Tori fumbled with the keys outside the double doors to her mansion. The third time she tried to find the lock, I covered her hand with mine. “Let me help.”

I knew it would be hard, coming here. But I didn’t think it would be this hard. Not until the sedan pulled up to the gate with the big G entwined in the wrought iron bars. I remembered seeing it in the news reports after the accident, when the media laid siege to Tori’s estate.

But this was different. Real. Tori once lived here with someone else.

Jealousy had always seemed like a dangerous emotion, one that I didn’t inherit from Jake. But as I pushed through the door and into the grand foyer, that’s exactly what I felt. Jealous. For a life that didn’t exist anymore. And for the dead man who shared that life with Tori.

Brushing past me, she headed for a security panel with blinking lights while I freed my phone from my pocket. I was still waiting for the Lyft app to find my location when she appeared in front of me.

“What are you doing?” she asked, glancing at my screen.

I never told her I’d be staying, but still, I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “Setting up a ride. But I can’t get a bead on the location.”

She didn’t say anything for a long moment, and I had no choice but to lift my gaze.

A frown tugged her lips. “Service is poor out here. You’re going to have to hook up to the signal booster. Let me get you the code. It’s in the kitchen.”

She reached for her bag, but I outmaneuvered her hands, cocking a brow at the massive marble staircase. “Really?”

She shrugged. “I probably won’t sleep upstairs anyway.”

Before I could ask why, she was off, her boots echoing on the polished floors. “Come on. I’ll get you the code.”

We passed room after room. Elegant spaces with high end furnishings and expensive art on the walls. But none of it looked lived in. Or inviting.

Once we got to the kitchen, Tori pulled open the door to the Sub-Zero. “Want a beer?”

“Sure.” Retrieving two Shiners, she pressed a bottle into my hand. “You don’t drink beer,” I said as I twisted off my cap.

Shrugging, she looked down at the label. “I’m from Texas. Of course I drink beer. As long as it’s the right brand.” Leaning a hip against the counter, she took a long pull. And something about the way her mouth formed around the bottle … fuck.

I shifted my feet, my cock twitching behind my zipper.

Maybe she’d agree to come to my place. Or maybe I’d just fuck her right here on the island.

“Logan …?”

The beer caught in my throat, and I coughed. “What?” Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I cursed my one-track mind and her short skirt. And those boots. “Sorry. Did you say something?”

She arched a dark brow as if she knew what I was thinking. “I said: you don’t have to get a Lyft. You can drive my car if you want.”

“The Shelby?”

Smirking around her next sip, she rolled her eyes. “I was thinking the Mercedes, but sure. That’s fine.” Suddenly serious, she set her bottle on the counter. “Do you have time for dinner before you go?”

Hedging wasn’t my style, so I plopped onto the barstool. “I do. But you seem uncomfortable having me here.”

I watched her over the rim of my bottle, gauging her reaction.

She looked confused. “I didn’t mean to come off that way. Besides Taryn, and … um, a couple other people, nobody’s ever stayed out here.”

Guessing that one of the “others” was Dylan, I dug my thumbnail into the yellow label. Jealousy. What the fuck?

“You’re welcome to stay, Lo.” She sidled closer. “I have room.”

Taking her by the hips, I pulled her between my legs. “Do you, now?” It was a stupid question, considering the size of her mansion. But then, I wasn’t talking about the house. It was her life I was interested in.

She smiled so sweetly. “I do.”

“Then I guess you better show me where I’ll be sleeping.”

The house was enormous. Seven bedrooms and at least as many bathrooms. And five living areas if I counted right during the tour. But I didn’t see it all. The third story remained a mystery, along with whatever was behind the double doors at the end of the hallway on the second floor.

Once we’d finished with the show and tell, I’d excused myself and retreated to the guest room to shower just so I could get a handle on all the emotions pushing in on me.

Anger I could deal with, but this wasn’t anger. I wasn’t mad. Still, I wanted to tear things apart with my bare hands, or maybe just back Tori against the nearest wall and plunge inside of her until she screamed my name loud enough to rattle the ghosts from the house.

