“You are, by far, the most patient man I know.”

Baylor grimaced as she took Dawson from Markus’s outstretched hands. He smiled as Dawson looked at him innocently. He knew the little guy didn’t mean to puke all over him and he wasn’t upset, but he was trying to figure out a way to get to the house and shower before he had to talk to Mekena. He highly doubted that baby puke would be an aphrodisiac. Maybe it would be? Huh.

He wasn’t going to try, though.

As Baylor cuddled Dawson against her, Markus waved her off. “It’s no big deal. He’s a baby.”

She smiled shyly. “Yes, but Ashlyn pooped on you too.”

He grinned as he shrugged, trying not to laugh. It was a tough rehearsal for Dawson, Ashlyn, and Markus. Puke and poop were big-time stars during the hour of watching the Sinclairs and Grace Justice try to put together a wedding. He wasn’t sure what was funnier, Jace glaring as Jordie walked with Avery, or Ashlyn farting and then realizing she had just shit all over him. It was a toss-up, but then Dawson decided to puke down the front of his shirt, and he figured he was now a substitute for a baby rag. “I volunteered.”

“Still, we’re really sorry,” Avery said, holding Ashlyn close as she rocked her back and forth. “I understand if you don’t want to watch her ever again.”

“Nonsense,” he said, laughing as he tucked his hands into his pockets and looked around. He spotted Mekena at the front of the altar, taking pictures of random things. He wasn’t sure if she was done, but maybe he could slip away. “How much longer until y’all are done?”

“We’re done, but Lucy and Benji have some pre-wedding pictures they’re having done with Angie.”

“So Mekena isn’t done?”

Avery smiled. “Nope, she’s got a bit.”

“Can you pass a message for me?”

“Sure.”

“Let her know that I went back to the cabin to shower and clean up?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll tell Jace to tell her since I’m taking Ashlyn to bed.”

“Cool, thanks,” he said, kissing her cheek and then Baylor’s, before rubbing Dawson’s head. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

Before he could get far, though, Baylor smiled. “Thanks again.”

“Anytime. I mean that.”

Avery smiled. “Thanks.”

“Also, good luck,” Baylor added.

Flashing them both a big grin, he nodded. “I need it.”

Heading out the back, he made it back to the cabin quickly. When he entered, though, Mr. Right was sitting on the windowsill howling. “Whoa, man. What’s up?”

Meoooooowwwwwwww, he wailed, with his mouth wide open as his hair stood on end.

“Bro, I don’t know what to say. I don’t speak your language. Are you singing? Do you want me to sing too? Meoooowwwwww,” he said, and Mr. Right looked back at him, almost with a glare. “We should add some beat to that and make a remix,” Markus joked as the cat wailed. Deciding that was a good idea, he pulled out his phone and started to beatbox as the cat wailed, recording it on his SnapChat. The cat must have realized what he was doing because he looked back, scowling, and Markus hid his phone. He didn’t want to admit it, but Mr. Right kind of freaked him out.

When the cat hissed at Markus, he held his palms up and sidestepped to his bedroom. “Okay, I’m going.”

Laughing once the door was shut, he went into the bathroom and quickly cleaned up, washing and then changing into some shorts and tee. He considered putting on a nice shirt and slacks, but he didn’t want to look like he was trying too hard. Maybe he should get some wine out? Have some candles? No, that was trying too hard. He had to just let it happen. Go with the flow. Pray to God that she’d give him a chance. He still couldn’t believe he said that to her. That he admitted to wanting it. To needing a chance. Now, he just hoped it wasn’t hot air wasted and something would happen.

Something great.

As he brushed his hair, his phone sounded and he looked down to see it was a text from Avery.

Avery: Mekena told Jace to go on, that she could walk herself to the cabin. I don’t doubt she can, but I thought maybe you’d want to be a gentleman and walk her home.

Markus: You rock. Thanks.

Rushing out of the bathroom, he slid his feet into his sneakers and reached for the door, pulling it open. But before he could go out, a big, thick being ran past him, almost knocking his leg out from underneath him. When he realized it was the cat, his stomach dropped.

“Shit! Mr. Right,” he yelled, chasing after the cat toward the wooded area. “Shit!” he yelled as he hit the flashlight on his phone and stared into the woods after the cat. The cat cut left and Markus slid to the ground, trying to catch him, but he went through his hands. Getting up, he started chasing him once more. “What the fuck? You are too fat to be this fast!”

