She’s so f**king beautiful in that dress—a black thing that shows off her curves and ties above her rounding belly. It’s grown in the weeks that I’ve been gone, and since I walked into the party half an hour ago, all I could think about was getting her alone and tugging on that bow, getting my hands on what waits beneath.

“What are you doing, Nate?” she asks, but even as she says it, she’s tilting her head to the side and giving me better access to her neck. Hell yes.

“I’m trying to help a friend,” I whisper against her ear, my hand finding the tie in the front of her dress. “You said we’re friends, right?”

She stiffens slightly.

“Don’t overthink this, Hanna. Just relax.” I tug on the tie, and she gasps. The dress loosens and opens.

“We shouldn’t,” she says as my hand closes over her breast.

“Are you asking me to stop?” I pinch her nipple, and she moans, arches into me. I release her breast and trail my hand down her body, circling her navel.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to do this unless I asked?”

“I said I wouldn’t kiss you unless you asked. I didn’t say anything about putting my hands on your body.”

“You don’t play fair.”

“Fuck fair. For you, angel, I’ll play downright dirty.”

She places her hand over mine and guides it farther south until my fingertips are brushing the satin band at the top of her panties. It’s all the permission I need.

Sliding my hand into her panties, I find her wet and swollen. “Is this what you need?”

I roll her clit between two fingers, and she gasps. “Please.”

“I’m the only man for this job. Do you understand?” I release her clit and cup her softly.

“Nate, please.”

“Please what, angel? Tell me.”

“Touch me,” she whimpers.

“I don’t want anyone else touching this body,” I growl, sounding and feeling more possessive than I ever have in my life. The idea of her f**king Max, the idea of him inside her, his hands on her body—it’s enough to make me crazy. “No one but me.”

“I don’t want anyone at all,” she objects, but her body betrays her and she rocks into my hand, begging for more.

“But I think you do.” I run a finger along her clit, my touch light, more a tease than a gift. “I think you want me very much.” Then I slide my fingers inside her, and she’s so wet and so tight that my c**k aches.

She lets her head fall to the side. I kiss her neck and play with her br**sts as I f**k her with my fingers, making her mine in this simple way.

“Tell me you don’t think about me when you’re alone in your bed,” I whisper. “Tell me you don’t imagine my c**k inside you when you’re getting yourself off.”

With a soft moan, she rocks her ass back, grinding against my hard-on.

“I’ll tell you what I think about. I think about my face between your legs. Your clit under my tongue.” Taking her earlobe between my teeth, I suck hard, showing her exactly what I’d like to be doing to her clit, and she comes, her pu**y pulsing tight and hard against my fingers.

She turns in my arms, and the movement pulls my hand from her panties. Her teeth are sinking into her bottom lip and her eyes are still dark with lust. “Thanks, I think.”

I raise a brow. “You think?”

She bites back a smile. “I don’t want to encourage you.”

“I don’t need any encouragement to get you off, angel.” I slide my hands down her back to cup her ass. “Just permission. Let me take you home. Let me…” I stop the words before they can leave my tongue. Let me make love to you. “Let me f**k you, Hanna.”

She draws in a ragged breath. “I need to get back downstairs before…”

I wait for her to finish. Before someone realizes we’re both gone. The words hang between us unsaid.

WILL CAN’T take his eyes off Cally. Asher can’t take his eyes off Maggie. And, in a new and unexpected development, Sam can’t take his eyes off Liz.

I need to get away from all the sexual tension in this party, so I wander the house. I haven’t seen Hanna since I arrived late. I was hoping for a dance or, hell, just a smile. I’d take it.

She’s been so tired lately with the pregnancy and putting in too many hours at the bakery. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went home early. But when I pass the guest room on Asher’s second floor, I hear her voice out on the balcony.

I smile as I follow it and then freeze when I spot her. She’s standing at the railing, but Nate is behind her, his body pressed against hers, his mouth at her neck…and his hand between her legs.

Jealousy blazes through me at the sight. It doesn’t matter that she’s not wearing my ring anymore. The moan that slips from her lips feels like a betrayal, and I have to turn and leave the room before I yank him off her and throw him off the f**king balcony.

“YOU DON’T need to go anywhere but my bed.” Nate’s breathing is hard and his eyes are hot. He leans down and brushes his lips against my ear. “Tell me you don’t need me inside you.”

I shiver, and when he offers his hand, I take it.

He leads me into his room. After swinging the door shut and locking it, he slips my untied dress off my shoulders. “Lie down,” he commands, his voice rough.

I glance at my red heels.