It was the day of Maddie’s bachelorette party, and I was exhausted.

It had been an eventful week, to say the least.

Standing by Anthony’s bedroom window, I rested my head against the cool glass. A police car drove by the house slowly as it patrolled the neighborhood. It was the third squad car I’d seen in as many hours.

After my run-in with the junkie at the park, Anthony had somehow convinced Kissler PD to step up patrols around his house. They didn’t usually patrol the neighborhoods around that part of town because there was virtually no crime but he’d somehow convinced them. How he’d convinced them, I didn’t know; especially because he worked at a different station in a completely different county. Though, if there was one thing I’d learned about Anthony since I met him it was that he could be a persuasive little shit when he wanted to be.

God knows he’d used his persuasion skills to convince me to practically move in with him. Lucca and I hadn’t spent a single night at our house since the night that I confessed my past to Anthony. Ever since then, he’d kept us both close, insisting that it was better for us to stay with him.

So far, he’d been right. Crazily enough, I hadn’t had one nightmare since I started spending every night in his arms. It’s like he was my own personal shield against the demons that taunted me when my guard was down, and I was at my weakest.

Amazing how that worked.

I did, however, feel bad about not being around for Felix as much. Though Anthony made sure he had plenty of food, and he still took Lucca and me by to see him every other day. He’d also tasked Felix with keeping an eye on my house in case someone came snooping around. Whether Damien was back wasn’t a question. We already knew he was. The only thing we needed to figure out was how and when he’d strike.

As far as the junkie from the park went, he was arrested and booked into Toluca County Jail for assault on a police officer, communicating threats, and possession of a controlled substance. Anthony had personally interrogated him multiple times, but the asshole wouldn’t roll on Damien. Grandmama had tried to convince Anthony to let her question him for ten minutes, and she’d get answers. She swore all she needed was a pair of pliers, a pound of table salt, and a box of matches.

Anthony had walked away from the conversation with a whole new fear of Grandmama and her level of crazy. I thought it was funny but apparently, I was crazy too.

When the police car had disappeared out of sight, I walked over to Anthony’s king-sized bed and surveyed all the crap that Hope, Evan, and I had bought at the adult toy store in nearby Savannah earlier in the day.

To my amazement—and Evan’s horror—we’d bought a ton of stuff including penis shaped ice cube trays, lingerie, edible lube, flavored condoms, mini vibrators, a cock ring or two, and a dozen inflated giant penis balloons.

It was more than I intended to get but whatever. Maddie would only get married once. This was my only chance to embarrass her in such an extreme fashion. I couldn’t wait to see her face when she walked into Grandmama’s house later.

With a snicker, I picked up the giant dildo that Hope had found on a shelf near the back of the store. When she discovered it, she’d waved it around at Evan and even tried to chase him around the store with it. He’d come close to choking her. I mean, I probably would have come close to choking her too if she’d chased me around with a dildo that was approximately fifteen inches long and five or so inches wide. The veiny monstrosity was one of the most obscene things I’d ever seen, but it was perfect for what we intended to use it for—a table centerpiece.

Picking up the pile of gift bags that were sitting at the foot of the bed, I got to work stuffing them with all the party favors and other surprises we’d picked out. I couldn’t help but smile at some of the stuff we’d found. Well, more like, Hope found since she was responsible for 90% of the crap we’d bought.

Sweet as she was, Hope could be a handful at times. She was quiet, shy, and dutiful but she had a rebellious streak a mile wide in her. The girl had so many layers, and I loved that about her.

I’d just finished putting a vibrator in the last gift bag when I felt, rather than saw, Anthony enter the room. Smiling to myself, I said, “I didn’t think you’d be home this early.” I picked up the bags in my hands and set them on the floor at my feet. “Thought for sure you’d get stuck working late tonight since it’s a Friday.”

Arms encircled my waist and butterflies took flight in my belly. Anthony pressed his chest into my back and tucked his face into the side of my neck. Inhaling deeply, he replied, “I’m still on call, but there wasn’t much left for me to do at the station.” He inhaled again. “You always smell so damn good.”

His hands landed on my hips where he gripped my flesh and spun me around in one quick move. Considering my past, it was a miracle that I could even stand for him to touch me, much less manhandle me the way he often did.

