I attempt to open the door, even though the car is moving. It’s locked. I have no idea where the switch to open it is even located. But why flee? Isn’t this what I wanted all along? Isn’t this the man I’ve been dreaming about for the longest time? In spite of my inhibitions, the knot inside the pit of my stomach has loosened. How is it possible to feel so scared and so free at the same time?

“Where are you taking me? You’re supposed to be behind bars.” Even though my feelings for Judson have been so intense, and still are, in the real world we’re strangers. The only contact we’ve had with one other has been through letters, texts, and conversations separated by a sheet of glass. The blood pounding in my skull is making me lightheaded. I grip the edge of the seat.

“Except I’m not. I’m here with you.” He rubs the bridge of his nose and glances back at me. Underneath his pulled-together, handsome exterior, he looks tired. “They’ve finally done the right thing. There will be no trial. My case has been thrown out due to lack of evidence against me. There’s no longer a reason for them to keep me. I told you I’m innocent.”

“You’re serious?”

“Would I be here if I weren’t serious? I thought you wanted to be together.” He shifts across the leather seat toward me. “It is what you want, isn’t it? You said so in your letters.” Every nerve in my body crackles at the caress of his voice.

“I didn’t—I don’t know what I want, Judson. I didn’t expect this.” I wring my hands in my lap. “I didn’t think—”

“Stop talking and listen to me.” This time he holds my chin firmly with his right hand.

I want to pull away, but I don’t have much space to move. My back is already pressed against the locked door.

“Don’t be scared. This is our chance to get to know each other properly. This is what we both wanted.” His hand drops from my chin and he shoves it through his hair. “As soon as they let me go, you were the first person I wanted to see… to spend my first night of freedom with. Tonight, I want to give you everything I couldn’t give you while I was locked up.”

In spite of the endless questions and confusion muddling my mind, desire flares inside my chest. I want to reply, but I don’t know what to say. My tongue is glued to the top of my mouth. Before I know what’s happening, he reaches out and curls his hand around the nape of my neck, drawing me closer. I want to move away, to respond to the alarm bells ringing inside my head, but I have no strength left in my body to do more than blink. My mind and body have both deserted me.

Under his touch, I’m melting, becoming molten lava. I want to tell him I have plans with Milton, to tell him that I don’t believe he’s real. He has to be a dream. He cannot be out of prison. But then his lips are on mine. They’re as velvety as I imagined them. He forces my mouth open with his tongue, and I don’t stop him.

With his lips almost touching mine, he whispers, “You are so beautiful. I couldn’t wait to do this.” His voice rumbles inside his throat. “You taste as good as I thought you would.” His tongue circles mine, awakening every nerve ending. Then my tongue joins the dance. He has done something to me, drugged me with something to make me do what he wants. As the kiss deepens, all the feelings I’ve felt for him since the first time I read Jennifer’s letters come crashing into me like the waves on the beach.

He finally pulls away, leaving me to catch my breath. He cups my head with both hands and gazes into my eyes. “This is real, Ivy. I’m here, and I love you. Tell me you still want me. You can’t deny the connection we have. You can’t run from it.”

I lick my lips, tasting him, and close my eyes. The fog inside my head is clearing, bringing me back to reality. Sudden guilt hits my gut. I can’t stand Milton up without an explanation. It’s weird that he hasn’t called to ask what’s taking me so long. “Judson, before you showed up, I had plans.” I reach into my bag for my phone.

“Cancel them.” His voice is edged with steel, but immediately softens. “Baby, we’re more important than any plans you might have. We’ve been waiting for this for weeks.”

“I have to let the person know. I can’t just…” I scroll through my contacts for Milton’s number.

“Send a text,” Judson orders. “It’s quicker than a call, and the other person doesn’t get a chance to try and change your mind.”

I stare at Judson for a moment and then give a low nod. My fingers fly over the keypad as I type a quick message to Milton, feeling like the worst person in the world. I don’t even know what explanation to give. I can’t possibly tell him who I stood him up for. Even if Judson is now a free man, there will still be plenty of people who think he’s guilty, who will be furious about his release.

