I’m drowning. The need is too fucking big, it’s swallowing me whole. Ripping the sheets off the bed won’t save me. Nothing can. He’s sunk inside me, so deep. My body’s straining, my muscles tense, my back bowing, the pressure in my gut killing me. If I don’t come, I’ll fucking die, and when I come, I’ll explode like a fucking star.

Messier, though.

The thought almost makes me smile, but he presses down, bending me in half, fucking me so hard my breath stops. My balls ache and my dick burns, caught between our bodies. And as if all that’s not enough, he manages to free a hand and grip my chin.

“Look at me, Jase. Look at me.”

So God help me, I do, and it’s too much. Because I can’t hide in any way, I can’t pretend this is anything else but what I’ve always wanted.

Making love. Raine Storm making love to me, his scent, his warmth, his intense eyes boring straight into mine. Pushing. Always pushing.

I hope he never stops.

And I’m coming, my body giving in before the thought is finished. My teeth are gritting against a howl of near unbearable release, white light playing behind my lids. The pleasure bounces from my dick to my balls to my ass to fucking everywhere, until I think my skin will explode, unable to contain it.

Not sure I can survive this.

Any of this.

“Jase,” he breathes, stroking my face, the soft touch grounding me in the tsunami of my release, keeping me from getting washed away—and at the same time breaking me to pieces. “You okay?”

Not letting me gather myself. I push at his solid chest. “Gimme… a sec, okay?”

He blinks. Sits up, pulling out of me. “Sure.”

Belatedly I realize how selfish I seem. He hasn’t come yet, but I need to turn away from him. My eyes are burning, my cheeks feel wet, and I can’t let him see. He’s seen too much already.

And he breaks me all over again when he gently rolls me over, on my stomach, and covers me with his body, just lying there, stroking the back of my neck, the curve of my shoulder, patient and quiet.

What the fuck’s wrong with me? Last night was awesome, too, so why am I coming apart tonight?

You realized something, my mind informs me, all smug and shit, and I’m too wiped out to stop it. You realized Raine’s right.

Shut up.

You use your body as a lure, a trap, and when that’s done, you tune out. Vacate the premises, letting the customer do as he pleases. Feeling nothing.

You never thought sex could be so damn good. Bright, deep, fiery, amazing. A deeper bond. A sacred act. A promise.

Shut. Up.

You never thought Raine would be like this. That he’d treat you like you matter. That anyone would, in fact—but especially him.

Because you’re in love with him. And every little thing he says or does means so much more, and now…

I wipe my hand over my eyes. Goddammit.

That’s why my body had gone cold for all these years, shutting out any connection between my body and mind. It was to keep me from going off the deep end. But now that protection is gone.

His lips touch my shoulder blade, and I shiver. “Did I hurt you?” he whispers.

“Fuck no.” My voice comes out thick and I swallow. “No.”

“Okay. Do you want to sleep? Or…” He kisses my back. “Damn, Jase, turn around and let me hold you. I promise I will do just that. Anything you need.”

What do I need? My thoughts are a jumble. His hard-on is thick and hot against my thigh. “Come inside me,” I breathe. “I wanna feel it.”

He produces a choked moan. “You sure? You don’t have to—”

“Please.” I twist a bit, just enough to feel his cock between my ass cheeks. My body clenches deep inside in anticipation. “I want it.”

With a groan, he lifts himself off me, the head of his cock nudging at my ass. It slips inside, inch by inch, and my mouth opens on a silent cry.

Holy shit, the burn is delicious, his hard length rubbing against every sensitive nerve ending, until I’m squirming on the bed, my dick hardening again.

It was supposed to be a distraction for him, and a chance to give something back, but as he sinks home and starts moving, I’m suddenly ready to go once more, my balls tight and my dick so stiff it aches.

“Jase…” His voice is tight, his hips snapping fast. “I can’t hold back… Fuck.”

I don’t want him to hold back. I’d tell him, but I can’t find the words, I just hope he keeps going for a few more thrusts.

He reaches past me to grab the headboard, nailing me again and again, his groans louder as his dick drives into me.

I reach down between my legs and grip my hard-on. I give it a few tugs, hissing between my teeth at the new onslaught of sensation, and then tense as another rush of pleasure rolls over me, taking away my fucking breath. My body jerks and I come all over the sheets, the pleasure so sharp it hurts.

“Holy shit, Jase…” Raine slams into me once more, then again, forcing a whimper from me, and stills, buried deep in my ass, groaning deep in his chest, his cock pulsing inside me.

Holy shit is correct.

Crazy shit.

The kind of crazy that changes your world.

I wake up in the dark.

I’m lying on my back, my heart pounding, sweat cooling on my skin and soaking my pillow, but the dream… it has already faded.

Good thing, too. The only dreams I care about remembering feature Raine between my legs or over me, shoving pleasure into me until I have no choice but to take it.

The images flashing through my mind aren’t all dreams, though. Last night… That was so fucking good. And to top it all, Raine is right there, beside me, one leg slung over mine, one hand resting on my hip.

I take a moment to study him in the faint light from the dawning sky outside the window—the floppy dark hair on his forehead, the thick dark brows, the long lashes and parted lips, the stubble on his jaw, the dark band inked on his arm.

So many dark things about him, and that makes me think of his past. He made it through just fine. Sure, he has nightmares sometimes. We have that in common. But he didn’t end up on the street like me. He’s not afraid. He isn’t selling his body, his soul, to survive.

