I was an asshole, and I knew it. But that didn’t keep me from pulling Briar into my arms and slanting my mouth over hers. Her body went soft, pliant against mine, and she clung to me with the same greedy desperation that I felt.

I boosted her up into my arms and carried her into the living room. There was a wide, deep chair angled by the window, and I sat there, urging Briar to stand between my legs. She wore a loose pair of pajama pants, and I hooked my hands in the waistband, dragging the material down. Once I had her naked from the waist down, I leaned forward, pressing my mouth to the dark curls that covered her pussy. She kept them trimmed and neat, and I slicked my tongue through them, seeking out the tight knot of her clit.

She cried out and arched forward, her spine curving backward as she pressed against my mouth.

I caught the full, lush curve of her ass, sinking my fingers into her soft skin.

She swayed against me, and I eased back, tugging her down until she straddled my legs.

Catching the hem of her top, I peeled it away. Her breasts swung free, and I cupped them in my hands, groaning at the soft but heavy weight. She always felt so good.

She gasped as I plucked at her nipples, rolling them between finger and thumb before tugging on them slowly. She panted, her hips rolling against me in a primal, basic rhythm.

Briar dropped her head and pressed her mouth to mine. She did it just as I slid my hand between her thighs to seek out the wet heat of her cunt, and as I pushed two fingers inside her, she gasped. It was like she was breathing me in as we kissed, and the sensation was indescribable.

I groaned as she tightened, a snug, silken fist. My dick hardened as she clenched even tighter. I screwed my wrist, working even deeper, past the milking contractions, then slowly withdrew.

Briar cried out against my lips. Her head fell back.

Fisting my hand in her hair, I pulled her mouth back to mine. “Open for me, Briar. I want your mouth.”

I didn’t even wait for a response. I kissed her, aching for her. Dying for her.

She slid her hands down my chest. The muscles in my belly jumped as I felt her fingers tearing at the button of my jeans. Through the denim, I could feel the brush of her fingers, a light teasing touch. I arched my hips to make it easier for her to drag the zipper down.

She fought and fumbled until she managed to free me from my jeans, and as she wrapped her fingers around my cock, I growled into her mouth. She fisted her hand around me and started to pump, slowly, oh so damn slowly, up and down. Sparks exploded behind my eyelids.

Working a hand between us, I wrapped my fingers around hers, tightening her grip.

“Like that,” I said, the words coming from me like primal growls.

She complied, tightening her fingers as she continued to work me. Not only did she do that, she also started twisting her wrist as she neared the head. I grunted, my eyes nearly crossing at the pleasure of it. I caught her around the waist and pulled her to me.

“Come here,” I said in a rough voice. “I want you. Right now.”

Briar gave my cock one last lingering stroke and then sank against me as I tucked the head of my dick against her entrance.

She gasped as I thrust upward. At the same time, I tugged her down against me.

She closed around me, wet, snug, and so, so perfect.

Her head fell back, exposing the long, elegant curve of her neck. Drawn to it, I leaned forward and caught a patch of skin between my teeth. She whimpered and clung to the back of my head, urging me on.

She slumped forward and whimpered, a sound of pure, feminine hunger.

I wanted to take my time. I wanted to make this last.

But both of us were too needy, too greedy. Almost as soon as it started, the two of us were chasing the end already. The edge of hunger was sharp and bright, leaving no room for soft caresses or foreplay.

Briar rocked against me, movements frenzied and rough. Her nails sank into my skin, another sharp bite.

I felt her body clench as her climax moved in closer.

I was already fighting mine back, but once she started to break over me, I gave up and lost myself to it, to the endless ebb and flow of pleasure.

When it ended, she sank against me and buried her face against my neck. Sweat sealed our bodies together. Our hearts thudded together, hard and fast. I could feel hers clearly, and no doubt, she could feel mine too.

A few minutes past, and my belly rumbled.

Briar laughed. “We never did get around to eating.”

I kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve always been of the mind that it doesn’t hurt to have dessert first.”

She snickered.

A few seconds later, her belly gurgled.

Yet neither of us moved.

Seconds ticked by into minutes, and we lounged there. Briar traced circles on my chest. I combed my fingers through her hair.

A police car went speeding down the road outside her house, and she heaved out a sigh and lifted upright, peering down at me.

“We should eat,” she said.

We finally manage to separate, but I didn’t get up right away. I lay slumped there, enjoying the view as she gathered her clothing and dressed.

“Coming?” She smiled down at me and held out a hand.

“I thought we already did that,” I said with a lecherous leer.

She snorted. “Food, Cormac.”

I considered the idea. It had merit. But I really didn’t want to get up. “I don’t suppose you feel like bringing the food in here,” I suggested.

She cocked a brow at me.

I took that as a no and heaved myself upright.

A few minutes later, I was damning my empty belly for being so persistent. No sooner had we stepped into the kitchen than the spell started to fall apart.

Neither of us said anything. But there was something different between us now, and it colored the air around us.

I had no doubt that Briar was as aware of it as I was.

I had no idea if it weighed on her as heavily, but I sure as hell hoped not.

Really, why should it?

She wasn’t the one carrying the weight of lies.

I told myself that I hadn’t had much choice, and in a way, I believed it too.

If I told her the truth and she pushed me away, I couldn’t protect her. I couldn’t watch out for her and make sure Jerrel kept his distance.

But I also knew that, at some point, this house of cards was going to come crashing down around me. And she wasn’t going to forgive it, either. And more, I knew I wouldn’t be able to blame her.