Man, he had never felt like this before.

Trevor was relishing in his relationship with Emelia. He savored every moment he got to spend with her. Sappy, but too bad. He wasn’t going to deny what he was feeling.

And the sex?

It was breathtaking, fucking hot! The magic between them never failed to amaze him.

He was leaving a press event with Roman. They got in the car, and Trevor inspected his long-running best friend. Roman was frowning. He had been acting a little ‘off’ ever since Trevor had made his confession. He wanted his friend to come out with what was bothering him so they could clear the air.

“Hey man,” he broke the ice as the driver sped away down the street, carrying them back to their posh hotel.

Roman turned to look at Trevor and gave him a blank stare. “Yeah?”

Trevor sighed and scrutinized Roman. He leaned closer. He could see the tiny splattering of freckles that adorned Roman’s pale arms.

“Is everything okay with you man?” Trevor raised his eyebrows and hesitating, pausing his breath while he waited for an answer.

Roman shrugged. “Just tired, I guess. Why?”

“You’ve been acting funny since I... told you that stuff. Are we cool, or...?”

Roman sighed and sagged into the back of the leather seat. “I need to tell you something,” he groaned and winced, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Okay.” He couldn’t even imagine what kind of landmine he was about to walk into.

“You’re a hypocrite.” Roman’s voice was steady as if he’d been waiting a long time to say that. “You’re not following through on the very same expectations you have of other people.”

Trevor leaned forward in his seat. “What do you mean?”

“You’re keeping a major secret from your girlfriend when you should be telling her the truth. Even if it means it will harm the relationship.”

Trevor had been pondering that very thing. They were still new to this thing between them. He didn’t want to hurt her, not in any way. Yet he was hurting her by not being truthful with her, and if he was truthful? He would hurt her then, too. In his mind, he couldn’t choose which would hurt her less.

“Look, you demanded that Grant tell Emelia the truth, that he come clean. Yet, you’re not demanding the same for yourself. And I think you won’t feel at peace with this until you do.”

Trevor looked out the window, pissed at himself. He was scared. He didn’t get scared, and if he did, he worked through it without a second thought. But with this? He couldn’t get past how terrified he felt inside.

Roman touched his arm. “I mentioned to Emelia how glad I was the two of you were able to work out a hard issue, and she looked at me like she had no idea what I was talking about. That’s when I realized you haven’t spoken to her about this.”

Trevor linked his fingers together. “I don’t know how.”

He and Emelia were supposed to attend a party together tonight. She had been looking forward to it since he’d told her about the invitation. Maybe, if he brought it up tonight while they were surrounded by people and wine and gourmet food and music, it would buffer the blow.

Maybe she would be less inclined to bash his head in. Perhaps she’d listen.

“I’ll tell her. I’ll do it tonight.”

Roman looked out his window, effectively putting space between them that to Trevor, felt like miles.

That evening, Emelia looked radiant.

Trevor’s chest welled with pride to have her on his arm as they entered the private condo. She wore a form-hugging silver metallic dress and red shoes, her hair down around her shoulders in a perfected wave. She was mingling with everyone, friendly, approachable. He admired her kind and genuine and the way she made people feel at ease.

He whisked her around the room, greeting people, making small talk, sampling treats from silver trays. He didn’t want it to end. He wanted to memorize her, just this way.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered into her ear when they had a moment alone. His heart pounded because in the back of his mind he still had to deal with the looming confession about her brother.

“Thank you.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Trevor glanced around the room. “Let’s go up to the roof. The crowd is getting to me.” It wasn’t a total lie.

Emelia shrugged. “Sure, that sounds good to me.” She wrapped her slender, toned arms around his neck. “But first, kiss me.”

She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. She tasted like cherries. He wanted to plunge right in and kiss her for eternity, forgetting the world around him existed.

“Come on,” he groaned with desire. “Let’s go somewhere private.”

“I’ll follow you,” she whispered seductively into his ears.

He put his hand to the small of her back, needing to touch her. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands to himself ever when he was around her.

He led her to the ladder leading up to the small yet cozy rooftop. He couldn’t stop thinking about stealing her away to the shadows, ripping her panties off and burying his face between her legs, pushing her over the edge of pleasure.

Trevor wasn’t going to be able to focus on anything until he heard the sounds of Emelia’s moans of pleasure rushing through his ears. He held her hand as they made their way up to the rooftop.

“Its gorgeous up here,” Emelia chimed breezily as she pushed the hair off her face. “Really peaceful and quiet.”

Trevor wrapped his arms around her from behind and gently gave her a little squeeze. “It’s the kind of stuff dreams are made of,” he whispered into her ear and tickled her cheek.

She slowly spun around while still cloaked like a cocoon in his arms. “Thank you for being so good to me.”