He had help. His brother. And now his friends. I bet they made all the difference. People he could rely on, people who made sure he didn’t sink. If I had friends like that, a family… would things have ended up differently for me?

I wonder if Jesse Lee came looking for me. Since I changed my usual haunts and sent everyone away, I have no way of knowing whether he came by or not, and I haven’t seen Ocean ever since Raine told me about their suspicions about me.

But I have Raine. Right? He said that… not in so many words, but he implied it and… What if I talked to him, told him everything?

Yeah, and put him in danger. Put his friends and family in danger. Ruin him.

Panic squeezes my chest, and it’s all I can do not to bolt upright and run away. All the reasons why I shouldn’t have come here return to screw with my mind. I should go now.

And of course Raine chooses this moment to wake up. Why make this easier, right?

Those long lashes lift. Lower. Lift again. “Mff,” he says.

Man, he has no fucking right to be so cute and sexy so early in the day.

Also, I guess that was code for good morning.

And a cue for me to leave. “Hey.” I brace my elbows on the mattress and start to sit up. “I’m just gonna—”

“Wait, wait, wait.” The hand on my hip slides over my stomach and holds me down like a steel cable. He lifts up on one elbow, props his head on his hand and looks down at me. “Where do you think you’re going? The sun’s not even up yet.”

“Raine—”

“We need to talk.”

That sounds like a distorted echo of my earlier thoughts. “No, we don’t.”

In a blink, he climbs on top of me and has me pinned to the bed, his mouth an inch from mine. “No? How about kissing, then?”

I don’t reply, but I don’t have to. My traitorous body reacts, or maybe it was primed all along from sleeping beside him, his scent, his presence getting me hard so fast my head spins.

His mouth brushes over mine, and his tongue parts my lips. He kisses me deeply, his hard-on rubbing over my stiffening dick, and I can’t remember why I was about to go. He places his arms on either side of my face and kisses me until I can’t remember my own name, until my pulse throbs in my cock and balls.

When he finally lifts his head, leaving my mouth burning and my whole body straining against him, he says, “Be with me.”

I lick my lips. “I am.”

“Not just now. Not just here. Be with me.” He brushes hair out of my face. “Stay with me. Trust me, Jase.”

“I do. I…”

“You need to get off the streets. It’s too dangerous, especially with Simon holding a knife over your head.”

What the fuck. All arousal leaves me—well, my dick hasn’t received the message yet, but hey whatever—and I give him a good, hard shove so that I can sit up. “I said I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“I will help you.” He puts a hand on my arm.

I shrug it off. “Stop. You don’t know me. You asked…” I press a fist to my chest. Dammit, I’m about to end the one thing that makes me happy, but he deserves the truth. “You asked if I do drugs. Well, I do. Simon Gomez gives me coke every time I’m at his Club. I can’t go long without it. I’m an addict, Raine. See, I’m not worth anything after all.”

Silence greets my words. My heart is racing.

Then he says, “You snort coke. That’s why you get those goddamn nosebleeds.”

I nod, miserable. “I don’t know why…?” I draw a sharp breath. “Why he thought he needed this extra hold on me. Until recently, violence and threats seemed to be enough.” I get up, even manage not to stagger. “I’m sorry, Raine.”

I gather my clothes as I go, and he follows me into the living room.

“Wait. Jase.” I try not to look at him where he’s standing, naked and gorgeous and aroused as I struggle to pull on my pants. “I’d sort of guessed that much, okay? It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t… Look, you haven’t blown your money on the drugs. You kept it to save your friends. Don’t sell yourself short. You have a strong will. And it changes nothing for me.”

Incredulous, I stop trying to zip up my pants and turn to face him fully. “It changes nothing? You out of your goddamn mind?” I’m spitting mad, and I can’t even tell you why. “You ain’t got a fucking clue what you’re talking about.”

“Sure I do.” He props his hip against the sofa and folds his arms over his chest, his gaze challenging. “I know it won’t be easy. I know you don’t trust me yet, and I know that it’s my fault for acting like an ass before.” He pushes off the sofa, unfolds his arms and reaches for me. “You don’t think I’ve given this thing between us any thought, but you’re wrong. I tried not to fall for you. But I can’t help myself. You know… you’re the irresistible one, Jason, not me.”

I’m staring at him and my mouth can’t seem to work.

He closes the distance between us, takes my face in his hands. “Do you want this life? Do you want to be a prostitute on the street? Tell me yes and I’ll back off. Do you want it?”

Jesus. “Hell, no.”

“Then let me help you get out. Simple as that.”

I grip his hands, lower them from my face. “You can’t, Raine.”

“Let me in. Tell me what Simon wants from you.”

“No. Let that go. I told you to stay out of it.”

“I can’t do that, Jase. You’re in danger.”

And that’s exactly the point.

I grab my tank top and my jacket from the back of the sofa and shove my feet into my boots, not angry, just cagey… and sad. “I can’t worry about you, too, Raine. Keep out of it. If you can’t…” I take the key out of my pocket. “Then I’ll leave this with you.”

“Dammit, no.” He closes my fingers around the key, his blue gaze closed off and blazing. “Keep it. You keep it, Jase.”

I should leave the key and go. I should tell him there isn’t such a thing as just talking when it comes to my life. That he’s in danger just from sleeping with me.

But I nod, and go, my heart heavy, and his words—that bit where he said he fell for me?—spinning in my mind.