“This is going to be a lot harder than I thought,” I say, after giving Jayla the full rundown of what happened last night.

“I’d say so. You’d think if you offered a man a free prime cut of beef he wouldn’t hesitate to eat every bite.”

“I don’t think I like you referring to my virginity as beef. It’s weird.”

“All right then, how about we call it cherry pie?”

I giggle. “Much better.”

“What should I do? How can I make him rip my clothes off and make me his?”

“Hmm...let me think.” She taps her chin.

A few minutes pass before she finally shouts, “I got it. Let’s have a party. Invite some guys over. Colter will get super pissed when he shows up and sees another man trying to stake his claim, and boom, before you know it he’ll be sliding his baby maker into your hot oven.”

I burst out laughing. “My hot oven?”

She shrugs. “It was pretty hot the other day from what I remember.”

I flush, thinking how worked up she got me, and all for Colter’s benefit.

That’s a true friend right there.

“The party is not a bad idea though. I could risk getting into a little trouble if it means getting Colter to finally make a move.

“I could call John and Eric. You know they would be more than happy to play it up to your benefit.”

A wicked grin tilts my lips. John and Eric are super-hot and very gay but you’d never know it by looking at or talking to them. They would be perfect for making Colter jealous. “Do it,” I tell her, and Jayla gets busy inviting over a few of our closest friends while I get ready to drive Colter out of his mind.

After the other day, I know it won’t take much to push him all the way over the edge. He’s nearly there anyway. I could tell it took an extreme amount of control for him to hold himself back in my bedroom, but I don’t plan on letting him get away so easily this time.

Three hours later, the music is thrumming and bodies are moving in and out of the pool. Everyone is having a great time. My parents left their credit card so I ordered a couple of pizzas and someone found a couple bottles of wine in the fridge.

That’s when the party really started.

Before long I was shaking my booty, sandwiched between John and Eric as I move to the beat, JT singing about all things filthy.

“Shit, girl, you are so fine. If I didn’t like dick so much I’d do you right here,” John says at my front.

I laugh, bringing an arm around to cup Eric’s neck from behind as he grinds into my ass.

Then the music stops.

A collection of groans and shouts of annoyance go up but they are all silenced when they catch a glimpse of the pissed-off, brooding man standing at the opposite end of the pool. His arms are folded across his muscled chest, and boy is he pissed.

My God he is beautiful.

Even when he’s furious with me.

“Kaylee, get your ass over here right now.”

Lifting my chin, I put on my best smile as I make my way over to him. When I’m close enough he snags my upper arm and leads me into the house. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Dancing.”

He grits his teeth. “Tim was very specific. He said no parties.”

Gosh, he’s so sexy when he’s mad. I giggle, swaying on my feet, a hiccup escaping my mouth.

“Have you been drinking again?”

I pinch my thumb and forefinger together so they’re barely touching. “Just a wee bit.”

“I should take you over my knee right now.”

Fire licks down my spine at the thought of him doing that very thing.

I do my best to contain my smile. The thought of Colter bending me over his knee and spanking me has my clit tingling with anticipation.

“I want everyone gone now, including Jayla.”

“But—”

He twists his wrist to look at his shiny watch. “You have exactly fifteen minutes.”

Forty-five minutes later, everyone has finally found a safe ride home. And if I thought Colter was pissed before, I hadn’t seen his true ire yet.

He hovers over me, his large frame towering over mine as he says, “Don’t you dare pull that shit again. No one, and I mean no one, is to be in this house without my permission. Do you understand me?”

“I said I was sorry.”

“I know what you’re doing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You wanted to get me over here so I could see you dancing with those two asshats hoping I’d get jealous, but you’re wasting your time. What happened yesterday was a mistake. A mistake that could hurt a lot of people.”

I drag a single finger down his chest, tilting my head to the side. “Are you saying you don’t want me?”

His strong fingers circle my wrist, stopping my descent and making my breath hitch. “Doesn’t matter if I want you or not. Nothing more can happen between us. Period,” he says, releasing me.

His words are so final. Like a knife stabbing into my wounded heart. The knot tightens in the back of my throat. My hopes of ever belonging to Colter are being squashed right there in the kitchen.

Without another word he storms out, slamming the door behind him, shattering my heart along with it.

***

The crash of thunder startles me awake. I don’t even remember falling asleep but it’s two a.m. and rain is pouring down, equivalent to the tears I cried last night. I reach for my phone, hoping for a text from Colter, anything, but all I have are three text messages from Jayla and about sixteen from Ronald.

How did the bastard get my new number?

I open Jayla’s messages first.

What happened? Did he eat all of your cherry pie?

Bitch, where are you?

Call me asap.

I shoot her a text letting her know I will call her later then open up the first message from Ronald.

I miss you.

Why do you keep trying to hide from me?

You know we should be together.

I love you so much, Kaylee. Please call me.

Revulsion bubbles in my throat as I get up from bed. I’ll never be able to sleep now.

I make my way down to the kitchen, needing something to drink. I’m standing in front of the fridge guzzling a glass of water when I see something move out of the corner of my eye.

I freeze, my feet paralyzed in fear.

Several seconds pass before I see the movement again and then the back doorknob jiggles. My mind races with what to do. I left my phone upstairs and we don’t have a house phone so I can’t call the police. Risking going back upstairs could result in me getting trapped if this person gets in so I go with my instincts and bolt out the front door, running like hell to Colter’s house. The yard looks darker than it usually is. The motion lights should be coming on but they’re not and that only has me running faster.

Colter keeps a garage opener outside in a bush for emergencies. I quickly grab it, opening the door to hurry in before closing it behind me. It’s then I realize I’m only wearing a pair of panties and an oversized T-shirt that now clings to my body thanks to the downpour outside.

Heat flames my cheeks as I pound on the door. There’s a faint light coming from the kitchen so I can see Colter walking toward me, concern etched on his face.

He quickly flings open the door. “What’s wrong?

I’m still trying to catch my breath. “Someone was trying to get in the house.”

Colter pulls me inside, shutting the door behind me. He quickly looks me over, his dark eyes flaring when he catches sight of my hard nipples poking through my drenched shirt, but he doesn’t let his heated gaze linger long.

His hard eyes lift back up to mine. “What do you mean someone was trying to get in the house? Are you hurt?”

I shake my head, shivering as I wrap my arms around myself. “I’m okay. I got up to get something to drink and someone was trying to get in the back door. I left my phone upstairs so I ran over here.”

He pulls me in for a hug, letting go of a relieved breath. “Good girl.”

I sigh at his praise, feeling safe in his arms.

But he lets me go all too soon and that fear quickly returns. He slides on the camo rubber boots sitting by the back door. “I want you to go upstairs to my room, lock the door, and call the police. I’m going to go check it out.”

“Don’t! We have no idea who could be over there or how many of them. Please, let’s just call the police together.”

He retrieves a gun he has hidden in one of the kitchen drawers. “Do what I said.”

Then he’s gone. I spring into action, running upstairs to find his bedroom and call the police.