“I won’t be yours for long if I don’t get back home soon. My parents will kill me if they find out I snuck out.”

We’d actually gone on our date earlier to the movies but a few hours after returning me home, I’d heard the first tap on my window. When I asked what he was doing at my window so late, he had charmingly declared that he couldn’t wait to see me again. I had melted right there against the windowsill and didn’t care who might see.

“If my queen wishes… but first things first…”

“What’s that?” I could literally feel my heart race with excitement at the look in his eyes. It was a look I was quickly becoming accustomed to seeing. Sometimes, he would just stare at me as if unwilling to let me go so he kept me captive with his eyes.

“Have you ever kissed anyone?”

Should I lie or tell the truth? Would he think I was a loser if I told him the truth? Would he think I was a slut if I didn’t?”

“If you’re thinking about lying to me, I would love it if you didn’t. Whatever your answer is, I will still want you.”

For the second time tonight, I melted. I realized that with Keenan, it was a constant state of being. “No, I haven’t ever.”

The wide, boyish smile that graced his lips put me at ease. His hand boldly slid up my front. My dress bunched slightly. All the while, I anticipated the moment he would touch my… ribs?

His hand stopped there to pull me closer before skipping over my breasts entirely and gripping my neck. “Can I be your first?”

I barely finished nodding before his lips brushed mine in the softest caress. It was a feeling I would never forget and one I’d hope to never lose.

* * * * *

PRESENT

They say true love’s kiss is the most powerful sign of love in the world. It’s the moment when you find the person to who you are meant to trust the rest of your life.

Nothing was ever said of life ending on a balcony because of true love.

While I had lived, true love died.

“You tried to kill me,” I shuddered. I’d come to on his bed. He sat on the edge, watching me.

“You lied to me even when the lie meant our daughter. I should have killed you.”

“Eric doesn’t know about Ken. He’s never even met her.”

“How noble of you, but that doesn’t change things. While I couldn’t kill you, I promised you’d be sorry for lying to me. It was a promise I was prepared to fulfill because I know you, Shelly. That means I know when you’re lying.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What I should have done four years ago when you told me no. I’m taking you prisoner. Take a look around, my love. This is your cage.” He magically produced a set of handcuffs. “Are you going to make me use these? You could consider them your wedding ring. “

“Keenan, this—”

“Beg.”

“What?”

“If you want to be set free, the only thing I care to hear from your lips is the sound of you begging. I’m not interested in anything else.”

“Please.”

“That’s more like it,” he smugly replied.

“I wasn’t finished.” I’d snapped, but I couldn’t care about the consequences. “I meant please spare me your jealous rage. You don’t seem to be much of a forward thinker. They will look for me.”

“You haven’t been paying attention, have you?”

“What am I supposed to be paying attention to?”

“They’re hoping we have a chance of falling in love again and think we need some alone time.”

He stood from the bed, pocketed the cuffs, and made his way for the door. I sat up and ran after him, but he managed to shut and lock the door. I pulled and tugged and beat on the door, hoping it would give. When my throat had finally grown hoarse from screaming, I rested against the door, too weak to move away.

I had to get out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

KEENAN

“NO WAY! I am not playing babysitter. Your bitch of a girlfriend hates me, remember?” The next morning, I had called Di over and had been trying to convince her to play guard.

“Don’t call her a bitch and you won’t need to speak to her. I just need you to bring her food three times a day. The master bath is accessible to her. I may only be gone a few hours, but this is just a precaution.”

“Oh, God. We’ve just gravitated from stalking to kidnapping.”

“Don’t grow a conscience on me now, and I’ve never stalked anyone.

“No? What do you call sending me back to spy on a town full of people you abandoned four years ago?”

“I paid you so why does it matter?”

“I didn’t need your money, which you have been well aware of since the moment we almost fucked on it.”

“But you took it anyway. Look, I’m asking you this as a favor. You won’t be mixed up in anything.”

“So what are you going to tell your big, bad brother when he finds out she’s missing?”

“I’m going to tell him the truth.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea? Scratch that. Clearly, you aren’t concerned about making smart decisions. What if he tries to stop you?”

“He won’t. He knows better than that.”

“I kind of got the impression that Keiran isn’t afraid of much, least of all you.”

I couldn’t tell if she meant it as a warning or insult. Knowing Di, it was the latter. “He’s not invincible.”

“Wow.” Di shook her head and for a moment, she looked worried. “You’re really going to do it, aren’t you?”

“Do what?”

“You’re going to try and build a wall against everyone who cares about you. As a friend, I have to be honest and tell you that you’re going to lose.”

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

“Just keeping it real.”

“Before this gets any more real, I need another favor.”

* * * * *

Keith met me in the building’s garage, and I tossed him the keys to Keiran’s ride. I hopped in the car I had purchased a couple of years ago but never really used. An hour later, we were pulling up to the resort. Beach goers already littered the beach even at the early hour.

“Wait here,” I instructed Keith.

He absently nodded as he inspected the beach likely looking for his next groupie. The man was a bigger whore than I ever was.

I had knocked on Keiran’s door for ten minutes before he answered the door appearing very much awake, dressed in loose sweatpants and dripping with sweat.

“You had me standing out here for ten minutes so you could finish fucking?”

“What do you want?” he asked.

“My kid.”

The tension between us was palpable only when we were alone. I had the feeling Lake had something to do with that. For someone who mercilessly tormented, taunted, and belittled, he did any and everything he could to keep her happy. If she so much as broke a nail, he would be ready to murder an entire city.

“She’s down at the beach with Q and Jesse.”

“Are they her nursemaids? Where is Dash?”

“She knows them—better than you even. Dash had to go back. His father demanded his presence for some business dealings.”

“Jeez, he doesn’t let him breathe much, does he? He’s going to pay for not going to Yale or Harvard for the rest of his life.”

“Dash is a big boy. He can handle his father.”

“By being at his constant beck and call?”

“Hi, Keenan,” Lake interrupted. She ducked under Keiran’s arm with only his t-shirt to cover her. He scowled down at her head and then at me when he caught me purposely ogling her legs. “Where’s Sheldon?”

“She’s tied up at the moment.” I meant it as a secret joke, but judging by the frowns on their faces and suspicious looks, it didn’t go over their head as I had hoped.

“Is she okay?” she asked slowly.

“She’s fine. Don’t you trust me?”

“No,” they said simultaneously.

“Oh, look at you two. You’re practically finishing each other’s sentences.”

Keiran pulled Lake inside by her waist to her annoyance and growled, “Fuck off, Keenan.”