“Kipton?” I say his name in the form of a question, hoping he will explain why we’re hanging out in the car and not going inside to the party.

“Sophie.”

I twist my fingers in my lap, nervously. “Um. Do you need me to drive you somewhere?”

“No.”

These one word answers are killing me. “What’s wrong?” I need him to ease my fears.

“Do you see the treehouse atop the tree in the backyard?” I turn my head to the right. “No, the other side of the yard.”

I crane my neck to look in the other direction and spot it in the distance. It looks like it’s in the neighbor’s yard though. “Yes.”

“I want you to go wait for me inside.”

Is he serious? “I can’t climb a tree!”

“There’s slats nailed into the tree trunk to climb up. It’s safe.”

My heart is thumping in my chest. “Why aren’t you coming? What’s going on?”

“I need you to climb up and get completely naked for me. Then, lay down on the blankets. Can you do that for me?”

Holy shit. I clench my legs together, his directions adding to the anticipation of what’s to come. “I think so. But why can’t we go to your room? Where it’s warm.”

“Because I’m going to make you scream so loud, we need to be outside for the air to soak up your cries. After I finish, we can go inside and do it all over again if you want.” He leans close to my lips like he’s going to kiss me, but pauses. “But you’ll have to be quiet inside.”

“Quiet. Okay.” Right now I’ll do anything he asks. “Why though?” I’m positive I already know the answer, but I ask him anyway to torture myself.

He cups my chin in the palm of his hand. “Because I love you. And every inch of this gorgeous body. It’s mine and I don’t want you to ever doubt how much I want you, again.”

I try to duck my head, but he doesn’t let me. Instead, he forces me to look into his eyes. “You heard, didn’t you?”

“I heard every word and I’m glad I did, Sophie.”

“Oh.”

“And I’m so mad at myself for not giving you what you need—for making you doubt yourself.”

“Kipton, it’s okay. It’s nothing. I was making it a bigger deal than it is.”

“It’s everything. I need you, beautiful. There isn’t a moment of my day that I don’t spend wanting you. I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve made love to you. I was worried you weren’t ready after everything that’s happened. But now I know I was the one overthinking everything. I’m relieved I heard your conversation even if I should have hung up.”

“I always need you, Kipton. Please don’t ever think you’re too much for me to handle. You ground me. I feel my best when we’re together.”

He squeezes my hand in his. “I’ll always be your rock, baby.” He reaches over and unbuckles my seatbelt. After placing a tender kiss to my lips, the heat returns to his eyes. “You have five minutes to get ready for me.”

I don’t know if it’s the thrill of the moment, or the promise of what’s to come, but I can’t get out of the car fast enough. After stumbling over some loose gravel, I trek through the piles of leaves littering the yard. My nerves are already revved up, but the tree seems to grow in size as I inch closer and closer. I slow down and glance back toward my car. Kipton’s still sitting inside, but I’m too far away to make out what he’s doing. Is he really going to make me climb this damn tree?

I reach out and test a few of the wooden boards nailed to the trunk of the tree. When they seem secure enough to hold my weight, I begin to climb. Halfway up, I make the mistake of looking down. For a moment I debate reversing back down to the ground, but when I remember Kipton’s promises, I keep moving higher.

Once inside the treehouse, I flex my hands a few times to restore circulation. After grasping each rung so tightly, I wince when I touch the palm of my right hand. Certain I have a splinter; I try to search for it but can’t find anything. Expecting bare floor boards, cob webs, and a family of ants, I gasp when I take a look around. This was no spur of the moment decision.

AFTER OVERHEARING SOPHIE’S CONVERSATION WITH my sister, I realized that by giving her space in the bedroom, I wasn’t helping her recovery. Instead, I made her feel unwanted and insignificant—two things that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead of being upset with her for not coming to me with her worries about our relationship, I was proud of her for talking it through instead of letting it eat her alive.

But the moment Sophie ended the call, I went to the basement and rounded up some of my camping gear. It took a lot of energy to haul it all up into a tree, but I owed her romance and several weeks’ worth of sexual attention.

After blowing up the air mattress, unfolding two sleeping bags, and replacing the batteries in the lantern, the space was looking a lot cozier. I even hung a few of the gaudy campsite bulbs around the ceiling and plugged them into the lantern jack. In all of twenty minutes, I transformed the space into our very own love shack.

As I sit here in her car watching nervously as she climbs up the side of the old oak tree, I’m only able to relax once she’s safely inside. I told her five minutes, but I wait almost fifteen before jogging to meet my girl.

The climb is easier the second time around, especially with both hands free. I expect Sophie to be waiting for me under the warmth of the sleeping bags, but as I lift my body onto the platform, I get the opposite. My beautiful Sophie is completely naked, lying on her side with her silky blond curls draped over her shoulder. All of this was supposed to be for her, but she’s the one giving me the gift.

“Shit, baby. You look incredible.” I stand gawking, ready to blow my load before I even touch her. She crooks her index finger, inviting me closer. Afraid to blink for fear she’ll disappear, I shuffle over to the mattress.

“You’re overdressed, Kipton.”

This confident side of her is so damn hot. “Beautiful, this was all for you. I’m supposed to be seducing you tonight.”

I have to touch her, so I bend down on my knees to taste her lips. She holds the back of my head in her hand, determined to set the pace. Her kisses taste like cherries, most likely from one of her Jolly Ranchers she’s always sucking on. I’d be satisfied kissing her like this all night, but I’m eager to give her more.

Hurriedly, I strip my clothes off, tossing them on the floor in a heap. I climb on all fours next to her before sliding under the sleeping bag, covering the both of us. Sophie cuddles close before climbing on top of me, her body so soft against my skin. Before I touch her anywhere else, I have to kiss her again. Greedy for her lips, I nibble and bite my way through the seam of her lips—our tongues mingling the moment they touch. I’m hungry for more as I knead her naked ass in my hands. She lets out a sultry moan, tipping her head back in pleasure. Damn, she looks amazing.

Placing soft kisses on my chest, then my stomach, she’s inching lower with each peck. I don’t want her want to stop. Her mouth feels too good and when she uses her tongue to trace over the hard ridges of my abs, I fight to regain control. “Sophie, wait.”

Her head pops up and her cheeks redden. Shit, I wasn’t trying to discourage her.

“I’m sorry.” She rolls back onto the air mattress and clutches the sleeping bag. I miss the warmth of her soft curves already.

“No, I didn’t want you to stop.” I have to start thinking with the right head. Sophie tilts her head to the side and creases her forehead in confusion. I’m not making any damn sense.

“What’s going on, Kipton? Isn’t this what you asked for? You said in the car–.”

“No, beautiful. I know what I said in the car, but tonight is supposed to be all about you. You don’t have to do anything, or say anything. It doesn’t matter what you think I want. I did this for you—let me make you feel good.” She still looks uncertain. “What’s wrong?”