I’ve texted Eric a few times, but he hasn’t responded. I’m about to give up and go to sleep when I feel my phone vibrating.

“Hello?” I whisper, careful not to wake my dad. He never questioned me about Eric. I could tell he was pissed, but he didn’t say a word. But then, he told me he was going to try to spend more time with me, so we caught a movie and had dinner tonight. All I could think about was Eric.

“Angel.” His voice is raspy and vibrates straight to my core.

“I miss you,” I blurt out.

He chuckles, and it warms me. “I want you in my bed.”

“I want to be there.”

“So get your pretty ass over here.”

“Are you drunk?” I ask, stifling my giggle.

“Yes. Those strippers wanted my cock, but I saved it for you.”

My jealousy is overshadowed by the fact that I’ve never heard Eric act like this. So out of control and not put together. “I’ll be there in a minute,” I promise.

We hang up, and I creep out of my bedroom. Luckily, Daddy sleeps heavily so he won’t hear me slip out. I sneak downstairs and slip out the backdoor. Our alarm makes a beep, alerting us the door has been opened, but it never wakes my father. Once outside, I run through the grass across the yard. When I get to the Pearson’s house, I’m happy to find the front door unlocked. Quietly, I slip inside and tiptoe to his room. A sliver of light pours from the cracked door.

I peek inside and stare at him for a moment. He’s lost his shirt and lies flat on his back. His slacks are still on, but undone. All of his glorious abs are on full display. The trail of hair leading to his cock looks downright lickable. I push inside and close the door behind me. He lifts up on his elbows and regards me with a boyish grin I’ve never seen before. I’m almost knocked over by how much he looks like Hayden or Brock right now.

“There’s my girl,” he murmurs, his gaze raking down over the front of my nightgown.

I walk over to the bed and climb on. He guides my hips so I’m straddling him. His thumbs rub circles on my thighs just below the hem of my gown.

“You’re drunk,” I tell him.

He laughs. “And you’re fucking cute.”

“Just cute?” I sass.

He blinks at me, a lazy smile on his face. “Not just cute. Fucking adorable. Fucking gorgeous. Fucking mine.”

I bite on my bottom lip. “That’s better.”

His expression is tender as he twists his finger around the end of my hair. I love him like this. Vulnerable and young. Carefree. When I lean forward to kiss him, he pushes me back. “I smell like smoke.”

Rejection stutters my heart and I give him a fake smile. “Okay.”

He strokes my hair. “Will you shower with me?”

His sweet question has me nodding. “Of course.”

I climb off of him, then help him off the bed. He walks toward the bathroom, his steps slightly swaying. Once he gets the shower started, he undresses. His cock is hard and alert like always. I tug off my gown, then push down my panties.

“Come,” he growls.

I take his offered hand and follow him into the spray of the water. As soon as we’re under the heat of it, he clutches the sides of my neck with both hands and walks me backwards until my ass hits the cold stone. His kiss is deep and intense. With one kiss, he obliterates me. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he easily lifts me. Once my legs are hooked at his waist, he guides his cock inside me.

We’re a perfect fit.

Kind of snug at first, but now we fit like we were made for each other.

He’s surprisingly gentle as he fucks me sweet. I melt each time he kisses me. In true Eric fashion, though, he finds a way to hurt me. His teeth sink into my cheekbone, and he bites until I cry out, then chuckles as he kisses away the hurt. Because he’s drunk, his efforts are clumsy, but I don’t mind. I’ve been clumsy enough for the both of us this entire relationship. It’s nice to see the perfect Eric Pearson falter and fuck up.

“I’m not going to be able to let you go,” he murmurs as he grinds into me. “You’ll want to go to college, but I won’t let you leave me. I’m selfish. When I want something, I take it. If I want you, I’ll take you.”

His words turn me on. “You’ll take me? Where?”

“Here. You’ll be mine.”

“I am yours,” I breathe.

He groans as he comes suddenly. I don’t get off, but I don’t care. I love having him this way. His heat rushes into me once more. It feels better not having a barrier between us. Once he’s done, he slides me off his dick, then starts soaping me down. His gestures are so sweet, I can’t hold in my smile. I take my turn washing him, and his intense stare bores into me. After we’re clean, we rinse and dry off. Then, he carries me to bed. I feel like a princess.

He climbs in beside me and pulls the covers over us. I relax as he curls his strong, giant body around my small one. His palm gropes my breast while his nose nuzzles against my hair.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“You’ve loved me since you did cartwheels at fifteen in my front yard. You liked showing off your panties,” he says with a chuckle.

I smile. “So, you’re not mad?”

“That you’ve always loved me?”

“Yeah.”

“Not at all. Makes me want to fuck a baby into you and force my last name on you.”

I shiver at his caveman words. “You like to tease me.”

His palm slides to my hip, and he squeezes. “I’m serious as a fucking heart attack.”

“You want to have a baby with me?”

“I also want in your ass.”

I giggle. “You’re bad.”

He kisses my shoulder. “Go to sleep, angel.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

* * *

“Get up,” Eric barks, dragging me from my slumber.

