“Me either.” I exhale. I’d offered to stop at the hospital or the police station, but all she wanted was to come home. “But that’s her decision to make.”

We agree to meet up in the morning before practice and Axel heads out. When I go back inside, Twyler is closing Nadia’s bedroom door.

“How is she?” I cross the room and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her to me.

“Tired. Scared. I don’t know the full story, but it seems like this is something CJ has been pressuring her to do for a while. Tonight, she went over to just hang out with Brent and he was there. They ordered pizza and talked her into staying.” She grimaces. “It wasn’t until she stood up to leave that she realized she felt dizzy. She thinks they put something in her drink.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“I know.”

“Is she going to report it? Because we can back her up.” I tilt my head. “Axel, too.”

“I don’t know. I’ll talk to her about it in the morning.”

“Good.” I kiss her forehead, then slowly travel down to her nose, cheeks, until I finally capture her lips. “I know you’re tired. I’ll head out.”

Her fingers wind in the front of my shirt. “Stay.”

“You sure?”

She nods. “I want you here.”

She pushes up on her toes and curls her hand around my neck, pulling me down. I kiss her, feeling a rush of intensity. “Whatever you want,” I tell her, meaning it. If tonight proved anything, it’s that I’m all in with this girl.

Leading me into her room, she closes the door behind us. Silently, we undress; me kicking off my shoes and pants. Twyler peels off her clothes until she’s down to just her bra and panties. My cock jerks at the sight of her. I wrap my fist around the base and stroke to the tip.

She’s nervous. I see it in the tremble in her hand, and the tightening of her throat as she swallows. Exposing herself like this isn’t easy. I know that. But fuck, Axel’s got it wrong. She’s not cute. She’s fucking gorgeous.

Tired of staying away from her, I yank my shirt over my head and close the distance. Pressed together, I lift her hair and kiss the smooth skin on her shoulder. My cock drills into her belly, hard and relentless, but I will it to behave. I’ve wanted my mouth and hands on this girl all fucking day. My dick can wait.

Gently, I kiss under her ear, trailing my lips to her jaw. I look down at her; so small and sexy. I could lift her up and toss her on the bed, but that’s not what I want to do, not yet.

I tilt her chin, forcing those blue eyes to meet mine. “Trust me?”

She nods.

“Can I kiss your neck?”

She tenses infinitesimally, but nods.

“Say the words, Sunshine.”

“Yes, I trust you.”

My heart pounds, threatening to crack through my ribs, because I know how monumental this moment is. Lifting her hair, I start with the softest kiss, barely grazing the skin. I know this is hard for her—that she trusted another asshole with her body, and he violated her—but I want her to know I’d never hurt her. Never exploit. And I take my time, pressing tiny kisses from her ear to her neck.

“We good?” I ask, gently rubbing my thumb down the column of her throat.

“Yes.” She exhales and her head tilts, exposing a wide swath of skin.

I lick and suck, methodically, exploring every inch as her body melts into mine.

Meeting her mouth again, I say, “Thank you,” before licking her lips and kissing her hard.

Her hips grind against me, and I run my hands down the soft expanse of skin on her back. My thumb brushes over the clasp of her bra. The strip of lace and satin falls to the floor.

“I hate not being able to touch you all day,” I tell her, flattening my hands over her tits. Her nipples pebble and she looks up at me with that wide-eyed gaze that makes me feel lucky that she’s let me past the gates. “I see you during practice and want to push you up against the lockers and fuck you right there.” Taking a nipple in my mouth I suck until her nails claw into my shouldersand her breath catches in her throat. “I want to pull you into my lap on the bus and let you ride me all the way home.”