Bethany lay in Damon's bed as he slept. Their sex was delicious and so fulfilling. He hadn't taken her much longer after they stood up, the pressure overwhelming them both. After a quick shower, they had slipped into bed. She couldn't sleep, her heart far too full to let her mind rest. Various scenarios of where they might be headed ran through her, none of them ending with a happily ever after.

She growled softly and slipped out of the sheets around three in the morning. Damon's soft snoring was stupid levels of precious; his big strong body laid out across most of the queen-sized bed. She picked up the towel she had been wearing earlier, wrapped it around her and walked to the couch. She turned on the TV and muted the sound as she nibbled at her lip.

How badly she wanted to tell him that she loved him, but the last time she did he had taken it poorly or had he? Shock sat on his handsome features, his voice losing strength as he whispered his response to her confession.

You love me?

She knew that Kent and Matthew loved Damon, but had his mother not been forthcoming with her love for him? There was no way he hadn't been told by a multitude of women. Why was the moment so surreal? Why did it haunt her so badly?

The idea of him moving beyond his past sounded doable, but she knew quite well that hers still clung to her like a well-worn coat. Living in poverty and fear never seemed to lose its grip on her. It left her wanting love and acceptance. Was her willingness to compromise with some of Damon's anger issues part of that?

He hadn't at all been angry that night. He had been loving and seemed to be shifting in his rules and standards. Anyone who had been hurt as badly as he had was forced to create a tight wall—a fortress of sorts that everyone would be forced to contend with.

He would be hers. It was only a matter of time.

The sound of her phone buzzing caused her stomach to tighten, worry sprouting inside of her. Who in the world would be calling at three in the morning?

Twelve unanswered text messages registered on her phone, all from Jake.

Jake: Bethany, I need you to call me. I was serious today, and Krista isn't acting like herself. Did she take meds when you guys were together? Maybe something for bipolar disorder? Just call, please.

The messages got increasingly worse, the intensity in his words driving Bethany to move from the couch in search of her keys. Was he overreacting? Probably? But the messages screamed of panic, and from what she could tell, Krista was beating at Jake's door, waking up the neighbors and shit.

That didn't sound like Krista at all. Bethany hit the call button on her phone and picked at her lip, pacing in front of the couch as she tried to think of what to do.

No answer. She growled in frustration and tried Krista.

Damon walked out, rubbing his eyes and stopping by the large ornate fireplace that most likely never got used. Too damn hot in Texas.

"Can't sleep?" He moved closer, and realization moved across his beautiful features.

Bethany walked to him and reached out, brushing her fingers along his chest as she tried to ground herself in the present.

No answer.

"Fuck," she whispered and turned from him. His hands pressed into her shoulders, but he didn't speak. The fact that he was there with her, his arms moving around her to offer comfort, was overwhelming. Tears blurred her vision as she left a message.

"Kris, it's me. Please call me back. Jake has been texting me, and I'm not sure what's going on, but I need you to call me. I'm really, really, really worried about you. If I don't hear from you in, like, ten minutes, I'm coming over."

She hung up and turned as a tear dripped onto her cheek. The last thing she wanted to do was remind Damon that maybe she wasn't the woman he needed her to be. She was stuck in the middle of some weird college bullshit and was simply still a stupid, childish girl.

"Baby, what's the matter?" He pulled her in tightly, his grasp reminding her that if they were going to move forward, they were going to have to do so together. Would he laugh at her or chide her for being an idiot?

"Just college drama shit." She pulled back as her dinner rose in her chest.

"Obviously whatever it is, it's upsetting you." He reached up and wiped away her tears, leaning over and kissing her nose. "I'm not one-dimensional. I try to be, but believe me, it takes effort, baby. Tell me what's going on. Who are these guys?"

"What guys?" Bethany sniffled, anxiety wrapping around her. Something was wrong.

Krista or Jake should have called by now.

"Chris and Jake."

"No, Krista and Jake. My two best friends in college. Krista is my roommate, and Jake has been a good friend of mine since my freshman year."

"They dating?"

"She wanted to, but he didn't. I don't know." Bethany pulled back and ran her fingers through her hair. "It's complicated."

"You need to go over there? Sounded serious by the message you left."

"Yeah. I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her close and looking down at her. The seriousness in his features left her concerned. Surely he wasn't going to pull the selfish card and not let her go without making her feel like shit for leaving him.

"I'm going with you then. You're not driving yourself in the middle of the night."

"No. I'm good. Really. I'm sure I'm just overreacting, and there is nothing to be worried about."

"Well, let's go check it out then. Get dressed, and I'll drive."

Bethany leaned in and kissed him softly. "Thank you."

"Of course." He released her as she jogged toward the bedroom. Fear tore up her insides, but having Damon willing to go with her made it seem like the world was finally righting itself.

"Does your friend Krista have a history of being a violent person?" Damon asked, reaching over and taking Bethany's hand.

"No. I mean, I don't know. We've been friends and roommates throughout college, but I didn't know her before then."

"Are we headed to her place or this guy Jake’s?"

"Jake's. He was the one that seemed panicked." She reached for her phone and plugged in the address before linking it to his Bluetooth. "This should keep us on track."

"Good. I think when this is all cleared up we need to go by your place too."

"Why? To see if Krista is okay?"

"We can do that, but I was more thinking of christening your bed." He smirked, and she relaxed slightly, thankful for his mood being spot on with what she needed.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, unless it's about my mother. I'm not ready to go there just yet."

"No, I'll let you start that conversation when you are ready." She rubbed his fingers with her own, wanting to crawl up into his lap. "Do you think our relationship can develop past the fact that we're about to be siblings?"

"Of course. We're siblings by marriage. My father's choices aren't going to tell me who I can and can't be with. You and I have every right to be together."

"Do you think they will see it like that?" She hated to have the conversation, but honestly, it was the last barrier to the idea of them actually making something of the future. Plus, she seriously needed to get her mind off of the situation with Krista and Jake. She might go crazy if she let herself ponder it too much. Outside of Damon and her mother, Krista and Jake were closer to her heart than anyone else.

"I don't give a damn how they see it. If things crumble with my father because of this, then we'll pick up and start somewhere else."

"So you're seriously considering giving us a try?"

"You and me?" He glanced over at her, his gaze kind and thoughtful.

"Yes. Us."

"I'm not giving it consideration, no. I'm telling you that I'm a challenge and that it's not going to be easy to push past the fortress I've set up, but I'm your number one fan, baby. If you want to persevere with me, then I'm willing to do more than try." He shrugged and turned his attention back to the road.

Bethany watched him as sleep tugged hard on her resolve to stay awake. "I'm sleepy."

"I like you sleepy. It transforms you from beautiful to ridiculously cute. Makes me almost feel bad for wanting to lick every inch of you." He glanced over and smiled.

"Don't feel bad; just do it."

"What? Lick you to death?"

"Please?" She whispered her response before her eyelids fluttered, the world going dark in the comfort of Damon's fancy car.