I roll over to see him standing beside the bed fully dressed for work. His dark hair is slicked back, and his face is freshly shaved. He’s not wearing his jacket or tie yet. I can’t help but stare at his muscled, veiny forearms on display since he’s rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up. He flips his wrist to check his watch.

“Jesus, Rowan,” he grumbles. “I don’t have time for this shit. I have a meeting this morning.”

I sit up in bed and frown at him. Gone is the sweet man from last night who promised me the world. His cold demeanor is too much this morning.

“Open,” he orders.

“What?”

He holds a pill up as an explanation.

“But last night you said—”

His glare is icy and cruel. “So help me, Rowan Wheeler. Don’t make me shove this down your pretty little throat. I know you can take it.” He smirks as though he’s remembering how I choked on his cock.

I fight tears as I take the pill, all hopes of marrying him and carrying his child dashed in a moment. I slide past him and snatch up my gown he’s laid out on the end of the bed. Before I make it to the door, he snags me by the elbow.

I wait for him to apologize or say something to comfort me. Instead, he kisses the top of my head and gives me a small swat to my ass.

“I’ll come for you later.”

I don’t have the courage to tell him not to bother.

With emotion tearing at my throat for release, I slip from Eric’s room and dart down the hallway. My tears are free to spill, and they do, blurring my way. I run smack into a hard chest. Strong hands grip my waist. When I jerk my head up, I find myself staring into Nixon’s eyes. He may only be sixteen, but he’s every bit a man these days. With his concerned stare on me and loving arms around me, I rest my head against his chest and cry.

He’s tense, but doesn’t say a word on the matter. His constant muttering under his breath calms me as usual and I relax against him. I’ve just burst from his father’s room wearing nothing but a silky nightgown. Instead of judging me or asking questions I don’t want to answer, he simply holds me. Once my sniffles have subsided, he pulls away to look at me.

“I’ll walk you home.”

I nod, and my lip wobbles as more tears threaten.

He gives me a sad smile before swiping my tears away with his thumbs. Then, he grabs my hand in his gentle grip and fiddles with his shiny pocket knife, a habit he's known for doing when he's agitated. The walk is short, and as we make it to the back door, I start to feel nervous. Daddy will see me sneaking inside and he’s going to want to know where I’ve been. A shiver ripples through me.

Nixon’s brows furrow. “Rowan—”

“I know,” I whisper. “He’s just…I feel so…”

He runs his fingers through his dark hair and I get a glimpse of the bruise on the side of his face. My heart clenches. “I just can’t stand to see you hurting like this.”

“I’ll be fine,” I lie.

He rolls his eyes, and I let out a giggle. “I get it, though.”

My eyes widen as I gape at him. “W-What?”

“Dad has that way about him. He’s magnetic and strong. People gravitate toward him, and once they’re swept in his vortex, they can’t pull away. I’d give anything to feel any sort of emotion from him.” His gaze hardens, and he clenches his jaw. “I just wish you didn’t get sucked in. You deserve someone better—someone who’s going to treat you like you’re everything in the world to them.”

I know he’s right. I should end things with Eric and move on. College will be here soon. There will be plenty of guys to meet and date. I don’t have to settle for a man who’s burning hot one moment and freezing cold the next.

Oh, but those scorching times…

My heart stills.

I need more than someone to play my body. I need more than the occasional nice word and sweet gift. I need more.

“Rowan?”

“Oh, shit!” I cry out. “Daddy’s coming.”

Before I can formulate a plan, Nixon draws me into his warm embrace, cradles my cheek with one palm, and presses his mouth to mine. The kiss is soft and sweet at first, but then, as though hungry, his tongue meets mine. His kiss is a promising one, and it reminds me so much of Eric. I let out a tiny moan. The hand resting at the small of my back slides to my ass and he squeezes me. I’m confused and slightly turned on.

“What the fuck?” Daddy snarls from behind me.

I pull away from Nixon and turn to see my father glaring at us with his hands fisted at either side. “I-I just w-wanted to see him b-before school,” I chatter out, my lie obvious even to me.

Nixon hugs me from behind. “We’re together.” His lie is much smoother. Why is he lying for me?

“Go home, boy,” Daddy snaps. “I’m tired of the Pearsons crawling around my house like fucking cockroaches.”

Nixon lets the hateful words slide off him without so much as flinching. He kisses the top of my head before releasing me. “See you soon, babe.”

Babe.

I bite back a smile.

Nixon is a good guy. I owe him big for this.

“In the house.” My father’s voice is icy. “You’re grounded for a year.”

I try not to laugh. He’s just angry and overreacting. I hug my dad and inhale his comforting scent.

“I love you, Daddy.”

He squeezes me. “I love you too, Rowan, but I’m serious about the Pearsons. I don’t want you near any one of those little assholes.” Then, under his breath, he adds, “Especially Eric.”

My heart sinks. Despite our little show, I don’t think Daddy is buying that I’m with Nixon even for a moment.

Well, too bad for him.

I’m not with Eric.

Eric can piss off.