My sleep-choking tendencies posed a problem, and one I couldn’t ignore. How the fuck was I supposed to fall asleep next to her every night if it meant risking her life?

Mid-morning rays trailed through the tiny window above us. Fuck, I didn’t want to leave this bed. Her curls were everywhere; in my eyes, teasing my lips, tickling my face. My fingers were everywhere; snuggled in the folds of her beautiful cunt, brushing a nipple. I spooned her from behind, trying hard not to stroke her awake. If that happened, I’d end up fucking her, and I couldn’t do that until I made damn sure she was taken care of. I would not put her in the position of needing an abortion like Zach had. I might not be able to control what I did in my sleep, but preventing an unplanned pregnancy was in my control.

Being careful not to wake her, I slid my fingers from her wet pussy. She sighed, stretched, then settled back into sleep. Something inside me filled to the brimming point. I never imagined I could love someone so much, or so fucking possessively. The urge to pull out the cuffs made my hands twitch.

I liked her helpless.

I liked her mine.

Biting back a groan, I eased from the bed. She was mine—that wouldn’t change—but things were never that simple. I was still keeping so much from her, stuff she sensed, if her stubborn questions from last night were any indication. I’d killed. I’d lost myself to mental obliteration. I’d erected a wall I wasn’t sure even she could hurdle.

The boat swayed, and I held my breath, worried the motion would draw her from sleep. But she didn’t rouse. I pulled on my sweats and recalled how I’d kept her in sweet agony for most of the night. It had been a fitting punishment—one that distracted her from giving me the third degree. Truth was, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to talk to her about my time in prison. Even before I’d lost my memory, I’d buried that part of my past under the single-minded focus on getting my hands on her.

I tiptoed from the bedroom, leaving the door cracked open so I’d hear when she awoke though I didn’t expect her to rise for a while. After last night, she was going to need her sleep. And I needed something else so I could be with her the way I needed to be with her. As I turned on the coffee pot, I dialed Jax. Wedging the phone between my shoulder and ear, I tapped my fingers on the counter as the call rang through.

He croaked something incomprehensible after the fifth ring, then he coughed and cleared his throat. “What?”