . . . no, two fingers slide into my pussy, a third pressing into my ass. Wetness sticks to the inside of my thighs as I rock back, taking more.

“Look at you. So greedy, Beth.”

“I just . . .”

“Shh, I know. You want me to fuck you. This is what you want, right?” His fingers leave my body. His cock slips between my legs. A hand fists my hair as he teases my pussy, sliding along my slit. “Where do you want it? I have two very sexy options here.”

My arms begin to tremble. I drop down to my elbows, closing my eyes, relishing in the feel of him. I’m so wet I should be embarrassed. I’m so horny I could take it anywhere.

He smacks my ass and I gasp. “Where?” he demands, tugging my hair.

“My pussy.”

He makes a hungry growl in the back of his throat. His cock nudges against my slit.

“Wait.” I look at him over my shoulder.

His wild eyes lift from between my legs and lock onto mine. His lips are parted. A light sheen of sweat beads across his brow.

God, he looks amazing.

“Do you have any rope in your truck?” I ask, wetting my lips as his slowly curl up. I’ve been bound twice by Reed, both on our first night together. There’s something about giving up all control to him, watching him take his pleasure instead of delivering it.

I want that now. Even if I can’t see the look on his face, I’ll be able to hear him.

He loosens his grip on my hair and runs his hand down my spine. “None I can use on you. You want me to tie you up?”

“Yes.”

“Beth,” he groans. His eyes shift around the room, then widen. “Hold that thought.”

He scrambles off the bed, retrieving his jeans off the floor. He whips his belt out of the loops and prowls toward me like a predator.