She clenched down on me tight, tight enough to send me over the edge.

At the very last second, I pulled out, watched as my cum landed on her ass.

I was torn, wanting to stay inside of her, plant my seat deep, but equally thrilled by seeing my cum on her skin.

Why not both? I thought.

Still hard, I thrust into her again, then held her tight as I finished inside her.

Elias

“I have business tonight,” I said later that evening.

“Oh. Then I’ll go,” Kayla said, sitting up from where she had been lounging on my bed.

She hadn’t asked about doing any more deals and hadn’t stopped contradicting me when I mentioned the engagement. I liked that, and even though we had been nearly inseparable over these past weeks, there were certain boundaries in our relationship that hadn’t been crossed.

She got up, clearly intending to leave, and I instantly rejected the idea of her doing so.

“Stay,” I said.

I wanted her here.

Wanted to be able to see her when I walked through the door, find the relief and peace that only she brought me.

“Even though you’re not going to be here?” she asked.

“Yeah. Stay. Take a bath, do whatever. I’ll be back later,” I said.

I braced myself, waiting for her to argue, but then she smiled. “You stay safe,” she said.

I kissed her on the forehead and then stood.

“Always,” I said, and then I left.

Twenty

TWENTY

Kayla

Of all the things I had expected today, a sleepover at Elias’s hadn’t been one.

I’d slept with him before, but being there when he wasn’t…that was entirely different.

But for once in my life, I didn’t want to analyze it, didn’t want to jinx it.

Instead, I would just let myself enjoy it.

I needed that, the break from the stress and worry about my father.

I hoped he would listen to me, hoped that his health scare would shake some sense into him.

But I knew, deep inside that it wouldn’t.

My father was a good man, decent, kind. But he was also stubborn, and he certainly wouldn’t listen to his little girl.

All I could do was be there for my parents and hope that he saw reason.

But for now, I was going to enjoy this bathtub.

I settled into the water, which I had perfumed, and closed my eyes.

Elias had said the debt was forgiven, but he was still insisting on this engagement.

I hadn’t brought it up, having been distracted, but I knew we would have to settle that soon.

I also hadn’t worn his grandmother’s ring unless he forced me to.

It meant nothing to him, but it did mean something to me.

I didn’t feel right wearing it, knowing there was nothing behind it.