“You did what?”

I stare at Luke, my jaw hanging open.

“I found it, Avery. I found the vehicle. It was the Walkers.”

I shake my head, trying to understand what he’s telling me. We’re standing in his living room, and he has that look in his eyes again. Max is back home with my mom, and she thinks I’m out at Target again. I’m going to have to actually get some Target bags this time.

“You broke into their house?”

“No, no, of course not,” he says. “I hopped their wall and looked at their cars.”

“Okay... so just trespassing. Got it.”

“You’re missing the point.”

I sigh, exasperated. “I think you’re missing the point. You went to jail once, Luke. You probably should actively try not to go back.”

He scowls at me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You think the Walkers won’t press charges?”

“They didn’t catch me.”

“They could have cameras.”

He hesitates. Clearly, he hadn’t thought about that. “Still, it doesn’t matter. I know it was them.”

“Okay,” I say softly. “Maybe you’re right. But so what? You can’t do anything with that.”

“I can show Slick.”

“Sure,” I concede. “But they saw you looking at the truck, right?”

“Yeah,” he says, frowning.

“So they know someone’s snooping around. They’re going to be extra careful now.”

“Shit,” he says, leaning up against the kitchen counter. “You think I tipped them off.”

“You definitely did. We have to assume they know you’re coming.”

He bites his lip and I sigh. “They’re not untouchable, Avery,” he says. “If they killed that woman and framed me for it, they have to pay.”

“I agree,” I say. “But which of them did it?”

He hesitates. “I don’t know.”

“We need to find that out. And then we need more evidence than your pictures.”

“You’re right,” he says, walking toward me. “How did you get so good at all this?”

He comes right up in front of me, and my heart starts racing. “I need to tell you something,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop myself.

He raises an eyebrow. “Okay,” he says. “What is it?”

“I hate hiding things from you,” I say softly.

“Avery,” he says firmly. “Just tell me.”

I can’t help myself. I’ve been keeping this from him since he came home and longer than that. I’ve been so afraid of how he’ll react, but now I have to tell him the truth. He’s getting so deep into this, and I know I can help, if only he understands how much I’ve done already.

I’m afraid he’ll walk away from this, whatever it is that’s between us. But this isn’t worth anything if it’s based on anything short of the entire truth.

“I was the one that hired Slick,” I say softly. He doesn’t react right away, so I keep going. “I never gave you up, Luke. From the day you were put in prison until the day you were released, I’ve been investigating your case obsessively. Every single free second, I’ve invested it into your case. Every extra penny, everything went into it. I had to hide it from my parents, because they forbade me from speaking to you, threatened to kick me and Max out, but I never stopped. Eventually I saved enough to hire Slick, and from there, well… we got you out. I’m so sorry.” I’m crying now, tears streaming down my cheeks. I hate myself for this, for not telling him up front.

“It’s okay,” he says, a smile on his face.

“What?”

“It’s okay,” he says again.

“You’re not… mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” He pulls me against him, hugging me tight.

“I risked Max,” I whisper.

He laughs. “No, you didn’t. You just risked making things harder for yourself. If your parents kicked you out, you would have figured it out, found a way to survive. How can I be angry at you for saving my life?”

“I’ll never hold anything back again,” I say, relief flooding over me. “I promise.”

“Good,” he says. “I won’t either.”

“I won’t ever do anything that could hurt Max either.” I hug him tightly.

“I know that. It’s okay.”

He holds me like that until slowly the tears stop. I must look like a total idiot, but when I’m done crying, I feel so much better. A weight’s been lifted off my chest, and I feel free again, like I can finally breathe.

He smiles and wipes my tears away. “I should have guessed it was you,” he says softly. “I don’t know anyone else who could have done it.”

“It was hard,” I say, which makes him laugh.

“I bet it was,” he says. “That’s probably an understatement.”

“There were so many near-misses. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I would get caught.”

“But you don’t give up.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t.”

“Thank you.” He kisses me softly on the lips.

“I won’t give up on you,” I say. “I can help you.”

“I know you can.” He kisses me again. “I trust you, Avery. I think you’re the only person I’ve ever trusted.”

He kisses me again, this time with more passion behind it. I push against him, feeling his strong body, and his hands slowly move down to my hips.

I feeling his tongue in my mouth, his taste on my lips, and I let him lift my shirt up over my head. I kiss him hard and full as his hands tease my breasts, sliding my bra off.

Pleasure rolls down my spine as his lips linger on my chest and neck. I pull his shirt off and bask in the muscles along his stomach and chest, running my fingers down his ripped abs. I fumble at his belt, pulling it off, before sliding my hand down the front of his jeans.

