His relief was evident only in the way his grip on her lessened. His face still held a million and one emotions and questions. He licked his lips and shifted from one foot to the other. “You didn’t?”

“Never, Carter.”

His eyes moved down her body. It wasn’t in the sexual way Kat had started to grow used to; instead, it was as though he was seeing her for the first time since he’d twisted her into the books.

“You didn’t,” he whispered finally, apparently seeing what he needed. He took an unsteady step back, releasing Kat, and stared at her in a way that made her want to laugh and cry all at the same time. He was worn and weary, having become the complete antithesis of the raging creature he had been. Kat stood up straight and made to take a step toward him.

Carter put his palm up to stop her. His eyes dropped to her feet. “Don’t,” he said with a frown. “I’m … I … Just stay there.”

Even though it broke her heart, Kat stepped back. She stood, watching Carter slowly morph back into the man she knew. The tightness of his jaw dissolved, along with the tension across his shoulders, but the sadness in his eyes remained.

“I didn’t know,” he muttered. “I didn’t know you knew him. That you—”

“He’s not important—”

“You had dinner with him.” Carter jutted out his chin, daring her to deny it.

Kat pressed her lips into a tight line. “There was a group of us. For my birthday. It wasn’t like a date or anything—”

“He drove you home,” Carter added. Kat dipped her chin in affirmation and Carter’s face scrunched as though suffering a raging headache. “You were alone with him.”

Kat bit her lip while her hands fisted at her waist. How stupid she had been to keep this from him. She’d cursed her family for not being truthful, and she’d done the exact same thing to the most important person in her life. She was no better than they were.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I only found out that you were related at my grandmother’s last week.”

He looked toward the ceiling. “Did anything happen?”

Kat exhaled. The sound was the only confirmation she gave.

“You kissed him?”

Her eyes met his briefly as she whispered a tiny “Yes.”

Carter’s head snapped back. He hit it hard against the large books behind him. “Shit.”

“Carter.” Kat took a tentative step forward. “Please, talk to me.”

“There’s nothin’ to talk about,” he retorted, glaring over her head.

“There’s plenty to talk about,” Kat said firmly. “You’re upset, and I want to make it right. You have to let me explain.”

“Explain what?” Carter snapped. “Explain that while I was in prison, wanting you more than I’ve wanted anything in my life, you were allowing my cousin to stick his filthy tongue down your throat?”

“Hey!” Kat took another step while pointing a finger in his face. “That isn’t fair. I didn’t know he was your cousin, and I didn’t know you wanted me! You treated me like a goddamn pariah every time I saw you. How the hell would I know?”

Carter avoided her stare and toed the floor petulantly.

Kat dropped her finger as his words sank into her heart … wanting you more than I’ve wanted anything … Had he wanted her that much even then? She moved closer and placed her hands timidly on his hips. “Carter.” She moved her hands to his shoulders. “Look at me.”

He ignored her. His hands had turned into fists so tight his knuckles were white. Kat’s hands continued moving to his neck, which was flushed with his temper, up to his sharp jaw, covered in the rough stubble that had marked her so wonderfully.

“Carter, look at me.” Kat pulled his face to hers. His eyes rested on her chin. “Please.”

He shifted once more, slouching so that Kat was no longer on her tiptoes. His eyes moved up her face slowly. He stared at her, not speaking. He eventually moved his hands to her waist, squeezing her once before closing his eyes.

“I hate that he’s touched you,” he whispered.

“He hasn’t.”

A mystified expression crossed his face. Kat rubbed her hand down his temple.

“No one has ever touched me like you.” She drew her nose across his chin, breathing in his rich scent. “No one has ever kissed me like you.”

“Kat,” Carter whimpered, placing his forehead against hers.

“I never wanted him.”

“Peaches.”

“Carter, listen to me,” she urged, taking his hands. “I liked him; he was charming.” Carter made to pull away, but Kat held firm. “And yes, we kissed. But do you know why we didn’t do more? Why I couldn’t do more? Why every time he asked me out, I avoided giving him an answer?”

Carter stared at the floor.

“Ask me why.”

A soft groan rumbled in his throat. “Why?”

“Because every time I was with him, every single time he touched me, I thought of you.”

Carter’s eyes were desperate to believe her, but something in the way his mouth twitched and his eyebrow lifted told her he was doubtful.

“It’s the truth,” she added. “I promise you. I wanted you, too. For so long. I still want you so much. I …”

“What?”

“I’m so sorry that he upset you and made you hate me.”

“I don’t hate you,” he admonished. “I couldn’t. It’s him I hate. I hate what he stands for—his greed, his pretentious arrogance, and the fact that since we were kids, he’s wanted things of mine he has no fucking right to want.”

The double meaning in his words wrapped around Kat’s lungs. Mine.

Quietly, Carter told her what had happened at the meeting, detailing Austin’s intentions to remove Carter from the company he legally owned.

“Austin and I never got along,” he explained. “Adam and I are closer in age so, when we ever did see each other as kids, we’d play together. Austin was the firstborn of our generation, the one to take over the company from our grandfather. He was groomed for it and became cocky and arrogant. Even at the age of fifteen he was a smart-mouthed prick.

“I remember one particular day,” he continued, “when my mom had taken me from my dad for the weekend; we were at my grandparents’ house, which was a fucking nightmare anyway because my grandfather couldn’t stand the sight of me.”

Carter shook his head.

“My grandmother was completely different. She was cool. She would bake cookies and buy me awesome presents for Christmas and birthdays. She was the reason why we spent so much time at their house. My mom would dump me there, and my grandmother and I would hang out.” Carter scratched his head. “I think it was Thanksgiving. Austin started the minute he arrived. He was a smart motherfucker. He was never obvious with his little comments about how I wasn’t wanted, how he’d heard from my aunt that I was a disappointment to the whole family. He was relentless. Adam just stood there, not saying a word. When it was just the two of us, he’d apologize for his brother, but never in front of him.”

Carter smiled wryly. “Nothing fucking changes. The little comments about my father, and the fact that I was more or less a dirty little secret, went on for the whole weekend. And eventually I snapped. I punched him in the face. He hit the floor, but I couldn’t stop. I punched, smacked, kicked at him, and the whole time, all I could think was that I wanted him to hurt just as much as I did. My grandfather pulled me off him, and he got a couple of slaps for his troubles. Until he slapped me back. He said I should have been given away, and that I would do nothing but bring shame on the family. Just like I had done since the day I was conceived.”

“Oh, Carter,” Kat whispered, placing her hand on his neck.

“My grandmother went bat-shit crazy.” Carter laughed lightly. “I think I get my temper from her.” Kat smiled. “She took me from him and we went to her beach house.” He paused, lost in the memory. “She cried. I remember, she cried and apologized. I didn’t know why she was apologizing. She hadn’t done anything wrong.” Carter looked down at his hands and shook his head. “I hated seeing her cry.”