He woke me up several times throughout the night. It didn't matter that we were both sleep deprived. It only mattered that he was buried deep inside me, soothing my body with his, and making me explode over and over.

When his cell phone chimed, sunlight bathed the room.

"Shit," I heard him say as I tried to open my sleepy eyes.

He flew off the bed and started grabbing his clothes. I sat up, bringing the sheet with me.

"Sal's waiting to pick me up. He's outside."

This was it. My heart dropped as I noticed his suitcases beside his dresser. There were other things on my mind when I came into the room last night and I'd missed his luggage. I closed my eyes, pushing back tears. Everyone left me. It was always like this. I felt the corner of the bed dip and Reed's lips against my forehead.

"I'll visit a couple of weeks from now, so it won't be too long. I'll call, and you'll be busy with school and work."

The tears slipped past my eyelids and I was pulled into his arms.

"Shh, baby, I'll be back before you know it."

If I started talking, I would beg him to stay and it was so ridiculously stupid because he had a career and he loved baseball. I nodded against him, but couldn't let go.

I felt one of his arms loosen and then he spoke into the phone in his Reed-in-charge voice, "Give me ten, Sal, and I'll meet you out front."

His clothes dropped to the floor and he grabbed another condom from the drawer. He was on the bed loving me again in seconds. His body formed to mine as he pushed inside. I was swollen from the many times we came together throughout the night, but Reed felt perfect and the twinge of discomfort was delicious.

After I cried out, Reed's shout joined mine. Gently slipping from my body, he kissed my cheek, dressed, and left the room. I curled into a tight ball, allowing my tears to fall on the pillow. I was a complete wimp, but during my entire life, I'd never had anyone who really cared for me. My brother and sister depended on me and loved me, but I'd cared for them since long before I became a teenager.

My mother had been a mess for as long as I remembered. The wrong men, pathetic jobs, and three children she couldn't take care of on her own. None of the men stayed around and I didn't even know if our three fathers knew she was pregnant by the time they left. I remembered how young I was and always trying to cheer my mom out of her sad moods whenever another man left. I never, in my entire life, remember anyone caring for me.

Until Reed. He gave me and my brother and sister a better home. He employed me and gave me hope. He made arrangements so I would learn to drive. In all aspects of my life, he cared.

I swung my legs out of bed, removed the sheets, and threw them on the floor. After I was presentable, I found more sheets in a linen closet and remade the bed. I carried the dirty bedding down to the laundry and started the load.

I found my brother asleep on the couch in the loft and smiled for the first time that morning. The apartment was relatively clean and didn't look like things had gotten out of hand the night before. I walked into my bedroom. I'd left my cell phone on my nightstand because Reed had his the night before in case of emergency. My eyes were heavy and I checked for messages. Reed's text waited.

I miss you already and will call tonight.

Another smile tilted my lips before I closed my eyes and slept for another two hours. I awoke feeling better-stronger. I took a shower then walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, sis, want some eggs and toast?" Jon stood in a pair of black jeans, no shirt, and for him, a goofy smile.

"Sure. What's got you so happy?"

"I like it here. Like school and the new friends I've met."

I'd thought Jon would have such a hard time fitting in because of his Goth persona, but he proved me wrong.

"Does this have anything to do with a girl?" I couldn't help asking.

He gave me a very adult eye leer. "Several girls, actually, but they're friends. We had a good time last night. Did you?"

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. "Yes, I had a wonderful time." I hesitated, but this needed to be said, "Don't get too attached here, Jon. You know it can be over in a heartbeat."

Jon cracked a few more eggs before looking up at me. "I know, Jaycee, but if we spend our lives living in fear of the bad times, we won't enjoy the good. Reed had me call his gardener, Jose, and he's coming a little later than usual tomorrow so I can help him with some of the landscaping. I need to pay Reed back, but I'm also learning to do something that will help me get part time work when I'm in college. I wasn't planning to go to college, but now I think we can make it work even if what we have here doesn't continue for long. I know I'm only fifteen, but I felt useless and now I don't. Whatever happens we'll make it work."

This is what Reed gave my familya future. I wanted to cry again, but I walked over and wrapped my surprised brother in a tight hug.

"There was no way you were getting out of college, bro."

He laughed and squeezed me back before releasing me to finish cooking the eggs. I put the bread in the toaster. After we sat down to eat, Jon told me about school and his new friends. I was amazed at how quickly he'd adapted, and I finally understood what he'd given up to care for Bitsy while I worked. We'd both made huge sacrifices and I realized, in Jon's way, he took care of me. We took care of each other. Regardless of how my relationship with Reed turned out, the Shumways would be okay. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and felt much better.

Bitsy ran in the door followed by Maggie just as we finished cleaning the kitchen. Talking a hundred miles an hour, she told me all about her night. I finally told her to gather her dirty clothes because we needed to go to the main house and do laundry. When she ran out of the room, I was able to talk to Maggie. Reed paid her whether she was cooking for him or not so we came to the agreement that she would cook for Jon and Bitsy on the two nights a week I worked at Tasty Burger.

I lay down in bed that night holding my cell phone hoping it would ring. I was almost asleep when Reed's ringtone sounded. I'd never changed the music because it was so him and just the sound made me smile.

"Hello," I answered with a sleepy whisper because Bitsy was in the room.

"Did I wake you?" He sounded tired too.

"No, I was waiting for your call."

"Sorry it's so late, baby, we've been getting situated. The other players wanted to hit a club after dinner. I didn't think we'd be out this long."

Florida was ahead of Texas time and I knew Reed had had just as little sleep the night before as I did.

"What's your room like?" I asked so I didn't say the three words I wanted to so badly.

"Four walls, two beds, bathroom, and a small sitting area with a television. What are you wearing?"

I laughed softly. "Are these going to be those kinds of calls?"

"Only when Sal's not here. But I have a little time and I'm under the covers in case he walks in." His voice had gone all low and throaty, making my thighs clench.

"I can't talk dirty while I'm in the same room with Bitsy."

I heard him groan. "I forgot. Go to my room."

I giggled into the phone. "I'm not going to your room. It's late and I have a busy day tomorrow."

"You are seriously going to leave me hard and aching and go to sleep?"

"I didn't make you that way."

"Like hell you didn't. I couldn't even leave you this morning without fucking you again and that was after I don't know how many times we did it during the night." He actually sounded desperate.

"You should have better control." I had to fight to keep my voice from cracking and turning into laughter that was bound to wake my sister.

"You know two can play this game." He breathed heavily. "I'm hard, Jaycee. I'm naked with just the thin sheet covering me and imagining it's your hand traveling over my cock. I can see you licking your lips and wanting to take me in your mouth."

It was my turn to groan. "I'm hanging up now, Reed."

His whisper sent heat clear to my toes. "You're such a tease."

The nerve. "Me?"

He chuckled. "Sleep well, baby, I'll call tomorrow night."

"I'm working the late shift at TB."

"I'll call late then."

"Okay, bye." I hit end.