“Markus?” he heard and he paused.

Fuck, it was Mekena.

“What’s wrong?” she asked just as Mr. Right took off past him, out of the woods.

“Shit,” he muttered, chasing back after the cat, scraping up his legs and tripping over sticks.

“Oh, no! Don’t chase him! He’ll tire out,” she cried from far away, and just like she said, the cat started to slow crawl, his body on the ground as his limbs tried to move quickly. Slowing down, Markus came up beside the cat and picked it up, cuddling it to his chest as his heart pounded to max capacity. He saw his chance being ripped away by a thirty-pound ball of fur. Mekena loved this cat, he knew that, and as she ran to him, her face full of horror, he was thankful that the fat little thing couldn’t get far.

“Man, he’s fast.”

“Yeah, but only for like five seconds. But if you chase him, he tries to go faster, and I’m always worried he’ll have a heart attack,” she cried, taking him from Markus and shaking her finger at him. “Now, you know better! What were you chasing? A bird? They’re faster than you.” Looking up to Markus, she smiled. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I just didn’t want to lose him.”

“Thanks, he’s such a jerk. He did this earlier.”

“He was howling at the window, and I didn’t pay it any mind, but I guess he was telling the bird he was coming for him,” he joked.

“Yeah, and I bet the bird laughed at his big butt. Goodness,” she said, shaking her head and starting for the cabin. “You’re such a brat.”

“I didn’t think he was that fast. I’m highly impressed.”

She laughed, and God, he loved the sound. “I think he thinks he’s littler than he is and forgets that he can’t move that fast. I’ve tried putting him on a diet, but you’ve seen his eating habits.”

“Hey, I can’t hate. I’m the same way, I love food.”

She grinned over at him and nodded. “As am I, but our friend here doesn’t work out like we do.”

“Well, that needs to change.”

“You tell him that,” she said with a laugh, and he smiled as they reached the cabin

He opened the door for her, and she went in, placing Mr. Right on the couch before putting her stuff down too. Markus watched as she moved, her dress clinging to her body in all the right ways. Holding his breath, he bit into his lip as she moved to pull the scarf off and laid it on the table while the silence stretched between them. If he didn’t say something, he would either take her in his arms, or he was going to die. It was that damn simple.

Clearing his throat, he said, “How did the rest of rehearsal go?”

“It went really great. The wedding is going to be beautiful on Saturday.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“I thought you were in the wedding.”

He shook his head. “Nope, at first I wasn’t supposed to come in until Friday, so I wouldn’t have been able to do all the rehearsals and stuff.”

Pulling out the chair that was beside the door, she sat down. “Because you were down with the Ninjas.”

“Yeah,” he said, coming around and sitting across from her. “I didn’t think I’d get called up.”

“Well, that’s silly, you’re great.”

“Eh, the last year or so, no. I’ve kinda sucked.”

“I’m sure that’s with good reason.”

“Yeah,” he said softly, shrugging.

“But still, you’re an awesome player, and I know Elli is excited to see you play.”

His heart warmed as he sent her a smile, and she smiled back. “Thanks.”

“It’s the truth,” she said, waving him off. He couldn’t stop himself, he reached for her hand. She seemed surprised, but then her fingers laced with his and everything inside him went hot as their eyes met.

“Sorry. I had to touch you.”

She smiled shyly while holding his gaze. “Oh.”

“I can’t help it.”

She blinked as she nodded. “It’s nice.”

Neither of them said anything, just held hands as Markus’s other hand drew circles on the back of hers. Her mouth moved and he thought she was going to say something, but apparently, she couldn’t get it out as she looked away, shaking her head.

He figured he should say something. “I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did. I wanted to tell you. Not like that, though.”

Sucking in a breath, she looked up. “No, it’s fine. I’m glad I know.”

“Me too.” He smiled as he rubbed the backs of her knuckles. “They don’t look bruised or damaged, so I’m assuming you didn’t kick her ass?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “No, not at all. I said some shitty things, told her she was dead to me and stuff like that, but like always, my parents are making excuses.”

“Excuses?”

“Yeah, apparently, my sister is addicted to pills.”