But Anthony was different. He was nothing like the evil that had come before him. Even when I was scared out of my mind with panic, I knew that.

Facing him entirely, I slid my arms around his neck and looked up at him. “I missed you today, stud muffin.”

He smiled before pressing his lips to mine. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the way his kiss caused my heart to race with anticipation and my stomach to clench with desire. Always too terrified to become an addict like my mother, I’d never tried a single drug, but I would’ve bet money that a kiss from Anthony would beat any substance-induced high.

Anthony pulled back, breaking the kiss. “Not as much as I missed you,” he replied after pulling back and breaking our kiss. I almost whimpered at the loss. His nose gently touched mine, a move that drove me crazy. “Lucca asleep?”

I nodded. “He’s in the playpen in your office.” I pointed towards the baby monitor sitting on the nightstand. “Hasn’t made a single peep in the last hour. I think spending the day with Keith and Grandmama exhausted him.”

A wicked smile tipped Anthony’s lips heavenward. “Yeah? And how much time do you think we have before he wakes up.”

My belly clenched at his words. Skin heating, I rubbed my thumbs along his jaw. “Depends. How much time do we need?”

Before I could take another breath, he picked me up and tossed me back on the bed. My back bounced off the mattress, and my legs fell open. Anthony’s jaw ticked. “Not enough time to do what I want.” His finger trailed a line up my leg, starting at my ankle and ending mid-thigh. “But I’ll have to make do.”

His hands slid under my skirt. Hooking his fingers in the side of my bikini panties, he pulled them down slowly. I laid my head back against the mattress. I took a breath, trying to quell the erratic beat of my runaway heart.

“Look at me, sunshine.” Like always, I obeyed him. My head snapped up, and my eyes met his. I bit my lip again as he slid my panties into the pocket of his slacks. “Spread your legs for me.” Once again, I obeyed. “Good girl.”

His fingers encircled my ankles. Dropping to his knees by the bed, he placed the soles of my feet on his shoulders. “Don’t have enough time to make love to you the way I want”—he raked his fingers up my inner thighs—“but I’ve got enough time to eat your sweet little pussy.” He paused and licked his lips. “Always have time for that.”

I about died.

Seriously, I was seconds away from having a stroke.

I ran my fingers through his hair, grasping his locks between my fingers. I didn’t say anything as I pulled him forward, eager to feel his mouth against me. I’d never had someone touch me that way, and I wanted to experience it. I wasn’t the least bit shy nor ashamed of the desire that was running rampant through my body.

Anthony smirked at my eagerness. “My baby is always eager,” he whispered, leaning forward. His face hovered inches away from my moist flesh. I could feel his warm breath wafting across me, teasing me. “Ask me, Shelby.” He demanded. “Ask me to make you come with my mouth.”

His words made my skin burn. My body heat skyrocketed, and I felt like I’d spontaneously combust if he didn’t give me the relief that my body sought. “Tony,” I moved my waiting flesh closer to him. “Please.”

He made a tsk’ing sound. “That’s not good enough.” Eyes burning with lust, he continued. “Say the words, Shelby.”

I tossed my head back and groaned. He was killing me.

Killing me!

Looking back down at him, I licked my lower lip. His eye twitched at the small action. “Eat my pussy, Tony.”

He inhaled harshly. “How am I supposed to say no that?”

I didn’t have time to prepare; didn’t have time to react before his face dipped forward and his mouth covered me. My back immediately bowed off the bed and every muscle in my body contracted at the feel of his tongue sweeping across my pussy.

“Tony!” I screamed, gasping for much-needed breath. “Ah! Oh God!”

His arms wrapped around my thighs as my legs jerked in uncontrollable, jerky movements. The pleasure was too great; the sensation too strong.

I grew wetter with each passing sweep of his tongue.

Tugging on his hair, I held on for dear life as he took me to a place I’d never been before, giving me pleasure I never knew was possible. “Tony, Tony, Tony,” I chanted, unable to form a coherent thought. Turning my head to the side, I pressed my face against the soft down comforter that covered his bed.

He removed an arm from one of my thighs, and I had no idea what he was doing until he slid a single finger in me. I screamed at the intrusion, spurring him on. He began to pump the long digit in and out of me for a few beats before adding a second finger.

