She looks at me. “I saw pictures of you and thought you were the most beautiful boy I had ever seen.”

“Thank you.”

“They left me alone—well, most of the time. Sally used to come in the room and watch me sleep and sometimes read the Bible to me.” She smiles. “And she brought me food. A lot of food.”

“She liked to cook,” I say as I look down, reflecting on my time at the same fucking place.

“Yeah,” she says, looking down, too.

“You thought I was beautiful? Never heard that one before,” I try to joke.

“I still think so,” she whispers.

“Go on.” I rub my thumb across her knuckles.

“When I came home, everything changed.”

“I’m sorry. I really am.”

She stops and looks up at me like she’s trying to figure something out again. I hate that shit. It makes me feel like she sees me as weak. I’m not weak. She doesn’t know that, though. I haven’t shown her that.

“He’s beautiful,” she finally says, pulling the subject back to her son.

“So is his mother.”

“He’s been through a lot, you know.”

“So has his mom.”

“Yeah.” She looks down. “Yeah, and I need to be a better mom. Stronger.” She looks at me. “I bet you’re wondering how I got this job.”

“From the moment I saw you chasing Tales.”

She shakes her head. “I didn’t know what was on that card.”

“In the past, Sonya.”

She looks at me funny. “When did the present start?”

“At the beach, when I knew you didn’t want to kill me.”

She giggles. “You seriously thought I would kill you?”

“I still think you could.”

Her smile drops, and she shakes her head. “Never.”

“No?” I ask, leaning in, and she meets me halfway. “Good.” I lift her chin. “I really don’t give a damn how you got this job right now, Sonya, but if you want to tell me, feel free.”

“Um …”

“Maybe later?” I press my lips against hers, and hers press hard against mine. “Nothing ever tasted so good.”

I rub my lips back and forth against hers then lick across them. Her mouth opens to me, and I am all in. I taste her; she tastes me back. I pull the back of her neck toward me, and the fucking cap crunches, making her laugh into my mouth.

I capture her bottom lip between my teeth and bite down lightly, pulling her toward me. “That thing needs to go.”

“Uh-huh,” she says, coming toward me again.

“Uh-huh,” I mimic, moving left and kissing her cheekbone. “How long before I can be inside of you with nothing between us?”

“Now,” she moans.

“Hmm,” I say as I kiss lower down her throat, untying the belt around her robe.

The alarm goes off on her phone, and her lips purse out in a pout.

“I need to get rid of this cap.”

“Perfect. Let’s get it done.” I stand up and hold out my hand, which she takes, and then I pull her up.

“I can do it.”

“I think I would like to. You made these little noises when I was—” I pause. “Man, you better never tell anyone that shit.”

“We’re a secret. I couldn’t tell anyone if I wanted to.” She walks ahead of me, still holding my hand.

“We’re a secret because …?”

She shrugs. “My job.”

“Oh, yes, that’s right.”

She takes the plastic cap off her head, starts the water, and then bends over the sink. I watch as she rinses it with her hands.

“Let me help.” I grab the plastic cup and fill it with water before dumping it over her head as she works her long, thin fingers through the hair I desperately want in my hands.

“I think it’s good,” she says as she backs up, squeezing the excess water out of her hair.

She grabs the towel next to the sink and dries her hair. When she seems satisfied, she reaches for the brush, but I grab it first. I start in the back and run it through until the brush goes through without a snag.

“Turn around,” I say, and she does. I then lean down and kiss her quickly before lifting her and setting her on the counter. “Looks amazing. Why don’t you go to a salon? Wouldn’t it be easier?”

“I’m not a fan of going out, remember?”

“I’m glad you aren’t.”

“Right, because instead of doing what you came for, you got to be part of my crazy.”

“I actually enjoyed having my hands in your hair, Sonya. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to find this little beauty mark behind your ear that I need to take a taste of.” I push her hair to the side and turn her chin. “It’s right here,” I whisper as I kiss it.

Kissing it isn’t enough, though. I want my mouth on it, over it.

I caress it with my tongue, her taste, her scent, the warmth of her skin mixing together, causing me to get lost.

“Lips,” she pants.

“We’ll get there,” I say as I cup her perfect, little handful of breast.

I step back and pull the bathrobe slowly down her left shoulder, then bend and kiss my way down as I pull her arm from the sleeve. Each inch of skin I touch breaks out in goose bumps, and the strain of my cock against denim is nearly too much, but I am going to take my time. I want to taste her slowly, teasing myself and her.

I take her hand and lift my shirt. Then I hold her hand on my abs. “Don’t move it.”

“I won’t,” she whispers.

Once I pull my shirt over my head and toss it to the side, her fingers start to dance against my skin.

“You’re moving.”

“I can’t help myself,” she whispers as her finger slides back and forth under my waistband.

I kiss down her right arm, taking the robe off and letting it fall back on the counter as I go. “Then, by all means, take what you want.”

She unbuttons my jeans as she bites her lip, and the relief I feel as each button comes undone is nearly orgasmic.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

Her hand trembles, and I love it. I love driving her insane with want for me.

“Thinking about your mouth”—I rub my thumb across her lips—“about your perfect handful of the most delicious tits I have ever tasted.”

Her eyes pop up and meet mine. “You’ve seen a lot.”

“Yeah, but I can honestly say I can’t remember one of them, but yours, I remember.” I run my thumbs across her nipples as she struggles with the next button. “I can close my eyes and see your perfectly pink, little nipples and how they peak and get so hard for me.”

She grows frustrated and grumbles right before shoving her hand down my pants and pulling me free.

“It’s magnificent,” she says as she strokes me.

“Magnificent, huh?” I grab her ass and pull her to the end of the counter.

“Yes,” she pants as she pulls me toward her and rubs the head of my cock against her hot, wet slit.

“Sweetest pussy I’ve even tasted, Sonya. It’s becoming an addiction.”

“There are worse things.” She pulls me closer and moans as she rubs me harder against her.

Her legs wrap around me while I cup her ass.

“You got it where you want it?”

“Yes,” she whimpers as I push in slowly.

“Gotta go slow,” I groan. “It’s been years, Sonya—years since I needed it like this. I fucking need you bad. I want to feel how wet your tight, little pussy is for me. I want to feel your come slick my cock.”

“Yes.” She pushes slowly against me, her eyes rolling back.

“Hands behind your back on the counter. Hold yourself up. I’m gonna fuck you so good, Sonya. Tell me you want that. Tell me you crave my cock inside you. Fuck …” I hiss when she contracts around me.

“I think I’m gonna—”

“I fucking know you are.” I swivel, hitting her from a different angle.

She cries out as her head falls back, and I lean forward to get my mouth on her neck.

It’s ridiculous how badly I need my mouth on her. Insane how good she tastes. Crazy how badly I want to be inside her, near her. I fucking hate it and need it at the same damn time.

I rock into her almost fully, and she whimpers as her head lifts. Her eyes show me all I need to know—she’s right there with me. She’s just as hot for me as I am for her.