Morning came too soon. Then again, that might’ve been because we hadn’t done much sleeping. Talon held me close all night, as if he were afraid I’d disappear. And to reassure him I wasn’t going anywhere, I wrapped myself around him until he buried himself in me again.

Needless to say, when the alarm sounded, alerting us to the time, my eyelids were lined with sandpaper, my head was filled with fog, and the space between my legs was sore in the best possible way.

No matter how tired I was once we got on the road, I forced myself to stay awake, needing all the time I could get with him before we made it to Iowa. In more ways than one, Talon had assured me that this wasn’t the end of us—both with words and actions—though that didn’t mean I cared to waste these moments sleeping. Between our jobs and the distance separating Billings and Fleetwood, I didn’t imagine we would have many opportunities to be together.

Talon drove with his hand on my thigh, glancing at me occasionally while navigating through the traffic with ease. “I shouldn’t have too much to do at the shop once I get home. Jarrod’s been handling everything by himself for years, so I doubt there’ll be much waiting for me.”

“Why has he been dealing with the shop if Tony gave it to you?”

He licked his lips, never taking his eyes off the road, and his hand tensed on my leg. “Well, he was there when I left and handled everything while I was away. He didn’t have to, but if he didn’t, no one else would. So I’m basically indebted to him. I still don’t have a clue why Tony gave the shop to me when Jarrod is obviously the right man for the job.”

“Is he at least compensated?”

“Yeah. When I got back and looked at the accounts, I realized he hadn’t changed his pay. We’ve lost more guys than we’ve hired, so there’s no reason why he wouldn’t have given himself a raise. And when I asked him about it, he said he didn’t feel right doing that—like he would be taking advantage.”

“Sounds like a good guy.”

“Yeah. He really is. Tony hired him like a year after I started. When he first came on, he was a mess.” Talon shook his head and offered me a sideways glance. “I wasn’t much better, so I guess that doesn’t mean anything.”

“Why didn’t you take charge after you got out of jail?” God, I hated saying that. To me, it sounded as if he were a criminal, when in truth, he wasn’t anywhere close to one—that I was aware of. It continued to shock me when I realized just how little we knew about each other. If I didn’t think about it, I could easily be convinced he’d been in my life from the beginning.

He shrugged, though he decided to answer anyway. “He had everything under control, so it made more sense to keep him in charge. We’ve talked, and he’s fine with it, but he did make me promise I wouldn’t hand the shop over to him.” His easy laughter lightened his words and left me wondering what had crossed his mind just then.

“Why doesn’t he want it?”

“He’s got a baby on the way, and it’s a responsibility he doesn’t care to take on. In my opinion, it has more to do with his fear of letting Tony down. He hasn’t said that, just my assumption. It’s understandable. I mean, shortly after he died, I took off. I couldn’t handle that kind of responsibility. Tony had a way of keeping us safe, keeping us clean and off the streets. And that’s just not something I can do.”

I loved hearing him open up about things that didn’t immediately return us to what had happened four years ago. It seemed every conversation centered around that night, and the years that led up to his reappearance in my life less than a week ago. And just when I believed we’d moved on from that topic, it reared its ugly head again.

“Whatever happened with the money?” The way he asked seemed as though the question had come out of thin air and smacked him. “You were running away from someone when I found you. You took off when you heard from him again. But now you’re back in town—and have been for years? How has he not found you?”

My stomach soured, and I turned to face the window, feeling like I could throw up at any second. This would eventually come out. I guess I had hoped it would fade away like most everything else. But at the end of the day, I swore I wouldn’t lie to him, so I was left with giving him as much of the truth as I could, and praying the rest remained buried with so many other hideous secrets.

“He did. A long time ago.”

“He did what?”

I swallowed harshly and forced out, “He found me.”

Talon waited, and when I didn’t continue, he squeezed my leg. “What happened?”

“I already told you the story.” This time, it was his silence that called my attention. When I turned away from the window, I caught the sight of his pinched brow and pursed lips, the dark shadow along his jaw only intensifying his concerned expression. I’d have to give him more, but it was the more I was afraid of. “He broke into my grandfather’s house and took the money. He was mad that it wasn’t all there.”