Unable to stay still, I moved my hips. Riding his fingers, I held his face against my center, not allowing him to move away from me.

Not that he would.

Judging by the groans that spilled from his lips, it was obvious that he was enjoying this as much as I was. Knowing he liked giving me pleasure only made me burn hotter.

I arched my back again, pressing myself against him as hard as I could.

I needed to be closer; needed to feel more.

A heavy weight began to form in my lower belly. My breasts ached, and my nipples hardened to the point of pain. A fine sheen of sweat broke out along my quivering flesh.

“Tony,” I moaned. “Baby, I need…” My voice trailed off as I lost the ability to speak. The blinding pleasure radiating through every nerve of my body was almost too much to bear. Anthony hooked his fingers inside of me, continuously rubbing over that secret place that made my vision go white, and my head turn fuzzy. “I need to—”

My voice was cut off when he circled and then latched onto my clit and sucked—hard.

The expanding weight in the pit of my stomach exploded. Pleasure too great to describe ripped through me and all I could do was scream while holding onto Anthony for dear life. Bright lights flashed behind my eyelids, and it felt like my soul floated right out of my body.

He kept pumping his fingers, kept nipping at my sensitive flesh.

The white-hot pleasure seemed to go on forever until I couldn’t take anymore. My nerves had become too sensitive, my flesh too tender. I weakly tugged on Anthony’s hair. “Baby,” I plead, “stop.” It was too much.

He pressed one last kiss to my pussy before standing up. My legs fell on the bed like limp noodles. Gasping for breath, I lifted my head to look at him. Once again, my belly tightened when I caught sight of him.

Standing by the bed, huge cock in hand, he slid his hand over his angry looking shaft, in long, firm strokes.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

My mouth watered at the sight.

“Tony,” I pushed myself up onto shaking elbows. “I know something that would feel better than your hand.” His pumps sped up, his fist tightened. Lifting my hand in front of me, I crooked my finger, beckoning him to come to me. “All you have to do is come and get it.”

He clenched his jaw tight. “It’ll have to be quick.” He glanced at the nightstand to his right. “Only got a few minutes, baby.” Feeling bold as hell, I sat up and climbed to my knees. Kneeling on the edge of the bed, I wrapped my hands around his biceps and pulled him towards me. His chest pressed into mine. “Lay down, Tony.”

His eyes met mine. Releasing his cock, he grabbed the hem of my tank top and ripped it over my head. I waited for the panic; for the fear to come at being exposed this way. Neither did. All I felt was peace.

My past does not define me.

With a flick of his wrist, Anthony unhooked my bra. It fell open and slid down my arms. Chucking it to the floor, I cupped my heavy breasts in my hands. They ached for his touch. I wanted to feel his rough, calloused palms caressing my sensitive flesh.

It would have to wait though.

I had something else I wanted more.

“Lay down, baby.”

Not wasting another second, Anthony ripped off his shoes and socks. His slacks and briefs quickly followed leaving only his shirt covering his body. I started to unbutton each button, but he was too anxious. Grabbing the material in his hand, he ripped the shirt right off his torso and arms.

Moving to the bed, he laid in the center of the bed and looked at me.

He extended his hand. “Get your ass up and ride my cock, sunshine.”

I happily obliged. Straddling his hips, I positioned my pussy over him. The tip of his cock kissed my entrance, and I couldn’t help but moan. I started to sink down on him when he stopped me. “Condom, Shelby.” He pointed at the nightstand. “Grab one.”

I bit my lip and shook my head.

Brows furrowed, he looked at me in confusion.

“We don’t need to use them anymore.”

“Why? What are you talking about?”

“Hope went with me to the doctor today. I got put on birth control,” I replied. “The implant to be exact. It’s good for five years. No more condoms.”

Anthony’s head dropped back to the mattress. “Fuck!” He shouted before clamping his hands down on my hips. “Baby, ride my fucking cock. I need to feel you bare; need to feel your tight little pussy against my skin.”

He didn’t need to tell me twice.

Taking his heavy cock in my hand, I guided him into me. I was so wet my body didn’t fight the intrusion. Once I had the head seated inside of me, I dropped down on him, taking him the rest of the way in.

