My cosmetics bag full of money isn’t in Rhett’s car. At least, it’s nowhere I can see, and I tried my best to be discreet as I scanned the floorboard where I last had my tote bag. Rhett doesn’t say much as we drive back to his place and neither do I, because what can I say?

Tell him I’m sorry for being a lying jerk? It feels pointless to apologize.

When we get to Rhett’s house it’s dark and quiet, like no one’s inside.

“My roommate isn’t here,” he says as he pulls the car into the garage and puts it in park. He turns to look at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m good.” I nod, relieved that his roommate is gone. I’m glad we’re alone with no one to bother us. I don’t think I can face another person tonight.

I follow Rhett to the back of his car to grab my suitcase and when he opens the trunk, I see my faded cosmetics bag lying there, just beneath my suitcase. My heart racing, I snag it up without him noticing, shoving the beat up old bag into my tote as Rhett grabs my suitcase to bring it inside. The relief that floods me at finding my money is downright overwhelming. As we walk into the house with me trailing behind him, I suddenly feel so tired, so broken down over everything that’s happened to me these last few days, I’m afraid I might collapse.

“You should take a shower and go to bed,” he tells me as we enter his kitchen, his tone casual, almost indifferent. Like he’s merely a friend letting me crash at his place for the night. But maybe that’s all he wants us to be now. “You look exhausted.”

“I am,” I admit as he leads me down the hall, showing me first a giant bathroom and then the guest bedroom, where he leaves my suitcase by the door. I enter the bedroom behind him, dropping my tote bag in the middle of the double bed.

“Well, the bathroom should have everything you need, so…” Rhett’s voice drifts and I turn to find him standing there, looking lost. A little uncomfortable.

It hurts, to realize I’m the one making him uncomfortable. I royally fucked this up, and there’s no way I can fix it.

“Thank you, Rhett,” I say softly. “For rescuing me. Again.”

He nods, stuffing his hands in his front pockets. “I know you probably don’t want to talk about it.”

Yeah. I so don’t.

“But I just want you to know that whatever’s—going wrong in your life right now, it can be fixed. I know it can.” The sincerity written all over his face is sweet.

It’s also pointless. What’s gone wrong in my life can’t be fixed. If he ever finds out what I intended to do to him and his family, he’ll hate me forever.

“That’s all I’m going to say,” he continues when I don’t respond. “So…good night, Jensen.”

He turns and walks out of the guest bedroom, and I let him go.

Heaving a big sigh, I throw my suitcase on the bed and open it, picking out some clothes to change into before I head to the bathroom. I find the shower fully stocked with soap and shampoo but no conditioner, yet I can’t complain. I hop into the giant shower and wash the bus station filth off of me, hoping the shame and sadness I feel slides down the drain too. The water is super-hot and the pressure is perfect, so I stand under that shower head for an extra ten minutes and savor it.

I’m out of the shower and slathering lotion all over my still damp skin when I realize this is the second shower I’ve taken tonight. This has felt like the longest day of my life, I swear. I need to go to sleep and start over tomorrow. Maybe Rhett and I can talk more then. Maybe I can confess more too, but never the whole truth.

I can’t risk it.

When I open the bathroom door and see no lights on at all except for the guest bedroom lamp, I realize Rhett’s gone to bed without saying good night to me.

That hurts too.

Everything he seems to do to me tonight hurts, even though I know he’s not trying to hurt me on purpose. More than anything, I crave his approval. I want him to like me. He came back for me, so that’s got to mean something, right?

I dump my stuff back in my suitcase and then crawl into bed, shutting off the lamp with a loud click in the otherwise silent house. I lay there for what feels like hours, staring up at the ceiling, thinking bad thoughts, wondering if Rhett’s blissfully asleep without a care in the world.

I hope like crazy he’s tossing and turning just like me.

When I can’t stand it any longer, I slip out of bed and make my way toward the closed door at the end of the hall.

Slowly opening the door, I spy Rhett lying flat on his back in the middle of his giant bed. He must’ve heard me enter the room because he sits straight up, the sheet falling to his waist and I can see he’s shirtless, his hair disheveled.

My entire body goes on high alert at seeing his broad shoulders, his defined chest. I want to touch him, feel his skin on mine, his mouth and tongue…

“Can’t sleep?” His voice is scratchy. Sexy.

I stop at the foot of his bed, feeling exposed since I’m wearing an old, oversized T-shirt that barely covers my butt and nothing else. Not even a pair of panties.

Honestly? I ‘forgot’ to wear panties on purpose. I knew I was going to do this.

With Rhett, when it comes to us, I have no shame.

“Yeah,” I finally say.

“Want to join me?” He flips the covers back and I don’t even bother answering. I just climb into his bed and snuggle up to him with my head resting on his chest, sighing with happiness when he tugs the covers over us before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me even closer.

