I raised a hand between us, set it on his chest. I could feel the steady thump of his heart beneath my palm. “Stop.”

He ran his fingers over his beard. “Stop? Are you serious? Your father… Jesus, he used you.”

“I never said that,” I countered.

“You didn’t have to. It’s obvious to me. While you might have a pretty good poker face, you can’t hide from me.”

I shrugged, tipped up my chin and gave him a practiced smile. Hiding everything.

He waited, then ripped off his hat and set it in the nook where the phone used to be. He set the whiskey bottle on the bench seat. “Now I know why you’re the ice princess.”

The smile slipped. Barely. Then he grabbed my upper arms.

“He’s put you through hell, hasn’t he? You hide to protect yourself, but I see you.”

I widened my eyes in surprise, not that he was dangerous, but that this close, I saw how pissed he was. The fire in his eyes. I could feel it. It was for me.

He’d asked me to trust him. I couldn’t. He’d also offered his touch and I craved that. Not just the orgasms he gave me, but the connection. Needed someone right now. I was tired of being alone.

“Come on, princess. Melt for me.”

Melt for him.

Yes. I took what I wanted in this moment. I could take what he offered, but on my terms. I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed him. Hooked my hand around his neck. For a second, he didn’t move, didn’t respond, and then he was kissing me back. Rough. Wild. Our mouths opened, tongues tangled. I felt the soft rasp of his beard. Heads tilted to get even closer. His arms went around my back and lifted me up. My legs went around his waist, forcing the hem of my dress to slide up my thighs.

He took one step and pressed me into the wall.

His hands ran over me, cupping my breast, sliding down my hip, along my thigh. My dress went up and I felt it all. I’d never been so hot for someone before. So… desperate.

The escorts I fucked were skilled, knew exactly what they were doing. While I couldn’t say they’d faked it—their hard dicks couldn’t lie—it was only arousal. The need to orgasm that drove them. Also, the money.

They’d learned I couldn’t come with them. Took it as perhaps a female defect and let it go. They hadn’t understood like Jed had because their fragile egos wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Jed had handled it. Didn’t think it was a big deal. Didn’t think I was broken. Maybe wired differently, but he’d gotten me there just the same. Let me help.