Anthony’s shoulders came off the bed. “Damn it!” He shook his head back and forth. “I’m never going to be the same again.” Using his hands, he lifted me up before dropping me back down again. “You’re ruining me, sunshine. Fucking ruining me!”

I leaned forward and placed my hands on his hard chest. Moving my hips, I tested out the feel of him. I wasn’t inexperienced, but I’d never been on top before. Damien had never allowed me to be in control. He’d never allowed—

Don’t think about that now, I told myself. Damien isn’t here. Anthony is.

Taking a deep breath, I shifted my hips again. Anthony groaned as I rose up on my knees and dropped myself back down. I moaned as pleasure zinged through me. It started deep in my pussy and spread through my entire body. Hell, I even felt it in the tips of my toes.

“Anthony,” I moaned, finding my rhythm. Moving up and down on him, I took everything he was offering. I grabbed his hands and pressed them against my breasts. “Touch me,” I begged as I picked up my pace.

He pinched my hard nipples between his fingers, and I screamed. Loud.

“Faster, Shelby,” he panted, gripping my breasts in his hands. “Damn it, move faster!”

I tried, I really did, but it was too much. Each time Anthony’s cock bottomed out in me and hit my cervix the potent mixture of pleasure and pain became almost too much to bear.

My second orgasm came on much quicker than the first. I had no warning.

All the sudden my stomach clenched, and pleasure exploded inside of me. My body seized, and I could do nothing but jerk in place. Anthony pressed a finger to my clit and rubbed quick circles, drawing more pleasure from me. Energy wholly dissipated, I fell onto his sweaty chest.

But he wasn’t done with me yet.

Flipping me to my hands and knees, he got behind me.

For a moment, I panicked. I reached back, ready to claw at him when he caught my wrists in one of his hands. Leaning over my back, he whispered, “it’s just me, baby.” He wrapped a hand around my jaw and tilted my head up. “Look straight ahead.”

I did, and my eyes found the mirror above the dresser.

The panic trying to rise in my chest vanished. “Watch me, Shelby.” He released my hands and slid his fingertips down my back. I arched my spine in response, opening myself up to him more. “Watch me fuck you, baby.”

With that, Anthony slammed into me from behind. I fell forward, but he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me right back. “Is that too much?”

I shook my head as a drop of drool slid from the corner of my mouth. He was deeper than he’d ever been before but it didn’t necessarily hurt. I just felt full. “No.” I tightened down on him, causing him to suck in a breath. “Now, move.”

He slammed into me again, and I screamed in response.

Clutching the comforter beneath me, I held on for dear life as Anthony pounded into me, fucking me harder than he ever had before. My eyes never left the mirror. I loved watching him, watching us. The facial expressions that he made, the way that he leaned back so that he could watch his cock disappear inside of me… it all made the pleasure that much more intense.

I felt my orgasm begin to build.

Anthony’s breaths quickened behind me.

“Harder, Tony,” I begged. “I’m about to come!”

Never one to deny me, Anthony fisted his hand in my hair and jerked my head back. Blanketing my back with his torso, he pounded into me with everything he had. His lips found the shell of my ear. “You like me fucking you rough, sunshine?”

At that point, I couldn’t do anything but scream.

Words were beyond me.

“I hope so because I’m going to spend the rest of my life fucking you every morning and making love to you every night.”

That’s all it took for me to explode again. Gripping Anthony’s wrists in my hands, I held on and screamed until my lungs burned. Behind me, Anthony’s thrusts became erratic. Seconds later, he stilled. His fingers dug into my hips as he spilled inside of me, bathing me in warmth from the inside out.

I collapsed on the bed; Anthony followed me down.

Lying on my side, I fought to catch my breath. Anthony’s arm circled my waist, and he pulled me into him, his chest to my back. Burying his face in my messy hair, he asked, “What time does the party start?”

Swallowing, I replied, “seven.” Using the little bit of energy I had left, I rolled to face him. “Are you sure you want to keep Lucca? I know he can be a handful and I don’t want you to—’’

“Did you not listen to anything I’ve said over the last week?” I bit my bottom lip and narrowed my eyes. “Lucca is mine, Shelby. He’s not Hendrix’s, he’s not Keith’s, and he’s not Evan’s. If you need to go somewhere and I’m at home, he stays with me. Point, blank, period.”

