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  After I’ve finished, Hayden gently drops my legs and slowly stands before me, securing eye contact. My body is limp and unmoving; my legs feel languid and relaxed.

  “I’ve never . . .” I start to say the words, but stop. I’m breathless.

  “You’re fucking perfect.” His voice is strained and hungry.

  I don’t say anything before I reach for his shirt and pull him toward me. Tasting myself in his mouth, I keep his tongue busy while my hands shake in search for the button of his jeans. Moments after an epic climax, I’m readying for another.

  Reaching into his back pocket, he stops my attempt. “Hold on. Condom.”

  I nod while waiting patiently for him to pull it out of his wallet. He holds the condom in his teeth while dropping the wallet to the floor beside us. Unzipping his jeans quickly, I watch him pull his cock out and his hand glides over the shaft in frenzy to free it.

  Opening the packet, he hands the condom to me and I take it, reaching down and sliding it on. Before I’m even sure if it’s secure, Hayden lifts my body and bites my neck at the same time he slides into me.

  “Oh, Jesus fucking Christ, Lacey.”

  “Shhh,” I say, trying to lower his voice. He’s seated into me entirely, both of us completely dressed except for our connection. “Go,” I say, tugging on the back of his shirt.

  “This won’t be gentle. Brace for it.”

  “Braced,” I whisper, grasping him from inside.

  I wasn’t ready. The man knows exactly what he’s doing and how to get a woman to her end within seconds. He’s thrusting so hard my back climbs the wall with each pound.

  “Fuck, you’re so goddamn tight.”

  “Floor.” It’s a desperate demand, but it’s all I can say.

  Lifting me from the wall, he gently disconnects us and puts me on my feet. He grabs a pillow from the couch and pushes me back to get me where he wants me. We’re still dressed but his hurried movements don’t offer time to remove our clothes.

  Coming down over my body, his hand grabs the back of my knee and pushes it into my chest for a deeper penetration than was just granted against the wall. I moan with satisfaction as I feel him seat himself further into me.

  “Let me on top,” I mumble, unsure who’s listening. His heavy pants continue as he releases my thigh and grabs my arms to free himself from my hold.

  “Not yet.” He laces his fingers in mine, giving me the full weight of his body, and lifts them over my head. “I thought you tasted good, but you feel fucking amazing.”

  “So do you,” I return, sucking his neck and letting the taste of his skin ignite me further. My hips move in time with his, causing his thrusts to become harder and more hurried and desperate.

  After only a few more thrusts in this position, my body is on fire. His dirty talk in my ear continues and becomes my final sated end. I start to shout his name but he catches my intent and holds me to him by one thigh as his other hand covers my mouth. When he stills in me and releases himself, I settle quietly. He releases my mouth when he’s finished and looks down at me from above.

  The moonlight from outside shines on his face and neck, allowing me to take in his smile. “Fuck, Lace,” he says, panting heavily. “That felt good.”

  “Yes. It did.”

  “That was with clothes on. Unsure I would’ve lasted that long if you’d have been naked.”

  Sliding out of me, he reaches for the condom, ties its end, and places it in the pocket of his jeans. He stands and offers his hand to pull me up. I take it and adjust my skirt as soon as I can.

  “You okay?” he asks, adjusting his own shirt and pants.

  I reply while wiping myself off my face, which I would normally find crude and without humor, but not right now. “Yeah, I was just thinking about that first kiss the other day.”

  “More jokes?” he states in challenge. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, Hayden. I’m fine. You weren’t my first time.”

  “Sure as fuck felt it. How long has it been? My fucking back hurts from your heels digging in.”

  “Don’t be crass! It’s been a while,” I admit.

  He looks down at the floor and for the first time I see a shadow of vulnerability seep through. “Honest to God, I wasn’t expecting this.”

  “It’s all right. I’m a big girl, ya know.”

  “You’re not going to screech at me like a crazy woman or call us a couple now, are you?”

  “Oh, God, no.”

