“I’ve never done this either,” she says. Her hands lightly squeeze my hips. “I’m scared too.”

The front door opens. Ben and Luke walk down the stone steps.

“Let’s go home.” I wrap my arm around her waist, leading her to the truck.

I need to get my girl alone.

BETH CALLS HER AUNT ON the drive back. When Danny gets on the line and asks to speak to me, I hesitate bringing the phone up to my ear. It’s my fault Beth left. She never would’ve gone back to some guy who made her feel anything less than perfect if it wasn’t for me. I still don’t know what all words Rocco used to break her down. I’m not sure I want to know. What would stop me from driving back to Kentucky and making good on my promise?

Nothing, that’s fucking what.

Danny, to my surprise, doesn’t tear into me for being the catalyst in all this. He simply thanks me for getting Beth back, in his own I’m still going to give you shit for dating my niece way. His tone can’t be more critical. As always, I keep my reaction to his attitude silent.

I pull Beth into my arms after she disconnects the call, burying my face in her neck, letting my hands roam over her limbs, my fingers threading into her hair. I feel like I haven’t touched her in years, or maybe never. There’s a desperation to it I know she can feel.

Her warm hands cup my face. She brushes away the wetness brimming in my eyes. I don’t want to be an emotional wreck but fuck!

“I’m so in love with you I feel like I can’t breathe,” I whisper against her neck, trying to somehow explain the reason behind my sudden discomposure.

Sudden. Right. She’s been watching me unravel for weeks.

She leans back to gaze at me, staring at my mouth as if she wants to see my lips form those words.

“Love you, brave girl.” I bring her hand to my mouth, kissing her fingers.

She strokes my face, kissing my mouth, my jaw, up to my ear where she whispers, “Thank you.”

I tilt my head to see her. “For loving you?”

“For saying it.”

I pull her into my lap, mumbling how crazy she is, how crazy I am for her.

AFTER THANKING THE GUYS, WAITING impatiently for Beth to thank the guys, scowling at Ben when he won’t stop fucking talking to Beth, I get her inside so she can see her aunt and uncle. Their exchange of hugs and quiet conversation is brief while I hang by the door. They need this time alone together.

I drive home with Beth tucked against my side, her hands clutching my shirt. Her duffle hits the hardwood as we stumble inside my house together. Grabbing her body and pinning her to me, I lower us to the floor just inside the doorway.

“Reed,” she giggles against my throat. Her hands in my hair. “Here?”

I kiss her mouth. I bite her jaw. “Here, first. I can’t . . . I need . . .”

“I know,” she says. She understands my urgency.

Will it always be like this after any time apart?

I pull her boots and socks off, kissing her feet as she squirms. I cup her ass and tear her jeans down her legs. Her panties follow. Bunching her shirt above her full, perfect tits, I pull the shell of her bra down and tongue her nipple.

“Oh.” She grabs my hand and forms it to her other breast, moaning when I squeeze.

“You taste so fucking good.” I kiss her cleavage. I lick up to her neck, inhaling a lung full of her sweet scent. “God, Beth. Touch me. Please, I need to feel you.”

She grabs a fistful of my shirt and pulls it over my head. My back hits the floor with the force of her hand. I yield easily to her assault. Straddling me, she fumbles with the button on my jeans, grinning.

“Hi,” she murmurs in the softest voice, pulling her shirt the rest of the way off, discarding her bra.

“Hey.” I press my thumb against her clit, moving in slow circles. Her fingers tremble against my zipper. “Come on. Pull it out, Beth. Get on my dick.”

Her eyes flash with lust. She loves that. She loves when I talk filthy, when I order her to fuck me, suck me. My thumb coats with her desire.

She tugs my jeans down around my thighs and fists my cock, pumping my shaft, running her tongue over the head.

I thrust my hips subtly. “Fuck, no, don’t,” I strain.

“No?”

“It’s . . . it’s a lot, right now. I won’t last.”

She bites her lip behind a smile, no doubt proud of her effect on me. “Help me,” she whispers, splaying her hands over my lower abs.

Grabbing her hips, I sit up and shift us on the floor so my back is against the wall. She gasps as her nipples scratch against my chest. I take her weight, digging my fingers into her hips, slowly lowering her on my cock.

She squeezes my neck. “I love you,” she murmurs.

“Beth.” An inch more, she pulls me in, clamping down on me so goddamn tight my balls start to throb. “I love you. God, I love you so fucking much.”

Her hips fully seat on mine. I lift and lower her, again and again, her smooth thighs tensing. When she starts to rock her hips, I drop my hand between her legs, sliding my fingers around my cock to feel where I enter her.

“Fuck, Beth . . . fuck, feel this. Here. Come here.”

Grabbing her hand, I guide her fingers between us, my other hand rocking her so she slides up and down my shaft.

“Oh, God,” she gasps. “How does it . . . tell me how it feels.”

“Perfect.” I slide her fingers to her clit, thrusting my hips off the floor. God, it’s so deep this way. “It’s never felt like this before . . . not with anyone else. I lose my mind every time you touch me.”

“G-Go on,” she stammers, her head rolling back, her swollen pussy soaking me.

I bounce her again and we moan together. “I’m . . . so hard, all the time, thinking about you. I love watching you take my dick like this. You like it deep?”

“Mm.”

“You do, I know you do. Always telling me harder. Harder, Reed. Do it. You’re so perfect, Beth. God, you’re perfect.” I push my jeans down further so I can feel her ass against my thighs. I slap one round cheek, again when she clamps down on me, again when she begs me for more. I lift her tits, circling her nipples with my tongue.

Beth rocks her hips faster. Her hands in my hair, she pulls my face away from her tits and takes my mouth. “I need to come. I n-need . . .”

“What do you need, sweetheart?” I manage, chasing my orgasm, my pace growing wild. I can’t stop fucking her. She’s here, Beth is here—my Beth. God, how long have I loved her? From the beginning? From that first kiss? Fuck, if it isn’t the most cliché thing I’ve ever thought, but that’s how long I’ve been hers.

She sucks on my lips, panting. “Oh, God, I need to feel you . . . come. Please come, Reed.”

My hand grips her neck, the other holding her hip while I thrust frantically off the floor. With a cry, Beth shakes against me, bites my lip, claws her nails down my back. I bury my face in her neck and swear as I release inside her. Wetness sticks to my thighs.

“Beth . . . Beth . . . fuck.”

We collapse against the wall, sliding to the floor. I push her damp hair off her face and look into her eyes. She tucks her body next to me, still panting.

“I can’t be apart from you,” I say against her swollen lips, softly kissing her. “Not even for one night, Beth. Move in with me. Be here, with me. God, I want this so bad. I don’t care how scary this is. I want all of you. Please, please say yes to me. To us. Just you and me, right?”