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I take my underwear from him. With my purse inside with my friends, I’ve no other choice but to slip them back on. I don’t think much of it until Tate’s intense gaze burns a hole in my dress after I smooth the skirt down, hiding my damp panties.

“Jesus, Talia. Don’t—You can’t do shit like that. I’m barely holding on as it is.” He scrubs a hand over his stubbled jaw.

I flash him my upper thigh, making him blush like a Victorian suitor getting a glimpse of a woman’s ankle. “Talia.” He groans painfully.

“You’re so weak.”

Tate crowds me in a flash, the fence digging into my spine, his thick thigh wedged between mine. “Yeah, knowing you’re going to walk back in there with my cum between your legs makes me fucking weak. Everything you do has me weak. I’m not ashamed.”

My tender flesh tingles against the gusset of my underwear. Tate smirks when I squirm, rubbing up against him brazenly.

“Are you aching again already? Did I not take care of you?” His cock twitches where it’s trapped between us.

“You’re insatiable.” I’m tempted.

His breath flutters through my hair. “Guilty. How many strikes are we on?”

“Don’t.” I cover my face.

Deep down, the rules were never going to stick, and I praise myself for holding off this long. We still hadn’t kissed, though. How, after everything we’ve done, have we not kissed? I should congratulate him on his self-control of steel. Mine’s a light breeze away from crumbling, and I implemented the rule.

Tempting, tempting, tempting.

A throat clears behind us, smashing through the haze.

“Ah, I hate to break this up, but people are leaving.” It’s Parker.

Harriet giggles, while Margot’s blush is visible from outer space.

“We can catch a cab,” Harriet adds. “If you’re busy…”

“No. I promised you all a ride home. We’re ready to go.”

Tate releases me, his hands grazing my sides with deliberate slowness.

The drive back into town is interesting. Tate is quiet as he scrolls through his phone, tapping away at the screen incessantly. I can tell the girls are bursting at the seams to grill me.

We drop Harriet and Margot off first. I should’ve taken the long way home because I feel Parker’s inquisitive gaze on me the entire time. We stop outside her house; the siding painted an eggshell blue.

“How’s your dad?” Tate asks from the passenger seat.

Parker’s expression softens. Her dad moved in with her after his second stroke. She fought hard to get him the care he needed, allowing her to continue working full-time at the distillery.

“He’s good. He’d love to see you while you’re here.” She grabs her purse and jumps out of the truck. I think I’m safe until she shouts, “Well, you two, stay away from the barley fields. I don’t need you contaminating my malt.”

She struts down the path to her house, looking proud of herself.

“She’s so subtle.” I flip my best friend off. “I’ve always loved that about her.”

By the time we arrive home, my phone is bombarded with texts.

Parker: I didn’t know you were into outdoor sex. First the falls, now the field.

Harriet: What happened at the falls?

Margot: Bright red. What did I tell you all.

Parker: They’re defiling the town one date at a time.