Johanna smoothed her hands down her dress as she stared at her flushed cheeks in the bathroom mirror. Earlier, when she first arrived, she thought she would be too nervous to do anything with Reider, but as they watched the movie, all the worry faded until it was only the two of them, alone with a weekend to spend in each other’s arms. She wanted to be with him more than anything, wanted him to have all of her, just as she wanted all of him.

She ran her fingers through her hair and smiled. There was no nervousness with Reider, and Johanna reached up and tugged at the zipper on the back of her dress. She heard his booted steps come back inside. As the dress came undone, she shoved it over her hips and let it hit the floor with a soft sound. The red and black lace bra and panties highlighted her chest, hips and narrow waist, even showing off the tattoo she got in secret when she’d started college.

She’d wondered if they would take it slow at first, if it would be better, but in the bathroom, remembering how hot he felt in her hands, throbbing with his desire for her, taking it slow was the last thing on her mind.

Johanna took one last deep breath and turned to open the bathroom door. “Reider?”

As she glanced around the barn turned cozy hideaway, she smiled when she saw him on the other side of the room lighting more candles to add to the dim glow illuminating the space. He asked if she wanted another glass of wine as he turned. When he saw her, he fumbled to catch the lighter in his hands.

“Is this alright?” she asked, running her hands down her sides. When he sucked in a deep breath, she took a step closer. “Reider?”

He set the lighter down, swallowing hard, and moved across the room one slow step at a time. He said nothing, but he didn’t have to. Johanna saw the desire in his glimmering green eyes lit only by the candles surrounding them. It pulsed towards her with each step he took. What grew between them was not simple attraction, and when he stood a few inches from her, she breathed him in, closing her eyes on the teak-wood cologne he wore that drove her crazy every time they had class together. No, this was something so much more, a force Johanna had only read about in books or saw in movies. Yet she felt a strong passion consuming her with a heat that would never be extinguished. Reider’s gaze locked onto hers, and his chest heaved with every deep breath he took as if searching for the words to express what was happening.

His face tightened with sudden worry, and he asked her quietly about protection before this went too far. “I was tested recently,” he said quietly.

She smiled, sensing his annoyance at having to ask such a thing. “I was, too, as a just-in-case, and I’m on the pill. If we’re going to have this weekend, I want to feel you, really feel you. Don’t you want to feel me?”

Reider’s face relaxed, and he reached out his hand tentatively to hold her cheek. The second his skin touched hers, she was lost. He groaned and dragged her against his body as she wrapped her arms around his neck, claiming his mouth as intensely as he did hers. Their tongues clashed in a fierce dance, trying to dominate and surrender at the same time. Reider’s arms enveloped her, and his fingers made quick work of her bra hook, undoing it and removing the lace. It fluttered to the floor beside them and he leaned back long enough to see her breasts. A moment later, Johanna moaned as his lips closed over one pert nipple and sucked hard.

Her hands dug into his hair, pushing his head even closer as his hand gripped her ass, massaging it until she couldn’t see straight from the crazy flare of need flooding her body. As he switched to her other nipple, she slipped her hands between them and yanked at his shirt so she could see his chest, feel his bare skin against hers.

Though they’d only really met this semester, had only spent a few weeks together, it felt like ages that Johanna had waited to see Reider bare-chested so she could press her palms flat against his well-defined muscles. She tugged at the soft dusting of hair and traced her fingers over the tattoo she never knew he had. He held her close, breathing hard as she went over the intricate details of the vines around his left shoulder, intertwined with barbed wire and dying leaves that turned to blossoms towards his chest. It fascinated her, but tonight was not a night for words, so she kissed it instead, knowing he would tell her the story behind it one day.

Reider claimed her mouth and picked her up, carrying her to the kitchen table, and set her down on it as she worked at his jeans, shoving them roughly over his hips. He kicked out of his boots as quickly as he could, and the second he was completely free before her, Johanna reached out her hand and gripped him. He shivered at her touch, groaning as her hand moved against him. His fingers pressed into her back, massaging before they trailed down her sides to her panties.

