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He bites my nipple a little, and I cry out as the climax explodes through my core. I feel it in my nipples as he suckles. I scream softly until my voice is hoarse, as he strokes me right through it, coaxing my pleasure in waves. My pussy clenches, over and over, longing for the sweet stretch of his swollen cock, filling me with his hungry thrusts.

I’m throbbing all over, aching for him to possess me. My thighs are soaked in my need for him.

Maybe this is exactly what he wants…

“Harlan,” I plead.

“I know, baby,” he says softly, “keep coming. Good girl.” Then he sucks my throbbing nipple into his mouth again as I keep falling apart.

He coaxes and coaxes until he’s lavished me with every last twitch of pleasure I can possibly feel.

Only then, when my body finally stops quivering and spasming in response to his caresses, he releases me.

He settles next to me, and pulls me against him, drawing the covers over us both. I feel boneless as he guides my head to his chest, and I collapse there, spent.

I can barely stand to move, but my fingers slide beneath the untucked hem of his shirt, seeking his warm skin.

I feel his heart beating, steady and strong, beneath my cheek.

He’s silent, just holding me, and I know I’m going to fall asleep in his arms, and fast. I feel tender and raw and totally spent.

Satisfied.

And scared as hell.

I whisper brokenly, “Do you think you could ever love us like you love her?”

But if he answers me, I don’t hear it.

Chapter 27

Harlan

Istep outside, onto my backyard patio, feeling fucking defeated.

Do you think you could ever love us like you love her?

Quinn fell asleep before I could figure out how to answer her. Before I could explain.

But would I have explained?

No.

I walk across the patio and sit down on a chair by the pool under the moonlight.

This patio is why I bought the house. I didn’t care about the rest of it, other than having some vague understanding that this is the kind of house I’m expected to live in—expensive. I don’t care about furniture or square footage or views.

I just want this private spot surrounded in hedges and trees where I can be alone, breathe fresh air, and fucking think. It’s not that I want to be totally disconnected from everything and everyone around me. I like going into the office, sometimes. I like having staff coming and going.

I just prefer to be alone in the middle of it all. The tight, innermost circle I’ve built around myself just doesn’t have room for anyone in it but me.

At least it didn’t until Quinn came along.

Now, the space around me feels eerily empty without her in it.

It makes me think that Damian was right. Maybe I’ll die alone because I just push people away. I expect the worst of them. I just hate people in general until they somehow prove themselves worthy of my hard-won respect. And sometimes, they do.

But there’s no one, outside of my family, who’s ever won my love.