  His nervousness is making me nervous. He’s running his hands through his hair forcefully while looking to me, then the door. “You can go, Hayden. I’m going to bed.”

  “I just . . .”

  “What?”

  Walking to me softly, he kisses the crown of my head, making it the only contact he allows. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Put your number in my phone.”

  Taking the phone from his outstretched hand, I quickly put my number in—with sarcasm included, then text myself so I have his. “Okay, done.”

  “Done.” He nods and opens the door but stops before walking through it.

  I won’t allow him to ruin this. We had a good time and I still have the taste of his skin on my lips. “Go home, you shameless flirt. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He smiles before walking out the door, leaving me alone in Trav’s living room with the visual mess I’m reliving against that wall and the floor.

  I may have just fucked up, but holy Hell, my body ached for that release.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Hayden

  I’M AN IDIOT. Of epic proportion. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought this to myself. Trav’s sister is off-limits, a no-go, and I, of course, went there.

  All day I kept my tempting thoughts at bay. I buried them under the mindless errands and shopping we had to do for Rae’s party. I disregarded her almost completely, searching for ways to forget the attraction I feel toward her. It wasn’t fair to her; I acted like a moody ass.

  I’m an idiot.

  Fuck.

  When she walked into the hallway before we headed out, wearing what she was tonight, I felt my cock tighten by her appearance alone. The familiarity of just being around her as I held her for those two minutes on the dance floor, the drive home with her at my side, watching her stick up for Sarah as I wanted to, and the way she was looking at me with resolution when I pulled her into me—I reacted in the same manner my friends fucking hate. I had made up my mind; I was going to fuck her.

  And I did.

  Women don’t say my name. I don’t push it because usually I forget theirs anyway. I don’t need reassurance from them to know who’s fucking them because an hour later, I don’t give a shit if they remember who it was who did.

  The sound of Lacey’s voice saying my name while I had my hands on her, rings in my ears as I walk up my driveway. The taste of her on my tongue while remembering how it felt to lick her core still thrives, and the feel of her under my fingertips as I grasped her body into mine is causing my briefly sated state to wane.

  I want to be with her again. This is new and sure as fuck unsettling.

  “You’re back.” Jenna’s voice sitting on my darkened porch tosses cold water on whatever peaceful rest I could’ve had tonight after leaving Lacey.

  “What are you doing out here?” Checking my phone, I see it’s past one in the morning.

  “Can I come in? I don’t want to go home.”

  “I was heading to bed, and I’m not really in the mood.”

  “Not in the mood? That’s a change,” she says, standing up and walking closer to me. When her hands reach to touch my chest, I step back.

  “Nothing personal. I . . .”

  Her face lightens in the shadow of the porch light and she smiles sweetly. Jenna and I have a fair relationship, each understanding we’re not each other’s only option to fuck.

  “Oh,” she says, still smiling. “Got it.”

  “I didn’t think you’d be here waiting.”
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  “Nothing else to do, I guess. Can I come in for a few minutes? Marti’s entertaining a guest so I’m avoiding having to go home.”

  Her roommate, Marti, is a tool, so I can’t imagine she’d have much company if she were home alone or not. Many times in the past Jenna has stayed at my house to avoid her roommate.

  “Sure. It’s late. You can stay here.”

  Jenna winks as we enter the house. “I knew you’d change your mind.”

  “I didn’t,” I tell her calmly, in no way wanting to replace the memory of Lacey with her.

  “Where were you earlier?”

  “Trav’s.” She doesn’t need to know the play-by-play of the evening.

  “I’m going to change. Are you sure you don’t mind me staying?”

  “It’s no problem. I’ll take the couch.”

  “The couch?” Understandably, she’s not used to this arrangement.

  “Yeah. I’m really not in the mood.”

  “O-okay,” she stutters but walks to my room to grab whatever she can sleep in. We’ve done this several times before; she and I both know the routine.

  After getting myself a shot of whiskey, I pull out my phone as soon as I hear the text come across.

