“We’re both adults here. If we say what we’re doing upfront, no one’ll get hurt, right?”

She looked up at him. “Right.”

“What are the rules?”

“Rules? We have sex when we want, then go about our lives. Lather, rinse, repeat. We don’t need to make a production of this.”

He frowned, releasing her wrist, hand moving up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “So, basically, a booty call, and you still go on dates?”

“Yes.”

His hand moved from her hair to trace the shell of her ear. Cherisse shivered at the featherlight touch. “I suppose anyone’s a more feasible option than me. Can’t even say I blame you right now. I haven’t exactly been at my best.” His touch burned all the way down her jaw. “Just tell me when you’re done with me. When you’ve gotten whatever it is you need out of this.”

“Keiran.” God. His words made her feel like shit.

He cupped her jaw. “Don’t feel bad about what you want. You’re being upfront with me. So, you set the end date, yeah?”

“Fine.”

He bowed his head, mouth hovering inches away from hers, waiting. She nodded, and he captured her lips in a soft kiss as if to seal the deal. She was already on edge, body wound tight, ready for release. She couldn’t do this softness. She pulled him into a corner of the porch.

As their tongues tangled, she palmed him through the boxers. His erection tented the front of it. There was no way he could go back inside without giving the guests an eyeful. She sucked on his bottom lip, hand still stroking, tugging. “You got your car keys?”

His head thunked back against the side of the hall. “Yeah. Handy pocket in this thing,” he panted out, hips moving in time with her hand.

“Gave anyone a ride here?”

“No.”

She gave one last slow stroke that had him groaning. “Good. Take me home.”

Chapter 25

Keiran

THEY’D BARELY MADE it inside her apartment before Cherisse was on him, biting at his lip as she pushed at the bottom of his tank top to scrape her nails over his stomach.

“Get this shit off,” she demanded, eyes flashing with lust and a hint of lingering annoyance.

“You’re so beautiful when you’re angry.”

“Is that why you keep pissing me off?”

He laughed. “No. Just a pleasant side effect.”

He wanted to go slow, bask in her body, but she wasn’t allowing it as she pushed him back until he bounced onto her couch. Seconds later, she was straddling him, and his hands went to her hips.

“Cherisse.”

“That isn’t what this is,” she breathed against his lips. “Fast. Hard. Make me fucking scream. That’s what I want.”