“You promised.” I stood in front of the door.

“I’m keeping my promise. Go to the bathroom, put on your shoes, and I’ll be right back.” He sighed and dropped his shoulders when I wouldn’t move. “You got done a lot faster than I anticipated. I’m not ready, but I will be in a few minutes. You have to trust me. What other choice do you have?”

“Fine, but I’m sitting on that fucking buzzer if you’re not back in five minutes.”

“As much as I’d like to see you try to sit on the buzzer on the wall, I’ll be back before then.”

I did as he said and went to the bathroom and put on my shoes. I couldn’t believe how something so little meant the world to me. I lost my focus, but this sparked new interest, and I wanted to be on the outside again. Not for just ten minutes, either. I needed to be back to my home, back to Bryce even if it was only to say goodbye if he didn’t want me, and back to my boutique. I needed my life back.

I stood when I heard the lock on the door, but stepped back when I saw the handcuffs and blindfold. “Is this another trick?”

“No, it isn’t. I’m not risking the chance of you running, so we’ll be cuffed together. I can’t let you see the layout of my house, so you’ll be blindfolded until we get outside.”

Running hadn’t even entered my mind. I had no idea where I was running from to make a good decision on where to run to. The blindfold pissed me off more than the handcuffs, but only because I really did need to learn the layout of his house. I’d have to remember every step as I took it.

I stepped forward, held out one arm, and closed my eyes. I wanted outside no matter what I had to do to get it. I opened my eyes when I felt him walk past me and watched as he set the handcuff key onto the dresser.

“Now we have to come back up here to get these off.”

He really did think of everything. Not that I could’ve overpowered him and taken the key, but if the opportunity presented itself, I would’ve taken it.

I closed my eyes as he put the blindfold on my face. He took my arm and placed the cold handcuff around my wrist. I heard it click as he secured it around his. A slight tug had me walking toward the door and a hard shoulder in my gut had me screaming. I didn’t expect to be lifted into the air.

“What are you doing?”

“Making sure you don’t remember anything.”

I could feel the descent as he took the stairs, but I couldn’t tell how many steps there were. He turned right when we got to the bottom, but circled something before he walked again.

“This is ridiculous. I’m not suddenly going to be able to escape just because I know how many rooms you have.”

“I thought we’d get another puzzle while we were down here, but if you don’t want it.” He started to back up.

“Wait. What other things do you have? I’m kind of puzzled out.”

“How about a deck of cards?”

“Sure.” I laughed as I felt him stuff them into my back pocket. “This better not be cutting into my ten minutes outside.”

“It isn’t.”

He walked forward again. After a couple of right turns, he took a left turn, and I heard the locks of a door. Was he really taking me outside, or was I going to a basement for God only knew what else? My body shook.

He hurried out the door, only slowing to close it behind him, and I felt a few more steps as if he walked down off a porch. “Hey.” He set me down and took the blindfold off. “Why are you shaking?”

I shook my head, afraid to admit what I just thought. I looked up to the bluest sky I’d ever witnessed and cried. “Thank you.” I couldn’t stop crying. My eyes hurt as they adjusted to the light, but I stood with the sun shining on me and held my arms out as far as I could with one being handcuffed to him.

“You thought I was going to do something else. When I promise you something, I mean it.” He hugged me, taking one of my arms with him behind my back.

My other arm wrapped around his neck. He reached into his pocket and unlocked the handcuff so I could put both arms around him. I pulled back and looked at him. He smiled and shrugged. I hugged him again. “Thank you.”

“Go on. Enjoy your time outside, but I’m right here watching you.”

I smiled and nodded before I turned around and looked at something other than those damn four walls I’d been stuck with. The trees seemed bigger, the grass greener, and the blue skies were absolutely stunning. The times I spent staring out my window didn’t prepare me for how beautiful it truly was.

“May I come out again when it’s raining?”

“When it’s raining?” He laughed. “We’ll see.”

I lay on the grass and looked up to the sky. It was all I could do. Wait and see. I’d get pieces of my freedom as he allowed me to have it, but soon enough I’d have my whole freedom. I wouldn’t stop until I had it and the life I wanted, which included Bryce.

I had to fight for my freedom my entire life. Nothing had changed except for the scenery. My father was still calling the shots, but I’d take my life back from him and from Brody. I had to stoop to their level to beat them at their own game, but taking in the fresh air filled my body with the fuel I needed. I would marry Bryce if he’d still have me. No one was going to get in my way.

* * *

“What’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but never think you’ll get to do?”

I laughed and snuggled deeper into his embrace. “I think we just did it.”

He smiled and looked out at the sky. “Sex in a car is awesome, but what’s something else? What is it that you want more than anything in this world, but you think is impossible?”

“My freedom.”

He frowned. “Freedom?”

I propped myself up on my elbow and looked at him. “Yes, I want to be my own person and not have to worry about what my father thinks. I want to be able to have my own place, make my own choices, and not have to have them approved by my dad first.”

“You run everything by your father first?”

“No, but everyone I want to do business with runs it by him first before they agree. That’s why I did the boutique on my own. I watched way more DIY videos than anyone should have to so I could figure out drywall and painting, but the place looks amazing. The colors I chose. The design I wanted. It all looks amazing.” I snuggled back into him. “Unlike my apartment. That was all his designer.”

“What about marriage?”

I propped myself up on my elbow again. “What do you mean?”

“You told me when we first started dating to not get too attached because you didn’t think you could ever marry.” He pulled my face down to his. “I’m more attached than I ever have been in my life, and I never want to become unattached again.”

He kissed me and flipped us to where I was on the bottom. “Laney Mosley.” He reached down into his pants pocket on the floor and pulled out a box. “Will you marry me?”

