Page 5 of Let Me Keep You

Gripping her ass and lifting her body, she wraps her legs around me. I walk us toward the bed, then lower her onto the mattress and crawl over her body. Our mouths collide as I slide a hand up her stomach, then palm one of her perky breasts.

“That feels so good,” she murmurs.

“Better than the tool bag who thought he was fingering you?” I smirk against her lips, and she bursts out laughing.

“Oh my God, how do you remember that? I told you about Benny like two years ago.”

“I kept thinking about how fucking hilarious it was, and how much I wanted to be the one who touched you there.”

“Trust me, I want that too.”

“Should I show you how it’s really supposed to feel?” I lie next to her on my side and slip my fingers inside her skirt.

“Yes,” she whimpers. “Show me.”

I slide under her panties and immediately feel her wetness. Every inch of her begs for my touch. The pad of my finger glides up and down her slit before rubbing circles against her clit.

“Oh my God. That feels way too good.” She closes her eyes and hums. “Please, don’t stop.”

“It might hurt when I push my finger inside you, Gemma,” I warn.

“I’ve fingered myself before,” she tells me.

I chuckle at her honesty. “I’ll still be gentle.”

“I trust you, Tyler.” She wraps her hand around my neck, pulling me down until our mouths touch. “I know you’d never hurt me.”

The confident way she says those words has my heart bursting. That’s the last thing I want to do to her, ever. Gemma Reid is everything I’ve ever wanted but don’t deserve.

She gave me all of herself that night. I told her we could wait and didn’t have to rush, but she was firm with her decision. I was her first, and she was the first woman I ever loved.

But three months later, after spending the entire summer together, I broke both of our hearts when I left with no plans to return to Lawton Ridge. I asked her to come with me—together we could travel and be spontaneous—but she didn’t want to leave her dad and the only home she’s ever known.

As much as it hurt, she couldn’t leave, and I couldn’t stay.

Gemma will always be the one I let go, the woman I walked away from—my biggest regret.

CHAPTER ONE

TYLER

TWELVE YEARS LATER

The air feels different for the first time since I entered this hellhole. I inhale a deep breath and smile when I see my best friend’s truck in the parking lot. After spending five years in prison, it’s the best fucking sight ever. With only the clothes on my back and a new sense of freedom, I head toward them.

Maddie hops out with her seven-month pregnant belly, and I chuckle when I hear Liam calling after her.

“Tyler!” she shouts, waddling as fast as she can to me.

As she approaches, I open my arms, and she cries the moment we embrace. My emotions start to bubble over too, but I hold them in, knowing she’s on hormone overload.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re out!” She pushes back slightly, eyeing me up and down.

Liam joins and pulls me in for a side hug. “Dude. You look buff as fuck.”

I chuckle. “Gotta make sure I’m prepared for the real world now, ya know?”

Smiling down at Maddie, I look at her bump. “You look huge.”