I love how familiar I am with her body. Love how there’s no hesitation when she tugs down my shorts and grips me, familiar and eager.

We’ve done this many times before. But somehow, it never loses its novelty.

I’m especially impatient tonight. Aunt Catherine was visiting this week for graduation, meaning it’s been days since I’ve been inside of Cassia.

“Lie down,” I whisper.

She falls back on the bed, watching as I tug her jeans down and parting her thighs to accommodate me between them. I pull her thong down and thrust inside of her.

Cassia moans, wrapping her legs around my waist and pulling me closer. I lean over, resting my weight on my forearms.

I kiss her, slow and searching. Her nails dig into my back, and I start moving faster. We both come quickly, within minutes. I don’t move away, though. I soak in this moment, and it feels like she’s doing the same.

“We’ll be able to do this for four years at Richmond,” she whispers, running a hand across my shoulder. “No parents or siblings.”

As busy as my house has been lately, it’s nothing in comparison to hers. I’ve never even managed to kiss her without one of her siblings bursting into the room or one of her parents calling from downstairs.

I kiss her again. “Forget college, Cassia. I fully intend to do this for the rest of my life.”

Something sparks in her eyes. Hope, I think it looks like. I know I’ve given her a lot of reasons to distrust my intentions. But I can’t imagine my life without her in it anymore. All my intentions of ever walking away from her left me a while ago. I’ll do whatever I can to make up for it.

“Do you promise?” She whispers.

“Yeah, flower. I promise.”

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tiffany, you went above and beyond with this one. I’m so, so appreciative of everything you contribute to my work. It’s not exaggerating in the slightest to say I would be lost without you. Sending me immediate responses while I was traveling in a different time zone was above and beyond, and I’m so grateful for your dedication to every book of mine you work on.

Kim, I’m so happy with how this cover turned out. Thank you for always being such a lovely, kind person to work with. Your patience and dedication is never taken for granted!

Alison, thank you for another fantastic proof. It’s always valuable to get a fresh perspective and a new set of eyes on the final version, and I really appreciate your thoroughness and dedication!

Finally, thank you to all my amazing readers. I hope you enjoyed Holden and Cassia’s story and I so appreciate you giving a book of mine a chance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR