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“God, you’re really good at that,” she whispered, nipping at my lips.

Silently, I carried her to my room, my dick still deep inside of her. I placed her down on the heated floors in my en suite. Then I grabbed a cloth, wetting it with lukewarm water so I could clean her up after she used the bathroom.

True let me, her hands anchored against my shoulders when I knelt between her legs and kissed up her thighs.

When we got in bed, she faced me with a sleepy smile. “Can you tell me why you were up now?”

I could lie, make up a reason that sounded a lot more serious than the truth. But this was True, and one thing I was starting to believe about this woman was that she could read me like a book, no matter what kind of front I tried to put up.

So, I went with the truth. A very low, mumbled version of it. “IwaslookingupcatlitterandcattreesforwhenwebringDuchesshome.”

Her lips pursed and the lift of her brow coaxed a slower, clearer rendition out of me.

“I was looking up cat litter and cat trees for when we bring Duchess home.”

The smile on her face rivaled the glow of the moon. “God, you love Noah so much. I knew you wouldn’t say no to him.” She yawned, scooting closer to me. “I’m sure Duchess will love whatever you get her. She’ll just be happy she gets to see you and Noah every day.” Her hand rested against my pecs, her fingersgrazing lazily while she drifted to sleep. “Y’all are really good at taking care of things, you’ll be a natural. Trust me.”

She was asleep before I could say more, nestled against me so close we were breathing the same breaths and sharing the same pillow.

I was in so much trouble. And I knew one thing—I wasn’t letting this woman go.

part three

When I woke up two mornings later, it wasn’t because of my alarm. I didn’t even know if itwasmorning yet. All I knew was that the woman beside me was whimpering. True’s head thrashed against the pillow before she jerked onto her side and muffled cries left her throat.

“True, baby, wake up.”

The moan I got in response made panic cloud my other senses. That moan sounded like she was in pain. Like she needed help.

Grabbing my glasses, I hopped out of bed and dropped to my knees by her side. My fingers fumbled with the lamp until a soft glow lit the room.

Then I tried to do the impossible and keep my eyes on her face while they scanned her body at the same time, looking for the source of her pain.

She wasn’t bleeding. Her hands weren’t clutching any part of her in pain. And still, the whimpers and moans continued.

She kept pushing out air through her nose in heavy puffs before whining low in her throat. “No…Promise, please.”

My brow furrowed when I inched closer, trying to make out the mumbled words.

“Please don’t do this to me.”

More panic twisted in my gut when her hand fisted the bottom of her night shirt. Her breathing grew choppier and her face screwed up.

My hand landed against her cheek but she flinched away from my touch the second I made contact. Her eyes were still closed, but tears had started squeezing from the corners, wetting her face while sweat covered her skin.

“No…no…Promise!” She had her shirt balled so tight in her grip, I was waiting for the sound of cotton tearing.

Bile climbed up my throat while I watched her fight. I didn’t know what the fuck to do. Didn’t know how to fix it, and the ache spreading in my chest only punctuated my helplessness.

“Just stay…why are you doing this?” A few silent seconds lapsed into a full minute, and I thought this was finally over, until she cried out, “This is so fucked up! You’re so fucked up for doing this!”

She’d already thrown the cover off of her, but her legs tangled in the sheets and the frustrated groan that followed had me rushing to undo that. I felt useful, like I was finally doing something to help.

Until the sole of her foot connected with my pelvis and it took everything in me not to double over in pain.

“True,” I breathed on a wince. “Tell me what you need, baby. Please.”

She wouldn’t respond. Wouldn’t open her eyes. And when sobs wracked her body to the point that she was hyperventilating, I ran down the hall and woke up the only person I thought could fix this.