The janitor opened the school every morning at six thirty. What the hell was Liam doing here?

I threw open the door and climbed out, slipping on my black T-shirt before slamming the door and jamming up the steps.

Heading straight for the stairs, I climbed up to the second floor and headed for the chem lab.

Juliet wouldn’t be here this early, but I still needed to make sure. My running shoes squeaked on the marble floor, but I heard his voice before I even reached the room.

“I loved you,” he said, sounding pained. “I still love you.”

I slowed, coming to a stop outside the door.

“I just never felt like you wanted me. Not really,” he continued. “I was an asshole. I know that, but”—he paused, and I could hear his heavy breathing—“baby, I just hate seeing you with him.”

I heard a chair scrape on the floor, and Juliet sounded stern. “You cheated on me. Twice,” she pointed out, sounding out of patience. “You’re cheating on what’s her name right now by coming here. I have no doubt that I’m partly to blame for our relationship failing, but you’re an incredible piece of work. Don’t call me and don’t try to see me again.”

A slight grin lifted my lips.

“Now, just go,” Juliet said, sounding exasperated.

“Baby,” he breathed out, and I heard shuffling.

“Liam!” she cried. “No!”

I charged in, but I immediately stopped.

Liam was hunched over, holding the side of his face, and Juliet looked down on him, spitting fire with her eyes. She’d hit him.

“Let’s pretend,” she growled at him, “that we’re in a parallel dimension where you have a brain. Nod if you know what’s going to happen to you if you ever touch me again.”

He scowled up at her, looking utterly humiliated, and then both of their eyes turned to me. Juliet blinked but looked back down at him, putting her hands on her hips, while Liam straightened and rubbed his cheek.

“Why am I even surprised?” he said, sneering, walking for the door. “You let me in your pants so quickly, I guess you didn’t make him wait long, either.”

I reached out and grabbed his collar, wanting his sleazy ass far away from her. I didn’t even want him in her memories.

“Jax!” Juliet commanded, and I held him up to my face.

I looked into Liam’s angry but scared blue eyes, and I whispered, “You touch her again, and you won’t have to worry about what she’ll do to you.” And I shoved him out the door, watching him stumble into the hallway.

“Why are you here?” Juliet demanded behind me. “You’re no better than him. You can get out, too.”

I shook my head, knowing she was right, but I was still cemented to the floor. “No,” I replied.

“Jax, what the hell do you want from me?” she yelled.

I turned around and rushed her. “This.” And I pulled her warm body against mine and sank my lips into hers, tasting her sweet tongue.

She pushed her fists into my chest and pulled away from my mouth. “Get off me,” she ordered. “Why don’t you go find that girl you liked so much? She lets you do anything, doesn’t she?”

Her angry lips and hot breath called me in, and I grabbed the back of her neck, holding her to me.

“I haven’t had any other girls since you,” I whispered. “And I don’t want anyone else,” I breathed against her mouth. “I just want you because it’s the only time I know I’m exactly where I want to be, Juliet.”

She tore her face away, tears running down her cheeks. “No.”

“You feel it, too,” I pressed, making her listen. “I don’t want you on my arm.” I jerked her into me. “And I don’t want you to love me. Just come when I call, and get in my bed when I say.”

Her lips trembled, and her breath shook as she tried to pry her body away from mine.

“And it’ll be only you,” I promised, my throat tight. “You’re the only one I want.”

I covered her mouth with mine, drowning out her whimpers and begging her with my body. My hands gripped her ass, pushing her into the edge of the desk, and I kissed her fast and hard. The salt of her sweat hit my tongue.

I pulled back, seeing her scared eyes looking up at me, but I didn’t hesitate. Reaching behind her, I swiped my arm over the desktop, sending all of Penley’s shit flying to the floor, and then I hoisted her up, claiming her mouth again.

“Say it,” I demanded. I needed to hear the words.

But she simply pulled back and lifted my shirt over my head, throwing it to the floor.

I breathed hard, seeing the heat in her eyes, and tore open the buttons on my shorts as she undid the buttons of her shirt.