“You…you said you didn’t know who it was.”

“No, you asked if he was ever caught.”

The truck slowed, even though there was no reason to brake in the middle of the interstate. “Is that how you’re playing this, Maggie?” He slipped his hand off my thigh and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning a translucent white. “I asked you if you knew who it was, and you said no.”

I could’ve argued with him and explained that I hadn’t technically lied. He’d asked two questions at once, and I gave him one answer. But in the end, it wouldn’t solve anything, because I had intentionally misled him by allowing him to believe my response had been for both. I understood his anger; I just wasn’t sure how to handle it or approach him.

“So, who is he?” His voice was so deep it grated against every square inch of the cab.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Like hell it doesn’t!” Talon slammed his fist against the steering wheel and blew out a long, harsh breath. “He fucking attacked you, Maggie. He put you in a hospital. Don’t tell me it doesn’t matter. Because it does.”

I placed my hand on his shoulder, hoping it would calm him down. “I mean it doesn’t matter anymore. That happened over three years ago. There’s nothing that can be done about it now. Besides, my uncle is aware of everything. There’s no point in dragging you into it, too.”

“That was your excuse before—not putting me in the middle of your problem. And look at where that got us.” He was still pissed, even if his anger had waned a few degrees. “What if he comes after you again? How am I supposed to protect you if you don’t tell me who I’m saving you from?”

“I promise, Talon…you don’t have to worry about it. He’s gone.”

“Gone where?”

“He died.” I held my breath, my heart pounding against my ribcage the same way it had when I’d returned to Iowa and was told the same thing.

Talon slowed down the truck and flicked on his blinker. When I chanced a glance out the window, I noticed a rest stop to the right, and before I could ask what we were doing, he exited the interstate. We rode in silence until he pulled into a space along the far side, and then we just sat there, staring at nothing.

“He’s dead?” Gritty skepticism filled his voice. His disbelief shouldn’t have surprised me.

“Yes. My uncle told me.”

“Have you seen his body?”

“I’ve seen his grave,” I argued. “Does that count?”

“Then why can’t you tell me his name?”

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “Because it doesn’t matter. All it’ll do is give you someone to hate…someone who’s not even alive anymore. Which means your anger will never be resolved.” I touched his forearm and added, “Trust me, I live with that daily.”

“Swear to me…promise me he’s gone.”

I climbed out of my seat and wedged myself between his body and the steering wheel, straddling his thighs. With my hands on his face, forcing his eyes to hold mine, I stroked his cheekbones with the pads of my thumbs. “I swear, Talon.”

And to keep him from continuing this conversation, I pressed my lips to his.

It didn’t take long to have him completely distracted. He slipped his hand next to the door, and in an instant, he had the seat reclined as far as it would go. I peeked out the windows, making sure no one could see us, and then began to unbutton his pants. At first, I worried he’d stop me, but before I had the zipper pulled all the way down, he had his thumbs hooked into the waistband of my leggings, ready to tear them off.

Talon didn’t seem to care if anyone drove up or parked next to us, but I did. It became difficult to split my attention between the parking lot and him, and he could tell—evident in the way he threaded his fingers into my hair and tugged at the roots, preventing me from looking at anything other than his face. That one move created a barrier between us and the outside world. And it was exactly what I needed to chase the desire that burned within me.

Filled with utter desperation, I took hold of his shaft and lined us up. I slowly sank down until I’d taken all of him, and then I hesitated for a moment to catch my breath. Regardless of the fact that this wasn’t my first time—or more specifically, first time with Talon—it still took a second to adjust to his size, the pressure, the sting, the sensation of being full that came with having him inside me.

He eased up on his hold in my hair just enough to make me look into his eyes. “You’re sore, sweetheart. We shouldn’t be doing this right now. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Yes, I was sore, but I didn’t care. “I’m fine. I promise.”

“I can see it on your face…you’re not fine.”