When he glanced down, his lips twitched in a smirk, and she felt his calloused fingers touch the tattoo on her hip, the broken, melting heart done in black and red ink. He glanced at her face, but she pulled him close for another kiss as he slowly and gently tugged down her panties, lifting her with one arm to remove them completely. He tossed them aside with the rest of their clothes.

There was no fear of being naked with him, no worry or anxiety over what might happen. Johanna didn’t even stop to tell him she was a virgin. She trusted Reider to follow her lead, and when she nipped at his lip, he grunted and moved his hand between her thighs.

His fingers circled her swollen, wet lips, and he growled against her neck, nipping and sucking as he spread her thighs wider and stood between them. His erection rubbed against the tender skin of her inner leg, hot and wanting her. Johanna’s head fell back on a moan when he tugged on her clit, rolling it between his fingers. Her hand dug into his shoulder, her other holding onto him still, wanting him to feel as much pleasure as she was.

As his fingers worked against her and penetrated her most sacred place, her head fell back and she lost her hold on him. She needed to grip his shoulders, the table… anything to keep herself from falling over the edge.

“Reider,” she gasped roughly. “Oh God!”

He smirked, but his fingers disappeared and she whimpered, wanting them back. He sank to his knees in front of her, and when his tongue thrust into her, she cried out, the new sensation twisting her inside and stoking the ever-growing fire they created together. She couldn’t take it. His one hand tugged and teased her nipple while the other rolled her clit as his tongue thrust continually within her. Her eyes rolling back, she cried out, her whole body quivering at his touch until he quickly reached an arm around her to hold her up.

While she recovered from the orgasm, Reider stood and picked her up, carrying her to the over-sized couch where he set her gently and followed her down. He nuzzled her neck, moving lower until his tongue caressed each breast and sent more shivers of pleasure down her back. She tried to reach for his throbbing member, but he pushed her hands gently aside, chuckling deep within his chest.

“Not yet,” he whispered. “I want you to enjoy this.”

“I thought I was,” she said, then gasped when he closed his mouth over her nipple and tugged, licking until her eyes rolled back again and her limbs weakened. “Your tongue… is not… playing fair.”

“Oh no?” He smirked against her breast before moving to capture the other nipple.

Johanna cursed and writhed beneath him, but he held her captive against the hard planes of his body. His hand reached between them, and his fingers thrust into her as his thumb teased her clit. They stretched and twisted her untested depths, arousing her until every nerve begged for release. The smooth motion of his expert touch left her hungry for more, and her desire flared. Before long, she cried out again, the intensity of the orgasm greater than the last.

“Your eyes are beautiful when you lose control,” he whispered against her lips. “All fire and passion.”

She grinned wickedly as her body calmed enough for her to feel her limbs again. “Is that right?”

Wrapping her arms tightly around him, Johanna glanced once at the thick, fur rug on the floor in front of the couch and, with a smirk, pulled him off with her. They rolled, and she straddled him as he stared at her, his mouth agape until he burst out laughing. She joined him for a minute before each of their gazes held the other’s and a heavy silence fell between them—not filled with trepidation, but with a sudden understanding of what they were about to become to one another. Johanna moved her hips slightly, lifting herself up to feel him hot and hard between her legs, pressing against her wet lips.

Reider’s hands held her hips and slowly, without breaking eye contact, she lowered herself onto him. His tip entered her, and she pulled back before taking more of him in. Bit by bit, he filled her, stretching her as she had never been before. Melody had told her once that her first time hurt like hell, but it’d been worth it once the pinch was over.

But as Johanna’s gaze stayed locked on Reider’s, she felt nothing but the sensation of him filling her in more ways than physical. Her face scrunched when there was a twinge of discomfort, but she lifted her hips and slid all the way down, taking him in fully with a moan. Reider groaned, his body shaking beneath hers as his fingers dug into her hips, and slowly, she moved against him. The building friction between them rubbed her in all the right places, but Reider wanted more, so he sat up, and pulled her close against him as he thrust within her.