That made sense, and he wouldn’t doubt it. That was the only way she’d gotten high back in college, but he’d thought she was smarter than that. “Wow. I bet that was hard to hear.”

“Hearing she tried to rape you was hard to hear. Hearing her excuses for why wasn’t. They were just infuriating,” she seethed. He understood her anger, he felt the same, but he also knew how badly off people who suffered from addiction were.

“She’s sick, though. That crap changes people,” he tried, but she shook her head.

Giving him an incredulous look, she said, “I don’t care, she shouldn’t have done what she did.”

“Oh, I completely, one hundred percent agree with you on that.”

“I don’t get how you can defend her after all that.”

“Whoa, no way, not defending her, I’m just pointing out that addiction sucks and hurts people. But in the end, Mekena, she is your sister.”

“No, my sister wouldn’t do that to me,” she answered, and then she looked away. “I can’t believe she did this, and I’m so incredibly sorry, Markus.”

“It’s not your place to apologize.”

“Yeah, but I’m going to.”

“Okay,” he said with a smile, rubbing her knuckles. “Thank you.”

She didn’t smile back, though. Instead, her eyes filled with tears as she looked back down to the table, her shoulders slumping some. “I thought you wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

His brows rose. “Why wouldn’t I want to talk to you?”

“Because of all this. I’m her sister, I’m a part of this, the pain,” she explained, but she still wouldn’t look at him.

Squeezing her hand, he cleared his throat. “You did nothing wrong, Mekena. If anything, I shouldn’t have put myself in that position. I shouldn’t have had that drink with her. I should have walked away.”

“You can’t do that, though. This isn’t your fault—you’re the victim.”

“So are you,” he explained when she finally looked up. “She fucked us both over. And, yeah, it sucks, but until we both accept that neither of us is at fault, we can’t move on.”

Biting into the inside of her lip, she held his gaze. “How do we do that?”

He shook his head. “I have no freaking clue. Baylor says I need to go to therapy.”

“Yeah, you probably do. Hell, I probably do too.”

He smiled. “We can go together. Hold each other’s hand and shit,” he said, and she grinned.

“You’re such a dork. You take nothing seriously,” she accused, but not with annoyance.

He shrugged. “Yeah, but then this would be really hard to take, you know?”

“True. It feels better to smile than to cry.”

“Amen to that,” he said, and she smiled as she looked away. Watching her profile as his fingers moved along her knuckles, he didn’t know what to say next. As much as he wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss her senseless, he wasn’t sure if she wanted that. He could tell everything was still weighing hard on her. It was all still so raw, but he had spent much more than a year without her, and he wasn’t sure he could go on any longer. “One thing is my fault, though.”

She looked back at him, her brow furrowed. “What?”

“I should have contacted you sooner. I should have gone to you and really apologized and explained that I had no clue what happened. I shouldn’t have let you go like that, but I think I did because I was embarrassed and scared. Please know that in no way was it easy, Mekena. There were nights when I couldn’t sleep ’cause I swore I could smell you, and it shattered me.”

Her eyes were wide as they started to fill with tears, but she held his gaze. “Me too. I missed you. I didn’t want to, but I did.”

He smiled at that. “I missed you too, and I’m sorry. Really sorry.”

“I mean, given the circumstances, I can’t blame you. I just wish I would have tried instead of running. Maybe then I would have been able to help, and then you wouldn’t have had to do it on your own. I feel like I failed you. Like I wasn’t there for you.”

“I can’t blame you for running, Mekena. I would have. If I’d walked in on that. I would have taken off and never talked to you again. It looked bad. It looked like I fucked up. I mean, she even had me believing it.”

She nodded. “I was just so hurt and broken.”

“I know,” he whispered, squeezing her hands. “I was too.”

They sat like that as the minutes passed, just holding each other’s hands, neither knowing what to say or do. There was so much that had happened, and he wondered if they could come back from it. If the love they had two years ago was still strong enough to live on. He prayed it was, but she wasn’t talking. She was just staring at the table, chewing on her lip.

“So what do we do now?” she asked, and he shrugged.

“What do you want to do?”

When she looked up, he held his breath as her eyes met his, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. “Earlier at my house, after it all went down, I told Libby all I wanted was to wrap you up in my arms and hold you.”