He grunts as I find his thick cock. I pull his pants down and drop to my knees in front of him, taking his boxers off, and licking his cock base to tip.

“You’re so goddamn sexy,” he groans. “I’m going to take care of you.”

I take him into my mouth, my throat, sucking his cock fast and hard. He groans louder, his hands in my hair, pushing me down deeper. I love the feeling of him in my mouth, the sounds of him groaning. I lose myself in it, sucking his cock fast and hard, letting him push me down along his shaft.

He suddenly pulls me roughly to my feet and lifts me into the air. I gasp as he kisses me, stumbling over toward the table. He puts me back down on it, unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them down over my ass. He gets my panties off and spreads my legs wide, fingers teasing my pussy.

“You deserve everything,” he says softly in my ear. “And I’m going to give it to you, everything and more.”

He presses his fingers inside of me, making me groan. I dig my fingers into his back as he fucks my pussy deeper with his fingers, kissing my lips, teasing me, making me feel good.

He pulls back and drops to his knees. He teases my clit and pussy with his tongue and lips, sucking and lapping me up. I gasp and push his mouth tighter against my pussy, feeling the thrill run through my body as pleasure explodes along my skin in tingles.

He’s so fucking good at this, and five years hasn’t changed a thing. I forgot what he can make me feel. I pull him tighter, letting his tongue do its work, sliding into my pussy and sucking at my clit, making me moan in long and deep gasping pants.

He pulls back and stands. He hooks his arms over my legs and pushes me flat back onto the table. I prop myself up on one arm and watch as he teases my pussy with his cock.

“Everything about this tight cunt drives me wild,” he says. “I need to fuck you everywhere, touch every part of your skin. I’ve been away from you for way too long.”

He plunges himself deep inside of me, and I gasp. He slides deep, ripping me apart, filling me up. I reach down and grip the edge of the table as he starts to fuck me, deep and hard thrusts.

He teases my breasts as he rocks into me harder. I put my legs straight up onto his shoulders, staring at his delicious hard abs as he rocks into my tight pussy, splitting me and owning me. It feels so good I can barely stand it as he grinds himself deeper and deeper, filling every inch of my pussy, making me feel completely and utterly taken.

He leans forward and slaps my exposed ass hard as he thrusts into me. I groan and he slides back, pulling me off the table.

He gets me to my feet and shifts me over to the kitchen island. I put my hands on the counter as he bends me over.

“Look at this ass,” he groans, spanking me hard, pulling my hair, “Look at this dripping fucking pussy. I love the way you taste.” He bends over and sucks and licks my pussy, getting his tongue all over me.

He pulls back and slides his cock inside of me again. I arch my back and move my ass along his shaft, sliding my soaking pussy up and down his length. He pulls my hair tighter and slaps my ass harder, leaving a handprint on my cheek.

I look over my shoulder at him and his eyes are filled with lust as he starts to fuck me rough again. “I have to feel my cum inside this pussy,” he says. “I need it so badly I can barely breathe.” He kisses me as he thrusts deep inside.

He fucks me harder then, rocking his cock into me. I move my ass and arch my back, working with him, both of us sweating and losing ourselves. I have no mind anymore, I have no problems, I’m just in this moment so completely. The only thing I can think about is pleasure, his cock slamming into me, making me feel good.

I gasp and groan as he reaches around my hips and works my clit. It’s almost too much, too intense. He rocks into me harder, fucking me faster, deeper. I’m moaning loudly, not caring about anything else. Each thrust makes the pleasure grow, closer and closer, building in my core.

I come hard on his cock. He pulls my hair tight, slamming his cock deep inside of me, grinding it in, making me scream. His strong hands hold my hips as he gets me off, but he’s not through with me, not yet.

I move my hips along his shaft as he keeps going. Pleasure explodes all around me, blinking lights of bliss, and I need it. I want him to come inside of me again. I’ve missed it so badly.

“Fuck,” he groans, and I feel him finish deep in my pussy, thick ropes of cum. I work my ass, making him feel good.

We collapse onto the floor together, his arms around my body. We’re naked, sweating, panting, and it feels so goddamn good. All of my worries and stresses are gone. He knows the truth and he’s not mad at me. My worst nightmare didn’t come true.

I have this moment, and that’s what I’ve been wanting. Luke is strong for me, so strong I can only begin to imagine it. He’s been through so much, and yet he’s back, here to step up for me and Max, and ready to take back his life. I can’t help but fall for a man like that all over again.