Page 66 of Truths

His lips crush hers, and he picks her up off the ground. Her legs wrap around his waist, and he carries her over to the bed. “I was scared it was too soon to say it, so I was waiting for you.”

“Max, we tattooed our names on the other's body. Right above our fun zones. Plus, I've tried things with you in and out of bed that I never thought I would because I trust you with my life. I think admitting you were in love with me too early was a little silly to worry about, don't you think?”

He smirks, and she knows he's remembering the sex act in particular that she was hesitant to try. There was no pressure to do it, and she hadn't hated it. Hell, she's willing to try it again now that she's experienced the initial shock to see if maybe she likes it more.

His hands untie her robe, sliding it open before kissing down her body until he's settled between her legs. “I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you, Daphne Knight. I plan to be madly in love with you forever.”

“Show me how much you love me, Max,” she pants, his mouth on her as his fingers work along her slick heat. “Oh, love me.”

Goosebumps spread over her as he whispersalwaysagainst her skin.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Summerville

Sutton

Sutton stands in the kitchen of her apartment with tears in her eyes. The place is destroyed. Everything Ryan could break, he did. Her dad fixed her door, and he offered to have her stay at his house. She plans to make her way to his place, but she can't leave the apartment as it is.

Messes give her anxiety because it's how she was forced to live at her mom's house. If she tried to clean up, she'd get scolded and grounded, even though most parents use their children as free labor to tidy the house. But not Grace. She'd just leave this mess to clean up later, and Sutton can't stop the annoyed chuckle as she realizes that is exactly how she ended up in this situation to begin with.

When the knock comes at the door, she freezes. “Ryan's dead,” she mutters to herself, but she has no peephole in this new door to see who is on the other side. With her luck, it'll be the police, and she has no idea how to explain anything.

Opening the door, she sighs at Nelson. “I don't have the energy for you right now.”

To her surprise, Nelson just stares into her eyes. “I hate seeing you upset.”

“What?”

“Can I come inside?”

She decides nothing worse can happen tonight, and she steps aside, grimacing as she steps on more broken glass from one of the numerous picture frames tossed and stomped on. Thank God she's wearing shoes. “Sure.”

“Holy shit,” he mutters as he looks around at the mess. “I was here, but I don't think I really took in the full impact of what that asshole did.”

Laughing, she walks to the fridge and pulls out a beer for Nelson while grabbing a seltzer for herself. “It seems like it gets worse every time I look at it. I think it's multiplying on its own.”

“I'm sorry, Sutton.”

Blinking, she just stares at him, the beer in her hand suspended mid-air as she offers it to him. Maybe it's the crying and full panic fear she had, but she doesn't quite process what he's saying. “What?”

“I'm sorry. I... I can't help but feel like this is my fault.”

He takes the can from her hand, and she can't figure out what to say or think. Nelson Parks doesn't admit fault. And he certainly doesn't apologize. “What?”

“I lashed out at you when I was angry and made you feel like you were doing something wrong by not seeking the asshat known as your bio dad out. If I'd kept my mouth shut, maybe younever would have gone to see him. And then this wouldn't have happened.”

“I kind of knew what I was getting into with him, but I thought I was okay because I never told him who I was. I'm not sure why I underestimated a career criminal, though,” she says with a laugh. “Considering how often he got caught, I didn't expect him to be smart in any way.”

The beer remains unopened as he twists it in his hands on the counter, the bottom of it making a scraping sound. “That doesn't mean I didn't push you into it.”

“I don't blame you. Honestly, while I’m not a fan of how things happened, it forced me to face the facts. I have a dad. And he's pretty damn great. The way he came running without any hesitation tells me all I need to know. And thank you for coming, too. I'll have to go thank Venom, which kind of surprises me a little.”

“I have to ask you something.”

“Okay.”

He swallows and looks into her eyes. “You said we used to fit, but we don't anymore. Is there any chance we can fit together again?”

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