I blew out an exasperated breath. “Okay, Mr. Bossy Pants.”

Sitting up, I slid my legs off the bed. I needed to take a shower and get dressed. Time was running out, and I still had a ton of things to do.

One foot was planted on the floor when Anthony wrapped his arm around my waist, stopping me from moving another inch.

“Don’t you walk away from me.” His voice was gentle. Still, my body tensed. “Not when we’re in the middle of talking about something.”

Confused, I looked over my shoulder at him. “There isn’t anything left to talk about.” I blinked slowly. “Everything is fine.”

Gritted his back teeth together, he shook his head. “No, it’s not. If it was, you wouldn’t have asked me that question to begin with.” He ran a fingertip down the side of my face causing my eyelids to slide closed. “Why are you still fighting me? I thought we had this shit figured out.”

I ducked my head, the orgasm induced serenity I’d been safely ensconced in evaporated as self-doubt began to rear its ugly head. “Are you sure you want me?”

Anthony looked at like I was crazy. “Thought I’d made the answer to that clear.” He pinched his bottom lip between two fingers. “You know I want you and Lucca both.”

I gently pulled out of his hold and stood up.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I turned to face him head-on. “Yeah? But for how long?” My chest burned at the questions that were beginning to spill from my lips. “How long until you realize that I’m more trouble than I’m worth? How long until you realize that my panic attacks won’t go away? That they are here to stay? How long until my psycho ex issues become too much for you to handle? How long until my temper and smart mouth push you away?” My voice wavered on the last word.

I couldn’t stand the thought of Anthony walking away from us. Much as I hated to admit it, it would surely kill me. He hadn’t been a part of my life for long, but now that he was in it, I couldn’t imagine life without him.

I could deny it all I wanted, but the truth was: Anthony Moretti is mine.

Naked as the day he was born, Anthony jumped off the bed and moved towards me. I took an instinctual step back. That didn’t stop him though. Like a bull hell-bent on reaching its target, he charged.

His hands landed on the backs of my thighs, and he picked me up off the ground like I weighed nothing. I yelped and wrapped my legs around his trim waist. A second later, my back hit the bedroom wall. I opened my mouth to say something, but one scathing look from him and my mouth snapped shut hard enough to make my teeth rattle. “Shut your mouth and listen to me, Shelby.” His voice was hard, his tone serious. “I will never get tired of you, I will never think you’re more trouble than your worth, and I will never fucking leave you. As for your smart mouth? That shit makes my dick harder than steel so keep it up.”

I sucked in a breath.

“From the moment I first saw you, I knew that you were meant to be mine. Call me crazy all you want, but when my eyes met yours for the first time, I felt like my chest cracked right open. My heart—the one I thought died the day I buried my parents—suddenly began to beat again.” His lips moved closer to mine. “Something deep inside of me came to life that day, baby, and every moment since then has been the same.” He grabbed one of my hands and placed it over his heart. “My heart beats for you, sunshine.”

“You’re crazy,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

He nodded. “You keep telling me that, but I’m telling you right now, I am not crazy. I am one hundred percent lucid.” He twirled a lock of my unruly hair around his finger. “And I don’t care how long it takes me to convince you how I feel, I’ll keep trying every day for the rest of my life”—his eyes bored into mine—“ because you’re the other half to my soul, Shelby Mason.”

Don’t cry, damn it!

“Loving me won’t be easy, Anthony.” My accent was thicker than usual.

He didn’t hesitate in replying. “I don’t want easy, sunshine. I just want you, crazy parts and all.”

I dropped my head back to the drywall and laughed. “I can’t believe you.”

He pressed a kiss to the side of my jaw. “You better.”

Suddenly, Anthony’s phone rang, pulling us both out of the moment.

He dropped me to my feet and pointed toward the bathroom. “Go get in the shower. I’ll be in there as soon as I handle this,” he said, pulling his phone out of the pocket of his discarded slacks.

I pointed at the baby monitor. “Don’t forget to bring that.”

He nodded. “I won’t.

After winking in my direction, he answered his phone. “Moretti.” I grabbed a towel from the linen closet and headed for the bathroom. “Yeah, email me the file. I’ll be at home…”

Anthony’s voice trailed off as I walked into the bathroom and shut the door.