I bit my tongue, cursing his twin for whatever it was that was hurting him. “Troy,” I whispered angrily with a light shake of my head before walking to the door.

Only for it to shut before I could walk through it.

August stepped close. My skin simmered from the heat blazing in his eyes. His jaw tight in that way it was when he was outraged. God he was gorgeous. And I was so in love with him. I longed for those hands on me, his lips to graze my skin, his teeth to sink into me. He’d only been gentle with me but I wanted to feel the frustration. I wanted him to take me hard if this was it for us. I wanted him to leave his mark. I swallowed back the urge because I wouldn’t take this away from him. He needed to tell me in his own time. His own way.

He wasn’t making a move. He was struggling. I could feel it—and I wanted to end it.

“Fuck me,” I said.

Dark green eyes scanned me angrily—there was scrutiny in them, but also need and desire. Wrapping a hand around my neck, he pulled me against his rock-hard body and kissed me.

I moaned and clung to him as he lifted me, carrying me to his bedroom. He stripped me of my clothes, possibly tearing some of it, I couldn’t tell.

I hadn’t come here for this, but it was amazing how he could easily bring my body to life in such an intoxicating way.

We belonged together. And I wasn’t going to accept him hiding behind a mask anymore.

When I’d lost the final piece of clothing and his boxers came off, I moved myself onto his bed, loving the way he watched me. The way he moved in on me, a promise in his eyes to make this something I was going to feel for days.

“You’re so goddamn beautiful Harper.”

His eyes blazed as he nudged my legs apart, touching me. I arched when his fingers slid inside me, feeling my heat. I was so wet, aching for him to fill me. To fill the emptiness I felt ever since I left the beach house. The night after he showed me what it was like to feel so full and complete.

I’ve fallen deeply and the only thing I could hope for is for this lie between us to blow over like it was yesterday’s news and never speak of it again.

But for now…I’d humor him. Just one more time.

“It’s just you and me here tonight, baby,” he said as if reading my mind. “No one else.”

He slid a condom on and moved over me and I tensed, my body remembering the initial discomfort. He stilled at my entrance and I blinked up at him.