We remain silent and I let my hand wander across his chest, fingers skimming down his stomach. He’s touching me too, one hand sliding up and down my back, the other hand toying with the hem of my shirt. His muscles quiver beneath my fingertips and feeling emboldened, I move further south.

To discover he’s completely naked.

“Rhett,” I whisper, trying to sound outraged, even though I’m not. Of course I’m not. This is exactly what I want. “You don’t have any clothes on.”

“Yeah, well you’re not wearing panties.” To prove his point, he reaches beneath my shirt, his fingers grazing my pubic hair.

My legs automatically part for him and then he’s touching me, stroking me. I was already wet in anticipation of this and his fingers find my clit, his thumb circling it at the exact moment his mouth finds mine. The kiss is sloppy, all open mouths and searching tongues and mingled gasps and moans. His long fingers feel so fucking good and I strain toward his touch, another gasp escaping me when he strokes my clit just right.

“I want to be inside you,” he whispers against my mouth and I moan in agony when his fingers disappear. He grabs hold of my waist and next thing I know I’m on top of him, my legs spread across his hips, his hard cock between my legs. I grab the base of him and guide him into position, sinking on top of his cock slowly, the both of us moaning in pleasure as he enters me.

“Looks like you got what you wanted,” I tell him, smiling when he arches beneath me, sending his cock even deeper.

Rhett impatiently grabs at my T-shirt and I take it off, yanking it over my head and tossing it onto the floor. His hands go for my breasts, assured fingers stroking my nipples as I start to ride him. He’s so deep, seemingly hitting every pleasurable nerve ending within me and I toss my head back, my hair trailing behind me as I bob and sway.

“Jesus, you’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands going to my hips, guiding my movements. “I could fuck you like this all night.”

A thrill moves down my spine at his words. Sweet, respectful Rhett knows just what to say when he’s inside me, I’ll give him that.

“Go faster, baby,” he urges and I increase my pace, crying out when he nudges one particular spot. It feels so good. So, so good. I move faster, faster, faster…

“Oh God,” I gasp when the orgasm washes over me, making me shiver. I’m a trembling, moaning mess and he flips me over so I’m on my back and he’s fucking me hard, driving me into the mattress, my entire body still shaking from my orgasm as he pounds into me.

And then he’s coming too. He moans my name, his mouth on my neck, his hips still working as he spills himself inside me. I swear another, smaller orgasm hits me, and I clutch him close, savoring the feeling of the two of us coming.

Together.

“Goddamn,” he whispers against my neck when he seems to find himself again. “That was amazing.”

I start to laugh. I can’t help it. The utter relief of him still wanting me has left me spent.

Happy.

He lifts up on his elbows so he can look at me, an arrogant yet adorable smirk curving his mouth. “You wanna do that again?”

I shift beneath him, enjoying how we’re still connected. He didn’t wear a condom, but I’m on the pill. Probably stupid and reckless and I hope to hell he doesn’t have a STD, but right now, in this moment, I don’t care.

“Jens?”

“Yes,” I say when I realize I haven’t answered him. I drop a kiss on his damp with sweat chest before I say, “Let’s do that again.”

So we do. We do it again and again. We fuck all night, and Rhett’s right. It’s amazing. I let him use me, and he lets me use him. He takes me from behind, his hands gripping my hips as he pushes deep inside me, making me come so hard I see stars. I get on my knees while he sits on the edge of the bed and I give him a blow job. He spreads me wide and licks me until I’m pulling on his hair and screaming his name.

And finally, when it’s around three in the morning and Rhett is fast asleep, I slip out of his bed and stand next to it, watching him for a while. He’s lying on his stomach, the sheet draped across the back of his calves, exposing his perfect butt and smooth, muscular back. His eyes are tightly closed, his dark hair a complete mess and his cheeks are covered with dark stubble.

He’s gorgeous. And for one more night, he belonged to me.

I make my way back to the guest bedroom and change into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I sent out a text to Savannah right before I took that shower, letting her know Rhett’s address and begging her to come pick me up when she’s done with work.

She sent me a text a few minutes ago saying she was waiting outside for me.

Quietly I make my way out of his house, hoping Rhett will forgive me for not locking the door. I head for Savannah’s car and she gets out, opening the trunk for me so I can put my things inside.

“You sure you want to do this?” she asks after she carefully shuts the trunk.

I frown at her. “What do you mean?” I’m tired. I’m sore. And I’m really not in the mood for conversation right now.

“You really want to sneak out and leave whoever it is inside that house?” She waves a hand toward Rhett’s house and I glance over my shoulder, hating the longing that seems to spread through me.

“It’s the right thing to do,” I tell her once I’m facing her. “In the end, I’ll just bring him down, and he’ll hate me.”

That’s the absolute truth.

She sends me a pointed look but says nothing. Neither do I. We get in her car and she drives me away from Rhett.

I cry silent tears all the way to her place.