I bite my lip to stop the tingling in my nose and throat that comes before tears. He takes a deep breath like he might be worried his gesture will go unappreciated.

But he’s got nothing to worry about. I extend my hand and we join together in a new way. “Harper Tate,” I whisper.

He flops on his back and then reaches for me, pulling my cheek up to his chest as he puts his arms around me. “Miss Tate, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted your name. I’ve been thinking about you for almost thirteen years. And I’d like to erase that little pink notebook. I’d like you to forget all of that stuff. Because those were the words of a man trying to convince himself he was not in love.” He leans down and kisses me softly, his hands cupping my cheek as he grabs hold of my lower lip and then releases it. “But I am in love. I fell in love with a six-year-old. I’m sorry, it’s f**ked up, but that’s just how it happened.”

“I fell in love with you that day too, James.”

“But I’m not sorry for telling your father no, Harper. I’m not sorry because it was a test. Men don’t give away daughters like you.”

I look away and shake my head. “But he did. I don’t understand that part.”

James turns my head back to him with a gentle touch to my chin. “A man worthy of his daughter would say no, Harper. He was never going to give you away. And now that I have you here, I have to ask you.”

My heart does that now-familiar thump. “Ask me what?”

He slips out from under me and pulls me up to a sitting position as he drops to his knees on the floor. I cover my mouth to hide the smile.

“Harper Tate,” he says. “Will you trust me?”

My whole face goes hot and tingly and I look away to hide my reaction.

James guides my gaze back to him again. “Don’t turn away from me, please.”

I stare down as he gazes up. And then I notice how naked I am. His bare chest is pressed up against my knees. His breath is tickling the inside of my thighs. My heart beats faster as all these senses crash together like I’m caught in a wave. Suddenly I’m trembling.

He slides his hands up my thighs and grabs my hips so he can scoot me to the edge of the bed. He places himself right in the v of my legs and then looks up at me, awaiting my answer.

“I don’t know…”

“Just give me a chance, OK? Get to know me a little, and give me a chance.” He leans his head down to kiss my belly. “You have to trust me.” His eyes dart back and forth as he searches for doubt inside me.

But he doesn’t find it. I might not know what’s really going on. I might not understand what he’s asking. But I do know that trust can be easy if you want it to be. You either do—or you don’t. You believe in the love and loyalty and good intentions—or you don’t.

“I don’t trust anyone, James. Except Nick.”

He gets up and sits on the bed. “So why’d you come here?”

I stand, unashamed of my nakedness, and move across the room. It’s too small so I reach the wall with only a few paces between us, and then I’m forced to turn and look at him. “I don’t know. I’m tired of waiting for things to begin, I guess. I have no idea why I’m here.”

He’s nodding his head as I talk and then he stands up and covers half of the distance between us. “Keep going,” he says. “Tell me, just find those feelings, those words… and admit it to yourself and then to me. Tell me why you’re here.”

I stare at him. His scent is different now, the sweet scent of soap lingering on his bare chest. I want to touch him so bad. I want to run my fingertips down the hard muscles of his chest. I want his hands to cup my face as he kisses my mouth. I want my legs wrapped around his waist as he pushes himself deep inside me. I want, I want, I want…

“I want you,” I finally admit. “I waited for you to come back, but you didn’t. And I’m so tired of waiting for people. I’m so tired of being everyone’s afterthought. So I had this address in my head. The text came in while we were together, and I memorized it.”

“This place could’ve been anywhere, Harper. It was a big risk.”

“I need a little risk in my life, James. I’m tired of standing still.”

“Then”—he steps forward and the gulf between us evaporates—“take a risk on me. I’m on your side, Harper.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “You’re on no one’s side. You’re only here for your own interests.”

He stares back at me for a few seconds and nods in response. “You’re right. But baby, the only thing I’m interested in right now is you.”

I don’t have anything to say to that. The talk is over. The truth is on the table. I can either play another card or fold out of the game. And I’m a terrible decision-maker, so I opt for both. “I want you. I came here because I want you,” I say as my hands touch the top of his shoulders, resting over the curve of him, like they have always belonged there. They cup the hard muscles, then slide down a little and James pushes me backwards until my knees reach the edge of the bed and I am forced to sit.

His large hands grip under my knees and part my legs as he settles in front of me.

And then his mouth is on my pu**y.

Chapter Ten - Harper

It’s a long, slow—so agonizingly slow—lap of his tongue up my slit. He pauses at the crest of my sex and flicks his tongue back and forth until my hips come right off the bed. My fingers weave through his hair and then they grasp hard, pulling his whole face towards me. He sucks on my clit, just a slight suction at first. But that’s enough. More than enough. I’m grinding now, unable to control my desire. And the orgasm is coming fast, it’s building to a climax that might be monumental in scope, that’s how f**king astonishing it feels to have James’ mouth on me. I wait for him to pull back, to deny me like he did last time.

But he doesn’t. He thrusts his tongue against my clit, alternating with sucking and lapping, until I’m writhing and the only words in my mouth are his name.

“James. James. James.”

My back buckles as the sensations crest and crash, over and over again, and James never stops. He rides the wave of pleasure with me until, after almost a minute, the aftershocks subside enough to allow me to breathe again. “I’m so jealous,” I finally say once I’ve calmed my racing heart. “I’m so jealous of all the other women you’ve given this kind of attention to.”