His lip quirked at the side. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “I feel like you need a hug. I know I could use one.”

He was out of his chair before she even finished, pulling her up and into his arms. She went willingly, her arms coming around his chest as his wrapped around her neck, holding her tight. Closing his eyes, he nuzzled his nose into her hair as he breathed in her scent, unable to fathom how he had gone so long without her in his arms. Her face nuzzled into his chest as her arms squeezed him tight. Man, it felt so good.

So perfect.

They held each other, neither moving, only breathing as the sounds of the wilderness sang outside the cabin. But he wasn’t really listening. He only heard the sound of her heartbeat, pounding against his stomach as her arms dug into his sides. He didn’t want to move. He didn’t even want to breathe. He wanted to stay just like that for the rest of his life. But then she whispered, “Markus?”

Pulling his head back only slightly from her shoulder, his voice was rough. “Yeah?”

“Kiss me.”

Her head moved up, but before she could even fully look at him, his mouth was finding hers, connecting in sweet perfection. His fingers threaded through her hair as she held his hips, their mouths moving with ease and familiarity. They had a lot of practice with kissing, and apparently, neither of them had forgotten those lessons. They fit together seamlessly, her lips hard to his soft. The way her tongue slid along his lips, wanting him because she knew how that drove him crazy. Pressing his body into hers, needing her to be closer, he slid his hand down, pushing his hand into her ass so she could feel how hard he was for her.

How badly he wanted her.

When she pulled back, he kissed her top lip and then her nose as she gasped for breath against his jaw. His eyes drifted shut, loving the feel of her but needing to control this desire inside of him. He couldn’t expect anything to happen. They were figuring things out; he needed to slow his body down. Problem was, the guy in his pants didn’t listen very well. Because when she moved against him, he hissed out a breath, opening his eyes—only to find that she was pulling her dress up and over her body.

“Holy shit,” he gasped as he drank in her full breasts protected by a sheer black bra, her thick peaks dark under the fabric. Her belly was flat and he missed the little chub she had there before, but he forgot all about that when his eyes drank in the matching sheer panties she wore. “Jesus, Mekena. I’m trying to control myself here.”

Her lips curved as her eyes drifted shut in a seductive look before she pushed her hair off her shoulders, whispering, “Don’t.”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t,” she repeated, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him down to her, his mouth a breath away from hers. “Take me to bed.”

“To bed,” he repeated, unable to comprehended what the actual fuck was happening.

“Yes, to bed,” she giggled, her eyes full of so much heat and want. For him. Breathing hard, he searched her eyes with his. Was this a pity fuck? Or was it a good-bye fuck? Why was he thinking so much? Take her!

But he couldn’t.

“Are you sure, Mekena? Like, really sure? I mean, we just started talking for real like an hour ago, and I don’t want this to be over tomorrow.”

Moving her thumb along his jaw, she shook her head. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you, Markus Reeves, and I have no intention of this being over tomorrow. But right now, I want you to take me to bed because, yes, I know we have a lot to hash out and figure out, but I’m tired of waiting. I want this.”

“Really?” he squawked out, and then he closed his eyes in embarrassment. He fully expected this all to be a dream when he reopened them, but it wasn’t. Mekena was looking up at him, her eyes dark as she nodded.

“Do you want me, Markus?”

“Fuck yes,” he cried out, and she smiled.

“Then take me.”

Apparently, it took a few times for that to sink in, but when it finally did, there was no stopping him. Reaching for her, he lifted her up, her legs coming around his waist as their mouths met. Carrying her into her room, he paused because he wasn’t sure she had condoms in her room. Since he didn’t want to stop once they got started, he turned, kissing her as he navigated the way to his room, watching out for the couch and then Mr. Right as he went toward the kitchen. Making it to his room, he walked until the bed hit his legs before slowly laying her down, covering her body with his.

“That took forever,” she teased, and he grinned against her lips as his hands ran up her ribs to her breasts, cupping them. His whole body went taut, his mouth dry as he molded and nibbled on the two globes that were hiding behind the sheer fabric.

“You don’t know what forever even is. I’ve spent the last two years thinking about you every night when I went to bed,” he whispered against her breasts as his hand shook. He used to dream about touching her like this. When they were dating, things got hot and heavy, but he never got to see her like this. So wanton as her body arched into his or actually seeing her nipples or feeling the heat so directly from between her legs. It was driving him mad, and he knew once he got inside her, he was going to embarrass himself completely. But in a way, he didn’t care.