“I swear to you, Talon, I am.” I wasn’t interested in giving him an explanation. The idea of voicing just how fine I was flooded me with embarrassment—which was ridiculous based on what we were in the midst of doing.

“You’re probably swollen from last night. There’s no way you’re comfortable.”

I kept my eyes on his as I slowly slid myself up his shaft. The ache spread through me until every nerve ending was on fire in the best way possible. And as I took him again, I said, “It feels good.”

A wicked grin crossed his lips just as he gripped my hip with his free hand. His fingers dug into the flesh until they were met with bone, and it skyrocketed the pleasure that pulsed within me. “You like that?” he asked, doubt mingling in his tone. “You like pain?”

My face flushed, and I tried to hide it from him by cowering in the crook of his neck—not that he would let me. So I dropped my gaze to his lips and answered as honestly as I could. “It’s not painful… I can’t explain it. It doesn’t hurt, if that makes sense.”

With his hold on my hip, he carefully guided me up a couple of inches and then back down. Repeating the motion, he let the burn deepen until my entire body was overheated. And when he tightened his fist in my hair, the strokes became longer, faster, harsher. As the intensity climbed higher, I closed my eyes and trapped my breaths in my lungs, adding fuel to the inferno inside.

He lifted his hips as best as he could to meet me in the middle. Each move licked me in the perfect spot, a place I never imagined existed until he found it, and I never wanted it to end. Then he growled, “Fuck, sweetheart.”

That one word, the same one that always got to me, pushed me over the edge. He brought my face closer to his, and with our foreheads touching, he grunted through his release. Each rigid, strained thrust stoked the flames of my dwindling fire. And before he finished, he lit one last, short explosion within me, like a combustion of pleasure that burst through me as fast as it had come on.

He kissed me slowly, taking his time while we both struggled to settle down. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Again, my cheeks flamed, though I wasn’t sure he recognized it, considering my entire body was flushed and heated. Still, I was confused…I wasn’t sure what he’d seen. “What do you mean?”

“It was hot as hell to watch you ride me. Seeing you come—knowing I did that to you.”

I carefully dragged myself off his lap, found my leggings and panties on the floorboard, and settled into my seat. I wanted to look at him, but I could feel his eyes on me, which was enough to make me focus on getting dressed before someone walked up and caught us. Somehow, no one had parked next to us—we’d managed to have sex in a parking lot without getting caught. That one realization was enough to make me ready for round two, which wasn’t an option.

Talon finally zipped his jeans, fastened the button, and then returned the seat to an upright position. With his hands on the steering wheel, he faced me and said, “I wouldn’t have taken you for the kind.”

That forced me to look his way. “What kind?”

“Someone who can’t get enough. You had sex one time and then waited over four years to have it again…and since then, you haven’t gone more than five hours without it.” He held up his hands. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’ll give it to you anytime, anywhere…I just didn’t expect that from you.”

“Well, don’t get used to it.” I pulled the seatbelt over me, hoping it would clue him into my need to get on the interstate. “We’ve never lived in the real world together, Talon. Neither of us can predict what will happen when we’re not on a road trip or stuck in a car together for hours.”

Slowly, he pulled out of the parking space and drove toward the onramp. As soon as he merged with traffic, he asked, “Are you on birth control?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer. Anything I said would call for a response, and there was no telling what that would be. In the end, I chose to be honest and face whatever he had to say later. “No…I’m not. I wasn’t really thinking about it.”

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t, either. But I think with as much as you like sex”—laughter settled into his words—“it wouldn’t be a bad idea to discuss it. I mean, I don’t have a problem getting condoms…it’s been a while, but I think I can figure it out.”

I glanced to the side and caught a teasing smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of this as funny as he did. “A while? How long has it been since you’ve worn a condom?”

“Well, let’s see here…the last time I bought any was…” He tapped his lips in thought. “Close to five years ago maybe. I’d never gone without one prior to that first night with you.”

“And you enjoyed it so much you decided that wrapping it up was a waste of time?”

He reached across the cab and entwined our fingers. My gaze fell to our joined hands, so I wasn’t sure where his eyes were. However, when he spoke, his voice was so deep I couldn’t stop myself from turning to face him. “I haven’t exactly thought about it with you.”

