“Kiddo, I’d let you brand me with a hot iron if you wanted to.”“Still a sucker for punishment?”He grinned. “Something like that.”

“If he truly wanted me to let everything go, I’d flip over and ride him right there on the range. Screw golf, I’d screw him instead.”

“Hey, kiddo,” Dex whispered. “It’s just me.”

“Okay,” she drew out. “Let me rephrase that. Did you sleep with Sage yet?”I blushed furiously. She smacked my leg and exclaimed, “I knew it! I could smell it on you.”“You can smell it on me?”She grinned. “When I was hugging you, yeah. Your chest smelled like cologne and man tongue.”

“I know what I know of you," he whispered into my ear, his breath hot. "And I want to know more.”

“You know,” he began, voice low and full, “if you were to ever leave me, I’d come looking for you, on every street.” “You promise?” “Always.” And I knew he kept his promises.”

“I’m scared of him. I’m disgusted by the vile monster he becomes, this beast he lets out. But I still love him. I’d still do anything for him. I can’t just turn off my heart. I want to, I do, but I can’t. I love him with everything I have and I hate myself for it. Because it’s wrong to love him, I know. It’s so wrong.”