Chapter Fifteen

Tatum

Reed was sound asleep when I quietly slipped out of his room to use the bathroom.

I thought he was joking when he said to give him a few and he'd be ready for round two. Maybe it's because I was used to Wells, who put his clothes on as soon as we finished and barely touched me after. He was always selfish that way.

Cuddling or affection, like what I shared with Reed, never happened.

When Reed turned me over, he kissed a trail down my neck and traced the tattoo on my shoulder. He lingered on my breasts before moving down to my stomach and between my legs, making it clear he wasn't stopping anytime soon. I passed out after the third time he made me come and woke up a few minutes ago to his arm wrapped around me and our legs tangled together.

I carefully slide out from under his arm and pull his T-shirt over my head. I didn't ask—I knew he wouldn't mind, just like he offered me his hoodie too. I have no intention of returning it either. Besides, I like how it smells like him.

After using the restroom, I brush my teeth while staring at myself in the mirror. I wince at the small hickey on my neck. But what catches my eye most is the change in my expression.

As hard as it was to move to Braysen, I've noticed the shift since distancing myself from Rixton. The weight on my chest has lifted, and the light in my eyes has returned, proving it was the right decision for me.

I've made real friendships here—ones who I trust to have my back and look out for me and won't run their mouths when I'm not around.

Everly, Hallyn, and Ava have all become close friends to me. Everly is more like a sister I've always wanted. And Reed, despite our friends-with-benefits arrangement, has proven to be someone I can rely on too, no matter what happens between us.

The door creaks across the hall, and I catch Reed's reflection in the mirror. He glances from my door over to the bathroom, his smile curves at the corners of his mouth when he spots me watching him too.

His gaze lingers on what I'm wearing, and I try not to choke on the mouthful of toothpaste at the sight of him in nothing but his boxer briefs.

"I woke up and thought you dipped out on me." His voice is playful.

I shake my head and gesture to my toothbrush. He grins, understanding now. "Got it." He chuckles, stepping into the bathroom behind me, his arms circling my waist.

Even though we agreed to pretend the rules didn't exist for tonight, I don't mention how it's technically morning now. I'm content to enjoy his closeness while I can.

When daylight comes, I'll remind us the rules are in place for a reason, but for tonight, I let myself soak up his affection.

After I finish brushing my teeth, Reed spins me around and lifts me onto the vanity, stepping between my legs. His touch is warm, his hands running down my sides, his thumb brushing lightly beneath the curve of my breast.

"Can I ask you something?" he says, his voice low.

"Hmm?"

"What made you decide to move to Braysen?"

I exhale a slow breath. "You remember Wells?" I ask, and Reed nods. "Well, for starters, our breakup was awful. It was…" I shake my head, massaging my fingers into my forehead as if to clear the memory.

"What happened?" Reed asks gently.

"There'd been rumors going around for a while that he was messing around on me behind my back. Anytime I brought them up, it always turned into a fight. He'd twist it around on me, saying I didn't trust him, that rumors were from people who were jealous of what we had, that sort of thing."

I let out a shaky breath. Reed takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.

"Well, someone sent me a text message with proof of him with another girl, Camila. It was undeniable at that point. He tried to convince me it was old, from before we were together, but that turned out to be another lie. When I broke up with him, he lost it."

"What do you mean he lost it?"

"He threatened me, said he had dirt on me that he'd use to ruin me if I didn't take him back. Essentially trying to blackmail me into staying with him." My lips quiver. "I couldn't understand why he'd think I'd forgive him after he threatened me?"

"You don't have to tell me, not if you don't want to, but do you know what sort of dirt he had? Ruin you how?"

I shrug, feeling the weight of it all. "There have been whispers around campus about some of the football players recording themselves hooking up with girls without their knowledge. Word got out they were passing videos and photos around to each other. I don't know exactly what Wells has on me, but I know it's something. He even threatened his teammates to stay away from me."

"Does Beckham know this guy? They were teammates, right?"

I nod. "For a little bit, but from what I've heard, they hated each other and never got along."

Reed's eyes lose focus. His emotions and the questions swirling through his mind play out on his face. As I press my palm against his cheek, the stubble on his jaw tickles my hand, and he leans into the touch with his eyes closed.

"What happened after that?" he murmurs.

"My girlfriends convinced me to go out with them one night. The party was supposed to be fairly small, but it grew as word spread. Wells showed up."

The memories of that night come rushing in, my heart racing as I recall the overwhelming sense of embarrassment and shame. I look down at our joined hands, avoiding Reed's gaze.

"I don't know how it happened. I still believe others were involved, but from what I've been told, Wells took over playing music from one of the guys there. The music was connected to the TVs and everything, but instead of changing the music, he turned on a video of me…" My voice cracks, and I can't bring myself to finish the sentence.

"I'm sorry, a video of you?" Reed's voice is barely above a whisper.

