Page 116 of Girl in the Water

He snuck his hands around her waist from behind and dipped his head to kiss her neck. “Am I allowed to do this?”

She could feel him harden against her backside as he kept kissing her.

She filled her lungs. Either she was doing this or not.

Doing it. Definitely doing it.

She turned off the water, dried her hands. Dishes could wait.

She turned around and gave him access to her mouth. “Everything is allowed on the day of your return.”

His blue eyes filled with hope and desire. “Everything?”

She smiled. “I’m prepared to be fully welcoming.”

“Naked and welcoming?”

“If that’s how you like it.”

“That’s how I like it,” he said so fast, it sounded like one word.

And then he was kissing her, lifting her, her legs around his waist as he carried her to her bedroom.

Somehow, he got them on the bed without ever letting go of her. And she smiled at him because, maybe, just maybe, this could work.

He was yanking up his shirt when she could finally break their lips apart for long enough to say, “I need to tell you something first.”

He pulled back. Searched her face. “You’re not a virgin, are you? I mean, I don’t care. I don’t mind. I already knew that you’re kind of old-fashioned about sex. I like it. I love you.”

And she still couldn’t sayI love youback. Maybe after she came clean.

She sat up against the headboard, tucked her feet under herself, and clasped her hands together on her lap. Drew a deep breath. They needed to get this out of the way. She met his patient gaze.

“I’m hardly a virgin.” And then she told him everything, starting with her mother.

He stared at her openmouthed, a horrified look settling over his face.

Horrifiedforher? Because she’d been through a lot growing up? She couldn’t tell. She went on with her story, barely paused long enough to draw breath. She wanted it all out. No more secrets. She wanted this relationship to have a chance.

When she finished, she wrapped her arms around herself. “So that’s it. That’s me.”

"Are you kidding me?” His eyes narrowed, his voice harsher than she’d ever heard it. He sounded angry and, at the same time, ready to cry. “Why would you make up something like this?"

She shook her head.

"Seriously? Dani? You used to be a prostitute?" He drew farther away from her, as far as he could get without falling off the end of the bed.

Her heart sank. “Yes.”

He gave a shaky, incredulous laugh. "Man, I respected you enough to wait. I mean… I thought this was it, like I was going to propose.” He reached back to scratch his neck. Dropped his hand. “Shit. I’ve been looking at rings online.”

He jumped up, then he backed away from her as if she was contagious. "So you, like, fucked dozens of guys.” Hurt and revulsion mixed in his eyes. “For money."

“Probably hundreds.”

She shut off all emotion. If she allowed herself to feel now, she would shatter. Her skin felt incredibly tight, her heart cold and hard, as if made of glass.

She’d been prepared for a long talk, lots of questions and explanations. She'd thought the night might go badly, but not this badly. Not with this much loathing on Bobby's face, loathing that was quickly turning into hate.