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“How can I fix this, Tate? I can’t…I can’t lose you.”

He scrunches his eyebrows together, eyes growing sad. “I’m struggling here.”

“Because of me?”

“Not just you.” He sighs heavily. “I know you’re not like him. I’m sorry I said that.”

My heart rate speeds up. I allow my hands to curl around his neck so I can stroke his flesh softly with my thumbs. Does he like it? Is this comforting him?

His eyes flutter closed and he gives me a sad smile. “I’m just scared, okay? No matter what I do, my life just keeps getting ruined because of him.”

“Let me help you,” I plead. “I can make him pay for this.”

He pulls back, shaking his head. “It’ll just make it worse. You don’t understand. He’s been terrorizing me for two years, Jude. Two long years. I’ve endured more pain and suffering from him than the rest of my life combined. And he’s crazy. He doesn’t give up or go away.”

“Tell me his name,” I demand. “I can do something. Anything. Please let me.”

“You can’t, though. He’s ruthless. He can hurt people. You really want to put Gemma in danger? It’s what he does.”

If he thinks I’m going to stay away now, he’s fucking insane. But I’ll have to do some digging on my own time. Not now. Now we’re on a delicate thread and I need to keep him close.

“I want you in my bed every night,” I rasp out, dragging my thumbs along his stubbly jaw. “Every night. Fucky too.”

He smirks. “Funky. You’re a real dick, Jude.”

“You like my dick,” I remind him, grinning behind my mask. “Gobbled it up like it was one of Violet’s apple pies.”

“Funny,” he deadpans. “And how do you explain how much you like my dick? You sure enjoyed playing with it this morning.”

Fucking hell.

I loved it more than he’ll ever know.

So tell him, asshole.

“I loved how hard you were. The mess you made. The sexy moans that came out of you.” I ghost my palms down his front, drifting lower until I can grope said dick. “I’ve never experienced anything so hot in my goddamn life, sweet boy.”

His eyes go all dopey and adorable at the endearment. I lock away that kernel of information to use to my advantage in the future.

“I have an idea,” I tell him, stepping back despite wanting to put his dick in my mouth this time.

He groans and gestures at his hard cock pressing against his jeans. “Does it involve doing something about this?”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Later. Right now, you need to relax. Let me take care of you.”

“How?” His voice quivers like he doesn’t quite believe me. Like this might be a trick. It makes me hate his ex even more for doing this to him.

“I’ll run you a bath and feed you pie. After, we can go up to my secret room and listen to music.”

He shocks me by hugging me, burying his face against my chest. “I’d like that. It sounds…almost too good to be true.”

“Believe it,” I growl. “I want good things for you and I’m going to work hard to show you.”

“Thank you.”

No, thank you, Tate, for barreling into my life and waking me the fuck up from my nightmare.

I pull away from him to start a hot bath. It sucks I don’t have anything fun like bubble bath for him, but I do dump some body wash in that bubbles up nicely. Knowing he’ll smell like me is icing on the cake. After the tub fills, I lay out a towel and then exit the bathroom.