He had all night.

“Every night?” she breathed, her voice rough and sexy as her hands pulled at the bottom of his shirt.

Raising his arms, he nodded. “I was incomplete without you.”

After he threw his shirt to the side, she cupped his face, bringing it to hers as their mouths met. Pushing the cups of her bra up, he captured her bare breasts in his hands, moaning against her lips as he pressed himself into her. Pulling his mouth from hers, he trailed kisses down her neck, swirling his tongue along her peaks before kissing across her belly, and bringing her panties down her thighs before sitting up to bring them all the way off and onto the floor. Drinking in the sight in front of him, he almost thought this wasn’t real.

“I’m dreaming,” he whispered, and her face reddened.

“I hope not.”

“And to think, you thought I didn’t want this?” he asked, bringing her leg up and kissing down it, swirling his tongue along the inside of her knee. “You thought I didn’t stay up at night, whacking off to the mere thought of you?”

Giggling, she smacked his arm. “Markus!”

“What? It’s true,” he threw back at her, kissing her thigh. “I dreamed of my mouth on this gorgeous pussy every time I even just got to graze it.”

And to make his dreams a reality, he took her whole in his mouth. When he ran his tongue along her slit, she cried out, her knees coming together. But he held them apart, which opened her more. As he slid his tongue along the inside of her flesh, she tasted sweeter than he ever could have imagined. Finding her bundle of nerves, he was relentless, moving and nibbling at it as she thrashed against him. His name left her lips in pure, unadulterated torture. Slipping his fingers inside of her, he couldn’t stop his eyes from closing as he continued to move his tongue against her nub. She was fucking tight, and he trembled to get his cock inside of her. He was begging for it, but he wanted her to get hers since he would get his—and fast.

He slid his fingers in and out of her, and she moaned his name, screamed it as she shook under his mouth. When he looked up, her whole body was blotchy red as she held her breasts, arching up as she shouted his name. Her moans and cries were music to his ears, and he almost wasn’t sure he could handle it. He had wanted this for so long, and now he had it. He honestly had never thought it would happen, and now that it had, he wanted to savor her, but he wanted her too bad.

When she shattered, she sat up, squeezing her knees together, but there was no closing her legs with him between them. She tried to push him away, but he wasn’t done. He couldn’t get enough. Looking up at her, he continued to fuck her with his fingers as their eyes met.

“You’re fucking gorgeous, Mekena,” he said roughly as her head fell back and she moaned loudly, making his toes curl.

“Markus, I want you,” she cried as he sped up the rhythm of his fingers, wanting her to come again. She was so wet, so juicy, and he knew it would be over for him before it started if he got inside her. “Now, now, Markus, please,” she cried, trying to squeeze her legs shut.

Biting into his lip, he stopped, pulling his fingers out of her as she collapsed back onto the bed. Covering her body with his, he kissed her hard as his cock slid against the wetness of her perfect pussy. He almost came just doing that as her arms and legs wrapped around him and she kissed him hard against his lips. Pulling back, he kissed her nose. “Let me go so I can get a condom.”

She nodded, releasing him. Going to his bag, he grabbed a few, throwing them at the end of the bed before opening a package to slide it on. But before he could, he noticed she was watching. He knew she wanted to help him with it, but there was no way. “I will come before you even get it on, don’t look at me.”

She giggled as he smiled, sheathing himself before he crawled back on top of her. He settled between her legs, his cock lying against her pulsating center. “Actually, I was trying to figure out how you were going to fit inside me. You are one big man, Markus Reeves.”

“Biggest you’ll ever have too,” he said with a wink, and she scoffed.

“Cocky much?”

“Always,” he said, kissing her nose and then her lips. “This is going to be quick, and I’m apologizing now.”

She couldn’t stop her giggle. “We have all night.”

“Exactly,” he said as he went up on his knees, pressing hers back before he positioned his tip at her entrance. When he pushed in, she cried out a bit. It was a tight fit, but he slowly inched in until she looked as if she was in pain. “Whoa, you okay?”

She nodded tightly. “It hurts.”