Trevor felt a pang of guilt as it practically slapped him in the face. The way Emelia stared at him though, it melted his insides. He knew what he had to do. And he knew what was coming next.

He moved her across the rooftop to an outdoor couch with white cushions. He used fluid movements to push her panties down to her ankles. He gently pushed her legs apart and stared at the beautiful womanhood between her legs.

“You are so gorgeous,” he said as he gave her a hungry, passion gaze stare.

She was already wet, glistening. She was always ready for Trevor, no matter the time or the situation. He pressed his lips to the fleshy, pink and swollen parts of her pussy. He tasted her sweet nectar. He felt her back arching. She tugged on his scalp and gently grazed his back with her fingernails, scraping his skin with the passion sensors sparkling and alive inside of her.

Trevor hardened at the sound of her sensual moans. His bulge poked through his pants, desperate to escape. Emelia’s cries of passion continued to swell and become louder. Trevor circled his tongue around her clitoris, making swirling, perfect soft kisses across her pussy.

Emelia’s cries of ecstasy filled his ears. He felt triumphant as her euphoria took over. She came with wet, warm wetness filling his mouth. The sensuality of the moment was something that Trevor never wanted to forget.

Emelia’s eyes sparkled like the stars twinkling in the sky above them. She grinned with giddy playfulness as she slipped her panties back up her hips. “That was a fun surprise,” she said as she nibbled on his earlobe.

Trevor felt himself becoming distant. It was as if his mind were shutting off due to the guilt taking over his mind. He had to come clean. The truth was burrowing under his skin, and it was downright painful.

She gave him a worried glance. “Hey,” she whispered as she gently stroked his back. “What’s wrong?”

Trevor steeled himself and turned to her. It was now or never. “I need to confess something to you. I don’t want there to ever be any secrets between us. I feel like I owe you that much, especially with everything you’ve already been through.”

“Okay...” Emelia’s eyes flickered with unease. She removed her hand from his back and rested it in her lap.

He took a deep breath. “I haven’t been completely honest with you, Emelia. I do remember you from high school. I didn’t at first, but then Roman reminded me, and it all came rushing back. I... wasn’t very nice to you back then, behind your back. I thought if I pretended not to remember you, it would be easier to forget how I acted then.”

A cautious smile crossed her lips but quickly faded. “Okay. I understand. I mean, it was a big school and we never really hung out in the same crowds, so. I forgive you for what you probably said about me.”

“I called you Dumpling.”

She gave a surprised expression. “Oh. I... see. Well, I was a little heavier back then.”

Trevor shook his head and cupped her cheek. “No, Em. You’re perfect. You’ve always been perfect. Remember that, please. It was me who was far from perfection.” He gathered himself and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “That’s not all.”

She nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“The night Campbell and Kyle were driving home, there wasn’t one car that ran them off the road. There were two.”

Emelia stared at him with confusion. “How do you know about that?”

“I know because I was there.” His heart froze.

“You were there?” Emelia shook her head in disbelief. “Why?”

“For a very short while, I hung out with some bad kids. Kids who had it out for Kyle because he was different. He was a perfect target for hazing. And the kids hazing him, it was part of their initiation ritual. Nothing was going to stop them.”

She didn’t say anything; her eyes transfixed on his face.

Trevor scratched his temple. “I knew they were going to follow him home after he left his shift at the Burger Queen. They weren’t expecting Campbell to pick him up though. I knew what they were planning, to... to run him off his bike. So I got in my car, and I waited, intending to intercept them. My plan didn’t work. They followed Campbell’s car. I thought if I could ram them with my car, that I could prevent them from hitting your brothers. But...”

He was pretty sure Emelia was holding her breath. Her face had paled, her lips, trembling.

“But... when I bumped into their car, it... it actually drove them forward into your brothers. Instead of preventing it, I... I caused the accident. It’s my fault, Em.”

She didn’t say anything. Why didn’t she say anything? Desperate, Trevor shifted to look directly at her.

“Both cars went down the embankment. It was too steep for me to help, so I drove down the street to the gas station and told them to call 911. And I waited for the ambulance and the cops and then. And then I left. No one ever knew it was me. And I never came forward, until now.

“I’m so sorry.” He tried to hold her hand, but she jerked it away. “I was a stupid kid back then. I couldn’t hold it in any longer, and I had to tell you.”

Trevor hoped that his confession would be enough to keep Emelia calm and forgiving. When she turned her tear-filled eyes on him, he knew it was over. Emelia shot up from the couch like a cannon. “I have to go,” she croaked.

He stood up too. “Emelia, wait!” He cried out and rushed to her side.

She spun around. “Don’t follow me,” she warned.

He was frozen. His feet were rooted to the ground, and he couldn’t move. In a flash, she was gone.