She shook her head, her breath fast against me. “I’m not, Kellan…I swear. I never touched him like that. I gave him a hug because he’s sad his girlfriend is stuck back in Australia, but there’s never been more than friendship between us while you’ve been gone…I promise.”

Her words were everything I wanted to hear, but still, fear made me balk, made me doubt. It was too easy to picture them together. It was too easy to remember. Kiera pressed harder against me. Her hands lifted to my chest, filling me with fire. And pain. I lowered my forehead to hers, torn, confused, angry…needy. “Kiera…don’t, don’t lie to me…please.” I could hear the odd ache in my voice as desperation filled me. It was half anguish, half lust. I needed her…but I also needed her words to be true. I couldn’t handle her cheating on me. Not now, not after we’d pledged ourselves to be faithful to one another. Let it be true, Kiera…and if it’s not…just kill me.

Kiera let out a throaty moan as I placed a hand on her waist. My fingers on her ass instinctively squeezed as the hunger of wanting her intensified. Resisting her was painful…but taking her could be too.

“I’m not, Kellan…” Her hands ran up my chest, her fingers stroking my neck before tangling into my hair. I suppressed a groan at how good it felt. Kiera’s voice was full of matching need when she spoke again. “Please…believe me…”

God, I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted her. Her fast breath was driving me insane. Her mouth so close to mine was excruciating torture. My body was throbbing, my heart was aching. She’s swearing her faithfulness, she’s asking me to believe in her. It must be true. It has to be true. My hand on her side slid up her chest, over her breast. I couldn’t contain the groan that time.

Kiera sucked in a sharp breath; her arms squeezed me tight. “Kellan, please…take me…”

Her begging was my undoing. I simply couldn’t resist her anymore. My mouth found hers before I was even aware of doing it. The sensation, the satisfaction, it was beyond all expectation. There was a frantic desperation to the way our mouths moved together—the way we attacked each other. I couldn’t get enough of her. I knew I should be gentler, softer, more romantic…but I couldn’t calm down. I just fucking needed her so goddamn much. And Kiera seemed to need me too. She met every forceful kiss, her body clamping around me, her fingers tightening in my hair.