“Okay, it’s tight, stop clenching,” he laughed and she smiled.

“Sorry!” she laughed, and his heart melted. She was so pretty, so innocent.

Wait.

Too innocent.

Her face was red, her eyes were wide, and her heart was jackhammering in her chest. As she gazed up at him, her face full of nerves, she said, “I think I’m good. Am I relaxed?”

“Wait.”

“Huh?” she asked, and it all dawned on him. How had he not realized? Did he need her that bad? But then, she came at him all sexy and seductive! How was he supposed to know?

Holding her gaze, and even though he was pretty sure of her answer, he asked, “Are you still a virgin?”

 

 

Mekena’s heart stopped.

She thought he knew. Hadn’t she told him? Why would she tell him that? Crap, was that bad? Should she have told him? Her cheeks darkened as she bit her lip. “I think I was until like four seconds ago… But do you have to move? Am I not until after you move in and out?”

“Mekena!” he cried, his cock throbbing inside of her. Holy crap, it hurt, but it also felt good, which was really weird. She just wanted him to move. To do something. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Laughing nervously, she gave him a look. “What did you want me to say? ‘Hey, I want you, you big stud. And by the way, I’m a virgin.’? No! I just went with my gut.”

His face twisted in dismay. “But this isn’t how your first time should be.”

“What? It’s fine! Can you move? It’s kinda tight in there,” she asked tentatively, and he gawked at her.

“I would have lit candles, serenaded you, or something,” he said, and she could tell he was really bothered by the fact that he hadn’t known.

Reaching up, she cupped his face, bringing him down to where their lips almost touched. “This is perfect. I promise.”

“How are you still a virgin, Mekena? I mean, you came at me pretty hot. Different from when we were together before.”

She grinned. “I’ve started reading romance novels.”

Laughing, his face broke into a grin. “Are you sure you want me to move? If I do, your cherry will be popped. I’m only half in.”

Her eyes widened. Half in! Crap. Her heart kick-started even faster as she nodded. “I want you to. I really do, Markus.” Gazing into his eyes, she knew the truth. “I’ve always wanted it to be with you.”

Swallowing hard, he bit into his lip. God, he was so beautiful. Sweat gathered around his hairline, and his eyes were dark and dilated just for her. His body, it was a masterpiece made by God. His muscles were so thick, so defined, and she felt safe in his arms. She loved his shoulders the most, though, how big and sturdy they were. But then her eyes dropped to his sinful mouth and thick lips, and everything else couldn’t compare. He could blow her world to smithereens with those lips. His heart was pounding against hers, and both of them were breathing erratically as he looked down into her eyes, gazing at her with such love and admiration in them.

“You ruined me, Mekena. For everyone else. I swear it,” he whispered, and her heart flew.

“Kiss me,” she whispered back, and he grinned as his mouth dropped to hers.

“Gladly.” Then he was kissing her as he gradually started to fill her even more. It was tight and it hurt, causing her eyes to squeeze shut. She wanted to tell him to stop, but he was being so gentle, going so slow when she could tell he wanted to ram into her. He was shaking, his hands dug into the sheet beside her head, and his eyes were wild along with his breath, but he went painfully slowly, drawing out each thrust before pulling back out.

“Are you okay?”

“I am,” she answered, holding on to his shoulders. “It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry, do you want me to stop?”

“No, I figure it’ll get better.”

His eyes widened as he nodded. “I sure as hell hope so!”

Laughing, he leaned his head against hers as he thrust into her and then back out, his hand taking her by the back of the leg, lifting her a bit off the bed.

“Oh, that feels a lot better,” she gasped out and he smiled.

“Yeah?” he asked, thrusting into her, his fingers digging into her leg.

“Yes, yes,” she muttered, arching her back as he moved in and out of her, his rhythm picking up along with his grunts. Holding on to his arms, she cried out as her orgasm took her once more, sending her into the clouds as Markus stilled, his body going taut as his cock throbbed hard inside of her. Closing her eyes, she sucked in a much-needed breath, letting it out harshly as he fell to the side of her, wrapping her up in his arms, pulling her on top of him. He kissed her hairline and then her cheek, and her eyes stayed closed as her body tingled with the love he had just shown her.

“Are you okay?” he asked, and she nodded, cuddling into him.

“I’m great.”