I’ll have to work out an excuse to give Milton later, after Judson drops me back at the dorms.

Milton, something came up. Let’s meet up another time. I’m so sorry.

As soon as the message is sent, Judson takes the phone from my hands and switches it off. Before I can do or say anything, his window slides open. He tosses it out.

My mouth falls open. “Why did you do that?”

“Don’t worry.” He kisses me on the side of the neck as his window closes again. “I’ll buy you a new one in the morning.”

“Judson.” I shake my head. “You’re acting as if this is normal. It’s not. We need to talk.”

He pulls back. A shadow crosses his features, but it’s so quick I might have imagined it. “What’s there to talk about?”

“You. I can’t believe you’re here. They let you go just like that?”

“It’s not just like that.” His jaw tightens. “My lawyer has been working to prove my innocence for months. When I sent you my last letter, telling you we’d be together soon, I’d just received a call from him, telling me he’d stumbled on evidence that would prove my innocence. He was right. Now I’m here, ready to live my life with you.” He sighs. “I know I was an idiot on several occasions. I was so terrified of losing you. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Like you were scared of losing Jennifer?” I cross my arms. Now that we’re talking, some of the shock is wearing off.

“This is different. Like I told you before, I thought Jennifer was the one. I was wrong. I’ve never felt like this before… not for any woman.” He lifts my hand and rests it on his thigh. The heat of his body soothes me. “Don’t you understand that fate brought us together? Think about it: What are the chances of a pipe bursting and flooding your dorm room? If that hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t be together now. Everything happens for a reason. Don’t you believe that?”

“I do.” My fingers involuntarily wrap around his hand. “I do.”

“Now stop questioning things and enjoy what we have… what we can finally have.” His smile ignites a flame inside me.

I manage a small smile in return, but say nothing.

“Ivy.” His thumb traces shapes on my wrist. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time. To tell you the truth, I never really thought I’d get to be in the same room with you… to touch you. I need to touch you, Ivy, to feel you. I need my dreams to become reality.”

The moment the last word leaves his lips, the car comes to a halt, but the partition between the chauffeur and the back-seat remains closed.

“Where are we?” I want to look out the window, but remember I won’t be able to see a thing through the darkened glass. Inside the limousine, it feels as though we’re cut off from the rest of the world. Milton and our canceled date are a distant memory.

“You’ll find that out soon. All that matters now is you and me.” His tongue rolls across his bottom lip. “Ivy, I can’t wait any longer. I want you now. Please let me have you now or I’ll go crazy.”

In spite of myself, in spite of the shock and weirdness of it all, my body reacts to his words. A slight dampness gathers between my legs as I think of all the erotic dreams I’ve had about us. How will he feel in real life? I cannot speak as he moves his fingers from my arms to my wrists, and then back up my arms to my breasts.

His fingertips trace circles where my nipples rest. I feel his touch through my top and thin bra. He moves a single finger down the center of my breast until he reaches my stomach, where he rests a flat hand on my belly for a moment, then moves it lower. I gasp when he pushes a finger into the waistband of my jeans. I don’t move; I’m completely paralyzed as he buries his entire hand in my pants while breathing heavily against my neck. He uses both hands to unbutton my jeans and slide them from my body. My hips arch to help him along.

After tonight I’ll no longer be a virgin. I don’t want anything to come between us now. I’m hypnotized by this man.

Once my jeans, top, and sandals are off, and my skin feels more naked than it has ever felt before, he watches me for a long time. His gaze moves from my crotch, down my legs, to my feet.

“You’re simply breathtaking.”

“Thanks.” I bite my bottom lip, feeling suddenly shy. He’s the first man to see me naked.

“I’ll make you so happy.” He lays a palm on my skin again. It travels from my knee, up my thigh, and rests on my crotch.

Before I can think of what will happen next, he pushes my lacy panties aside and uses two fingers to open me. Electricity zaps through my body. A deep gasp parts my lips as he suddenly dips a finger into me.