Johanna’s breath was ragged as Reider’s mouth slanted over hers, their bodies moving naturally as if they had always been together. She needed him deep within her, to fill her as much as he could, and never wanted to let him go. When the edge rushed to meet her and the fire threatened to consume her, Reider whispered in her ear.

“Let go, Johanna. Let go,” he whispered hoarsely, and she cried out as every fiber of her being erupted in pleasure, her inner muscles clenching hard around him. “Jesus, Johanna,” he growled, and his hoarse curse echoed around the open space.

He groaned, and his whole body stiffened, holding himself deep within her as his release shivered through his body. His arms tightened around her as he fell back to the rug with her on his chest. He sucked in a few deep breaths, still buried deep within her, and Johanna never wanted him to leave. When she raised her head, he grinned at her and she kissed him sweetly.

“That was incredible,” he mused, keeping her wrapped in his arms. “Damn.”

“Is it always like that?” she asked, resting her chin on his chest, and watched his eyes widen then narrow as he leaned up to stare at her. “What?”

“This… this was your first time? Oh my God! Why didn’t you tell me? Did I hurt you?” He scrambled to pull out and made them both shiver. Johanna told him to calm down, but he shook his head. “No, you nearly made me lose control. I could’ve hurt you.”

“But you didn’t,” she promised and held his face in her hands. “I’ve never felt better.”

“You’re sure I didn’t hurt you?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said and kissed him, straddling his lap. “But I am curious now.”

“About what?” he asked with a frown.

She leaned against him, pressing her breasts against his chest, and watched his eyes darken. “You said you nearly lost control. What does it take to make you lose control?” She nipped at his lip, and his hands pressed hard against her back as he grunted. “Because, you know, I’m just getting started here.”

He raised one brow and shifted his hips, his erection growing between them again and pressed against her. “Is that right?”

“Reider,” she whispered, “I never want this weekend to end, but it will, so until then, I want you to love me for as long as you can.” She held him closely. His face turned serious as he held onto her and stood, wrapping her legs around his waist.

The weight of their lives threatened to crash down on them, but when his lips found hers, nothing else mattered. He carried her to the steps leading to what was once the hayloft and the bed there, situated perfectly beneath a skylight where Johanna could see the stars and the sliver of moon. Reider laid her back and crawled into bed with her, covering her body with his. Gently, he pushed the curls from her face.

“I’ll always love you, Johanna. No one can change that,” he swore and kissed her deeply.

Johanna believed him. She trusted him, and as he spread her legs with his knee and thrust home, she moved with him, lifting her legs to wrap around him as he moved deep within her, deliberately slow as if he was trying to feel every bit of her inside as he did her outside. His fingers massaged her thigh and up to her hip as his mouth ravaged hers in a stern promise this would never end. He would make it work, and Johanna showed him as much as she could through her touch and her kisses that she would do the same.

* * *

Reider laughed as he stumbled back up the steps, a bottle of wine in hand, and grinned at Johanna lying on the bed, naked, watching him with a light in her eyes he wanted to see every day of his life.

“Damn it, I forgot glasses,” he said as he fell down on the bed beside her.

“We don’t need glasses,” she said through her giggles and grabbed the bottle, twisted the cap off, and took a large swig. “I’ve never been a proper society lady.”

Reider took the bottle when she offered it, and after a swig of his own, he rested it on the bed and leaned down to kiss her lips, sweet from the red wine, as their tongues danced hypnotically together.

“I knew it was all an act,” he muttered, and she shoved playfully at his arm. “You were always too serious. No one could ever be that content with their life.”

“Especially when your brothers are trying to marry you off,” she grumbled and rolled over onto her back, glaring up at the stars. Reider’s hand clenched into a fist on the sheet. “Don’t worry, it’s not going to happen.”

