The Scheme

With one more flick of my tongue, her body convulsed, contractions overtaking her. She was too gone in ecstasy as I crawled up and kissed her mouth, moans of pleasure rippling through her.

This was a small success, but I was determined.

I’d cherish this girl, make love to her over and over again until she understood the magnitude of my feelings for her. I’d eradicate any memories of any man who’d ever hurt her, replacing them in her mind with new memories of us and convincing her to trust me.

***

KENDY

When my orgasm slowly died down, he trailed kisses up my body, meeting my lips. I trusted him. I did. And as he slowly made his way on top of me, my knees fell to the sides and I cradled him between my legs.

His kisses felt heavenly. I’d never been to Heaven, but I was pretty sure this was how it would feel—heart overflowing with sensation, love, and pure joy.

I could feel his hard length against my stomach as he entwined our hands together. With my free hand, I threaded my fingers through his hair, loving the thump of his heartbeat against mine, as though we were one, and I stifled a cry as the enormity of the emotions flooded my insides.

He stared deeply into my eyes, and I knew I was his. Words didn’t have to be spoken to know he loved me, and though I’d been trying to deny it, trying to fool myself into thinking our relationship was purely physical, the deepest part of me knew it wasn’t. Our co

He traced a finger from my brow to my temple, then to my chin. The look of adoration in his eyes clearly showed he was enamored with me.

I was hypnotized by him, my skin tingling where he touched, draining all my doubts and fears away. I had never felt so cherished, and a euphoric feeling washed over me, like there was nothing in the world that existed except the two of us.

Then out of nowhere, he said, “I love you.” It was effortless, like he’d known it all along.

I gulped, my heart beating faster in my chest. Normally, I’d be afraid, but . . . I wasn’t. I couldn’t be, because I found that I trusted him. Brian’s purity was putting me back together somehow, making me whole.

I released a soft sigh, noting the panic-ridden Kendy was no longer present, and I lowered my hand and ran it up and down his length, feeling his cock twitch between us. I positioned him at my entrance, wanting nothing between us. I was on the pill, and I knew we were good about getting tested on an a

As his eyes filled with such unyielding love, he thrust inside me without restraint, and I gasped. I bit my lip as he cradled my cheek with his palm. The act was so gentle, so tender, tears threatened to spill over. I’d never been handled this carefully, and I knew in the deepest part of my being that Brian could never hurt me the way Cole had. He wasn’t perfect, but maybe . . . maybe he was perfectly made for me.

His lips moved to mine as he continued to move above me, filling me with an amazing sense of completeness. My eyes fell shut at his fullness, which caused my body to prickle with sensation. Every move increased the hypersensitivity of my body.

“Open your eyes,” he said huskily.

I looked up at him and felt overwhelmed by what I saw, by his presence inside me, surrounding me. As he peered down, he continued to tell me how much he loved me, how I was so perfect, so beautiful. Not only did he tell me with words, but he showed me with each thrust of his body as his eyes smoldered with desire.

I let his words wash over me, fill me, and put the broken pieces of this girl back together.

Our passion flowed through me. We had this undeniable, intense co

He touched his forehead against mine, his movements becoming erratic as he pumped faster. “I want to come inside you.” His breath left him in broken huffs, and I could feel his restraint slipping.

Because he felt so damn good, and because I loved him, I answered, “Yes.”

“God, baby, you feel so amazing,” he grunted in the heat of passion. He rested his forehead against mine, and my eyes fell shut as I felt the contractions taking over. “I love you so damn much.” Such passion and emotion leaked from his voice.

And then—explosion.

I saw damn stars behind my eyes as he transported me to another planet. We came down together and, as he stilled and collapsed on top of me, I held him against my body, wrapping my legs around his waist in a tight vise, never wanting to be disco

Keeping us whole.

Keeping us one.

Keeping us together.

SEVENTEEN

KENDY

His arms were draped across my waist, and I watched the moonlight from the window cascade shadows on his face. I kept silent, watching him sleep soundly beside me as his eyelashes fluttered over his cheek when he exhaled.

Everything had changed tonight. I felt it when we touched, when he moved inside me. I’d been here once with Cole, but that had been before he’d taken my free will and forever changed my thoughts about love.

After that painful time in my life, I had sworn to never let a man control me, my body, or how I felt about anything. I was my own and would be no one else’s until I gave myself away in marriage. To James. Or so I’d thought.

Until tonight . . .

Doubts still plagued me. About my future. About Evangeline’s predictions.

Chaos ruled my mind and my heart, because tonight, something had happened between Brian and me. I’d relinquished control. I hadn’t held back. I’d let him have me, touching my heart in a place I’d locked up for a long time. And I didn’t know why.

Maybe it was him—his gentle spirit and his kindness, that was breaking free the exterior I’d spent a lifetime building up.

And though I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t anymore without lying to myself. I was in love with him. It felt foreign to admit that to myself, but it was true.

I touched my temple while closing my eyes, trying to reign in my thoughts and steady myself. With him, all my sanity flew out the door.

I had to remind myself that what I’d had in the past wasn’t normal, wasn’t real. This was real. History had tainted my view on life. I’d always treaded on the cautious side of being happy. Once I let myself feel happiness, I was always suddenly afraid things were too good to be true and all would come crashing down.

Not this time.

This was how love was supposed to be—uncontrollable, undeniable. I was in love with this man, and he loved me.

Let yourself be happy, Kendy. You deserve it.

Brian is no Cole.

My phone vibrated in my purse on the floor. I sat up as my eyes raked in the smexy man next to me—my man. I tilted toward him, mere inches from his face, and inhaled deeply before placing a light kiss on his lips.

As I reached for my phone, my pulse quickened when I saw fifteen missed calls and five missed texts from my mama. My adrenaline spiked and the worst possible thoughts crossed my mind. I hoped she was okay.

I swiped my finger against the screen, revealing a text.

Mom: Hanky Panky proposed and I accepted. Wanted my favorite girl to be the first to know. Call me back, Sweetie.

The words should’ve had me elated, but I wasn’t. I mean, I was. For her . . .

I went back and read the text.

Again.

And again, but more slowly.

My heartbeat thudded in my ears, and I squeezed the phone in my hand as hot tears prickled my eyes. Maybe if I stared at the text long enough, the message would read something different. But it didn’t.