The guy's name was Reid.
Clean-cut. Sharp smile. That kind of soft-voiced charm that made you want to trust him until you looked closer.
Until you saw the venom behind the teeth.
Jesse didn't want me to come.
But I went anyway.
Because if someone was going to dig into his past—
I'd be standing between them.
---
We met at the bar downtown.
Neutral ground.
Reid stood as we arrived, like we were all old friends catching up.
"Jesse," he said smoothly. "Still look good."
Jesse didn't respond.
Reid turned to me, offering a hand. "And you must be the new pet."
I didn't shake it.
"Name's Kade," I said flatly. "Not a pet. Just the man who touches him now."
His smirk faltered.
Just for a second.
---
We sat.
The table between us felt too thin.
"So," Reid began. "No hard feelings, right?"
Jesse said nothing.
"After all, it's been what—three years since our little... accident?"
My jaw tightened.
He sipped his drink. "You never did like being too rough, Jess. Even when I begged for it. You couldn't handle what you gave."
Jesse finally looked at him.
Dead in the eyes.
"I handled it. You didn't."
Reid leaned forward.
"Then why'd you ghost the entire scene? Quit every club, every friend, every life you had before?"
Silence.
He turned to me.
"Let me guess. You like it rough too, huh? Except you actually want to be broken. You probably beg for his belt. For the bruises."
I didn't flinch.
"I trust him with my body because I know he's afraid of hurting me. And that makes him the safest man I've ever known."
Jesse looked at me like I'd just given him back a part of himself.
---
Reid laughed.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"Careful, sweetheart," he said. "The ones who bruise you best are always the ones who love you worst."
Then he stood.
Dropped a tip on the table.
And walked out like he hadn't just tried to gut Jesse with his words.
---
Back in the truck, Jesse didn't speak.
I reached for his hand.
He let me take it.
And after a long moment, he whispered:
"Thank you. For not letting him rewrite the story."
I leaned in, resting my forehead to his shoulder.
"Whatever story you think this is, Jesse—just know I'm not going anywhere. Even if it gets darker from here."
---
And he kissed me.
Not desperate.
Not possessive.
Just... grateful.
And maybe a little in love.