Chapter Four

Penny

Ray is quiet, awfully so.

The only sounds in the garage are the soft humming of some machine and our own labored breaths. Oh, and the loud thumping of my heart.

He knows.

I don't know why I thought he wouldn't realize that I was a virgin. Part of me was eager to experience the one thing I never thought I ever would, and I had hoped he wouldn't notice my inexperience. Ray is my first. He is the only man I have ever actually found attractive. He makes me feel . . . everything.

The way he plays with my body is unlike anything I have ever felt before, and I know that once I leave, there is a chance I might never get to experience this with anyone else. I just didn't think he would notice.

So dumb.

Yet another in a series of dumb choices I've made, but I can't bring myself to regret it. I want to experience this. I've kept this part of myself safe from that monster for a long time because I wanted to give it on my own terms, and this—Ray—is what I want.

Ray pushes back to meet my eyes, and where I expect to read anger, surprise, or disappointment, I am shocked to see that his expression is one of agony. "Fuck, baby, I'm so sorry," he whispers, his voice so shredded, it tugs at my chest. "Does it hurt?"

I bite into my lip and meet his gaze under my lashes. "A little."

"Do you need me to stop? Fuck! I didn't think . . . I'm sorry, I should have figured—"

"No," I cry out, wrapping my legs tightly around him, wincing at the soreness when I do so, but I don't want him to stop. I roll my hips forward, a whimper rising in my chest as the friction sends a delicious feeling shooting up my spine. "It hurts, but it feels good too. Please don't stop."

"Baby, I don't want to hurt you," he says, his voice laced with pain.

"I'm fine." I wrap my arms around his shoulders, holding him to me. "I promise, I'm fine. Please don't stop. I don't want you to stop."

His eyes flare at my words as something dark and dangerous settles in those blue depths. "Tell me to stop or slow down if it becomes too much," he demands, grasping my knee, but he doesn't move until I nod. With that, he pulls back before slamming into me with a rough growl that has my back arching.

Oh. Oh, God.

"Fuck, baby, your pussy is tight. So fucking wet and tight for me," he grinds out roughly, his calloused fingers digging into my thigh as he rolls his hips. "I'm going to take care of you, angel. Make up for being reckless with you."

It's at the tip of my tongue to tell him that he's done nothing wrong, but before I can speak, he shoves his face into my neck and starts pounding into me like a beast in rut.

"Ray!" I cry out, wrapping my arms tightly around him as he thrusts his thick girth into me, pain and pleasure pulsing and mingling, sending a delicious tug up my spine. The wet sounds of our lovemaking fill the space with every drive into my pulsing sex. Every thrust pushes me against the car, and a part of me preens over the fact that I am doing this on top of his car, possibly denting it.

He couldn't have me the way he wanted, and now someone else is claiming me on his beloved car, painting his car with my arousal for a man in my arms. Whatever happens in the future, at least I'll have this.

"Faster, Ray, please ," I sob, digging my nails into his back as he ruts aggressively into me, his thick shaft stretching my channel with rough moves, his breathing just as ragged against my neck. He undoes me with every thrust, with the low noises he makes against my skin.

"Going to come inside you so hard, baby, bury my seed so deep and mark you as mine. Make you scream so all of Rosewood can hear you."

"Yes," I shout, rocking to meet his frenzied thrusts.

"Mine," he growls into my ear, his warm breath brushing the sensitive spot on my neck, but it's his words that send an ache to my chest. "You belong to me now, Penny. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you."

My heart jumps at his words.

No.

He can't do this to me.

In a few hours, I will be gone from his life with the memory of our lovemaking written on my heart and skin. Have I not exposed myself to this stranger enough as it is? I would be stupid to take his words to heart. To let them affect me in any way. I know better than to let his words clog my thoughts, and yet, I'm helpless to stop it.

I drop all my reservations when he kisses that spot beneath my ear, a loud moan climbing up my throat when he sinks his teeth into my neck as he drives wildly into me, every furious thrust sending pleasure shooting up my spine.

"Ray, please," I beg, unsure what I'm even asking for but feeling desperate all the same as heat builds up in my core at an alarming rate. He pins me against the hood of the car, driving faster and harder into my sex, his thrusts rough and feral. Black spots bloom in my eyes as an orgasm more powerful than the first takes over my body. I sob at the feeling, wrapping my arms tightly around Ray and burying my nose in his hair as he takes me over and over again until I am a trembling mess.

Another sob tears from my throat as pleasure explodes through my body again and again as he continues to work his cock in and out my pulsing channel, his muscles straining until he finally goes still above me.

"Fuuuck!"

He comes with a roar, most of it muffled by the fact that his face is buried in my neck, but I feel every vibration against my skin, and it has my sex cinching hard around his cock, milking him of every drop as he spills into my womb.

It lasts forever. At least, it feels that way.

My body is still shaking when he goes boneless against me, his breathing just as heavy as mine, and when he brushes his lips over my neck in a kiss that lingers, I question if I have indeed known this person for only half a day and not a lifetime.

It feels like I've always known him.

Our bodies fit perfectly together, and I don't want to pull away from his embrace even just to straighten our clothing. I want to stay locked with a man whose last name I don't even know.

And yet, it's in his arms that I have found comfort.

You belong to me, Penny. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you.

I want to believe those words so badly, and with his warm breath caressing my neck and his large, muscular body covering mine, I almost do.

But then I remember the monster I am running away from and realize how dangerous it is to put my faith in a man I just met. A man I just gave my virginity to, but that's all I can give him. All I can take for myself.

