Credence

I may have been a virgin when I came here, but I wasn’t stupid.

“And when you all took me out for my birthday, and I was dancing, and some of the local guys were watching me, I couldn’t care less, because all I could care about was you and Jake and…” I throw a look at Kaleb, “and how you were watching me. Of how I didn’t want or need anything from anyone else, because I have everything I want in this house.”

I’m not some twit who latches onto anyone who shows her attention or soaks up affection from anyone who comes along. Jake didn’t mark me. I chose.

“I know how to stop things I don’t want,” I tell Noah. “I know how to say no.”

“So?”

“So, no,” I reply.

I grab my book off the ground and brush past him, leaving the kitchen.

Noah

If she would just let me in…

I know she wants me. I could see it on the couch that night on her birthday, and I saw it in the shop when we worked under the bike. I was right when I told her I’d make love to her. I wouldn’t run out of the room or die for it to be over. I’d love to make her feel good.

I stare up at my ceiling, my arm tucked under my head as I chew the shit out of how this night went to hell. I fucked up. I got drunk and blew it.

Kaleb is asleep, and Tiernan has been in bed for hours. I swallow the lump in my throat and close my eyes as my dick swells with heat. I reach down and grab it through my jeans, damn near groaning at the ache.

She should be in here. Quietly and sweetly riding me, taking advantage of the fact that he’s not here tonight and Kaleb won’t give us away. I close my eyes, massaging it and feeling it harden by the second.

Or I should be in there. Kissing her and stirring her body. Making it impossible to say no, because I’ll eat her so good, she’ll beg for me.

And before she can think twice, I’ll be inside of her, keeping up with her like a young man can.

I squeeze my dick, grunting at the need. Jesus. I need to go rub one out. I’m not going to get to sleep.

Rising from the bed, I stand up and fasten my jeans, leaving my shirt on the floor as I head for the door.

But as I do, I hear a muffled cry and stop, training my ears.

What is that?

A cry sounds out from Tiernan’s room, and I jerk my eyes to the wall between us, confused. My father’s not here. She’s not in there with him. Why…

There’s another grunt followed by what sounds like a sob. What the hell?

I open my door and look left toward her bedroom door, seeing it’s closed. I walk for it, but just then Kaleb comes pounding down the stairs from his room, also wearing dark jeans and no shirt. His eyes are half-closed, and his hair is mussed like he just woke up.

He doesn’t stop or make eye contact with me, simply opens her door as if this is routine. He enters, and I follow, hearing Tiernan scream as he walks quietly around her bed. I wince, seeing her clench her T-shirt, her eyes closed and her face half-buried in her pillow as she cries out again. I stop breathing for a moment. She looks like she’s in pain. What—

Her hair falls in her face, her skin damp with sweat, and her entire body is as tight as a rubber band.

I stare at her, realization dawning.

She’s not awake.

“What’s wrong with her?” I ask, hanging back by the door.

But Kaleb just waves a hand, shooing me away as he lies down next to her and pulls her into his body. I watch as she immediately falls in, burying her head in his neck as the cries subside and her breathing starts to calm. He yawns, pulling her sheet and blanket up over them like this is normal.

“Does she do this a lot?”

Nightmares aren’t supposed to sound like that, are they? As Kaleb settles in, though, she falls completely quiet, nestling into him as her slumber continues, peaceful and quiet.