He’s bigger than the vibrator. More. He wraps around me, the hard wall at my back cool in comparison to his heat.

I climb higher and higher, until—

“Austin!” I burst into a climax so intense it radiates outward, to my fingers and toes, and then back to my core as my walls clench.

“Fuck, that’s so tight. You’re killing me.”

“It’s so good,” I moan. Because it is.

“That’s it, my Carly. Come. Come for me.”

Austin continues to thrust as I let the last threads of my climax tingle through me. With each plunge, he buries himself more deeply inside me, and I feel everything last millimeter of him as I pulse around him.

“Fuck,” he grits out. “Fuck!”

He thrusts hard, and I’m so in sync with him that I feel him swell inside me before he holds himself deep and lets go. A deep, guttural growl escapes his chest as he slaps a hand against the wall beside my head.

I’m breathing hard, little aftershocks of pleasure pulsing through me. I want to stay like this forever. Held up and protected by him. Feeling him inside me. The two of us connected as one.

He stays there for a moment, embedded deep, his forehead wet from perspiration, and he leans against me, his eyes closed. Lost.

Another moment, and he pulls away slightly, helping my feet to the ground. His rough palms rake over my body. My shoulders, my breasts, waist. Hips, thighs.

I still when he comes in contact with the raised marks.

“Carly…” he says softly.

“Austin,” I reply.

“We need to talk about those scars.” His fingers stroke over one of them.

Just like that, I’m jerked out of my orgasmic bliss. He heads to the bathroom to deal with the condom, which doesn’t take long enough.

I shake my head when he returns. “Please. Not now. I thought—”

He kisses my lips—just a light brushing—and then takes my hand and leads me to the bed. He sits down and pats the area beside him.

“I’m okay,” I say, as if he’ll hopefully accept that as the answer and move on to round two.

“I know you are. And you’re beautiful to me.”

Why do we have to do this?

We’re naked. On a bed. Not having sex.

“Every part of you,” he continues. “But if you need to talk about any of it—”

I shake my head. “I don’t, not with you.”

He takes my hand, entwines our fingers together. “I’m falling hard for you, Carly Vance, and I need to know.”

He’s so wonderful…and I’m such a mess.

But when Austin Bridger looks at me, I don’t feel scarred. I don’t feel like… less than whole. I don’t feel damaged.

I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

“You can help just by being yourself,” I tell him. “That’s what no one seems to understand. What would help me the most is if everyone would just treat me like a normal person. I’m not just talking about you. I mean my parents, Lexie, Chance, everyone. Yes, I’ve been through hell, but I came out kicking, and I’m ready to just be normal again.”