But I couldn’t hide out forever, so I made my way down the stairs. At the bottom, I took a left and wound up hopelessly lost. On my way out of the maze, I passed a circular room with a domed ceiling, and in the center sat a Steinway grand piano. Black lacquer beckoned me, gleaming under a pair of art lights. Following the call, I wandered inside, easing onto the matching bench as I tinkled the keys. The sound was rich, enhanced by the acoustics in the odd shaped room.

I’d just launched into a simple tune when a picture in a polished silver frame snagged my attention, knocking the wind out of me like a punch to the solar plexus. Tori with her sun-bright smile, nothing but promise in her eyes, standing next to the man who’d built her this house. I could try to pretend the last part wasn’t true, that I didn’t imagine Rhenn pouring over blueprints and making sure that every detail was just so. But there were too many things in the house that weren’t Tori. Not the Tori I knew.

The jealousy crept back, stabbing through me like a sharp blade.

“There you are.”

I snapped my attention to Tori’s sweet voice, and the riot under my skin subsided, my heart expanding at the sight of her decked out in a yellow bikini. She didn’t hide from me anymore, my girl.

My girl.

I’d just gotten used to the idea of it. And outside these walls, it was true. Maybe. Or was that an illusion as well?

Pushing to my feet, I raked a hand through my hair. “Hey.”

My voice was huskier than usual, and what the fuck was that about? I’d already vowed to keep my hands to myself. Not that I had much choice. The room where I’d be sleeping obviously wasn’t hers. But my cock didn’t get the memo.

Tori glided toward me, a bottle of beer in her hand. I took it, eager for the distraction.

“Where’s yours?” I asked in that same husky tone.

Tori didn’t drink often, but when she did, we had some of our best talks. Followed by mind-blowing sex and a sleep so peaceful I woke feeling drugged.

“I’ll have some wine by the pool.” She took my hand, and for a minute I forgot where we were. I wanted to kiss her. Fall on my knees, tug down her tiny shorts and bury my face in her sweet cunt.

“I can order a pizza,” she said with a hopeful smile, totally oblivious to my lurid thoughts.

“Sounds good.”

Cold marble chilled my bare feet as she led me toward the back of the house. Though I’d glimpsed the grounds during our tour, now that she’d opened the accordion windows and welcomed the outside in, the view took my breath away.

Tall trees of different varieties lined both sides of the property, stretching all the way to the lake. Unlike Sean’s house, which sat right above the shore, Tori’s estate was built on a bluff. A cliff some fifty yards away that went straight down into deep water.

Sinking onto one of the chaise lounges on the pebbled deck surrounding the swimming pool, I stretched my legs. I watched as Tori dipped a toe into the water. Her raven hair glistened in the fading light, a soft black curtain spilling over her shoulders. And her skin. She looked every bit the angel with those wings on display.

Tossing me a smile, she said, “Why don’t you come in?”

I glanced down at my jeans before meeting her gaze. “I’m not exactly dressed for the beach, princess.”

She eased down onto the first step, the water gently caressing her calves. “You know what I love about this place?”

“What?”

She pulled the string around her neck and her bikini top slipped off, freeing her tits. “It’s really private.” Biting her lip, she rolled one of her nipples between her thumb and her forefinger.

I took a sip of my beer, enjoying the show.

Disappointment etched her brow, and she stopped the sensual assault on her nipple. “You really don’t want to come in?”

Reclining on my elbow, I palmed my thickening cock. “I want to watch.” Tori blinked as if she didn’t know what to do next. Which was fine. More than fine. “Touch yourself, baby.” Hesitantly and with her eyes on mine, she dipped her hand inside her bikini bottoms. “What does it feel like?’ I asked.

She licked her bottom lip. “Warm. Slick.”

“Are you wet for me?” Her lips parted, and she nodded. “Say it.”

Dropping her gaze to my hand squeezing my denim-clad erection, she swallowed hard. “I’m wet for you.”

For me.

I wanted to believe it, but I wouldn’t know for sure until we were face-to-face. “Come here.”

