I can’t move for fear of splintering the moment.
We stay like that in the low light, trading touches and kisses. A fragile cocoon. Neither of us wants to puncture it.
"What now?" I finally ask, brushing my fingers over a scar on his temple.
"We get to the bottom of your trouble."
I go quiet.Quieter. "I don’t know if I’ll ever be free of my father, honestly. It’s not like I can truly disappear."
"You could. There are ways to start over."
"Like in the movies?" I scoff, toying with curve of his bicep. "Does that really work?"
"It can. This is a great big world. It takes planning and execution."
"And money," I nuzzle against his neck, letting out a frustrated breath.
"There’s plenty of that around."
I pull back to search his face. "What does that mean?"
He frames my face with his hands, thumbs drifting over my skin, careful of the bruises. "It means I have resources."
"You’re very cryptic, Ryker."
"Not really."
"So you’re telling me you have enough money to make me disappear."
"Yes, I am."
For some reason this saddens me instead of reassuring me.
"But," I say quietly, "I’m not going to be your responsibility. You don’t even know me."
He shifts his hips and his cock makes itself known. Still deep in me.
"Am I still inside you right now?"
"Yes." Heat climbs up my cheeks again.
"I don’t fuck casually."
More staring from my end. "Like I said, you’re cryptic."
"No, I’m not," he counters. "What we just did means something to me, sweetheart. I’m not into casual sex."
"Neither am I," I admit in a whisper. The words come out before I can stop them. "I’ve only been with one other person."
Something changes in his face. A stillness that isn’t calm. This is the kind of quiet in my world that comes before something detonates.
I swallow. My fingers curl against his chest. He knows. I don’t even have to say it. I told him Trevor was my ex. Ryker’s expression says everything. He connected those dots at the speed of light.
CHAPTER 10
Jade’s tucked against my chest, fingers curled into me, her hair still damp from the shower we shared.
My mind won’t stop spinning. She just told me the only other man who’s ever had her is the piece of shit who put bruises on her face.
