Credence

Jake tosses the rag down and looks at me. “It doesn’t have to be street legal,” he tells me. “If you keep it here.”

I meet his eyes, but then bend over to scoop the clothes out of the dryer.

“For when you visit, I mean.”

I nod, but I don’t look at him again. I know what he wants. He’d love for me to stay, but he’ll settle for an assurance that this is home base when I’m on school breaks.

He’s assuming I’ve calmed down, and I’ll stay through the summer.

I can’t, though. I might be the reason Kaleb hasn’t come home. Maybe he will once I’m gone.

Without responding, I put the clean clothes on top of the dryer, toss in the wet ones, and jog up the stairs into the house.

Blowing into my hands, I rub them together as the heat of the fireplace warms the area. Guilt pricks at me as I refresh the dogs’ food and water. I don’t want to ignore Jake’s request, but I have two months yet. At least.

I don’t have to dread leaving them yet.

Of course, it seems like yesterday that I said the same thing in December.

Heading through the living room, I climb the stairs, but the front door opens behind me, and I look over my shoulder, seeing Noah step in. He kicks his boots of the snow and whips off his hat and work gloves.

He looks up, and my eyes meet his eyes.

He smiles like a devil, and my heart skips a beat.

No.

I gasp and bolt up the stairs, hearing his footfalls behind me, charging my ass. I squeal, grabbing his arm as he passes me, both of us stumbling and laughing as we race for the shower.

“I’m first!” I shout.

We both scramble for the bathroom, slamming into the door and falling inside. I tumble to the floor, and he follows, grabbing my legs to stop me from standing up. I kick him, screaming and laughing, and reach up for the sink, pulling myself up.

I dart for the shower, but he stands up, locking me in and pressing his body into mine.

My stomach shakes, feeling his heat and breath surround me.

And in a moment, everything quiets. The laughing stops.

He hovers over me, his chest rising and falling against mine, and I can smell the fire on his clothes from the burning he did outside.

His dick rubs me through my clothes, and I shift.

“You can go first,” I say. “You need to take care of something, it seems.”

I try to step to the side, but he stops me. “You need to take care of something, you mean.”

He stares down at me, and I can feel the heat rolling off him. All that’s standing in his way is me.

“Do you love him?” he asks. “Because if you don’t, then come in the shower with me, because my body is screaming.”

I remain still.

Maybe I should. It would feel good.

Kaleb is staying away for a reason, after all. He’s either trying to outlast my departure, so he doesn’t have to see me, or he knows he can’t expect to come back at this point and find me untouched in his long absence, especially in a house with men I’ve already been with.

Everyone wants this to happen.