Page 87 of Wicked

“Why’d you decide to come after me when you could’ve walked away,should havewalked away? I’m guessing the PI told you of Shephard’s and my marriage license before you heard what Sam said in that house? Sam also said he sent you a sex tape. It wasn’t me, Ryker. You’re the only guy I’ve been with.”

“I know, sweetheart.”

“You do? How?”

Anger coils in my gut again. Demands that I let it loose. But I refuse to slow the progress Harper and I are making by giving in to my anger and jealousy at seeing what I thought to be Harper under and over a guy other than me. Until I took a closer look.

“Simple. I took a screenshot of the video. Panned in on the girl’s face. She didn’t have these, babe.”

I smooth my finger over her freckles, the ones on the underside of her bottom lip.

“There’s more. Your hang-up . . . I’m fine if you never give me oral.”

Her eyes widen. “She . . . The girl in the video, she went down on Sam. That’s how you knew. It wasn’t just my freckles.”

She starts climbing off my lap. I’m not having it. I rise off the couch and take her with me.

“I said I don’t give a shit, Harper. You’re more than enough woman for me.”

With one hand tucked under her ass, I wrap her leg around my waist. Thank the stars she gets my message and holds on tight with both legs as I make my way to the bedroom. In the bedroom, I pull down the covers and set her down. My sweatpants come off, followed by my shirt. I leave my boxers on.

Free will. I want Harper to decide what the next step is for us. I’m fine with going the fuck to sleep after the hell she’s gone through. My girl needs some good old-fashioned shut-eye.

“Harper, I want to be here for you tomorrow and the next day. It’s not a good idea to leave you alone. I’m thinking Shephard could use another friend too.”

“No.”

She shoves me onto my back. Strips off her clothes until she’s wearing nothing but her birthday suit.

“You are playing in that game. No need to stick around. I plan on sleeping through the day, and Sunday too. And I want to get over my hang-up. Not because it’ll make me normal, but because you . . . I’m safe with you, Ryker. I love you.”

Safe. Love. Complicated. Harper Garrix is all sorts of complicated. But she’s also my haven. My love. My future. She means the world to me.

The wicked of the world can come for her anytime, day or night. I’ll stand steadfast by her side, not as her shield—my girl is strong enough for the both of us—but as something more significant.

I’m a piece of Harper’s heart, someone who holds a special place in her life. She willingly chose me, a douchebag who five weeks ago didn’t give a flying fuck about anything or anyone other than playing ball and where his next lay would come from.

Harper’s past and her love taught me to embrace complicated. That accepting the hard lessons life throws my way will help me grow and become a better man, the best man for her.

I love this woman so much.

So fucking much. And I tell her so.

“How much?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“Ryker Conway, answering a question with another question?” She reaches over for the condom in the top drawer of the nightstand. “I like.”

And I like when we make love nice and slow. Like when she comes with a soft moan. Love that I get to hold this strong woman in my arms every goddamn day.

“I love you so much, Harper.”

“Ah, there’s the answer I was waiting for.”

A sleep-laden voice with a hint of contentment. I curl into her, knowing full well she loves when I do this. Lace our fingers too.

“I love you, too, Ryker. Thank you for coming back for me. For believing in me. For never letting my past define me in your eyes.”

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