I still need to leave.

As if hearing my thoughts, Ray pushes back to look into my eyes, and for the first few seconds our eyes lock, I seem to forget the pep talk I've just been giving myself. The man is truly God's gift to humanity, with eyes that remind me of the ocean on a cool afternoon. They can turn stormy at a moment's notice, but now, they're calm. Pensive.

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" he asks, brushing hair from my face and kissing the edge of my mouth. He pulls back to rub his thumb on my swollen lips, his blue eyes watching me with concern, and I have to fight the urge to lean into his touch. His voice and gentle touch unleash something in me I haven't done in a long time.

My lips wobble and my eyes fill up with tears. I try to sniff them back, but they come spilling out. I would laugh at how his eyes widen with alarm if my heart wasn't hurting. I press my face into the crook of his neck as sobs rack my body.

I don't want this man to care! Dammit!

Why is he hugging me, kissing me like I am the most precious person in his life? He doesn't even know me. I expected him to take me fast and rough against my stepfather's car and then toss me aside.

Everyone else has betrayed my trust, so why not Ray?

My mother did when she married a monster and brought him into our once-happy home. My stepfather did every time he looked at me in ways he is only ever supposed to look at my mother. All my friends did when they believed the monster's lies and disappeared on me.

"Hey, baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry."

His words only make me sob harder. I don't need an apology from him. He is the only person who does not need to apologize to me, and yet, he is. I need to tell him that, but I can't stop crying.

Christ, why can't I stop crying?

"Fuck!" Ray breathes, his voice panicked as he straightens our clothes, and even now, I expect him to push away and escape this awkward situation I am putting him in, but instead, he wraps his arms around me. "I'm sorry, angel. I'm so fucking sorry. How do I fix this? Please, tell me!"

Hug me.

Tell me that I won't get in trouble for stealing my stepfather's car and running away from home. That the cops won't come after me, that my stepfather will stay away.

"I'm tired," I say instead. "I'm so tired, Ray."

"Okay, alright," Ray rasps, pushing back to look at me, swiping his hand over my cheek and wiping the tears off my face. "I can take care of that. Are you okay to walk?"

"Yeah." I nod, and he helps me off the hood of the car, wincing when I feel something wet trail down my inner thigh, but I am too embarrassed to even think about it. My cheeks are practically on fire from what just happened, and I avoid meeting his eyes.

Ray grasps my arm and helps me to my feet. "Come with me," he says, his voice soft for such a big man. He wraps a hand around my waist and walks me away from the cars parked in the abandoned bays. It's pure luck that his employees still haven't returned.

As we walk through the auto shop, I notice a solid metal door, its modern design blending seamlessly with the polished surroundings. Behind the door is a narrow staircase leading up to the next floor, and I follow him without protest, though perhaps I should.

I keep forgetting that I don't actually know this man. I know how his lips taste and the way his beard feels against my skin. I know he has an intoxicating earthy scent that clings to his skin and makes my head grow light. I know he has a deep voice that commands attention.

I've felt him inside of me, a moment so intimate it's like nothing I've ever imagined I'd experience with anyone, but I don't know him the way I should.

He could be a serial killer for all I know.

The thought isn't enough for me to become wary of the man as he leads us to another door that opens into what I assume is his home. It doesn't look like it would belong to a serial killer, at least. I'm greeted by a modern and chic living space. The walls are adorned with tasteful artwork, adding a touch of elegance to the room. The furniture is sleek and contemporary, very unlike the rough man currently standing next to me.

Large windows let in streams of natural light, illuminating the space and carefully chosen decor. Unlike the shop, this space carries the faint scent of the cut flowers on a side table. Everything is meticulously arranged. It's a perfect blend of style and warmth, and for the first time since meeting Ray, I wonder if the man has another woman in his life.

Christ, I'm such a mess.

I should have asked him before he touched me. I should have considered the fact that someone as hot as Ray would be involved with someone else.

I hug my waist and look around the space that definitely has a feminine touch to it. I don't know this man well, but something tells me he's not a flowers and modern art type of guy.

He must notice me staring at the flowers as he leaves my side to approach them. "I guess my mother stopped by today when I was away this morning," he says, fingering a rosebud before turning to me. "She does that a lot. ‘Giving life to my home,' as she puts it. Says I need to find a woman for my space. I guess she doesn't need to worry about that any longer." He takes a step toward me, and then another, until he's standing in front of me, brushing his fingers over my wet cheeks and pushing a stray hair from my face. "There is no other woman in my life, Penny. You are who I want, and I will do everything in my power to make you stay with me."

I blink up at the man. "Y-you don't even know me."

"I don't need to know everything about you to know that you're what I want," he says, and I know . . . I know deep inside that I should brush off his words, but I let them soak in. I let myself believe that a single meeting is enough to determine that someone is your future.

Under his intense gaze, I slowly drop my reservations. Or whatever shreds of them I had left.

When Ray leans down to brush his lips over mine, I give in too easily. Parting my lips for his with a breathy sigh. Grabbing onto his coveralls when he deepens the kiss, sending an ache building in my core.

It's madness how much I want this man I just met .

To believe his promises of protection when he doesn't even know the kind of monster he is fighting against.

When I snuck out of the monster's lair this morning, I was sure I was the only one in my corner. I was prepared to run and hide for the rest of my life if it took that long. Now Ray promises to fight for me. To protect me.

He'd said I could trust him, and it's terrifying how much I already do.

Christ, I'm so tired. I want to stay.