They were friends now? In-person, let’s-hang-out friends? The word seemed foreign to me when put in context with Kiera. I didn’t think I could ever be just friends with her. No, I knew I couldn’t. I’d never been able to be just friends with her when we were friends; that was the bulk of our problem in the beginning. Was it possible for them though? To be just friends in person? I wasn’t sure. I remembered too clearly how hard it was for Kiera to leave him.

My jaw tightened as I stared her down. “You didn’t know how I’d react, or how you’d react?” I touched her chest, and as I did, anger—and wanton need—rushed through me. “Maybe you thought you’d start back up again.” I leaned into her, furious but aching with hunger. Our lips close, but still too far away, I spilled my darkest fear to her. “Maybe you were hoping for it to start back up again?”

She shoved against my chest, trying to get me to back up, but my body was so rigidly tight, she ended up pushing herself down onto the couch. My eyes narrowed as I watched her, my breath fast as anger and desire waged war within me, each battling for control. Kiera looked up at me, and I saw lust in her eyes as she studied my reaction. It electrified me, and I felt myself hardening as I stared at her.

Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she told me, “Nothing happened, Kellan, and I didn’t want anything to happen. Denny and I are just friends…I promise.”

God, I wanted to believe her. I wanted to forget all of this and make love to her, but fuck…the pain was starting to seep in, stimulated by my fear of losing her. I held onto the anger…the anger kept the agony away. Kiera was looking up at me with hooded eyes. The desire helped block the pain too. I let the ache of wanting her fill me, latched onto it like a lifeline. Leaning down, I pulled her to her feet. Our bodies instinctively melded together, every section of her front touching mine. It sent bolts of lightning through me, quickened my heartbeat, made my body surge with white-hot need. One of my hands drifted over to cup her ass, pulling her into me. I wanted more. So much more. But how could I go there…if she wasn’t telling the truth?

My lips lowered to hover over hers. It was so hard not to kiss her, but I forced myself to say the words that were holding me back. “Don’t lie to me, Kiera.” I couldn’t cave if she was lying. I’d never survive that kind of betrayal. You promised.