Josh had went over to Kayla's parent's house with his mom as his mom overheard him talking to her earlier. Diane didn't know the full picture of what was going on with Kayla, but she knew that Josh should tell her parents what he knew. And what he knew was that Kayla was on the road, and before her phone was powered off, he had her location as they shared their location during their relationship. And her location read—South Dakota.

Martha's face twisted in shock as she clutched her chest. "South Dakota?!" she repeated, her voice shrill. "How in the hell did she get from Maine to South Dakota?"

Josh shrugged, his face serious. "I don't know, ma'am. I just know what I saw."

Vince, who had been listening from his recliner, grunted. His dark eyes flickered with something almost knowing. He rubbed his chin before standing up slowly, his large frame moving toward the kitchen where Martha and Diane stood.

"I know how," Vince muttered.

Martha snapped her head toward him. "How, Vince? How?"

"That night she ran off," Vince started, looking at Diane and Josh now. "She ran to that truck stop on the highway. I ain't think much of it before, but if she really made it to South Dakota, then she hitched a ride with a trucker." His eyes narrowed. "But I just don't know which one."

Josh exhaled, shaking his head. The thought of Kayla, his first everything, out there with some strange-ass trucker made him uneasy. Yeah, he had done her wrong, but that didn't mean he wanted anything bad to happen to her.

"If she's with some trucker, how do we even find out which one?" Josh asked.

Vince's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, I'll find out. Best that."

Martha swallowed hard, rubbing her temples. "Vince, don't go doin' nothin' stupid. We just need to make sure she's safe."

Vince ignored her. He was already thinking, already plotting. He wasn't letting this shit slide. If Kayla thought she was grown enough to run off, if some motherfucker thought he was bold enough to take her in—Vince was gonna handle it.

Vince chugged a beer as he thought Kayla over.

Vince had a problem. A sickness. One he never said out loud, never admitted to himself in words, but it lived in him, twisted up in his mind like poison. He was attracted to his stepdaughter.

He didn't understand why she wasn't attracted to him.

Ever since the day Martha whooped her in front of him, skin bare, body trembling under the harsh sting of that belt, he hadn't seen her as a child anymore. No, that was the day she became a woman to him. A grown woman.

And now, Kayla was gone.

The thought of her out in the world, hitchhiking, sleeping God-knows-where, riding with men—it made his stomach twist. But not with worry. No, it was something else.

What was she doing to get those rides?

Vince knew truckers. They didn't help out the kindness of their hearts. If she was making it from Maine to South Dakota, it wasn't for free.

His grip tightened around the beer bottle.

She out there giving herself to strangers but wouldn't even look at him that way? The idea made something snap inside him.

If he wasn't determined before, he was now.

Kayla wasn't just some runaway girl. She was his stepdaughter. And if she thought she could run, if she thought she could belong to another man—she had another thing coming.

:::: Kayla has real fear.

Fear that she kept deep inside. Fear that she didn't want to surface.

She was afraid of her stepdad and her mother. The abuse they inflicted on her caused fear to run deep in her bones, latching onto her like a shadow. But that fear was trumped by Tank's love.

She knows Tank loves her. She knows, deep down, he would protect her. No matter what, he had her back.

Tank didn't judge her, didn't take advantage of her, didn't make her feel small. He was patient, treated her like she was something fragile, something precious. He never rushed her, never pushed her, even when she first caught a ride with him to Maine. He didn't force her to figure out a plan. Didn't force himself on her.

He just let her exist.

And that, that was love.

She loved that he was possessive. Loved when he told her she was his. She wanted him to want her. Needed him to need her. It wasn't desperation—it was the knowing. The knowing that he would never let anyone take what was his.

Kayla thought she knew love. Thought she had love from her mother, from Josh, even from Vince.

But the love Tank gave her? It was different.

Even the love his parents, Miss Sherri and Terrance Sr., showed her was different. It was real, deep, unlike the twisted, conditional love her mother and stepdad gave her.

Tank's love was deeper than Josh's love.

That's why she bounced harder on Tank's thick dick, her bare body moving with slow, determined intent as he lay half-asleep in the truck stop of South Dakota.

She was trying to cement herself in Tank's life forever.

And a baby would do that.

Tank had made it known—he wanted children. He was ready for children. Kayla had accepted that. And now, she wanted it too now more than ever. She wanted a piece of Tank growing inside her, wanted to drive his protectiveness even higher, wanted to make him love her even more.

She didn't want anyone else but Tank.

Because even in her lowest moments, he loved her. Held her. Cared for her in a way no one else ever had.

So she bounced harder, her thighs burning, her core gripping him like she could pull a baby out of him, her ass clapping as she threw it back, as she took every thick inch his dick had to offer.

She looked over her shoulder, watching Tank stir, his eyes fluttering open, and a slow, knowing smirk pulling at his lips.

Yeah. That's right. Wake up and see it. Kayla smirked.

She wanted him to see her give him everything.

She wanted him to see her taking everything from him.