He wanted to trust her, but everyone knew the twins had a reputation for being ruthless when it came to their family, doing what was necessary to keep them ahead of the competition. If that meant they would promise Johanna to another man, they would do it without a second thought. Reider knew Johanna didn’t want it, but if it ever came to that point, they would have to tell the truth about their relationship to the families. And probably leave the city—hell, leave the state.

Johanna leaned her head back, bunching the sheet, and frowned at him. “You’re thinking too hard. Stop it.”

He smirked and kissed her forehead. “Can’t help it. Worried.”

“No, you’re not allowed to worry, not until we both have a reason to worry. I don’t want this weekend ruined by overthinking every last thing that could go wrong.” She blew out a breath, puffing her cheeks out, and Reider laughed, caressing her cheek softly. “Tell me about your tattoo,” she said quietly and rolled over onto her stomach.

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the soft mounds of flesh pressed against the bed, wanting them pressed against him instead. “Only if you tell me about yours,” he managed to grate out.

She tugged at a strand of hair and nodded slowly. “I had a rebellious streak.”

“It’s a broken heart, though,” he said, hoping jealousy was nowhere in his words, but from the way her lips screwed up in a crooked grin, he failed. “What? I’m curious.”

“I didn’t get it because of an ex. I got it because… because I never thought I would have the future I wanted. Freedom to live and find real love, not the false crap my parents have,” she muttered bitterly. “They make everyone else believe their lives, believe they’re so happy together, but it’s fake. All of it.”

The sadness in her words hit Reider hard, and he stretched out his body so they were shoulder to shoulder. He passed her the wine, and she took it, gulping before handing it back. “Funny how the world thinks everything in our lives is perfect,” he said with a dark smile. “If they only knew.”

“So many lies and so much damn back-stabbing. I’m tired of it all. This is what I want,” she said and nudged his shoulder with hers. “Weekends like this with someone who gets me.”

He nudged her back. “My parents pushed so many different women on me from this family or that, and all of them were so fake it killed me to spend time with them. Then I get stuck with you as a partner and look what happened.”

“Not my fault. You shouldn’t be so freaking charming all the time,” she said and leaned into him.

Reider’s chest swelled with warmth and contentedness when she rested her head against his shoulder and the rest of her followed, moving as close as she could.

“So, what about your tattoo? Barbed wire’s pretty edgy,” she teased.

“I did it to make a statement to my dad about what I really wanted to do. He hates tattoos. So does Mom. They threw a fit when I got it. I tried to tell him then what I wanted, but he didn’t listen,” he said and took a drink of the wine. “They never do.”

He set the bottle on the floor and rolled onto his side so he could let his fingers run down Johanna’s back, watching her eyes slide closed and a sleepy smile slip across her face.

“Reider?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah?” he replied, moving his hand up to her hair, playing with the wild curls he never wanted to stop touching. “Jo?”

“No matter what happens, I want you to know I’m really glad we got stuck in that class together,” she told him as her breathing steadied. “Changed my life.”

A moment later, she was asleep, and Reider kissed her forehead. Her lips twitched in a grin, but her eyes remained closed. “Me too, Jo,” he said. “Me too.”

When Ashford had forced them to partner together, Reider thought he’d been sentenced to a semester of hell. Working with a Chadwick was something his family claimed was impossible. And there he was, falling more in love with one every second he spent by her side. As she slept soundly beside him, Reider realized this was a glimpse of what his life could be, just as he saw it the other day out in the fields.

He no longer cared what his family wanted, not anymore. He wanted Johanna, and after tonight, as she gave herself to him and he did the same with her, he knew they were meant to be together. Their names didn’t matter, not anymore. He sure as hell couldn’t see the future, but they would find a way to make this work, despite what their families had to say on the matter. He’d run away with her before he saw Johanna’s brothers marry her off to some jackass who didn’t deserve her.

“I swear we’ll stay together,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll never let you go.”

Reider stayed by her side through the night and didn’t wake until he heard a commotion downstairs. His eyes shot open and he glanced around wildly, but Johanna wasn’t in the bed. She cursed from below, and he let out a breath of relief. For a second, he thought they’d been found out, and he watched the potential of their relationship disappear in a puff of smoke.

