I pushed that thought aside. No, I wouldn’t lose her. Caley was already mine whether she realized it or not. I loved her, and now, she knew. She didn’t have to be afraid of facing the world on her own or being alone after settling everything with Joey.

She was mine, and I was about to mark her as mine.

We walked into my bedroom, and I closed the door behind us. I could feel her body trembling as I brushed against her.

“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered as I rested my hands on her shoulders and rubbed gently.

“How can I not be?” she whispered back.

“Because you’re with me,” I told her. “You never have to be afraid when I’m near.”

I leaned forward and tenderly kissed the back of her neck. I wanted her to know how much she was loved. I needed her to understand that.

She sighed, and her body slowly started to relax as I kissed a path up her neck to her ear. I turned her so that she was facing me. Her eyes were wide, frightened. I kissed both of her eyelids and then her nose as I moved her backward to my bed.

When the back of her legs hit the bed, I gently pushed her down until she lay flat on top of my sheets. I kissed her, soft at first. Then, finally caving to my need, I kissed her harder. My hands found her hair, and I ran my fingers through the silky strands. She sighed against my lips, her body going slack beneath me. Finally, she was relaxed.

I stood and pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it aside. Her eyes widened as she stared at my naked chest.

“Don’t stare like you’ve never seen it. I saw you watching me earlier when I was mowing,” I teased.

Her face heated, but she didn’t respond. I fought a grin at the sight of her blushing. In some ways, she was still so innocent. Silently, she watched as I pulled her shoes off and dropped them next to the bed.

When I reached for the button on her jeans, she tensed up again.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I assured her as I undid the button and then the zipper.

“Ethan, I’ve never…” She trailed off.

I raised an eyebrow. “You have a child. Don’t tell me you’ve never had sex.”

She shook her head. “Of course I have. It’s just…I’ve never been naked in front of anyone, except for him.”

“I assumed as much,” I said. When she raised an eyebrow, I went on to explain, “Well, you’ve been with him since high school, and you’ve never hit me as the type who sleeps around.”

“I’m not,” she said, as if she felt the need to defend herself.

“Shh, I know.” I slowly pulled her jeans off and let them fall to the floor. I felt my dick harden as I laid my eyes on her black satin panties. They were simple but sexy as fuck.

I reached up and took her hands in mine, pulling her up until she was sitting on the bed. I grabbed the bottom of her shirt and lifted it up and over her head, discarding it into the growing pile of clothing at my feet. She instantly tried to cover herself with her hands and arms, blocking as much of her chest and stomach as she could.

“Please don’t be shy,” I told her. “It’s only the two of us here.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m ruining this for you.”

I shook my head. “Not at all. I know we have to take our time. I’m willing to go as slow as you need me to.”

“I’m afraid you’ll look at me and turn away.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“My stomach. It’s not flat, and I have stretch marks from Amelia.” Another tear slid down her cheek. “My boobs aren’t perky anymore. Pregnancy took that, too.”

I was stunned into silence as I watched her cry. She made sure to shield every inch of herself that she possibly could. For the first time, I realized just how broken the girl in front of me was.

“Hey,” I said as I knelt down in front of her so that I could look her right in the eyes, “you’re beautiful, Caley, inside and out.”

“Right.” She hiccupped.

I reached forward and tugged her arms away from her body. The look of horror on her face broke my heart.

“Lie back,” I instructed.

She shook her head, her arms straining against my grip. “No, don’t make me. Please.”

“Caley, lean back,” I said, using a tone that left no room for argument.

Reluctantly, she obliged. Once she was lying on her back, I drank her in. God, she was beautiful, and she had absolutely no idea. In that moment, I hated Joey more than I ever had. He’d belittled her until she saw absolutely nothing in herself.

My eyes gazed over her body, stopping at her midsection. Small white lines went across her stomach and sides. They were there but barely noticeable.

“Is this what you’ve been worried about?” I ran my finger over one of them.

She shivered. “Yes.”

I leaned forward and placed a kiss on her stomach. She jerked, shocked at my action.

“This is beautiful, Caley. These marks…they mean something. You brought a child into this world. To me, that’s far more important than flawless skin or a completely flat stomach. You’re perfect the way you are. I just wish you’d realize that.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear.

I sat up, so I could look at her. “No need to apologize. I’m going to keep telling you how beautiful you are. Every single day, I’m going to say those words to you. One day, you’re going to look at yourself and realize just how perfect you are. And when that day comes, I’m going to be right there with you. You’re mine, Caley, and I’m going to give you the world.”

I lowered my head and deeply kissed her, eliciting a moan from her. I lowered my body until it rested on top of hers. The feel of her naked skin against mine sent my need into overdrive. I had to have this woman, or I might explode.

I kissed a trail from her lips down to her neck and to the top of her bra. Her breathing grew heavier with each kiss. Unable to hold back any longer, I unsnapped her bra, thanking my lucky stars that it clasped in the front, and I tossed it away from us. My mouth was on her nipple before she could even process the fact that her bra was gone.

I cupped both of her breasts in my hands as I sucked on her nipple. Her body bucked underneath me, showing me just how much she was enjoying what I was doing. I released her nipple before kissing a trail down her stomach, making sure to kiss every little mark within my path.

Carefully, I pulled her underwear down. She kicked them aside without a second thought.

I stared down at her, fully naked and wanting, on my bed. So many times, I’d imagined this moment. My imagination hadn’t done her justice, not at all.

I ran my hand down her chest and stomach to the place I desired the most. My fingers found her entrance and slid inside without hesitation. She gasped as my thumb found her nub, and I pressed against it. I withdrew my fingers before plunging them deep inside her again.

She writhed and jerked underneath me. Her eyes were closed as she had a look of pure ecstasy etched into her features. Before long, she was unraveling before me. The sounds she made as she gripped my sheets had me unbuckling my jeans with one hand as I coaxed her through her orgasm with the other.

When her body finally stilled, I stood and pulled my jeans and boxers off. I opened my nightstand drawer and pulled out a condom, ripping the packet open as soon as I had it in my hand. Her eyes scanned up and down my body before stopping on my cock. She watched as I slid the condom on, and she simply stared. She didn’t look afraid any longer. She had a look that told me exactly what she wanted, what she needed. I was more than happy to give her just that.

I covered her body with mine and positioned myself at her entrance. “Are you ready?”

She nodded as she rested her hands on my shoulders. I quickly slid into her, unable to hold back any longer. The moment I completely filled her was a memory I knew I’d never forget. Her warm pussy enveloped me, pulling me deeper within her. She was tight, something that took me a moment to adjust to.