Tank's smirk deepened as his sleepy eyes locked onto the way Kayla's ass moved against him. The rhythmic claps filled the dimly lit truck cabin, mixing with the low hum of the engine and their shared, ragged breaths. His hands found her hips, his grip strong, possessive, anchoring her as she kept riding him with intent, with purpose.

"Damn, girl," Tank's deep, groggy voice rumbled, his country twang thick, laced with something darker, something carnal. "You tryna pull a baby outta me?"

Kayla didn't stop moving, didn't slow her pace, just turned her head slightly to meet his heavy-lidded gaze. "You already know," she whispered, voice sultry, dripping with need.

Tank inhaled sharply through his nose, his grip on her hips tightening. He watched her move, watched as she spin around on him, watched her body swallow every inch of him, pulling him deeper with every bounce. His thick, strong thighs flexed beneath her, his body reacting to her the way it always did—like she was made for him.

"Shit," he groaned, his head falling back slightly before he sat up, one arm wrapping around her waist, the other gripping the back of her neck. He pulled her down to him, chest to chest, his lips brushing against her ear.

"You know what happens if I do that, right?" he murmured against her skin, his breath hot, making her shiver. "Ain't no turnin' back, Kayla. You give me a baby, that's it. You mine. Forever."

Kayla whimpered, rolling her hips, savoring the way his words made her feel claimed, cherished, owned. She wanted that. She wanted him. She wanted the world to know she belonged to Tyler Tank Carter and no one else.

"I wanna be yours forever," she admitted breathlessly, pressing her forehead against his.

Tank groaned low in his throat, his hand sliding up her back, tangling in her thick curls as he kissed her, deep and slow. His other hand dropped between them, fingers pressing against her swollen, sensitive clit, making her body jolt, making her walls tighten around him.

"Then ride me like you mean it, lil' bit," he growled. "Make me give it to you."

Kayla obeyed.

She rode him harder, her body trembling, her moans getting louder as Tank guided her movements, his grip firm, his touch demanding. The truck rocked slightly with their rhythm, the intensity growing between them.

And just when Kayla thought she couldn't take anymore, just when she felt herself reaching that edge, Tank grabbed her hips, slammed her down onto him one final time, and let out a deep, guttural groan as he gave her exactly what she wanted, his nut.

Kayla collapsed against his chest, both of them panting, bodies damp with sweat, hearts pounding in sync. Tank kissed her temple, his fingers brushing down her spine.

"You ain't goin' nowhere," he murmured against her skin, voice rough, final. "You mine."

Kayla smiled sleepily, feeling safe, feeling his. Kayla rolled onto her back, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. The air in the truck was thick with heat, the scent of their lovemaking still lingering. Her eyes traveled down Tank's body, stopping at his semi-hard dick, glistening from their recent activities. She had never put her mouth on him before, but right now, it looked like the most delicious lollipop, and she wanted to.

Tank, still catching his breath, cracked one eye open just in time to see Kayla shifting closer, her lips parting as she leaned in.

"Lil' bit, what you doin'?" he asked, his voice husky, thick with sleep and satisfaction.

Kayla didn't answer. She just flicked her tongue over the head of his dick, tasting him, savoring the salty, masculine flavor that was uniquely him. Tank sucked in a sharp breath, his entire body tensing beneath her touch.

"Damn," he muttered, his hand instinctively sliding into her thick curls, his grip tightening as her warm, wet mouth took more of him.

Kayla had never given him head, but she wanted to please him, to make him feel just as good as he made her feel. She hollowed her cheeks, taking him deeper, her tongue swirling around his thick length as she bobbed her head.

Tank let out a low groan, his hips jerking slightly. "Fuck, Kayla...you tryna kill me?"

She hummed around him, sending vibrations straight through his core. The sound of his pleasure fueled her, made her wetter, made her want to take him deeper. She wrapped her hand around the base, stroking what her mouth couldn't take, using her spit to glide smoothly over his dick.

Tank's breathing grew heavier, his muscles tense as he fought the urge to thrust up into her mouth. But she was relentless, her tongue tracing every ridge, every sensitive spot, her pace slow and deliberate.

"Shit," he cursed, his fingers tightening in her curls. "You gon' make me cum, lil' bit."

That was exactly what she wanted. She sucked harder, her lips wrapping tighter around him as she took him deeper, her throat relaxing to accommodate his full length. Tank's entire body shuddered, his abs flexing as he let out a deep, guttural moan.

"Fuck," he growled, his release hitting him hard, his hand gripping the back of her head as he spilled into her mouth.

Kayla took every drop, swallowing without hesitation before licking him clean, her eyes locking onto his as she pulled back, wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Tank looked down at her, his light brown eyes dark, filled with both satisfaction and hunger. "Come here," he murmured, pulling her up onto his lap.

Kayla giggled, straddling him as he kissed her, deep and slow, tasting himself on her tongue. His hands slid down to her ass, gripping her possessively.

"You just full of surprises, huh?" he murmured against her lips.

Kayla smirked. "I aim to please, big daddy."

Tank let out a deep chuckle, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. "Good," he growled. "'Cause I ain't done with you yet."