“What about the others?”

“What others?” He knew what I meant; it was clear in his tone.

“Women…”

Talon cleared his throat and continued to dart his eyes between me and the road. “There haven’t been any.”

I was shocked. It took me a moment to form coherent words, and even then, they weren’t very intelligent. “There haven’t been any what?”

He laughed. “Women, Maggie.” His eyes met mine briefly when he added, “You’re the only one I’ve been with—with or without protection—since the first time we were together.”

“There’s no way.” It was muttered, not meant to be heard.

Yet he heard me just the same. “Why’s that? Because I smell so good?”

“Well, yeah. And because you’re…”

“I’m what?”

“You’re you. You sleep with random women—sometimes you don’t even know their names. I can’t imagine you in a relationship. I mean, you’ve told me that you don’t care for their company come morning. You’re basically a manwhore.”

Apparently, he found that funny, too. It would’ve been nice if he didn’t laugh at everything I said, considering I hadn’t meant any of it as a joke—he didn’t get the memo. “I’ve pretty much only been around guys the last few years, so regardless of how I was before you met me, I haven’t been that way in a long time.”

“Reformed manwhore?”

He shrugged, and with a wink, he said, “Something like that.”

“That either means our first time was so great you never wanted anyone else…or it was so bad you decided to be celibate for years. I’m not sure which.”

Oddly enough, he grew quiet and refused to look at me. It shouldn’t have bothered me. His lack of response shouldn’t have left me unsettled. However, he never pulled his hand from mine, which offered me a sense of comfort I desperately needed.

“So, what—”

“It was great,” he said, cutting me off. Grazing his thumb over my knuckles, he took a deep breath. “You were. It was. I mean, it wasn’t bad—wait. Not like that. Fuck.”

The humor died on my lips when he let my hand go.

Talon scrubbed his thick fingers down his face, blew out a rush of air, and gripped the steering wheel like he was about to lose control of the truck. My heart ached for him, because I could tell he was having a hard time expressing his emotion. Rather than push, I sat and waited for him to open up.

It only took a minute.

“You said either you were great, or it was bad. I was just trying to say—”

“I know, Talon.” I reached over and placed my hand on his arm. “I knew what you meant. But that doesn’t mean I believe you.”

“Why not?”

“Oh gee, how about you hated me until about two nights ago?”

“Baby…hate is such a strong word. And regardless of how much I disliked you, that never changed my opinion of how great you are in bed.” Frustrated Talon was gone, and in his place was the sexiest smooth-talker I’d ever encountered.

* * *

I was surprised when Talon got out of the truck and walked me to my door. Granted, I hadn’t expected him to kick me out while driving past the apartment complex, but it was getting late, and I didn’t figure he’d waste time with me. After all, he needed to take his car to the shop before it got dark.

“You gonna invite me in?” His smile didn’t fool me.

“If I do that, you’ll be here all night. And neither of us will get any sleep.”

“I’m not seeing a problem here, sweetheart.” He towered over me, holding himself up with one hand on the door that pressed against my spine. “I doubt I’ll get any sleep, anyway. Whose snores will I fall asleep to if you’re not there?”

I smacked him playfully on the chest. “I don’t snore.”

“Have you ever heard yourself sleep?”

“All the time. But I can’t tell you how…it’s my secret.”

Laughter rumbled through his chest just before he shut me up with his mouth. I couldn’t suppress the moan that purred in my throat, or the whimper when I realized I had no idea when I’d get to feel his lips on mine again.

“I think I may need to hit the diner in the morning for breakfast. I haven’t had the best diet over the last few days, and someone has exerted most of my energy. So I’ll need to refuel.”

“And the closest place to eat is in Billings?” I raised one brow in question. It was a good forty-minute drive from Fleetwood, and that was just one way. It didn’t make any sense to come here just for eggs and a few pieces of bacon.

“None with waitresses I can kiss—well, I can, but I’m sure they wouldn’t like it very much.” His grin widened, and I knew exactly what he’d say next. So it didn’t come as a surprise when he added, “Well, they more than likely would. The point is…I don’t wanna kiss them.”