I covered my mouth while he opened the box. It was the top of a soda can on a twist tie. I cried and laughed. “Yes.” I kissed him and wrapped my legs around him.

“We’ll pick out the ring you want. Any ring at all.” He kissed me. “I love you, Laney.”

I arched my back as he entered me. “I love you, Bryce.” I pulled him down to kiss me again. “So, so much.”

* * *

I woke up draped across Brody’s body again, but still outside. It was dark out, and there was a blanket under us. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “What time is it?”

“It was after ten last I looked.”

I looked around and smiled at the backyard as I thought of the game of tag Brody and I played. Afterward, I handcuffed myself to the chair on the deck to stay outside just a little longer. It worked in my favor. He grilled out hamburgers, and we ate dinner outside. I didn’t care that we had just eaten hamburgers. If he was willing to fire up the grill and make more, I wanted to soak up every ray of sunshine I could.

I thought for sure when I had to go to the bathroom that it would be it for me outside, but he blindfolded me and took me into the downstairs bathroom and then right back outside when I was finished.

I looked at him and smiled. “Thank you so much for today.”

“I’ve had a great time, too.”

“I guess we should head back in, though. The bugs are going to eat us alive.” My cheeks flamed when I thought about him eating me last week.

He reached out and cupped my face, rubbing his thumb against my cheek. “I’ve never wanted to make someone happy before. Thank you for showing me how great this feels.”

I looked at him and wondered if it was just a line or if it was him being honest and vulnerable. It didn’t look as if he was trying to trick me at all. His eyes were softer than I’d ever seen them. His posture was relaxed. He pulled my face toward him as he sat up, and he kissed me.

I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around him. I couldn’t explain how that day had changed me or changed my views on him, but he wasn’t the monster who’d taken me. He was an average guy who talked about gardening and cooking. He didn’t demand anything from me. He didn’t expect anything from me. He just wanted to make me happy.

I found myself hoping for his happiness. It wouldn’t be with me, but I hoped he found it. He was a lost soul, and before I met Bryce, I knew that feeling myself. I knew he could be a great guy if he allowed himself to believe it.

He stood with me still in his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist. The blanket and the blindfold were forgotten on the grass. I still had the handcuff around my wrist, but I wasn’t connected to anything. We kissed as he walked up the stairs and I tried to look at my surroundings, but I didn’t feel it was as important as it was that afternoon.

He walked us back into my room and went to set me down on the puzzle. “No!” I laughed as he looked at me. “Anywhere but that damn puzzle.”

He looked at the table and turned toward the bed. “I’m going to get some glue and seal that thing together forever.”

We laughed as he dropped us onto the bed. “Let’s frame it.” I pulled his shirt out of his pants.

“You got it.” He sat up and took his shirt off before lying on top of me and kissing me.

I rubbed my hands up and down his bare chest and slipped my fingers into his jeans to unfasten them. He was unbuttoning my shirt and kissing as he exposed my skin. He pulled my bra down to expose my breasts and kissed them.

I moaned as I reached into his pants and wrapped my hand around him. He growled and sat up to unfasten my pants. I lifted my hips and helped him to take them off, but smiled when he stopped and looked at me.

I shrugged. “You’re right. Underwear is a waste of time.”

He yanked my pants off and then his own while I took my shirt and bra off. He laid me down and got between my legs. I placed my hands on his chest. “What about a condom?”

“You said you can’t get pregnant.”

“But what about the mess?”

He chuckled and kissed me. “I’ll clean it up. I have to feel you.” He kissed me again and entered me for the first time. I cried out. He was bigger than I expected. I knew how big he was and his size compared to Bryce, but it felt different than I thought it would.

“Are you okay?” Brody propped himself up on his elbows and stopped moving his hips.

“Yes, don’t stop.” I moved my hips, hoping to get him to start back up, and it only took a couple of thrusts for him to continue. He felt good, but he didn’t feel like home.

I’d often wondered how anyone could walk away from someone they slept with if it felt like it did with Bryce. I had my answer. Nothing felt like it did with Bryce. Brody was doing everything right. He was touching me in all the right places, but one. Only Bryce had my heart.

I flipped Brody onto his back and rode him like I did the night I dry humped him. My favorite position was to be on top. I closed my eyes and imagined the last time I was with Bryce. I had more room to move on the bed than in his car, but I saw his face looking up at me.

“Oh, God, yes.” I went faster. He gripped my hips and helped me move. “Fuck, don’t stop. Don’t stop.”

I could feel the orgasm start, and I needed it more than ever. It was empty sex, but still sex. I needed to feel something, and he was willing to give it to me.

I leaned forward as my legs shook and braced myself on his chest. “Oh.” He had my hips and was driving into me over and over again. “Fuck, fuck.” I flung my head back and arched my back as the orgasm ripped through my body. “Yes, yes. Don’t stop.”

He sat up, laid me back down, and lifted my hips. The angle was divine, but his thumb on my clit brought another round of orgasms. “Oh, God, right there.” I gripped his forearms.

“Wait.” I was sweaty and breathless, but I wanted to change positions before he pulled another orgasm out of me. I flipped over, got on my knees, and gripped the comforter. “Fuck me from behind.”

I couldn’t see him that way and could imagine Bryce without seeing Brody to break my train of thought. I should’ve been there with Brody, but if he wanted me to give him a night he’d never forget, I had to think about Bryce.

I was too busy thinking about Bryce when he slammed back into me. “Oh, fuck.” I didn’t expect it and put my head onto the mattress. “Don’t stop.” I reached between my legs and rubbed my clit. I only had enough energy for one more round, and he was going to have to come over with me that time.

I squeezed my walls around him and heard the grunt behind me. I kept doing it. I needed him to finish. I felt his hand bat mine away as he rubbed my clit. I reached up and gripped the comforter as I thrust back against him. “Fuck me.”