The limo pulls slowly into the big, bland car park of the prison. It glowers like an angry Dad after curfew.

Alison and I are cuddled together in the back seat, entwined. I can tell she doesn’t want to let go.

The limo stops by the side of the building, and we look at each other.

“Here we are,” she whispers.

“Yup. Back at the big house.”

I can’t stop smiling.

I keep remembering her lips on my cock, the passion she let herself fall into.

We fucked in almost every room of the house.

What can I say? We gave it a good shot, but it’s a big fucking house.

We didn’t sleep much. Ali fell asleep in my arms in the library. We huddled under an old fleece throw in a big comfy chair.

I held her against my chest and watched her sleep, the taste of her all over me.

This woman. This incredible woman.

Would I have done my life differently if I knew I was going to meet her?

What a tragedy that would be, because it wouldn’t lead me here to her. There’s a divine plan in everything. I see that now, and I think she does, too.

Hands wrapped together, we walk toward the door. She doesn’t want to get out. I can see her panicked eyes despite her calm demeanor.

She sits on the edge of the seat, gripping my hand tightly as she looks up at the monochrome tones of the high walls. I can almost hear her thoughts. If we don’t get out, it’s not real.

We could just drive away and disappear.

I’m easy either way.

I’m just delighted to know that she’s mine. Something in me has changed.

I’m just not sure what it is.

I’m still the same power-loving, masochistic guy. But I know now there’s one human being on this planet that I’ll never hurt—ever. She’s sitting right here gripping my hand so tight its like a lifeline to the drowning.

She turns suddenly and kisses me, arms going around my shoulders, one hand in my hair. I pull her close to me, feeling her hot breasts rubbing against my chest. She wriggles forward, legs going around my waist as she presses me back against the seat.

She stops kissing me and buries her face in my chest. I hold her tightly as she shudders.

“Let’s just not move,” she whispers. “Let’s just stay here.”

I stroke her back. “That would be a sight, wouldn’t you think? A limo out front of the prison would get investigated sooner or later.”

She giggles, squeezing me around the waist before sitting up and looking into my eyes.

“You’re funny, you know that?”

I laugh. “Sure, okay. I do try to make a joke whenever I can.”

“No, I mean it. You’re funny and smart. Sharp. I’ve been evaluating people of various types of mental anomalies all my life. You aren’t like them. I’m starting to think there’s nothing actually wrong with you at all. Except for an enhanced state of charisma that has given you a bit of a god complex. Coupled with ridiculous amounts of money—it’s bound to create a separation of reality.”

“Babe, I don’t know about all that. You’re the shrink, remember?”

She laughs, stroking my face.

“I have to give my professional opinion. What kind of shrink would I be if I let a little cock get in the way of my diagnosis?”

“Little cock?”

I give her a stage-show shocked face with wide eyes and open mouth, and she giggles again.

“Okay. Huge cock.”

She kisses me. Ali mumbles against my mouth, “Great big fucking amazing cock.”

“That’s more like it.”

I kiss her back, my hands going up to the small of her back as I crush her against me.

We both dive into the kiss, desperate with lips and tongues.

We both know this has got to end. We don’t want to let it go.

With a sigh, she slips off my lap and opens the door. I step out into the chill pre-dawn light, looking up at the huge building.

“Home sweet home.”

Alison turns to me, grabs my hand.

“Don’t say that. You aren’t meant to be here. I read the report. You didn’t lay a hand on that senator.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Absolute truth.

Fuck, I love telling the truth. Most people don’t believe it. It’s fucking awesome.

“Jaxon…”

She’s holding my hand, looking into my eyes. I stare back at her, grasping her other hand, waiting. I know what’s coming.

I don’t want anything to disturb this moment. “I love you” during sex doesn’t count.

They’re an effect of a biological response. Endorphins. They can’t be trusted.

But now, lucid, and calm. This is the one I want to hear. I know she does.

I can tell, just by the way she moves, that she loves me.

I’m a part of her just like she’s always been a part of me.

From the first glimpse. But now, once the words are spoken, it becomes real.

By speaking a thing out loud, it becomes more solid. Not just in your mind—a thought that could drive an action.

No. Once it’s spoken, it’s a part of reality, seen and ratified by others who live in their own realities.

Then, it can’t be taken back.

She squeezes my hands. A small smile turns the edges of her mouth.

“Jaxon, I—”

She startles against my chest like a frightened animal at the sudden click and footsteps behind us. I crush her to my chest, looking up in fury. Who dares to ruin my moment?

It’s the professor! Well, fuck me. The click I heard—and, the other I hear right now—is the prepping of an assault rifle. I grin at the sight of the weapons.

What can I say? I enjoy violence.

“Doctor Gardener!”

Alison’s voice is part surprise, part horror. She didn’t expect to get caught out like this. I let out a high-pitched laugh as I hold her against my chest.

Alison looks up at me sharply.

“Doctor Gardener, you can’t do this!” she implores him. “Jaxon is well. He’s so much better. I can rehabilitate him, I promise!”

“Step away from him, Alison, please. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Her hands grip me tighter, even though I’ve let her go. The big armed guards are eye-balling me, and I’m giving it right back to them.

“You can’t!” she cries.

“Alison, step away now. I don’t want you to get hurt. We must take Jaxon in.”

“But…”

“Honey,” I grip her shoulders and shake her, turning her to face me. “It’s okay. Just go inside with Doctor Gardener. I’ll be fine, I promise. They’ll just take me inside—where I was going anyway. I’ll take all the blame. It was my car that took us out—I got the guards to let us out. Okay?”

She’s starting to cry and that makes me kind of mad.

I glare at Prof over her shoulder.

“But I took full responsibility,” she gasps, “I told them—and they let me—”

“Ali!” I exclaim, bending my face down close to hers, whispering right against her mouth.

“I love you, Ali.”

“And I love you.”

Ah, there it is. My moment all fucked up and running hard with anxiety.

Oh, well. It’ll be more memorable for all of that.

“Just go inside now. I’ll be okay, I promise. We’ll see each other in a few hours. I promise. I bribed the guards. I did it all. You did nothing.”

She shakes her head violently, denying it all, denying the situation, every damn fucking thing that’s trying to tear us apart when we’re clearly supposed to be together. I’m mad, yes, but I’m also patient.

That she loves me is all that matters.

I found her. She found me.

I have all the evidence I need that the universe is on my side, and I’m going to win.

I push her away gently, and she turns her back on me. Back straight, looking past the professor, she marches across the carpark.

“Just come here Alison,” Prof offers her a kindly hand, which she coolly ignores.

She walks right past them into the building. Something in that cold, emotionless stance reminds me of me. So I’m grinning like a maniac as I raise my hands above my head, twinkling them like I’m making stars on an early morning kid show.

“Who’s gonna come get the mad hatter, huh?” I let out a sharp laugh. “Come on, I’m surrendering.”

The larger guard takes a step forward, pointing his gun at me.

They really think they are going to need two assault rifles? I’m that dangerous?

The idea turns me on a bit.

“Hands behind your head, Mr. Covington.”

“Yes, sir!”

I place my hands behind my head and wait for him to approach. I’m calm as they surround me and walk me back into the building.

Patience. All I need is a little patience.