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COVERED IN fish guts, Cody sauntered down the dock toward the bench where I was sitting with his dinner. Even the slimy layer of goo on his jeans didn’t dampen the heat in my chest. His bangs fell into his face and covered one eye. He smiled and I melted.

He expressed how he wasn’t thrilled to spend his Spring Break week on a boat, but he was happy to see me. In no time, we had fallen right back into our routine. We spent every possible second together, which wasn’t nearly as much time as we wanted with both of us working now.

His dad’s fleet of fishing boats produced much of the seafood for Seward’s restaurants and grocery stores. Cody’s dad had spent the better part of a year getting his three Anchorage crews under control so they would be able to continue supplying fresh fish to the city and its residents .

Although Cody wasn’t allowed to go out with the captains on long trips until he graduated, his dad let him work the dock for experience with the fish and customers.

Cody’s favorite crew worked on Miss Vera, named after his mother who had passed away three years ago.

A freak accident, Cody said but wouldn’t elaborate.

King Crab season dominated Alaska in April and the Miller fleet capitalized on the expertise of their captains. However, one ship focused on non-shellfish. Cody began his work career, not his full-time life-long career, but just work in the Cook Inlet fishing for Pacific Cod.

“What’d you bring for me?” Behind long bangs, Cody winked at me. His smile gave me goosebumps.

Anxious to please my man, I had ordered food from a local restaurant. Mason’s Café by the Bay—Cody unloaded the majority of the catch for this restaurant—they had the best gourmet fish tacos around.

“Mason’s specialty. Only the best for you, babe.” I pointed to the styrofoam carton on the bench beside me and leaned forward. I didn’t care if he smelled like raw tuna, I closed my eyes, ready for a thank you in the form of a heated kiss.

“Really?”

His tone startled me, and my eyes popped open. He was upset. Oh, no.

“You couldn’t think of anything more original than something my dad caught this morning?” He knocked the carton of fish tacos to the ground, stepped on them, and walked away.

“Cody, wait.” Through my tears, I couldn’t convince him to turn around. I disappointed him; I would just die if he left me for good.

All through the night, I left him voicemails begging him to forgive me for being stupid. My best guess was he ignored me as punishment. I couldn’t prove it, but why else would he not talk to me?

Early the next morning, I showed up at his door with a homemade triple chocolate brownie mousse stack cake; the recipe pulled from Southern Living magazine.

I knew he had to have cooled off by then, but I didn’t expect him to be so hungover.

When he answered the door, a plum of marijuana smoke surrounded him and alcohol lingered on his breath.

“Hey.” I tilted my head and smiled real pretty.

The glass container between our chests held my present.

“I made this for you.” I didn’t know what he would do, but in my fantasy, he pulled me to him and kissed me like he would never be mad at me again.

Reality didn’t quite live up to the expectation, though.

With one eyebrow lifted, he pursed his lips and yanked the dessert from my hands. “What is it?” Backing into the foyer, he lifted his chin.

I had quickly learned that this was where I needed to apologize. “Baby, I’m so sorry about the fish tacos. I wasn’t thinking. I know better; I should have made you a fresh pan of lasagna. Can you forgive me?”

“I asked what this was, not for your dumb-ass apology.”

“Oh.” I exhaled the single syllable and tried not to let emotion take over. I blinked back the tears. “It’s a brownie mousse cake.”

He squinted and wrinkled his nose. “What on earth would make you think I would like something with the word moose in it? Like, seriously? You’re naming a dessert after a smelly beast? Besides, it’s either a brownie or a cake—not both. God, I swear, sometimes you’re so fucking stupid.”

My mom’s best baking dish came with a plastic lid; Cody opened it, sniffed, and gagged. “Gross.” The next thing I knew, it was in the trash.

I didn’t mean to gasp; I was just so afraid that I wouldn’t be able to show him how much I loved him.

“What’s your problem?” He pulled me to him and kissed me hard.

Blood seeped from the inside of my lip. Oh, thank God. He will forgive me.

“You need to prove your love. If you’re truly sorry—show me.” He twisted my hair around his hand and kissed me again. Using his body, he pushed me through the living room, and we toppled to the couch .

Excited, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. I moaned when he yanked my hair.

Confused—or maybe curious—he pulled away.

“You like when I pull your hair?”

“A little.” My breathing labored, I flirted.

