I bark out a curse, and she smiles again. This time when she takes me into her mouth, she sucks and pulls me deep. My hips jerk instinctively, and she moans in approval. I lose my tenuous grip on my control. I let pleasure take over as she licks, sucks, and strokes. Every time I rock into her, fucking her hot mouth, pressing into those perfect lips, she moans, sucks hard, draws me deeper.

The sight of her—Teagan on her knees, her mouth around me, her eyes dark with lust—is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. Looking at her fills me with a tenderness and longing I’ve never quite experienced before. Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this. Maybe Jake’s right, and Teagan is another diversion in my months of dodging the broken pieces inside me.

No. He’s not. Maybe it was like that at first—the night at the auction—but the other women never made me feel like this. I never felt the weight of the day slip off my shoulders just because I heard their laugh. I never wanted to open up to any of them.

I want that and more with her. I want to strip off her clothes and lay her out on the bare floor, fuck her so deep that she’s making those sounds right into my ear as we find release together.

Pleasure coils tighter and hotter down my spine, and I thread my fingers in her hair. “Teagan, baby. Fuck. I’m about to come.”

She draws me deeper and sucks harder. Pleasure jackknifes down my spine as I spill into her mouth.

When she stands, she’s a mess of wild hair, swollen lips, and flushed cheeks. I slide both hands behind her back and draw her body tight against mine as I kiss her hard—right as there’s a knock on the door.

“Hey, sorry . . .” Jake clears his throat. I can picture him shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. “The bus is ready and they’re asking for you two.”

Teagan

Mom stands at the foot of the stairs in the Hayhurst mansion. “Thank you, everyone, for an amazing day. Dinner will be served in an hour, and after that, I understand the bridal party has some plans for the evening.”

“Hmm, what could we possibly do with an hour?” Carter asks, eyes dancing and all over me.

“It’ll have to be a quick nap,” Saanvi whispers to us. She grabs Liam’s hand and races up the stairs.

Carter grins. “What do you say?” he asks, his voice low and husky. “Quick nap?”

My heart races and my stomach flips. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if Jake hadn’t knocked on the door, but judging by the way Carter was kissing me, I know we weren’t done. I’m realizing that when it comes to him, I’m not done with anything but lying to myself. I’m sick of pretending I don’t want more.