“So they know about my addiction?”
“I’ve convinced them you’ve been to rehab. I told Uncle Christopher you had a relapse because of me.”
“Why won’t you tell them the truth?”
“I don’t know where you scored your drugs from. If you have outstanding debts. I…” A pained expression crossed his beautiful face. “I keep you in the treehouse so you’ll be safe.They’llbe safe. If they think…Uncle Christopher knows about the drug trade. He has his family. Aunt Meggie. Rebel.” Clenching his jaw, he glanced away. “He’d send you to rehabimmediately. And I need you.” He hung his head, so he missed the way Jana pressed her hand against her heart. “I need to keep you close to me, now more than ever, so I can stay grounded. Even if you refuse to tell me when I fuck up, I think, Iknow, your presence will remind me of what I have to lose and…and…”
Jana found his rambling so out-of-character. Yet, he’d felt close enough to her to allow her to see that side of him. “Oh, babe,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes and heaved in a breath. “I need you with me, Jana. Your presence will…it’ll keep me focused so I don’t make terrible decisions and fuck up the rest of my life. If I lived much longer after…I’m sorry.”
“Oh no, babe! No. You have nothing to apologize for. I’ll behave and be the best wife to you.” A thought occurred to her and she cocked her head to the side. “How long will I be in rehab and will you be okay with me gone?”
“For as long as it takes. I might come with you.”
Jana lifted her brows. “You’re going into rehab?”
“No. I’ll have an apartment close to where you are.”
“Portland isn’t—”
“I’m thinking about patching out and relocating. I can’t…my little sister hates me. She refuses to forgive me. No matter how many times I apologize.”
“I adore Rebel, but her lack of charity is on her. You’ve done all you can. Don’t leave everything you hold dear because she is holding a grudge.”
“She’s important to me. She…I…She thinks I’m nothing but a liar. She calls me a psychopath.”
Indignation stirred in Jana’s gut. “She has a lot of nerve, disrespecting you like that. I will have a long, forceful girl talk with her.”
Diesel turned and snapped his brows together. “With Rebel? You against her?”
“To defend you.”
“She likes you, sweetheart. Don’t get on her bad side. You’ll regret it. She will never let up and Aunt Meggie would expect me to find another place for you to live.”
“Yeah,” Jana said with a little sniff. “I noticed that she’s very protective of her children.”
“That includes me.”
“D-did I need to distinguish you?”
“No. I’m just…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Never mind.” He pulled her into his strong arms and covered her mouth with his own, possessing her, and filling her with giddy excitement. “I love you.”
Diesel lovedher. Not Tabitha. Not anyone else. Except Jana Joelle Reynolds.
She brought her fingers to his jacket, her diamond bracelet sparkling even in the dimness. It would get her so much coke.
His lips trailed to her neck, and Jana threw her head back, their clothes flying in all directions. Still kissing her, he swept her into his arms and carried her up to the bedroom, managing to get on the bed and not lose contact.
“Ride my cock,” he murmured.
Jana began to straddle him.
“No, babe. Reverse cowgirl.”
“I won’t be able to kiss you,” she pouted.
“I’ll kiss you all night. Please…I have to…” Instead of continuing, he pulled her into his arms, then rolled onto her and sank inside her wet heat.