His hands squeezed her ass, and she smiled against his jaw, kissing him before cuddling deeper.

“You wore me out, holding off like that.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I don’t think I can walk.”

“It does,” he answered and she giggled. He was such a nerd. “But considering this was your first time, I’m pretty sure you need to clean up.”

She didn’t understand at first, but then she realized what he was talking about. Sliding to the side of him, she looked down to find what he had expected. “Well, that’s gross.”

“Eh, it’s part of it.”

“Taken a lot of girl’s virginities?” she teased, and he scoffed.

“No way, I just know from the horror stories of friends.”

“Well, now you have one of your own,” she joked, trying to scoot away with some dignity, but he stopped her.

Bringing her down to him, he kissed her nose. “This is no horror story, Mekena Preston. This is a fairy tale.”

Her lips quirked as she kissed him quickly. “Corny ass.”

“You love it,” he said as she got up and grabbed her underwear.

She nodded. “I do.” Looking around the room, she felt awkward for a moment and then grossed out because she’d bled all over him too. “I’m gonna go back to my room to clean up. Okay?”

He smiled. “Okay, unless you want to join me in the shower.”

While that sounded amazing, she needed to gather herself. “Would it offend you if I wanted just a moment?”

Still grinning, he shook his head. He looked delectable, all laid out, so big and so tall on the bed, his body covered in a sheen of sweat. “It would if you went without giving me another kiss and then promising to come back.”

Her face broke into a huge grin as she leaned on the bed, meeting her lips to his, and his fingers threaded into her hair. She went to pull back, since she felt messy and her OCD was kicking in, but he stopped her. “You’ll come back?”

“Yeah.”

“And I don’t have to move to the hotel?”

She grinned. “No.”

“And you did this because you wanted to, right? Not because you felt sorry for me?”

Her brow furrowed. “What in the world? I wanted this, you big dweeb.”

He grinned. “Okay, and we’re gonna talk this out? Try to make it work?”

She gave him a look. “Should I just accept I’m not taking a shower and sit down to talk to you?”

He looked away shyly. “I’m worried you’re gonna shower and run.”

“I’ll be back,” she promised. “Give me like twenty minutes.”

He nodded. “Okay, sorry for being the needy, insecure guy on you.”

She shrugged, kissing him once more. “It’s okay, ’cause I’m needy and insecure sometimes, and it’s nice when someone reminds you that you don’t need to be.”

“Well, you don’t have to be, you sexy minx.”

She laughed hard, pulling back and getting off the bed. “Yeah, okay. Go shower.”

She made it to the door before he stopped her. “Mekena, really.”

Looking back at him, she smiled. “What?”

“You really don’t ever need to be any of that. You’re beautiful, sexy, and rock my world.”

Her cheeks went red-hot as she looked down at the ground, biting her lip. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” he said as she turned and left the room. But once she was out of his room, she ran across the house, almost tripping over Mr. Right to get to her room. He was hungry and crying for food, but call her a bad cat mom, she had to get to her room. Pausing, she remembered her phone was on the table. As she went to grab it, Mr. Right came at her again, this time tripping her, and she went flying into the floor with a loud thud.

Great.

Glaring at her cat, she yelled, “Damn it, Mr. Right!”

Meeeeeeeooooowww!

“Shh!” she complained, getting up slowly since she was pretty sure she broke a boob with that fall. She limped back to her room, shutting the door as she dialed Avery’s number.

“Hello?”

“I slept with him.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Markus! Crazy!”

“What!” Avery yelled, and Mekena heard Jace in the background.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked, and Mekena froze.

“Don’t tell him!”

“I’m not,” she yelled back, and then she heard a door close. “No way! I thought y’all were gonna talk.”

“We did. And then I took my dress off.”

“You what?”

“I know!” she cried, covering her face as it burned. “I don’t know what got into me. I just wanted him and I’ve always wanted him and it just happened because I kinda put it all out there.”

“Mekena Preston, I’m flabbergasted!”