  Seduce Me 01:48 a.m. What are you doing?

  Seduce me? Lacey’s sense of humor doesn’t wane after sex, I see.

  01:49 a.m. Seduce me? Cute, Lace. Nothing. I’m about to fix your name in my phone, though.

  Seduce Me 01:49 a.m. To what? I thought it was fitting.

  01:50 a.m. Sex kitten.

  Seduce Me 01:50 a.m. Is this you flirting?

  01:51 a.m. Nope. It’s me remembering. I can still taste you.

  Seduce Me 01:52 a.m. Oh, God.

  01:52 a.m. That’s what she said.

  Seduce Me 01:53 a.m. I’m texting for a reason and not THAT ONE. I wanted to be sure we were good.

  01:53 a.m. Together? Very.

  Seduce Me 01:54 Hayden!!

  01:54 a.m. LOL Yes, we’re good. Now go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.

  Seduce Me 01:54 a.m. Good night, Hayden.

  01:54 a.m. Good night, Lacey.

  “You’re smiling.” I lift my head to see Jenna standing in my kitchen doorway wearing my Devil’s Despair tee shirt and boxers. Even though we’re friends, I still wish she wasn’t here. I should’ve stayed at Trav’s with Lacey, finishing what we started.

  “Yeah, something funny,” I answer, lifting my body off the counter and putting my whiskey glass on it.

  “You don’t smile like that if it’s just something funny. Who is she?”

  Who is she? The simple answer. “Travis’s little sister, Lacey.”

  “Who is she to you?” she inquires carefully, “You can tell me.”

  “Why aren’t you in bed?” I change the subject, not wanting to discuss Lacey and our night together with anyone. Especially not Jenna.

  “Wanted to double-check on you. You’re not acting like Hayden,” she states with uncertainty.

  Moving from the kitchen to living room, I get comfortable on my bed for the night. Jenna follows me and sits herself on the couch next to me. ”How does Hayden act?”

  “Well, I’ve never seen you look at your phone and text with a smirk. I’ve certainly never heard you talk about another woman with a smile, either.”

  “She’s fun.”

  “Fun,” she repeats, moving the hair behind her ear to get a better angle to study me.

  “I’m fun.”

  “You are.”

  “I’m sensing there’s more. Explain.”

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  “But you like this Lacey.”

  “I do.”

  “You two . . . had sex, didn’t you?”

  “Do you really want to talk about this?”

  She laughs, out loud and animatedly. “Yes. Hayden, I’m not oblivious to your charm, remember? I don’t want anything more from you than what we have. I just would like to know if what we have is going to be ending soon.”

  Before I can pull back the words, I say, “It is.”

  Her face drops, her smile fades, and replacing it is a look of sentiment. Her head tilts to the side and her voice is soft and genuine. “Hayden’s been caught.”

  “Caught?”

  “Hayden’s been captured,” she accuses with a light grin.

  “Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Getting up from the couch, she offers me the pillow I put on the floor and when I reach to grab it from her, she holds it tighter. “There are worse things than finding someone you think you could start to care about.”

  “Even for a man like me?”

  “Yes, Hayden. Even a man like you deserves to find what he’s never had.”

  “I guess.” I shrug, hating that the person I’ve done no more than fuck in the last few months is using this to make a point.

  “I’ll consider myself dumped,” she says light-heartedly as she heads back to my room.

  “I’ll consider myself an ass for dumping you.”

  “Good,” she replies loudly, closing the door behind her.

  Fuck. I just let my whore-fucking-equal walk away. I’m losing my fucking mind. I’ve got to be.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Lacey

  TRAVIS WASN’T HOME when I finally made it out of bed this morning, but he left a note telling me Ace took him to work so I would have the Jeep today to get some errands done. My car is shit and until he has time to fix it, he doesn’t want me driving around a city I’m not familiar with.

  My first thought of the day: I’m sore. I’ve never felt my body’s aches and pains in the good way I do now.