She stepped out of the pool, achingly slow and so graceful. And then she was in front of me, amber eyes hooded, lithe fingers toying with her erect nipple.

Dropping a knee between my thighs, she leaned forward, brushing a kiss to my lips. And fuck … she tasted so good. Like sugar on my tongue.

Her touch traveled south to the brass button on my jeans. Catching her wrist, I brought her hand to my mouth and licked her taste off her fingers.

She watched me with rapt attention, just a hint of her pretty pink tongue peeking out from between parted lips. “What do you want, Lo?”

My free hand cupped her nape. “Your mouth. On my cock.”

Oddly enough, blow jobs from Tori weren’t high on my list of priorities. I preferred the feel of her tight pussy. But tonight, I wanted those lips around my shaft and my hand on her throat when she swallowed me.

She tugged at my zipper, then hooked her fingers into my belt loops and dragged the denim just low enough for my erection to spring free. I guess if I’d really intended to keep things PG, I would’ve thrown on a pair of boxer briefs. But whether I wanted to admit it or not, sex with Tori was never off the table.

Threading my fingers into her hair, I guided her to where I wanted her. Eyes locked on mine, she slid down until her knees were on the deck. And then she lowered her head and swirled her tongue around the bead of pre-cum on my engorged tip.

“Suck, baby.” And she did. Curling her hand around my base, she took me to that heaven in the back of her throat. “Fuck … fuck … fuck,” I hissed as my fingers unfurled and I found that spot on her nape. “More.”

My thumb glided back and forth along her throat, over the smooth skin and the tiny scar. And when she swallowed, I felt myself there. It was so fucking hot. Too hot. Too much.

“I’m going to come,” I warned, and those eyes flicked to mine, a smile evident in the amber hue.

Even as the frenzy built, my stomach coiling and my balls tightening, I held back.

“No,” I managed to grunt. “I want to fuck you.”

Releasing me with a pop, she pushed to standing, and it was so quiet, just her gaze on mine as she stripped off my jeans. I managed to yank my shirt over my head before she climbed on top of me.

I froze when I felt her slick heat against my bare cock. Tori didn’t notice, her hot mouth on my neck.

“I don’t have a condom.”

Tipping back, she blinked at me, and time stood still.

Telling her I was clean, that I never fucked without protection, sounded too much like begging. “I’ve got some upstairs,” I said. “Be right back.”

Her palm molded my shoulders, holding me in place when I tried to shift her body off me. “Have you been with anyone else since … you know… us?”

She stumbled over the words, and I fought to keep from lashing out.

How could she even think?

“Nobody.”

Snagging her bottom lip between her teeth, she nodded like she already knew. “Okay … and how long before that?”

Really? We were doing this now?

I sighed. “About a week.”

She searched my face, her gaze everywhere at once. “Before or after the health screening?”

“What?”

“The health screening for the insurance waiver? Twin Souls set it up.”

“Oh … before.”

Admitting to my manager that I put off the tests until three days before we left for the tour probably wouldn’t do me any favors. But right now, Tori wasn’t my manager.

“You got a certificate of good health,” she said. “I saw it in your file. No drugs. No diseases. And I’m on the pill.”

“I thought you couldn’t …”

My jaw clamped shut when she winced. And this time when her gaze found mine, there was something else. A different pain.

“Physically, I can.” She shrugged. “Maybe. I only have one ovary. But I can’t carry … I’ll never be able to …”

My mouth crashed into hers, stealing the words. And the pain. And her breath. She cupped my cheeks, pulling me closer.

When I finally broke our connection, there was lingering sadness in her eyes. And it gutted me. Threading my fingers into her silky locks, I touched my forehead to hers. ”Shhh … it’s okay.”

She nodded, resigned. Because what else could she do? And then she slid forward, and I felt her slick heat like an invitation. She rose slightly, allowing me access, and my hand found my cock, guiding the head to her entrance. And when she eased down on top of me, there was nothing in the world but her.

A vague notion took hold as she began to move. A tear raced down her cheek, and I kissed it away, tasting the salt and the sweet. And I knew then what it was—the glow spreading from my chest, owning every part of me.

Love.