“Who are you, and what did you do with Talon McNeil?”

“No clue. I guess lack of sleep, lots of sex, poor nutrients, and you make me this way.”

“Is that your way of telling me not to get my hopes up that you’ll stay like this?”

He craned his head and pinned me with a questioning stare. “Why would it change?”

“Well, I would assume your sleep schedule will return to normal, and I doubt you’ll continue to eat bags of chips for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“You didn’t say anything about lots of sex…which would obviously affect my sleep-to-wake ratio—as well as my nutrients, considering the number of calories I’ll burn.”

I clung to his shirt and bit my lip, trying my best to hide my giddiness. “Good, because I like this version of you. The old one was nice…but this one’s my favorite—smells better, too.”

His laughter swallowed me whole right before he stole the air from my lungs with his lips.

He stepped aside and headed for the stairs that led down to the parking lot. He stopped with one foot on the landing and turned to face me. I already missed his kisses and his scent…and his touch, his voice, his protection. I’d almost gone crazy without him last time, and this was far worse. Granted, we didn’t exactly leave things off on a positive vibe before, and I believed we’d made it past that, so it shouldn’t have been this hard to say goodbye.

Nevertheless, it was.

I didn’t want him to leave.

But he couldn’t stay.

“Bring your car to the shop tomorrow when you get out of work. I’ll get the tire fixed, and while we’re at it, might as well check the rest to make sure there aren’t any other problems.” Somehow, he always managed to conceal the generous side of him behind mounds of corded muscle and a dangerously deep, abrasive voice. His dark eyes painted him as a soulless, unforgiving man, yet his heart proved otherwise…if you were lucky enough to see it.

“In case you forgot, I missed a lot of work. Which means my paycheck won’t be pretty. I have debt to pay off, and I’m praying I have a busy week ahead of me that compensates for my lack of tips over the last four days. I appreciate it all the same.”

“Just because my name isn’t on the front of the shop doesn’t mean I don’t own it. Don’t argue with me, sweetheart. Come to Fleetwood after your shift, and I’ll get you taken care of.” The glimmer in his eyes warned me of his next words before they ever fell from his lips. “Hopefully, your car will need lots of work…because I plan to take care of you for a while.”

I simply smiled and shook my head, ignoring the flames licking my neck and scolding my cheeks. “You’re insane. Why do I have a feeling you’ll use this as an opportunity to retaliate against the guy who said that thing about me?”

“Probably because that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“Ah, you’re using me now?” I teased, jutting my hip out and quirking my brows.

“Oh…I’ll be using you a lot. Most of which will be in private.”

I salivated at the idea. “Don’t forget to buy those…things.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m gonna have a stockpile.” A wicked grin curled the corners of his mouth, and his eyes lit up with an insatiable desire. “I still have those handcuffs, too. Fuck…I don’t think I can wait until tomorrow. You should totally invite me in now.”

An unsuspecting ache started low within my belly, forcing me to practically cross my legs to fight off the need that rippled through me like a riptide. And when I spoke, my voice came out throaty and full of lust. “Tomorrow, Talon.”

I wasn’t sure he’d leave, not with the way he undressed me with his eyes. But eventually, he turned and headed down the stairs. He made it halfway to the bottom before glancing over his shoulder and meeting my gaze. “I’m gonna prove you wrong, Maggie.”

Puzzled, I asked, “About what?”

“You said you couldn’t imagine me in a relationship. I’m about to show you exactly what that looks like.”

Even though I’d brought it up a couple of times over the last few days, we hadn’t discussed what would happen in the real world—in town, in our daily lives, without highways and motels and drive-thru meals. He’d always managed to get away without giving me an answer, and at times, a small part of me worried it would end as soon as we exited the interstate. This was the first bit of clarity he’d offered, and as much as it filled me with warmth and confidence, it also sent a chill through my veins.

It was easy to keep secrets buried when we were thousands of miles away.

It was a lot harder to hide the bodies when he was in my own back yard.