  My second thought: Never in my adult life have I contemplated taking part in a one-night stand. I’ve come to think of Hayden as a friend and after he left last night, I felt as though I had burned that bridge.

  Doughnuts, dairy, and desperation were on the agenda for tonight until I see my cell phone ringing on the nightstand beside my bed.

  “Hi, Shelby.”

  “Hey, honey. We need you tonight. Trav’s group is playing at eight and Sheridan’s taking second set. Can you make it?”

  My voice breaks with anxiety; if I work when they’re playing, I have to face him soon. “Tonight?”

  “Yeah. I know, I know, you’re scheduled to be off, but Mel and I really need you.”

  My plans of binge-eating myself into oblivion fade with my answer. “Sure. I don’t have any plans.”

  “Great! Thank you, doll. I owe you.”

  “See ya later then.”

  A few hours later, I’m alone and eating at the dining room table when I check the time: four-thirty. Hayden hasn’t called or sent a text message. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to expect any contact after last night. Either way, I’m okay with it, but it would be nice to hear his voice again.

  Addison has one-night stands all the time; I never once thought to ask her the standard etiquette that takes place afterwards. If she were talking to me, I could call her but she’s not returning any of my messages yet.

  “I’m working tonight,” I tell Travis as he walks in the door from work, looking already exhausted even before he has to be at The Ward.

  “What? You said you were off.”

  “Well, I’m not. Shelby called,” I snap. Travis didn’t do anything wrong, but my frustration with my confusion has me on edge.

  His eyebrows rise in humor. “Bad day?”

  “Nope. Period’s coming.” It’s not, but any man will slowly walk out of a room backwards at the mention of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Especially if that someone is your brother.

  “Well, okay then. I’m gonna shower.”

  I snap again, not hesitating to make him the mark for my anger, even knowing it’s wrong. “Good, you need it. You stink.”

  “Wow. That was vicious,” he states, clearly annoyed as he watches me get up from the table where I’ve stewed for the last hour. “How long does Aunt Flo ha
ng around?”

  “Weeks!” I shout, heading into my bedroom and slamming the door.

  Christ, this sucks.

  Walking into The Ward in uniform with the crowd level at max decibels is always a challenge. I’m not on the clock but people are shouting their orders, barking complaints, and some ass-grabbing ensues. I’m definitely not in the mood.

  “Holy fucking crazy, good to see you, Lace!” Shelby shouts from behind the bar.

  I give her the same dull stare I gave Travis earlier, only this one is laced with ammo ready to explode at any minute. I spent my day sulking; no need to change my rhythm now. Hayden didn’t do anything wrong by not calling today, but still, I’m pissed.

  “Bad day?” she asks while pouring three shots of tequila for a male customer who stands in front of her staring at her cleavage in her tight shirt. I grab one, toss it back, and then slam the glass; my way of asking for a refill. She refuses, as she should, and grabs a clean glass after taking the dirty one away. “I guess so,” she says, answering her own question, “Trav’s looking for you. He looked nervous when he asked when you’d be in.”

  “I bet,” I admit, rehashing his shocked face in the midst of my afternoon attitude.

  “He said to tell you he’d be around when you felt like talking. Sounded suspicious, but I’ll leave you two to discuss it later.”

  “Thanks,” I return, wrapping the apron around my waist.

  Tonight after Trav left, I went at my own pace while getting ready. I straightened my hair, took extra time with makeup, rubbed down with lotion, and overall appreciated the distraction while pampering myself. I deserved it after what my morning started out to be.

  All because of a man.

  “The girls are already here. Rae was looking for you and before I forget, Hayden’s looking for you, too. You’re a popular girl tonight.” She winks, having no idea why I’m a topic of anyone’s conversation.

  “She’s always a popular girl.” I feel the breath on my neck and inwardly cringe with exhaustion and disgust. Dan Michaels playing tonight wasn’t something I wanted to taint my already pouty mood.

  Shit.