Leaning down, I captured Molly’s flushed face in my hands. “God, baby. I would never do anything to lose you. Believe me when I say that I sat there and endured their scheming hell to protect you. Fuck Shelly, I can’t stand the bitch!” It was true. Any shred of respect I had for that girl had been completely eradicated over the last few days.

Running a hand down my face, I said, “Don’t matter now of course.”

“Why’s that?”

I hadn’t even had time to think over what I’d done today and couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh as I did. “Because I told Momma to shove her Blair/Prince marriage merger bullshit when I came gunning after you.”

“You did?” she said, hopeful, and I knew I’d gotten through to her, my rigid body relaxing for the first time since she’d bolted into the cab.

Molly watched me as I approached the bed, climbing up, forcing her onto her back with the weight of my body. “Mm-hmm. Told her I ain’t ever marrying Shelly because I’m with you. That I’m done with their shit because I’m with you. Plus, I ran down the street after your cab, screaming and banging on the paintwork. I’m sure that hammered home my point.”

Her pupils dilated, and she clawed at my hair, bringing me to her lips, only to say, “You need to tell me if you’re going through stuff with your parents. Tell me so I can’t doubt you. It’s hard for me to trust, but I’m learning to trust you. Please… confide in me.”

I wanted to, but I wasn’t ready yet. I’d never told a damn soul the truth about my parents, about the years of abuse I’d suffered… Never truly acknowledged it until Molly came into my life, showing me things could be different, that I could choose a different path. “Baby… you’re safe with me, and I would’ve told you everything that happened when I got home. I didn’t expect to see you. God, it almost destroyed me when I saw your reaction from across the road… and then you ran, after you promised you’d never run from me.”

She shuffled beneath me, and, at the movement, my c**k hardened and I pushed against her crotch.

Sucking in a sharp breath, she murmured, “I do trust you. I-it just looked bad. She kissed you. I… I didn’t like it. I needed to get away.”

Grinding harder, I said, “I’ll never cheat on you, Shakespeare. You’re too damn important to me for that. I told you I’d never f**k around on you, and I don’t like to be doubted.”

“Okay,” she blurted, her breath now ragged and uneven.

I wasn’t going to dry-fuck her like some damn horny teen. If she wanted me to give her what she needed, I was going to do it right.

Pushing her thighs apart and securing them in position with my hands, I leaned in and swiped my tongue from her pu**y to the tip of her clit. Her hips almost lifted off the mattress as she cried out, testing the roots of my hair as her clenched fists wrapped around the long strands.

She tried to move her legs, but I held her tight as I worked her with my tongue, plundering in and out and sucking on her clit. Her moans were building and she was growing hotter—I knew she was close. My c**k throbbed and I knew needed her too come before I came like a damn teenager in my boxers.

With a breathy moan, Mol fell apart, thighs tightening, her fingers pulling on my hair.

She was beautiful.

Moving back to the pillow beside her, I held her tightly in my arms, gripping onto her as if she might change her mind, as if she were going wise up and kick me the hell out of her life at any second. Today had been too close of a call.

After lying still for several minutes, Molly lifted her head, a conflicted smirk on her lips. “God, Rome. You’ve got me so confused. I never know whether I’m coming or going with you.”

I couldn’t help but make the obvious joke. “Always coming I hope.”

Giggling, she jabbed me in the ribs, but the weight of today began to play on my mind, her now-worried expression pressing me to confess, “I’m not sure if you get the significance of what I did today in coming after you, in leaving my momma like that.”

I was never going to tell Molly this, but I was scared shitless, petrified at what she may try to do. As I stared into Molly’s golden eyes, I knew I wouldn’t survive it if I lost her.

“Don’t ever leave me,” I whispered, the truthful words almost involuntarily spilling from my mouth in a moment of weakness.

“Hey, what’s all this?” she asked soothingly as she pressed loving kisses to the top of my head.

“I just can’t believe I’ve got you in my life. You make everything better and I don’t want to lose you.”