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His pace quickened at that, the two of them riding their high. When she would reach her peak, she’d close her eyes, expecting the second crashing of waves. But he always slowed, bringing her back down, making her wait for it as he took her and took her for as long as he needed. As long as she needed.

Eventually he pressed closer, cradling her back, kissing her neck. “Give it to me, Alana,” he whispered. “I need it. I need you.”

She wanted to give him what he needed, and it didn’t take much. She cried as her second orgasm exploded through every nerve ending, leaving her breathless. She squeezed around him and he cried out in response, slamming a fist into the pillow with a groan of his own as he found his release.

They panted as they stared at one another, still fused at the hips, still pressed together. Minutes passed before Leo gently slipped out of her, disappearing into the bathroom. He returned moments later with a warm, wet washcloth, then cleaned her with tender hands. She should have propped up on her elbows and told him she would do it, that she could do it herself. But Leo was adamant about taking care of her, of keeping her here in his bed.

When he returned clean himself, he tucked them inside the duvet. She curled her naked body around his, nuzzling her nose in his neck, breathing him in. Sweat, salt, earth.

He kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her body, and held her tight as they dozed off to sleep.

22

Alana woke up to a leisurely hand roaming up and down her body. She peeled one eye open and watched as Leo read something on his phone. She didn’t see him on it much; Leo wasn’t the type to be on social media or use gadgets. The shed didn’t even have a television, and it didn’t seem to bother him. So seeing him on his phone was unexpected. She snuck a glance at his screen and noticed he was reading an email.

She sighed, closing her eyes and snuggling closer.

His hand pressed into her back as he kissed her forehead. “Good morning.”

“Hmmm,” she hummed. She was still naked under the covers. He had managed to slip back into his boxer briefs, but even the sight of his bare chest brought back memories of last night. The feel of his weight pressing her deep into his mattress, her hands fisting the duvet as he devoured her down below.

She could feel heat rising in her cheeks. Alana reached a hand under the covers and traced his abs, slowly making a trail down to the front elastic of his underwear.

He placed his phone back on his nightstand, then grabbed her wandering hand. He kissed the palm, then shimmied back under the covers so they were face-to-face.

“Please don’t tell me you don’t want it again,” she said.

He smiled, dipping down to kiss her. “Trust me, I do. But we need to talk first.”

She frowned. “About what?”

“About why you were so mad at the dirt last night.”

She twisted her lips. She’d hoped to avoid this moment forever, that they could manage to live alongside Leo and his blissful ignorance. She wanted to keep him safe from the truth. She didn’t want him to experience all the ways the soil could disappoint you, like it had for her family. For her.

He twirled a piece of her hair around his finger, waiting patiently.

“You’re going to think I sound crazy,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “Alana. You are stubborn, hot-headed, sometimes a little reckless…” he said with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes.

“But I would never call you crazy. Not once.”

“Promise?”

He held up a pinky. “With my life.”

She curled her pinky around his, eyes on his skin, the tan lines on his arm from working in the fields, the scratches and scars on his forearms from the vines.

He ran a finger under her chin and brought her gaze back to his. “You don’t have to hide.”

“Okay, okay.” She could do this. She could tell him, and she could trust that everything was going to be okay. Because so far with Leo, things had been okay. He was the most unproblematic man she had ever met, and she could trust him to hold her secrets. To be there for her family. Because in many cases this summer, and even before she returned home, he had been there for her family. He had been taking care of them since day one. And she knew he would continue to do so.

“Do you remember that day you asked me about selling the fields and moving production somewhere else?”

“Yes, you said that we couldn’t leave. That this place was your family legacy.”