“What the hell are you doing down there?” he called out as he glanced around for clothes and remembered they were downstairs. He took the sheet and wrapped it around his waist as he walked down the steps.

“Trying to make breakfast,” she grumbled and turned to face him.

He laughed loudly at the flour covering her cheeks and nose. “Trying seems to be a fitting word.”

She wore nothing but his t-shirt, and when her toes scratched slowly at her opposite calf, he groaned and dragged her up against his body, capturing her mouth. She tasted of pancakes and coffee, and he loved it, kissing her deeper, and backed her against the counter.

“Pancakes are going to burn,” she whispered raggedly.

“That would be a shame,” he replied against her lips and reached behind her to turn off the griddle. “There. Now, they won’t.”

“Reider,” she tried to protest, but he was already tugging up the t-shirt, revealing her perfect breasts he wanted to hold again. Her hands moved to the sheet at his waist, and with barely a yank, it fell away, but he wasn’t going to let her have him that easily.

He turned her around so her back pressed against his chest as he kissed her neck down to her shoulder, and one arm wrapped around her waist. Leisurely, his hand crept lower to her hip, barely touching her skin and loving how it made her squirm against him. She tried again to reach back for him, but he moved them deliberately to the wall and lifted her arms up over her head with one hand, holding her wrists gently while his other hand continued its unhurried exploration of her body.

When he reached her swollen lips, he growled at her wetness and ready for his touch, but he didn’t thrust his fingers within her, not yet. He trailed them along the edges, teasing her clit until she moaned and whispered his name before his hand moved again.

As he moved closer, he made sure his burning length pressed against her, moving between her legs. With his knee, he spread them and let her thighs hold him. That one touch nearly sent him to his knees. Every nerve in his body wanted to take her, but he held back and his hand massaged her hip on its way back up to her breasts. As if he was carving her features on her skin, he let his hand move around the mound of her breast, teasing the nipple briefly as he kissed her neck again, pressing himself harder between her legs. He dragged himself back and forth, growling at how wet she grew for him, ready to take him as she had last night.

“Reider,” she whispered, her back arching against his chest. “I’m going to lose it if you keep doing that.”

“That’s the idea,” he muttered. When she moaned and her thighs clenched around him, he turned her around and lifted her up as his mouth claimed hers and her legs wrapped around his waist.

She was so wet, he slid right inside, deep within her, and they both gasped, clinging to each other in the small kitchenette as if the rest of the world was not waiting outside the doors to ruin what they’d found in each other’s arms. With each breath, her chest pressed against his, her nipples hard on his skin, and he shifted his hips, moving deep within her. Reider tried to hold back, remembering this was her second time to have sex, but she dug her nails into his back and whispered for him to let go, to lose control, she could take it. And God, did he want to.

Staying buried within her, Reider moved away from the wall and carried her to the couch, his mouth never leaving hers until he sat down, bringing her with him. She rocked against him, but he gripped her hips hard to hold her in place and drove into her. Her head fell back on a moan, and he thrust even harder. His release grew closer, but he wanted to hear her scream his name first. Slowing down his movements, he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, tugging and teasing with his tongue and teeth until her inner muscles clenched him hard, quivering with the pleasure consuming her body. She cried out his name, and his hips faltered as he grunted beneath her, unable to keep going as he spilled into her.

Johanna collapsed against his chest, and he felt her grin against his shoulder as his hands moved up her back. “That… that was better than pancakes,” she mused with a quiet laugh.

“Maybe, but now, I’m famished,” he growled and nuzzled her neck until she shrieked with laughter. He tackled her to the couch and tickled her until she cried uncle, laughing so hard tears shone in her eyes. He kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and ended with those delicious lips he had dreamt about. “So, pancakes?” he asked as he wiped some of the leftover flour off her cheek.

She nodded and leaned up to kiss him back. “Pancakes.”