Meadow’s POV:


    That was a no–brainer. I didn’t know this man, but somehow, I trusted him more than any man I had ever known. Trusted him more than I did my father, more than I did Tyler.


    “Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “I trust you, ric. I just… I don’t want your ideas about me to change once…” I trailed off.


    “Once what?” His brows furrowed. “Talk to me, Doe.”


    My heart melted. I had done things–well, not THINGS, per se. But I had done something terrible. Something that made me undeserving of his kind heart. Of course, I knew that ric wasn’t a saint.


    But I was worse,


    And I wasn’t going to tell him about that. But I was going <i>to </i>tell him something else.


    “I can’t protect you if you don’t tell me,” he murmured, trailing his fingers down my shirt. And it was at that moment that I realized that ric had been touching me with my clothes on.


    Which meant he couldn’t feel me properly.


    Slowly, I lifted up the hem of my shirt. “Touch me,” I breathed. “I want you to feel me, ric.”


    ric hesitated for a second, his throat bobbing slightly before he slipped his hand underneath my shirt


    I felt his body visibly rx, and I hated that I hadn’t noticed that he was tense before.


    He let out a heavy exhale as he slowly ran his fingers up and down my spine. My eyelids fluttered. I was ill and on my period, but his touch still managed to make my core clench. I wanted him. “Fuck, you feel so warm<i>.</i>” He pulled me in closer.


    I swallowed. This was it. The moment that I needed to tell him something–anything. And that, I did.


    But first…


    “Howe you’ve never asked me about my family<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    ric tensed for a second, but he recovered quickly. “You never asked about mine either, did you? You just epted my brother and mother when they came into your life.”


    He kissed my forehead. “And you now know my father’s dead.”


    At the mention of his father, my chest tightened. I was growing more nervous with every second that passed.


    “Well, mine isn’t<b>,</b><b>” </b>I finally said.


    <b>1/5 </b>


    415 BONUS


    ric didn’t say anything, and when I looked back at him, he was watching me with an expression i couldn’t decipher. “He isn’t?”


    “He’s very much alive… and in jail for killing a man.”


    I don’t know why I rushed those words out, but I did. My eyes fell shut as shame washed over me, and I buried my face into his chest. “And not just that, but…” I sighed. “My father was not a good man, ric. He hurt so many people, ripped people off, stole their money… He built his entire empire off other people’s sweat and blood.”


    ric’s arm grew heavy on my back. He wasn’t saying anything. “And he…” I swallowed. “He hurt me like it was all my fault.”


    “Baby…” ric whispered, reaching for my chin so he could tilt my head up and I could look at him. “It wasn’t your fault. It’s NOT your fault. You know that, right? Whatever sins your fathermitted are his and his alone. Not yours.”


    My vision blurred and I blinked the tears away. “I was only a little girl, and he…” I choked on a sob. “I’m sorry, ric, I can’t…”


    I couldn’t continue. Couldn’t find the will to. “Just thinking about it, talking about it makes me feel like


    I’m reliving it. And that nightmare…”


    ric cradled my head into his chest, running his hand up and down my back while he stroked my hair


    with the other hand.


    And when he spoke, his voice was strained. “And was he the one who called you tonight?”


    I nodded into his chest, sniffing. “He tried to. I didn’t ept the call when I was asked if I wanted to speak with him.” My voice shook. “I don’t know why he would call me. Juni… Juniper was the only one he ever truly loved. Not me.”


    Juniper and my mother. In fact, my father loved my mother more than anything and anyone in the entire world. It was sick, really. The way they both always seemed to be lost in each other, and then only gave


    their attention to Juniper.


    I was the neglected one.


    The reject.


    The one undeserving of love.


    “And you thought the ideas and feelings I have for you would change because of this?<b>” </b>ric whispered, brows pulling together. His lips twitched in amusement. “Fucking hell, Meadow.”


    My heart warmed as something else that he said urred to me. “Did you just admit to having feelings


    for me?”


    His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Have I ever made you feel otherwise<i>? </i>


    No, he hadn’t. And I had no idea whether that was a good thing or a terrible ons. There was so m between us. So much to be told,


    Fighting a tired smile, I shook my head. “No.”


    “Your father being a terrible man doesn’t automatically rub off on you. Are you aware of that?<i>” </i>


    Oh, but it did.


    It rubbed off on me. I was a terrible, terrible person. And my sister had every right to hate me the way she did.


    I forced a smile. “I am now.”


    ric scraped his teeth over his bottom lip, tightening his grip around me, and then he pulled me upward. “Come here, you naughty girl.”


    He merged his lips with mine in a light kiss, and then he pulled away, tracing my bottom lip with <b>his </b>thumb. “So your father contacted you from prison?”


    I nodded.


    He smirked. “Want me to go find him? Teach him a lesson and warn him never to contact you?


    “How are you going to do that when you can’t see him?”


    ric arched a brow. “Are you really underestimating me right now, baby girl?”


    A lowugh bubbled past my lips. “Right. My mistake.”


    ric watched me for a moment, amusement swirling in his eyes. But then his expression grew serious. And his brows drew together. “Just say the word. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Meadow.” His voice went


    lower. “Never.”


    “ric…”


    “And I know you sometimes… doubt yourself, think less of yourself. But I want you to know that you deserve this. You deserve everything you have now. Every fucking good thing there is on this damn.” He kissed me again. “And I will do everything in my power to make you realize that. Remember


    when I said I have this burning desire to give you whatever you want?”


    Iughed.


    “That hasn’t changed.” He rested his head against mine, and try as I may to stop shaking, I couldn’t


    My body was on fire. My heart was swelling for him. Because of him.


    “If anything.” he continued. “That desire burns even brighter now.”


    A gasp escaped my throat and he swallowed it with a kiss.


    “Okay, you’re definitely going to get sick now,” I giggled.


    He chuckled against my lips. “Never.”