My cock sprang free, the pressure of needing her fucking body making me ache. I was swelled and hard, and she was doing this to me.

I bit her bottom lip, ready to fucking eat her as I hooked her under her knees and yanked her down to the end of the desk. Grabbing hold of her thong under her skirt, I ripped it clean from her wet, hot skin.

“Whenever I call. Whenever I fucking say,” I ordered.

And I drove inside her.

“Ah,” she whimpered, holding my neck.

“Goddamn it,” I groaned. “So fucking good.”

Leaning over her and grasping the back of her neck, I pumped my hips, sinking into her up to the hilt.

Her pussy tightened around me, holding me strong as I slid back and forth, faster and faster.

The small, hot bursts of her breath quaked against my neck, and I threaded my fingers through her hair, holding her there.

Right there against me—I closed my eyes—where I could feel every shake, moan, and beat of her heart.

And when her nails dug into my arms and she started crying out, I squeezed her body tight, barely noticing that she’d sunk her teeth into the bottom of my neck.

“Harder,” I begged, still holding her by her hair and pressing her head into my skin.

She bit harder, her teeth trying to close around my skin, and I absorbed every moan and whimper coming out of her sweet mouth as she tried to keep herself quiet.

“Say it,” I demanded. “I need to hear it.”

She let her head fall back as she looked up at me and whispered, “Damn, baby, that feels good. I love you inside me.”

I narrowed my eyes, hardening my tone. “Say it,” I bit out.

“Mmm … ,” she moaned, closing her eyes. “I’ll be your good little slut. I promise.”

What the fuck?

What was she doing? Why was she making it dirty?

I pulled out of her, spun her around, and lifted her skirt.

“You know what I want to hear, Juliet,” I insisted, sliding back into her again. “Fucking say it!”

She pushed up on her hands, taking what I gave her as I gripped her hip with one hand and wrapped the other around the front of her neck, breathing into her skin. “Yeah, fuck me harder,” she begged. “Is that it, baby? Am I good? Am I tight enough for you?”

My eyes burned, and I closed them, feeling my stomach roll. “Don’t,” I whispered into her neck. “Don’t talk like that. It’s not you,” I said. “You know what I want hear. Three words. Please,” I pleaded.

My chest shook, she felt so good, but this wasn’t what I wanted. Not like this.

I wanted my Juliet.

Her head fell back softly against my shoulder, and I felt her breath on my skin. “You want to hear it?” she whispered.

A drop of sweat glided down my back, and I kissed her neck, feeling relief. “Yes.”

She turned her head, her breath falling over my face, and she murmured, “I love you.”

I snapped my eyes open.

“No,” I said low, thrusting harder.

“I love you, Jax,” she said sadly. “I love you so much.”

“Stop it.”

“I love you.” She dropped her head forward, crying softly. “I love you.”

I slowed my hips, coming to a stop as the muscles in my back tensed. I squeezed my eyes shut, a tear hanging at the corner.

“Baby, don’t do this,” I mourned.

“I love you,” she repeated, shaking her head and crying. “Only. Ever. You.”

I dropped my head and slowly stepped back, too ashamed to look at her. Why would she love me? I would never hold her above myself. I would never put her first. She deserved a man, not a scared kid in disguise.

I stared at the floor, anguish boiling under the surface of my skin as I blindly fastened my shorts and backed far away from her.

She straightened her back and turned around, her arms hanging limp at her side, but her shoulders squared and her stance strong. She was looking at me, but my eyes shifted, unable to reach her face.

Her pleated white skirt fell to her knees, and her white flats were planted on the floor, everything as still as a statue. Her sleeveless blue blouse hung off her arms in a mess, but her white bra sat against beautiful tanned skin that glistened with sweat.

That was my girl. Mine. And she was waiting for me to do something or say something, to be a man, and I couldn’t fucking find the balls to take her back.

I heard her swallow, the room was so silent, and I just stood there as she quietly buttoned up her blouse, tucked it in, and walked out of the room.