“That’s where it comes from,” he muttered.

“Seeing him,” she kept going, “it reminds me that he got rid of me. Didn’t think about it. Threw me away. And that was devastating. I honestly didn’t know if I’d survive it. At the time. But I’d been with him a long time and the blinders were pulled off. I had a baby in my belly, which made it worse. And I had nothing but a lot of furniture and a settlement that was such a joke, it’s not funny. I was just too young and stupid and scared not to know it was just that. So that was that. But what I have with you, if the same happened, what would I do? What would Travis do? I lost a bad husband that I’d eventually figure out was bad and maybe down the road would have wanted to lose. But that’s never going to happen with you.”

“No, it fucking isn’t.”

Her chin jerked back at his words.

Or maybe it was his tone.

He didn’t give a fuck what it was. He wasn’t done talking.

“I get you see him, and with him fuckin’ with your head, this all surfaces, and I get that’ll fuck with you. But, Carissa, I am not him.”

“Of course,” she whispered.

“I want your pussy free and open to me. I wanna come inside you so you actually got my cum inside you and I want that in a way I know I’m gonna keep wantin’ that. No way in fuck I’d want that, take it, and fuck someone else too. That shit isn’t happening. You’re it for me. I thought I made that clear.”

“Well… you did.”

She gave him that.

He still wasn’t done talking.

“Man like me is not gonna live without pussy, Carrie. So I want yours exclusive, and long term that means I want you both those ways and I don’t want you just because I wanna fuck you. I want you. Thought I made that clear too.”

“Uh… well, you did.”

“Then let that other shit go.”

“I… okay.” She held his eyes and asked hesitantly, “Are you, um… angry with me?”

“No, I’m pissed at him for fuckin’ with your head so you’re not lyin’ under me in my tee at peace with the knowledge that you’re the whole package. Hot piece of ass. Totally fuckin’ cute. An absolute goofball. Sweet. Kind. Funny. Stubborn. Sassy. The best mom there could be. The kind of package guys would give their dicks to keep right,” he pressed into her, “here.”

“Oh,” she whispered.

“And I’d prefer to have easy with you as often as I can get it, but I’m thinkin’ I got work to do to get you to that place and he gave me that but most of all he gave you that and like I said, that pisses me off.”

“Um… well, just to say, your colorful way of sharing all this has been quite educational in that arena.”