“Oh, my God. Oh…” I throw my head back. My eyes close involuntarily. My back arches, my hips gyrate. I thought my first time would be awkward, that I wouldn’t know what to do. I had no idea my body would know all the right movements. I don’t care that we’re inside a car, that I’m still struggling to understand the situation. The only thing that matters are his hands on my body, his fingers inside me. I want more than he’s giving me right now. He seems to know my needs well, as though it’s his life’s purpose to meet them. Is this how people feel when they enter into a one-night stand—this electricity, this hunger?

He moves his lips closer to my ear. “You are so tight and wet. I knew you’d feel good, but not like this.”

His finger exits me, leaving me empty. My eyes fly open in time to see him unzip his pants and pull out his cock, which is even bigger than it was in my dreams. My whole body tenses. Pressure builds up inside of me. I want to reach for him, to pull him into me, but at the same time I’m afraid he might not fit.

“Tell me you want me, Ivy, as much as I want you. Tell me you want me to fill you up, to fuck you.”

“Yes, yes.” I lick my lip. If all we have is this night, it will all be worth it. It will be the best one-night stand ever.

“Say the words, baby. I want to hear you say you want me to fuck you.” He inserts a finger into me again, moving it in and out and then around in circular motions, until I forget how to breathe.

“Yes, Judson. I want you, I want you now. I want you to fuck me.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” In what feels like a few seconds, his hands are on my thighs and I’m on my back. The seat shifts back until it lies flat, allowing me to rest comfortably.

Oh, my God. This is it.

Judson produces a small red packet. He opens it, his eyes not leaving mine. I don’t stop him.

I watch with a dry mouth as he sheaths his thick shaft. It looks endless. Then his hands are resting on both sides of me, his dick hovering above my stomach. I wonder whether I should tell him I’m a virgin. But I don’t want to spoil the moment. I want him to be himself, not to worry about hurting me.

“Ready?” He moistens his lips.

I blink. He takes that as a yes and shifts a little lower. He eases himself into me, inch by inch by inch. Then, unable to control himself, he plunges deep. I scream out and buckle beneath him, burying my face into his shoulder. It hurts, but I’m ready. I want all of him. Every last piece of him. I call out his name. I start to cry, first because of the pain, but then because I feel so good, better than I’ve ever felt in my life. He thrusts and thrusts, only slowing down to devour my lips.

His hands hold my butt cheeks firmly, and his teeth gently bite my bottom lip as he groans from deep within his throat.

An orgasm unfurls deep inside my belly, and I grip his strong arms and shoulders, digging my short fingernails into his skin, pulling him closer. I arch my back, screaming his name louder, not caring who hears. Then he stops and gazes deep into my eyes.

“Is it as good as you imagined?”

“Yes—don’t stop, please don’t stop, Judson. Fuck me.”

“Don’t worry. This was a taste.” He shifts and reaches for something underneath the seat. “We’ll have a lot of time to fuck. Once I get you to our home, where you belong.”

My body freezes. “What… What are you talking about?”

“We’ll be together forever, my love. We’ll leave this godforsaken place behind and start a new life. You and me, far away. I’ll give you the life of your dreams. You won’t miss anything you leave behind, trust me.”

I struggle to slide out from underneath him, but his body still presses hard against mine. He’s still buried deep within me. Panic sweeps through my brain.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Ivy. Judson is a stranger, and you let him in.

“Judson, let me go.” Fear washes over me in endless waves. Judson was arrested for murder. They told me he was dangerous. And I was too much of a fool to listen.

“Don’t hurt me.” Tears fill my eyes. “Please let me go.”

He kisses a corner of my lips. “I’m doing this for us. Don’t fight fate.”

Before I can say anything more, he places a hand over my mouth and nose. Between my mouth and his hand is a cloth. He’s strong, and I can’t move my head. I can’t breathe.

As my pleading eyes watch him, his features blur. The smile on his face stretches and fades.

A door opens and he turns to talk to someone. His voice sounds like it’s underwater. “Get the jet ready. I’ll bring her up in a moment. Move it.”

My eyes drift shut with Judson Devereux still buried deep inside me.