Never to Hope by Aimie Grey Read Free Book Online Page B

stories I’ve heard over the years.” Still in his arms, I awkwardly maneuvered my body until I could reach the table, needing a drink from my water bottle so I wouldn’t choke on my grief. “I know my mommy and daddy are still in there somewhere. Guess I keep hoping one day my real parents—the people who loved me more than anything—will come back.”
    “How did you survive all of that without becoming just like them?”
    For some reason his proximity calmed me, keeping the panic attack at bay. Steadying my emotions, I took a deep breath. “I watched them fall apart and knew I never wanted to go down that path. I set my sights on breaking free and making something of myself. My life is far from perfect right now, but I’m working on making it better.”
    “Shit, no wonder you have issues with debt and relationships.”
    “It’s why I want to be a lawyer. I want to give kids like me the help and support I never received.”
    “Is that why you have issues with the police? Because they didn’t help you when you needed it most?”
    “For the most part. There was a time a couple of cops showed up. One of the neighbors at the campground where we were parked had complained about noise because I’d been screaming. It was the first night my parents had used me to settle their debt. I was in the only bedroom, just a few yards away, and they didn’t even bother coming inside. They could have prevented everything that happened after that day, but they couldn’t be bothered to do their job.” After that, my parents made sure to park in a place where no one could hear.
    “Goddamn motherfuckers. They better pray I never find out who they are. Has anyone ever taken care of you?” he asked.
    I shook my head slightly and stood. “I’m sorry I ruined this.” I nodded toward his thoughtful gesture and the uneaten food.
    “You didn’t ruin anything. Trusting me enough to tell me your most painful secret means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
    There was something about him that took away the pain and the fear. Usually I was a mess for days when those memories surfaced. But with Carter, I felt safe. It was as if the past couldn’t hurt me as long as he was near.
    In a comfortable silence, we walked back to our building hand in hand. Every time I glanced over at him, the look in his eyes was more intense than anything I’d ever experienced. A look so completely overwhelming, I couldn’t keep my gaze on him for more than a few seconds at a time. It was as if I could physically feel our connection growing with each step we took.
    When we stopped in front of my door, he stood there for a moment until I looked into his eyes. “Let me take care of you,” he whispered.
    “I can’t.” God, I really wanted to. Somehow I knew he was the only one who could help me truly heal. My voice was shaky, but I kept going. “There are still things you don’t know about me that I’ll never be able to tell you. You would regret it. I don’t want to hurt you—I can’t hurt you.”
    I managed to get the door open, but he stopped me before I could go inside. “Baby, I can’t think of a single goddamn thing that would ever make me regret this.” Tilting my head up slightly with a finger under my chin, he leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against mine. “Please, let me do this for you. You need to be cherished at least once in your life.”
    Closing my eyes, I nodded. This would likely be the biggest mistake I’d ever made, but I was tired of saying no. He lifted me into his strong arms and carried me to my bedroom. Once back on my feet, I reached behind me to unzip my dress.
    “Let me,” he requested in a husky whisper. He moved my hands aside and leaned in close as he slowly lowered the zipper. His lips ghosted over my neck, sending chills through my body. The dress fell to the floor, and his eyes roamed over me with a genuine hunger I’d never seen before. Lots of men had looked at me lustfully, but no one had