Sophie: Everything.

I have to see her regardless of the direction this conversation takes, so I climb out of bed and find a pair of clean sweats and a shirt. When I go to grab my keys off the key hook, it hits me my car is at the dorm. Shit. Not wanting to lose her while she’s willing to talk, I text Sophie back while I figure out what to do. Unsure of exactly the right words to say, I decide to go for the truth. I could very well scare her off, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take. Her apologizing is a big deal and I’m hopeful we’re making progress despite everything that went down.

Kipton: I miss you.

Sophie: I miss you too. I messed up.

Fuck it. I’ll run the entire way to her dorm if I have to. I jam my feet into my sneakers, not even bothering to undo the laces. Those precious seconds I need to save. Bounding down the stairs, I’m ready to get my girl. But when I open the front door, I freeze.

“Hey.”

“Sophie. How did you get here? What are you doing here?” I shut the door behind me and move closer to her, still keeping enough distance between us so she doesn’t run.

“I drove your car. I probably should have gotten your permission first, or told Cara I was taking it, but I needed to see you. Please don’t be mad.”

“Beautiful, I could give two shits about my damn car right now. All I care about is that you’re here.” Before I can say anything else, she breaks down and sobs into her hands. Her shoulders shake under the exertion of her emotions. “Come here, baby.” Without any coaxing, she willingly runs into my open arms holding on to me for dear life. Her small fists are filled with the fabric of my shirt, stretching it tightly across my back. I hold onto her, afraid she might change her mind at any second. I have no idea what made her come here, but I’m thankful she ran to me this time instead of away.

I let her cry for as long as she needs—until she’s able to talk. When she shivers from the cooler night air, I risk speaking. “Sophie, will you come inside with me?”

“Yes.” She sniffles and wipes her tears with her sleeve, but doesn’t let go of me entirely. I’m more than okay with that. “Were you asleep?” She softly asks.

“No. I was staring at the ceiling thinking about you.”

“You were?” Her surprise is shining in her big blue eyes.

“Pathetic, huh?” She shakes her head no and I smile. “Is it okay if we go to my room? It’s still a mess down here from the party.”

“That’s fine.” She holds onto my arm until we get to the stairs. She lets go of me reluctantly, but I keep my hands on her the entire way up.

Inside my room the mood shifts the second I close the door. Before I can even contemplate what to say first, she’s on me. Assuming she needs me as much as I have missed her, I don’t waste a second getting her undressed. She’s tugging on my shirt, unable to lift it over my head by herself thanks to our significant height difference. After I toss my shirt onto the floor, I finish undressing her and kick off my sneakers. Picking her up, I place her in the center of my bed where she looks beautiful with her blond hair cascading over my black sheets—a few strands covering her chest. “Hurry, I need you, Kipton.”

Removing my pants and boxers, I quickly slide on a condom. Resting on top of her, I can’t go any farther until I make sure this isn’t about sex. “Look at me, beautiful.” She turns her head and stares into my eyes so intensely I feel the energy between us. I need her. “I’ll give you what you want, but you have to promise me you won’t run afterward. Can you do that?” I pray she says yes because I want her too damn much to stop.

Slowly she blinks as I wait for her answer. “I’m done running, Kipton.”

Her words are music to my ears. I should make sure she’s ready for me, but I’m greedy. Slamming into her, she cries out in what I hope is ecstasy and not pain. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. Don’t stop.”

“You’re mine, Sophie. Do you hear me? Mine.”

She moans softly and closes her eyes as her head tips back in pleasure. While I love watching her come undone beneath me, I need her to look at me. “Baby, eyes.” They open and as her gaze meets mine again, I see the emotion as much as I feel it in our connection.

“Kipton,” she moans. “Harder. I need you.”

I pump into her harder, wanting her to feel as incredible as I do. “You have me beautiful. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

She nods her head and grabs onto my shoulders as we create a steady rhythm. Back and forth, in and out, each minute better than the last. Before long her nails dig into my arm as she shutters and cries out. Watching her come is the most erotic moment I’ve ever experienced. Whether it’s because it’s her, or because I need her so damn much; I’m positive I don’t want to be without her. It only takes me another few seconds before I lose control, pushing into her one last time.

Once we’re both completely sated and satisfied, I roll onto my back, taking her with me. I’m not ready to break our connection, so I hold her close to me, staying inside her for as long as she’ll let me.

Neither of us speaks a word as we float back down to earth. At first it’s peaceful bliss, but soon the silence becomes stifling. As tired as I am, she needs to tell me what brought her here in the first place. An hour ago she needed more time. I need to know what changed since then.

With her lying on top of me, I cover the two of us with the sheet so she doesn’t get cold. Running my fingers up and down her back, she nuzzles her cheek into my chest. Her hair smells like her flowery shampoo and it’s quickly become my favorite scent. “What’s going on, beautiful?”

She trembles, but answers, “I needed to see you. I tried to sleep after we talked, but I couldn’t.”

“I’m glad you came here.”

She smiles against my skin. “I bet you are.”

She jerks her hips and contracts around me causing me to groan from the sensation. I’m ready for another round, but we need to talk this out first. Focusing on the conversation instead of her body, I respond. “No, Sophie. It’s more than sex for me and you know it.”

She nods in understanding. “I know it is. I had a fight with your sister.”

“About what?” I’m not sure I want to know the details of their girlie drama, but if it was enough for her to run to me, then I want her to open up. Her body tenses and stiffens up before I realize she’s crying again. Her tears slowly splash onto my chest and slide down my arms. She’s been through so much shit the past few weeks, I desperately want to take away her pain—but I have no idea where to begin.

“I can’t tell you. I’m not crazy though. I swear.”

“Beautiful, I already know you’re not crazy. Please talk to me.” I wait for her to lead into conversation, but she’s still hesitant. Hugging her even tighter, she’s so fragile in my arms, but she’s the same Sophie I’ve fallen for over and over again.

“I can’t stop, Kipton. It started again at the diner, but then it was just like all those years. Over and over, I did it again and again. I let my family and my insecurities win again. Everything about it is wrong and I’ve worked so hard to move past it, but I fell right back into the same pattern. Now Cara hates me. She screamed at me, Kipton.”

“Stop what, Sophie? Why is Cara upset?”

My phone rings on top of my nightstand. I want to ignore it, but considering it’s Cara, I have no choice. Reluctantly, I ease out of Sophie as she clings to me. I hold her hand and as I’m about to place a kiss on her wrist I notice some dried blood. Before I let my mind wander to where it came from, I lean over and answer my phone. “She’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere for her; scoured every inch of the dorm before I noticed she took your car. We need to find her!”

“Cara, slow down. Sophie’s here. I have no idea what’s going on yet, but someone needs to fill me in. You’re both freaking me out.”