TANGLED in half-discarded clothes, our hair matted and sweaty from shared passion, Cody rolled off me. He settled beside me and nuzzled my neck. “I couldn’t hold back; I was so turned on. The way you screamed when I pulled your hair—that just got me.”

Even though my head hurt, and he had been too rough, I smiled, relieved that I had pleased my man. The weight of his arm across my stomach made me feel safe. Secure. Loved.

“You’re so perfect. I can’t imagine there is anyone else like you in the vast state of Alaska. You’re not like all the others.”

Unsure of what he meant by all the others, I squinted but didn’t interrupt his compliments. It felt so good to be cherished. Besides, it’s not like he’s sinister. He interpreted my reaction as acceptance.

“I mean it. You’re the exact right height, not too tall. You could stand to lose a few pounds but I’m willing to help work it off.” The passionate kiss made me lose my breath. “Your smile, your eyes.” Kisses landed on my lips, then each eye.

On one elbow, Cody stared into my eyes and frowned. His voice was almost a whisper, “You promised to wait for me.” It was unlike him to pout.

My heart rate increased, and my temperature rose. “I did wait for you.” How did he know?

“You don’t need to lie to me, Kennedy. We were apart for a long time. It makes sense that you would break our pact. I didn’t, though, so I’m a little disappointed.”

“Cody …”

“I know you slept with someone else, Kennedy. Don’t lie.” His eyes darkened.

“I …” Tears told my truth. “Didn’t. I promise.”

“Then how do you know to tighten yourself around me just before I’m ready for release?” His eye twitched and he squinted. “Only a slut who sleeps around knows that trick.” He stood and threw my shirt at my face. “Get out. I’m done with you.”

“Wait! I can explain.” I shimmied my jeans the rest of the way up my thighs, pulled my shirt over my head, and ran to catch up with him.

As he headed up the stairs to his bedroom, he slowed and turned.

My head and shoulders slammed into the wall as he wrapped his hand around my neck .

“Well, explain.”

“I was raped.”

“Bullshit.” He squeezed; lack of air made me dizzy.

HEADACHES were rare before I started working at the bar. Since then, they were more common than I liked. My head pounded harder than any other time in the past. Pain radiated from behind my eyelids and wrapped around my throat.

When I opened my eyes and turned my head, I remembered being held by the neck against the wall in the stairway.

A wet spot under my hair brought back the memory of being dropped and hitting my head on the banister. I reached up to feel the sticky blood which ran from my temple to my ear. My shirt covered my top half, but I wasn’t wearing my jeans. Where did they go?

Cody stirred beside me. “Hey there, sleepyhead. I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t mean it; you drive me so freaking crazy I can’t stop my brain. When I think about someone else touching you, I lose it. I just love you so much, my princess.”

He leaned up on one elbow and kissed my nose as lightly as if his lips were a feather. “Forgive me?” The tone of his voice made me shiver; he almost sang the words .

I smiled and ignored the pounding in my head. “I love you, my prince.”

In one swift move, he straddled me and ripped my shirt open.

Surprised, I tried to pull away. With one hand, he grasped both of my wrists and held them above my head. His weight on my hips prevented me from escaping, no matter how hard I squirmed. He rubbed himself against me and I tried to move away from him.

“Don’t bother trying to get loose. I have you right where I want you.” Teeth marks remained after he bit my breast; he broke the skin. “You like the pain, admit it.”

“No, I don’t. Please stop.”

“I can tell from your body what turns you on.” He pulled down my panties in one painful tug, then flipped me over and shoved himself inside me. “Ah, you’re so wet. You do like getting fucked.”

“No. I don’t like this,” I cried, hoping to get to his heart. Hoping that seeing me in pain would make him stop. It didn’t. I could feel him all the way to my stomach; I begged him to stop. “Cody. Please. You’re hurting me.”

Since he was too heavy and strong for me to push away, I gave up and laid there. I took what he wanted to give me, just like that first time at the bar.

SEWARD HIGH School students slammed lockers and gathered outside classroom doors until the next bell.

The metal clang ran in my ears and their voices carried through the hallway.

With only a few minutes between classes, most students rushed to change books and chat with friends.

Others found their significant other and engaged in a passionate make-out session.

Sore from Cody’s antics the previous day, I winced with each step and prayed that I had applied enough makeup to cover the bruises. Even my hair hurt.