“I am too!” she said, letting her head fall back as she sat on the toilet. “It just felt right. I mean, we talked, he apologized for not trying to fix it, and then I apologized for just running. Then he held my hand and I said I wanted to hug him, and I think I said kiss me…? I don’t know. And he did and I took my dress off, and he was like ‘You’re sure?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ Then we started making out and he carried me to the bedroom and we did it. And he realized I was still a virgin, and he was so sweet, Avery, like so damn sweet. And Jesus, he is hung and it hurt, but then it was perfect even though I bled everywhere. And he turned into this adorable little needy guy asking if I’d come back after I shower, and I ran out of there after promising I would and tripped over the fucking cat, and now I’m sitting here rambling to you that it happened. Oh my God, I had sex.”

“Whoa.”

“I know. I had sex.”

“See, if this wasn’t so serious, I would sing, ‘and it felt so good.’” And then Avery did go ahead and sing the popular SNL skit that featured Justin Timberlake. “Sorry, I had to. I mean, it was the perfect opening. But, oh my God! I can’t believe this.”

“I can’t either,” she gushed, covering her mouth. “I did it.”

“You did.”

“And it was perfect, except for the blood thing. That’s disgusting.”

“Eh, it happens. You wouldn’t believe how much I bled. It was gross.”

“Ew, stop talking about it.”

“You brought it up!”

“I know, but still,” Mekena cried, shaking her head. She really needed to get in the shower, but something was holding her back. She covered her face as she leaned on her knee. “Did I do the right thing?”

Avery didn’t answer right away. But then she asked, “The right thing?”

“I mean, am I moving too fast?”

“Does it feel like you are?”

“No, it feels right.”

“Then you’re good, bestie. You do you.”

“I know, but like, crap, Avery, I love him, and I didn’t want to wait anymore.”

“Well, you didn’t. You did it.”

“But we are both in different stages of our lives. Both trying to find our way.”

“Well, this is true, but maybe you guys can do that together?”

“What if he doesn’t want to?”

“I think that’s something you two need to figure out.”

Swallowing hard, Mekena leaned back, holding her breasts in her hands as she looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes started to fill with tears as she exhaled slowly. “I’m scared, Avery. Like really scared.”

Avery laughed softly. “I mean, in the end, if it doesn’t work out, are you glad you did it with him?”

“Yes,” she said automatically. “I don’t want it with anyone else.”

“Then you’re good.”

“But why am I so scared?”

“Because that’s love, Kennie. It’s a whirlwind and you have had so much happen already, so it’s bound to be a little scary.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Mekena agreed as she exhaled before inhaling even deeper. “But something tells me I’m going to love that guy for the rest of my life.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“Am I insane?”

Avery laughed once more. “Aren’t we all? I mean, come on, we’re all young and in love. All we can do is pray to God it works in our favor and we continue to be happy.”

“He makes me happy. I’m just scared of the future. He says he’s going to therapy. What if he gets in there and realizes he hates me?”

“Mekena, come on, that won’t happen.”

“Avery! My sister tried to rape him,” she said, and the tears started to fall.

“Yes, but you didn’t, and he has always cared for you. I think you doubt what could be really good. Just go with it.”

“I can’t deal with another heartbreak.”

“Then don’t. Make it work.”

Wiping her face, Mekena smiled. “He said we can go to therapy together.”

Avery’s voice softened. “See, he’s thinking ahead, and that’s such a Markus thing to say. You know that Ashlyn pooped on him and Dawson puked and he didn’t even care, he went with it.”

“Aw, he’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m so glad y’all found out the truth because it was really bothering me thinking he had done that.”

Mekena’s eyes flooded as she nodded, hating how she had believed what she’d seen, that she believed Skylar when none of it was true. “Me too.”

“And I think that therapy is a good idea. You probably need it.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, wiping another tear away. “Sorry for calling so late.”

“I would have been mad if you hadn’t.”

Smiling, Mekena sat up. “So I’m not crazy?”

“Well, duh, you’re crazy—but not for sleeping with the guy you have loved pretty much your whole adult life.”

Nodding, Mekena stood up. “I love you, Avery.”

“Aw, I love you too, you non-virgin you!”

Laughing, Mekena rolled her eyes. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

Setting her phone down, she wiped her face as she looked up to see her naked body staring back at her in the mirror. There were red spots where Markus’s mouth and hands had been. Her breasts seemed perkier, her belly flatter, and her eyes so wide and bright, but that wasn’t what had her breathless. No, it was the fact that she looked and felt like a woman.

A beautiful woman.

All because of Markus Reeves.