Page 75 of Frayed Owner

And stared at me the whole time he jerked off under the water. It was so fucking sexy that I was on him the moment he got out of the shower. He carried me to bed when we were in nothing but towels and we tried another setting on the toy.

“Bev, this is getting serious for me,” he whispered when we were done, both of our chests heaving. He cupped my face when I flinched. “I’m not asking for the label. I’m not asking—actually, I am asking that if you don’t see this—ushaving a future that you tell me. My feelings are getting serious. I don’t want to hide that from you.”

I swallowed loudly. “That’s scary, but I’m also thrilled. That—it seems like it should be one or the other.”

“I’m scared but would be thrilled if you told me the same,” he muttered, searching my eyes.

“I don’t know, Winter.” I hurried on when hurt filled his eyes. “But my life is so much better with you in it. I’d fall apart if you were gone tomorrow. I…” I cleared my throat. “I wouldn’t want to find another phone sex guy. That’s you, not because phone sex is fun.”

“Could you see this as being real?” he pushed.

That answer was easy and immediate. “Yes.” I furiously nodded. “I don’t know what that means or how that would seriously work with what I am, but even the idea of you graduating and not being around campus makes me sad. You’re just—yes.”

“Okay, good.” He let out a slow breath. “Good.”

“Really? I feel like I still didn’t give you what you needed,” I worried.

“You did,” he promised. “I’m falling for you, Bev. I just need to know that you could do the same so I don’t become roadkill.”

“I don’t understand that,” I whispered, my eyes going so wide they almost hurt.

He frowned. “You don’t understand why I would check?”

“No, how can you fall for me?” I asked, completely meaning it. “I’m a mess, Winter. My family—what I am—all of it. I can’t—I wouldrunfrom someone like me. I can’t—it doesn’t make sense.”

Sadness filled his eyes. “That’s your abuse and family talking.” He kissed my nose when I objected. “There are guys who are stepping up their plans for the Wicked Challenges just so they can be near you on your court.”

I sighed. “Those are assholes who want to fuck me because they think I’m easy or just care that I’m good looking. That’s not…” I trailed off when I saw in his eyes that it was more than that. “Oh.”

“Yeah,oh,” he chuckled darkly. “So there might be some jealousy in your future now that I’m invested. Just to warn you.” He swallowed loudly. “I just needed to know you’re there with me.”

“Oh yeah, I would fucking beat a bitch up if she was all over you or tried to steal you from me,” I told him firmly. “Like drag her hoe ass to my lake and have the animals drown her.”

His eyes went wide this time, and he burst out laughing. His deep,deeplaugh filled the whole room, and the bed shook as he held me. “Oh fuck, Bev, that just healed all of my insecurities and worries. Yeah, you drown that mythical hoe, little sexy.”

I missed something again. Or I responded in a way that he hadn’t meant.

I was just glad he was settled with the topic and not feeling insecure. I really,reallydid like Winter. I just didn’t think I could ever know how to be in a normal, healthy relationship after all I’d been through.

He was still in a good mood in the morning and we made out again, him promising there would be a lot more attention on me when I was done with my period. EvenIunderstood what he meant by that… And I was so in.

Ridiculously in.

On the way to the factory with my security, I texted Wyatt that Mrs. Reid figured out something and she wanted us to work on expanding it and limits. But I could explain it to him when he had a chance so there weren’t any more instances with his overbearing friend he never introduced me to and us being half naked around each other.

Yes, I was still salty. I think I deserved to be.

There were some interviews going on at the factory, and I was glad that we were asking people to bring in their familiars when they interviewed. Two I ruled out because of that.

People could lie and there were ways to hide their real intentions with powerful magic. But I didn’t even think there was magic to silence a familiar since it was so rare for anyone to be able to understand them.

Jasmine gave me a curious look when it was done, waiting for me to explain.

“Spies,” I told her, specifically naming for which family.

“People need fucking lives,” she mumbled under her breath.

I couldn’t agree more.

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