How easily he could’ve freed his cock and pushed my shorts aside to take me on that patio couch.

But thinking of Ward made the whole thing worse. Because my hands and I knew what I liked. I knew how to touch my own body. But my finger wasn’t his.

In a frustrated huff, I shoved everything into the drawer, plugged in my phone to charge, and rolled over to sleep.

To try to.

I tossed.

I turned.

I kicked my legs around in a silent, horny tantrum.

After I couldn’t fight it any longer, I climbed out of bed and grabbed Ward’s hoodie from the top of my dresser. I’d been wearing it all day—I was weak for an oversized hoodie that belonged to an oversized wall of a man—but when I pulled it on that time, nothing was on underneath.

I wasn’t sure if Ward would be outside. Hell, I wasn’t even sure he was home. Surprisingly, he’d actually listened when I said no more coming over.

The bastard.

Before I could change my mind, I hurried out the back door. My chest fluttered when the scent of burning wood hit my nose, but it wasn’t as strong as the night before.

Maybe it’s someone’s fireplace.

Or he’s already in bed.

It didn’t hurt to look.

When I turned toward my gate door, Ward stood in the open frame.

“Shit.” I pressed my hand to my racing heart—though getting startled was only partially to blame. “Isn’t breaking and entering illegal?”

“There was no breaking,” he pointed out before looking down at his feet planted firmly outside the fence. “And I think I’d notice entering, neighbor.”

My cheeks heated at his phrasing, even if it was innocuous. That heat spread down to my chest and lower when I saw the smirk that curved his mouth.

Oh, he knew exactly what he was saying.

When we got into his yard under the hanging lights, his smile had faded, replaced by concern. He looked me over. “Heard your door slam. You okay?”

Shit.

I hadn’t gotten far enough in my planning to realize I’d actually have to tell him why I was there. In my mind, we’d just skipped to the good part.

I didn’t know what to say, but that said everything.

The concern melted into magma heat, his gaze aimed at my legs.

My bare legs.

“What’s under the hoodie, baby?”

“Nothing,” I whispered.

In a blink, I was against the tall fence with Ward’s knee pressed between my legs to spread them. Like there was an unbreakable magnetic connection, his hand shot to my pussy, cupping it.

He groaned a curse against my neck. “What’ve you been doing?”

There was no point in denying anything. He could literally feel the proof of it coating his palm. “Trying to come.”