And just like that, he flipped her onto her back, ready to return the favor. Tank hovered over Kayla, his eyes dark with hunger as he grabbed her thighs, spreading them apart like he was unwrapping his favorite gift. Kayla's breath hitched, anticipation thick between them. Her body still tingled from the pleasure she'd just given him, but Tank, Tank was nowhere near done.

"You been holdin' out on me, lil' bit," he murmured, his lips ghosting over her inner thigh. "Suckin' me off like that? You knew what you was doin'."

Kayla shivered, biting her lip. "I wanted to make you feel good," she whispered.

Tank chuckled, his deep voice vibrating against her skin as he kissed up the inside of her thigh. "You did," he admitted, his hands gripping her hips. "But now it's my turn."

Before she could respond, his mouth was on her, his tongue flicking over her swollen hidden clit, sending a jolt of electricity through her. Kayla gasped, her back arching as her fingers tangled in the sheets.

"Oh, shit, Tank—"

He groaned against her, his deep voice sending vibrations through her core. His tongue moved slow, deliberate, teasing her just enough to drive her crazy. He licked her like she was his last meal, savoring every inch of her. Kayla writhed beneath him, her thighs trembling, her body desperate for more.

"Mm, you taste so fuckin' sweet," he muttered against her, sucking her clit into his mouth before flicking his tongue in tight circles.

Kayla's breath came in sharp gasps, her hands flying to his head, her fingers twisting in his small curls. Tank worked her with the same intensity he put into everything—like she was his and he was gonna make sure she never forgot it.

"Tank—oh my God—" She barely got the words out before he slid two fingers inside her, curling them just right. Her body clenched around him, her toes curling as pleasure coiled tight in her stomach.

Tank smirked against her, watching her reaction. "Yeah? That feel good, baby?"

Kayla could only nod, her head rolling back as she whimpered.

"Then cum for me," he commanded, his tongue working faster, his fingers stroking her deepest spot.

It was too much. The pressure built fast, her body shaking as the orgasm crashed over her, waves of pleasure rocking her to the core. She screamed his name, "TANK," her nails digging into his scalp as she came undone.

Tank licked her through it, slowing only when her body finally stopped trembling. He kissed his way up her body, his lips capturing hers in a deep, possessive kiss.

"You know you mine, right?" he murmured, his voice low, filled with promise.

Kayla, still breathless, nodded. "I been yours, Tank," she whispered.

Tank smirked, gripping her chin. "Damn right."

And before she could recover, he was flipping her over, positioning her on all fours. Running his large hands down Kayla's back, his touch slow and possessive. He gripped her hips, pulling her back against him, his thick dick pressing right against her entrance. Kayla shivered, anticipation making her breath shaky.

"You ready for me again, lil' bit?" His voice was deep, rough, dripping with dominance.

Kayla nodded, pushing back against him. "Always."

Tank chuckled low, gripping her ass, spreading her open as he slowly pushed inside. A sharp gasp left Kayla's lips as he filled her inch by inch, stretching her, claiming her all over again.

"Damn, baby," Tank groaned, his head dropping forward as he felt her tighten around him. "You tryin' to take me out?"

Kayla moaned, her fingers gripping the sheets. "You feel too good, Daddy," she whimpered.

Tank's grip on her hips tightened at that word, his control snapping. He pulled out almost completely before slamming back inside, making her cry out.

"Say it again," he demanded, his pace slow but deep, making sure she felt every inch of him.

Kayla turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his as she bit her lip. "You feel so good, Daddy."

Tank growled, his thrusts picking up, his strokes deep and deliberate. His hands roamed over her body, gripping her waist, sliding up her back before wrapping around her throat, pulling her up against his chest.

"You mine," he growled in her ear, biting down on her neck. "Ain't no man ever gonna love you like I do. Ain't nobody gon' protect you like me."

Kayla moaned as his hand slid down, gripping her breast, rolling her nipple between his fingers while he kept pounding into her from behind. His strokes were ruthless, possessive, full of passion and intensity.

"I know," she gasped, her body shaking, overwhelmed by pleasure. "I know, Tyler—"

Tank moved faster, his breathing ragged, his grip tightening. He wanted her to feel this. Feel him. He wanted her to know she belonged to him, heart, body, and soul.

Kayla's moans turned into cries, her body tensing, her climax creeping up fast. "Tank—Daddy—I'm gonna—"

"Let go, baby," he commanded, his hand sliding down between her legs, rubbing her swollen clit in tight circles. "Cum for me."

That was all it took. Kayla screamed his name, her entire body shaking as she came hard, her walls clenching around him. The sensation sent Tank over the edge, his grip bruising as he buried himself deep inside her, growling as he released.

They collapsed together, tangled in each other, their bodies slick with sweat, their breathing heavy.

Tank turned her face toward him, kissing her slow, deep, his tongue sliding against hers, tasting her moans.

"You really tryna give me a baby, huh?" he murmured against her lips.

Kayla smiled lazily, her fingers tracing his jaw. "Yup," she cooed. Tank smirked as Kayla kissed him once more, "and I'm yours."

Tank smirked, pulling her closer. "Damn right you are."

And with that, he kissed her again, making sure she felt it—just like he made sure she knew she belonged to him.

"Always," she whispered