I’ve never seen her look more confused. Her nose crinkles as she gazes up at me. “But, it’s my car. I need a car.”

“You don’t need that car. I can’t stand looking at it and knowing you lived in that thing. It bothers me. I don’t want you driving it anymore.”

She puts a hand on her hip, fighting a smile. “Reed.”

“Forget it, woman. It stays here.”

She narrows her eyes, laughing. Her arms snake around my neck, pressing her body into mine as she whispers kisses against my throat. “You love me,” she murmurs.

“Mm.” I trace my finger down the side of her face, gazing down at her. “I am scared though, Beth. If you leave me again I don’t think . . .” I swallow hard. “No, I know, I know I won’t survive that. You can’t leave me, even when I fuck up, and I will fuck up. I’ve never done this. I might be bad at it.”

My words hang in the air between us, different from the first time I said them to her. Before it was “I haven’t done this in nine years.” Now she knows she’s my first.

“I’ve never done this either,” she says. Her hands lightly squeeze my hips. “I’m scared too.”

The front door opens. Ben and Luke walk down the stone steps.

“Let’s go home.” I wrap my arm around her waist, leading her to the truck.

I need to get my girl alone.

BETH CALLS HER AUNT ON the drive back. When Danny gets on the line and asks to speak to me, I hesitate bringing the phone up to my ear. It’s my fault Beth left. She never would’ve gone back to some guy who made her feel anything less than perfect if it wasn’t for me. I still don’t know what all words Rocco used to break her down. I’m not sure I want to know. What would stop me from driving back to Kentucky and making good on my promise?

Nothing, that’s fucking what.

Danny, to my surprise, doesn’t tear into me for being the catalyst in all this. He simply thanks me for getting Beth back, in his own I’m still going to give you shit for dating my niece way. His tone can’t be more critical. As always, I keep my reaction to his attitude silent.

I pull Beth into my arms after she disconnects the call, burying my face in her neck, letting my hands roam over her limbs, my fingers threading into her hair. I feel like I haven’t touched her in years, or maybe never. There’s a desperation to it I know she can feel.

Her warm hands cup my face. She brushes away the wetness brimming in my eyes. I don’t want to be an emotional wreck but fuck!

“I’m so in love with you I feel like I can’t breathe,” I whisper against her neck, trying to somehow explain the reason behind my sudden discomposure.

Sudden. Right. She’s been watching me unravel for weeks.

She leans back to gaze at me, staring at my mouth as if she wants to see my lips form those words.

“Love you, brave girl.” I bring her hand to my mouth, kissing her fingers.

She strokes my face, kissing my mouth, my jaw, up to my ear where she whispers, “Thank you.”

I tilt my head to see her. “For loving you?”

“For saying it.”

I pull her into my lap, mumbling how crazy she is, how crazy I am for her.

AFTER THANKING THE GUYS, WAITING impatiently for Beth to thank the guys, scowling at Ben when he won’t stop fucking talking to Beth, I get her inside so she can see her aunt and uncle. Their exchange of hugs and quiet conversation is brief while I hang by the door. They need this time alone together.

I drive home with Beth tucked against my side, her hands clutching my shirt. Her duffle hits the hardwood as we stumble inside my house together. Grabbing her body and pinning her to me, I lower us to the floor just inside the doorway.

“Reed,” she giggles against my throat. Her hands in my hair. “Here?”

I kiss her mouth. I bite her jaw. “Here, first. I can’t . . . I need . . .”

“I know,” she says. She understands my urgency.

Will it always be like this after any time apart?

I pull her boots and socks off, kissing her feet as she squirms. I cup her ass and tear her jeans down her legs. Her panties follow. Bunching her shirt above her full, perfect tits, I pull the shell of her bra down and tongue her nipple.

“Oh.” She grabs my hand and forms it to her other breast, moaning when I squeeze.

“You taste so fucking good.” I kiss her cleavage. I lick up to her neck, inhaling a lung full of her sweet scent. “God, Beth. Touch me. Please, I need to feel you.”

She grabs a fistful of my shirt and pulls it over my head. My back hits the floor with the force of her hand. I yield easily to her assault. Straddling me, she fumbles with the button on my jeans, grinning.

“Hi,” she murmurs in the softest voice, pulling her shirt the rest of the way off, discarding her bra.

“Hey.” I press my thumb against her clit, moving in slow circles. Her fingers tremble against my zipper. “Come on. Pull it out, Beth. Get on my dick.”

Her eyes flash with lust. She loves that. She loves when I talk filthy, when I order her to fuck me, suck me. My thumb coats with her desire.

She tugs my jeans down around my thighs and fists my cock, pumping my shaft, running her tongue over the head.

I thrust my hips subtly. “Fuck, no, don’t,” I strain.

“No?”

“It’s . . . it’s a lot, right now. I won’t last.”

She bites her lip behind a smile, no doubt proud of her effect on me. “Help me,” she whispers, splaying her hands over my lower abs.