Page 27 of I Do With You

The beach area of the lake Hope took me to was surprisingly empty when we arrived. And also, calling it abeachis pushing the word to its limits. It’s basically a sandy dirt shoreline. But she did say that it’s more of a “town secret” than the advertised dockside beach, where they haul in actual sand, plop umbrellas down, and have vendors toting coolers to sell snacks to the loads of visiting people. And for the entire time that we swim in this more private spot, the shore has stayed vacant.

Until now.

“Hope!”a voice yells, startling Hope enough to cause her to splash in the water, sending a bit into my eyes.

Wiping my face, I turn to look toward the shore, and I feel Hope retreat into herself instantly. “Shiiiiit! That’s Roy,” she hisses.

I figured that out by the furious look on his face and the way he’s standing, legs wide and arms held out at his sides to make himself look larger and more intimidating. Guessing he doesn’t like seeing me with his girl.

No, nothisgirl. Hope’s her own woman now.

“Maddie sold you out.” I knew I didn’t like that woman or the way she was looking at Hope, but Maddie should’ve minded her own business and left us alone.

Too kind, Hope instantly forgives the shopgirl, who doesn’t deserve a bit of her good heart. “Yeah, she probably thinks she’s helping me in some twisted, weird way.”

“What d’ya want to do?” I’ve already come up with a dozen ideas, most of them involving the two of us leaving this beach and never seeing Roy again. Some of them are even legal. Several definitely aren’t.

How often do you think they dredge the lake to look for bodies?

Hope sighs heavily. “I should talk to him.”

Nope. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell herfuck noto that shit, but I bite it back. This is part of the process for her. She’s going to have to stand up for herself to Roy’s face. It’s the only way she’ll truly be free. But just because I know it’s true doesn’t mean I like it.

“Then let’s go,” I say, taking her hand and starting toward the shore. Because if she’s doing this, she’s doing it with me by her side. That’s a damn-straight surety. “Can I give you a little piece of advice?” She dips her chin, looking like she’d take any and all advice to make this moment not so awful. “Say what you think, what you feel. If it messes shit up, so be it. Because the alternative is not saying it, and then it’ll fuck you up inside instead.”

“I think maybe I’ve already done that,” she whispers. “Thefucked-up insidepart, I mean.”

“Nah, you’re sorting yourself out pretty well, I think.” I flash a knowing grin at her, completely ignoring the asshole glaring at us from a few feet away. Her lips twitch as though a tiny hint of a smile is trying to get out, but the gravity of what’s waiting melts it away. “One more thing.”

“What?”

“I’ve got your back no matter what. I won’t let him hurt you—physically, mentally, or emotionally.”

Once we’re on solid-ish ground, Roy still waits for Hope to come to him, like he’s some righteous king standing on pomp and circumstance on his ancestral land. But when she’s close enough, he reaches for herhand, ripping it from mine. “What the fuck are you doing here? Who’s this?” he snaps.

The only thing that keeps him from meeting my fist firsthand is that Hope yanks her hand away from his, effectively shaking him off. “Ben. He’s a friend.”

“You let all of your friends touch you like that?” Roy sneers, accusing Hope of so much more than a little game of Titanic.

Secretly, I’m glad he saw. In fact, now seems like a real good time to adjust my dick in my shorts. I don’t try to hide the move, and Roy’s eyes narrow sharply, knowing full well what has me stiffening up even in the cold lake water. Hell, this neon atrocity is nearly suctioned to me now that it’s wet, so he can probably see for himself what Hope’s doing to me.

“Roy, what are you doing here?” Hope asks, her voice even-keeled and reasonable. I’ve heard that tone before. My mom used it with some of her boyfriends, notably the ones who had tempers when she was trying to placate them. I didn’t like it then; I don’t like it any more now.

“Me?” he balks, offended. “I got word that you were here with some asshole who was basically eye-fucking you in front of God and everyone in the dock store, so I came to save you.”

I snort. We did have that moment amid the racks of swimsuits and souvenir tees where I was imagining all the filthy things I wanted to do to her and with her. Good to know it wasn’t only me who felt it.

“She doesn’t need saving, by you or anyone else. If anything, she needs savingfromyou—but she’s doing a fine job of that on her own, isn’t she?” I interject.

Roy lunges toward me, pulling back at the last second when I don’t move. I’ve fought rougher, meaner assholes than this prick, but I don’t think the same is true for him. “That usually work for you? Acting tough but never actually getting your hands dirty or knuckles bloody? Can’t say that’s been the case for me.” I shake out my hands, getting the blood pumping just in case he tries to come back with a sucker punch.

I’m ready for him. I’m ready to end him, for Hope.

But she steps in between us, facing me and giving Roy her back. She plants her hands on my chest, and when I inhale to press into them, she looks up at me with twinkling eyes. “I got this. If it comes to that, my brother taught me how to handle myself.” The tiniest quirk of her lips tells me she’s fighting back a smile.

She’s not intimidated either. And she’s fucking stunning when she’s standing in her power. Weak assholes like Roy don’t see the allure of a strong woman, but I do. Fuck me, I do.

She turns back around, telling Roy, “I told you I needed time to be me for a little bit. That’s what I’m doing. Ben’s helping with that, as a friend.”

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