Page 118 of Love Me in the Dark

“I won’t need money or for you to feed me.” I leaned further into him.

“You won’t?” Why did he sound sad at the prospect one day soon I wouldn’t need him?

“We used to have money. Well, my parents did. I grew up in a house bigger than both our houses combined, and drove a Porsche to school every day.” I didn’t want to continue, but Slade deserved to know the truth about my life before I came here. Tears pricked at my eyes. I hated to think of before. My toes flexed in the sand ready to take off running at any moment.

Slipping his arm from under me, he wrapped it around my waist and laid his head on top of mine. “You don’t have to tell me, but I would like to know.”

“After my dad died and left my mom with very little, she sold the house, and my car since they weren’t in my name. Well, she didn’t sell the house right away. Not until Trent.”

“Why move here if your house was bigger?”

“I can’t say for certain. It’s not like she was talking to me about her decisions.” I breathed in a deep breath and spoke words that had never escaped my mouth before. “I think my mom and Trent were having an affair before my dad died, and that’s why he only left her a small amount to live off. It was enough for me to reach my next birthday if she didn’t spend it all on a new wardrobe and vacations with her boyfriend.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry, Harley.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me in the last year.”

His hand on my tightened on my hip. “Can I ask you how your dad…?”

“Died,” I supplied for him. “He was sick with cancer. He knew his time was coming sooner than he wanted that’s why he had everything prepared. Or at least he thought he did. I’m sure he never thought my mom would go to the lengths she has.” Since I’d opened up to him more than I ever thought I would it was time for me to ask him the question that had been naggingat me for some time now. “Why are you so hard on yourself? Something happened before I ever got here, and you’ve been punishing yourself for it. You don’t hang out with your friends, and you never go out.”

I felt the deep breath he took in and then slowly let out. It was a good sign his body stayed relaxed.

“I was hoping to get a football scholarship to pay for college, but my team played like shit this year. Now I don’t know how I’m going to pay for college.”

Swiveling in his hold, I faced Slade. His eyes were downcast as he tried to bore a hole through the sand. “You’re smart, Slade. How have you not received an academic scholarship?”

“I’ve been offered a few, but none cover the room and board. The only option is to attend college here, and live at home.” The corner of his mouth curled up.

“What’s wrong with staying here? Your parents and sister are great.”

“They are. You’re right, but the college here isn’t the greatest. I wanted to go somewhere that would get me places in life.”

I understood that. I hadn’t heard of the college here.

An insane idea popped into my head and before I thought better of it, I let the words spill out of my mouth. “What if I got accepted to one of the schools you did, and we lived together?”

“What?” His head reared back. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure, I do. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if you hadn’t followed me my first night here.” Picking up his freehand, I ran my thumb over the veins in his hand. “You’ve done so much for me it’s the least I can do.”

Leaning forward, he rested his forehead to mine. His eyes fixed on mine. “Does that mean you’re staying?”

“Only if you agree to live with me wherever we go to college.” What was I doing? Sure, I liked Slade. A lot. But this might be the craziest thing I’d ever done.

Brushing his nose along mine, he tilted his head down. “Please, tell me this is okay.” The words sounded like a plea as his soft lips grazed mine. “I’ve been dying to kiss you for weeks now.”

It would be a lie if I said I hadn’t thought the same thing. At first when I saw the girls at school with their eyes glued to his ass, I thought Slade was a player, but he hasn’t so much as looked at another girl when I was around. And every night he’s been with me, right here on this very beach for hours silently watching over me. Protecting me.

“Yes,” I answered, breathily as I opened my mouth over his.

Slade wasted no time covering my mouth with his own and tasting me for the first time. We both moaned as he gripped me by the hips and placed me to straddle his lap. Feeling him grow hard underneath me, I deepened the kiss and tangled my fingers in his hair as I rocked against his length.

For the first time since my dad died, I felt alive, and it was all thanks to Slade. I knew with him by my side, he’d never let me fall. He’d protect me to the ends of the earth, and I’d do the same for him.

Big, strong hands roamed the length of my back before slipping underneath my shirt and skimming my stomach. My breath became ragged at his touch. I wanted more, but had no idea what that more was until he thrust his hips up and dragged along my clit.

I needed him more in that moment than I’d ever needed anyone or anything.