"You know what I mean, Reed. Don't make me spell it out for you." My face flushes, and tears well up in my eyes. I try to blink them away, but one manages to escape and trails down my cheek.

Reed grips my chin gently, lifting it until our eyes meet. He studies the lone tear streaming down my face before brushing it away with his thumb.

"So everyone at the party saw you? They saw the two of you together?"

His nostrils flare, and I nod. "It was about fifteen to twenty seconds of the video, but it felt like an eternity. Thankfully, one of my brother's teammates was there. He saw what happened, and he unplugged the TV."

Reed exhales heavily and steps away, dragging his fingers through his hair.

"Hey, come here. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You just told me your douchebag ex violated you. He took a video of you without your knowledge and showed it to a room full of how many people?"

The tears come racing back, only this time, there's no keeping them at bay.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry." He grips my face in his hands and kisses me.

"Did you tell anyone? Report it to the police?"

"I told Talon, and Beckham knows. I tried reporting it to the campus police, but they didn't do shit about it. Wells threatened to turn the video over to the school board and say I've been selling the videos and photos for cash. I was terrified I'd lose my scholarships or that he had more. I didn't file charges and transferred to Braysen, using what little money I had in savings to cover the move. I have no idea how Beckham convinced Colter to let me stay until I get back on my feet. All I know is he agreed to help me out by giving me a room, and I promised to make it up to him until I could start earning money again."

Reed shakes his head. "Like hell you are. Not anymore."

"Wait, what? Reed, I didn't tell you this for you to get involved—"

"I know you didn't." He cuts me off. "But you can't expect me to let you shoulder all of this on your own. You've got school, work, and the stress of this in the back of your mind. You don't need to add more to your plate. Not when we can all step in and help."

"Wells isn't going to do anything. He can't, not when he doesn't know where I am. I blocked his number and got a new one. I haven't told my friends where I moved. Only Talon knows."

"What about your social media? What if someone finds you that way?"

"I deleted all my social media apps. I haven't posted in a while, anyway."

Reed exhales heavily, and I reach for him. He leans in to kiss me, his touch soft and slow. When he breaks the kiss, he rests his forehead against mine and inhales a deep breath to steady himself.

"No one can hurt me now. I'm here with you, and I know you'd never let anyone hurt me either."

He nods, his eyes meeting mine. "Never."

The sound of the front door opening interrupts us. He pulls away, and we both stay silent, listening to the noise of our friends coming in. If they thought they were keeping it down, they were wrong. Quiet and drunk people rarely go hand in hand.

"What time is it?" I mouth to him.

"Like two in the morning," he replies.

Reed trails his hands up my thighs and beneath the cotton of his T-shirt.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

"Distracting you." He grins, his eyes glittering with mischief. "Do you think I could get you off right here with the door open without you making a sound?"

"No," I scold him, but the rest of my words fall short when he brushes his finger over my pubic bone, inching his way toward my pussy.

His gaze snaps over to mine when he realizes I'm not wearing anything beneath his shirt.

"I think you're just teasing me now. Not wearing any panties?"

"I needed to get a new pair."

He fights off the urge to smile. "And why is that?" he asks, his voice low and teasing.

"You know why," I chide him, trying to keep my tone serious despite the way his touch sends a shiver through me. "You left them so wet that I needed new ones."

He hums in appreciation. "Move your feet onto the edge of the counter," he orders.

I consider his words, but deep down, I trust he'd never put us in the position for someone to catch us. So I give in, leaning against the mirror and placing my feet on the edge of the counter, spreading me open for him.

He sucks his finger into his mouth and uses the wetness to coat his finger, brushing it over my clit. It's tender from earlier, but the pleasure quickly takes over.

My body tenses, though, when he touches me, and he hums again. "Relax, sweetheart."

When he slips his finger inside me, I roll my eyes shut and tilt my head against the glass too.

"Fuck, look how wet you are for me already." Reed groans. "Does this turn you on? Do you like being forced to keep it down so our friends don't hear you?"

"Reed"—I tremble—"please."

"I think you do like it. I think it turns you on even more, knowing I have your pussy spread open, and you can't make a sound."

He rotates his wrist, his finger curling inside me while he uses his thumb to brush over my clit. His dick is hard in the front of his boxer briefs.

When I reach between us, cupping him through his underwear, a low groan rumbles from deep in his chest, and his nostrils flare. Only this time, there's no denying that if anyone was in the living room downstairs, they heard him.

"So much for keeping it down."

He slips his hands under my ass and lifts me into his arms. My legs circle his waist again, and I grind against his hard length.

"Be careful, sweetheart."

"What the heck are you doing?"

"Taking you to my bed, where you belong. I need to fuck you again before we fall asleep with my dick buried inside you."

He moans against my ear just before he kicks the door shut behind us.