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When I start to move, I keep it careful. Small, controlled rocks of my hips. It feels good, but part of me is still holding back, still worried about looking greedy. About wanting too much.

Jarek notices. “You’re holding back.” His hands slide up my thighs to my hips. “Don’t. Ride me like you mean it. Use me. I can take it.”

He sits up and takes my nipple into his mouth, and whatever I was holding onto snaps.

I ride him hard, grinding down every time to chase the friction against my clit. He lets me. His hands help guide my hips, his mouth moves over my breasts, and he doesn’t stop talking—how good I look, how wet I am, how he’s going to be thinking about this every time I walk into a room for the rest of the month.

“That’s it. Fuck, Nina, just like that. Take it. Take everything you want.”

I grab his face and kiss him, messy and desperate, and the second orgasm hits even harder than the first. I feel it all the way down to my toes, and I clench around him so hard he shouts.

“Fuck. Fuck, I can feel you coming on my cock.”

His fingers dig into my hips. He holds me in place and thrusts up into me, hard and fast, while I’m still shaking.

“Stay with me,” he grits out. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t break you.”

Two more thrusts, and he comes with a groan so deep I feel it in my own chest.

I collapse on top of him. His arms wrap around me. His heart pounds under my ear. So does mine.

“Well,” he finally says, breathless and very pleased with himself. “That was fun, wasn’t it?”

Fun doesn’t quite cover it. But I nod against his chest, because I don’t trust my voice yet.

He slides out of me, deals with the condom, and flops back onto the bed with his arm stretched out toward me. “Come here.”

“I should go. I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

“Can that all wait until morning?” He wiggles his fingers at me and flashes that smile, the one half the world has seen on a movie screen. Except right now, it’s just for me.

I’m not sure staying is a good idea. But there’s no way I’m saying no to that face. I curl up beside him and rest my head on his shoulder.

He kisses the top of my head. “This is nice.”

It is. Really nice. And it can still be harmless, temporary fun.

CHAPTER 7

ZANDER

Jarek has been one of my two best friends since we were too young to drink, and in all that time, following rules has never been one of his strengths. Unlike Pascal, who mistakes obedience for responsibility and would rather suffer in silence than fall short of expectations, Jarek has always been more heart than head.

Which is why it shouldn’t upset me as much as it does when I pass his bedroom door in the morning just as he’s walking out. Over his shoulder, sound asleep in his bed, is Nina.

My temper flares instantly. It takes a lot to make me lose control of my emotions, and I don’t like how upset I am to see her in Jarek’s bed. Aside from the fact that he broke our house rule, it shouldn’t bother me. Emotional dependence is weakness, and I make a point never to get too close to women. So why the hell am I reacting like this?

“Morning!” Jarek beams, closing the door behind him.

He stretches his arms over his head, shirtless in joggers, his hair ruffled like he’s been rolling around in bed. I stop myself before I think about that too deeply.

“Coffee time!” He heads down the hallway toward the kitchen as if nothing happened.

“What the fuck, Jarek?” I growl, following him. “You broke our agreement.”

He turns and raises a brow like he’s confused. Jarek is good at playing dumb when he wants to, but he’s not stupid.

“She’s supposed to be off-limits,” I snarl.