Black

“I can’t wait.” Desperate fervor takes over, and I slam my lips against him, reaching for his zipper.

“Shae.” He grabs my hand, wrenching his lips from mine. “What’re you doing?”

During Erin and Jacob’s wedding ceremony, I locked eyes with Rex. Through each vow and every promise they made to love and care for one another, my gaze stayed connected with Rex’s, and something inside of me blossomed. An overwhelming warmth and fullness seeped into my head and heart, and when he smiled, I knew that what I was feeling was pure, unconditional love.

I love Rex.

I love him.

More than I’ve loved anyone since my parents and sister died.

Heated desperation rushes through my veins, bringing the need to show him exactly what he means to me.

“Please. I need you, Rex. Please.”

“Fuck, Shae, it kills me when you beg.” Standing up straight, he looks around and drags me around the side of the building. Placing his hands on my neck, he backs me against the brick wall. Everything happens so fast, there isn’t time to think about the risk. He pushes my skirt up to my waist and rips my panties off. His hands roam up my thighs, cupping me, and when a cool breeze whips around us, I suck in a breath.

“Always so fucking ready for me,” he pants, pushing a finger inside.

“Rex.”

Unzipping his pants, he frees his cock. Strong fingers wrap around my thigh, bringing it to his hip, and in one quick thrust, he pushes inside of me.

I press my lips to the side of his neck and snake my hands around his back, pulling his body flush with mine, wanting to be as close to him as I can get. Thrusting his hips, Rex slams into me as he palms my ass. My fingernails curl into his back the same way my heel digs into his ass.

“Harder,” I gasp.

My back scrapes against the brick wall, a reminder of where we are and what I’m wearing, but I don’t have time to worry about my dress, and I certainly don’t have time to worry about whether someone will walk around the corner and see us.

Frankly, I’m not sure I care.

“Rex, please. Harder.”

“Fuck, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You can’t,” I gasp, matching his thrust. “You won’t. Just as I won’t hurt you. Ever.”

The rough sounds of his grunts fills the air, and I shift my hips, opening myself, allowing him to hit the deepest parts of me. A few hard thrusts, and I fly apart. Sparks of color explode around me, my muscles going lax as Rex continues to slam into me, chasing his own release.

“Shae.” His entire body shudders against mine, his muscles tightening as he grinds himself against me.

It takes everything I have to stay standing. When he’s finished, Rex brushes a strand of hair from my damp face.

“God, Shae. I—” His eyes search mine, and I silently beg him to say the words I know are sitting at the tip of his tongue, but he doesn’t. Instead he kisses me tenderly and says, “Let’s get you home.”

“No. Nonono,” Shae mumbles. “Please.”

Her soft cries wake me up. She’s sweating, thrashing around next to me, and I fling the covers off, prepared to wake her, when she turns my life upside down with one word…one name.

“Cami.” Her head digs into the pillow, her eyes clenched shut. “Please. Please don’t hurt her.”

A sharp pain slices through my chest as she repeats the same words that haunt my dreams, and I know without a shadow of a doubt what secret Shae has been keeping.

A heavy feeling settles in my stomach and, fuck me, I can’t breathe. Sliding from the bed, I move across the room, watching her, searching her face to be sure she’s the girl I remember, the girl who saved my life all those years ago. When she flies up in bed and her wide, fearful eyes find mine across the room, it’s all the confirmation I need, because I’ll never forget that look. It’s the same as it was fourteen years ago.

I knew it.

I fucking knew it.