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He goes silent except for small breaths exiting his nose. I'm positive he shaved—at this distance the clean skin of his jaw is obvious. So is the rapid pulsing of the tendons in his neck. Jordan is barely moving but it feels like he wants to. Badly.

“This one,” I say, showing him the copper tie. “It's perfect with your green.”

“I knew you'd be helpful,” he says under his breath.

The tie shakes the longer I hold it up; I'm not tired, it's not heavy. “Happy to be of service, Jordan.”

“Yes,” he says, “I can tell you enjoy it. Do you like pleasing everyone, or just me?”

I drop the tie—it lands on his foot. “What?”

He's smiling like he knows something I don't. “Just slowly figuring you out, sweet bird.”

Fresh, hot desire wars inside of me, fighting with cold unease. His voice isdeliciouslybaritone; it's addictive to my ears. But this situation is getting risky. “There's nothing to figure out. I'm plain as paper.”

“Not in the slightest,” he says sharply. “You're fascinating, Lorikeet. You act like you're desperate to hide something from the entire world. But then you draw me in, tempt me, leave a trail of crumbs for me to follow. It's maddening. It's … hard to explain, this thing that's happening between us.”

We lock eyes. I don't dare to blink. “There's nothing happening here.”

“No?” He exhales the word, hot air caressing my lips, my throat, and impossibly I feel it between my thighs. “Let's find out together.” Everything is slow motion. There's time to dodge his hands that reach for my face. I can duck down, avoid his incoming mouth.

He said I was strong.

I'm not.

Jordan's lips don't crash against mine; they're patient, exploring my pliant skin, testing how we feel together. I was already trembling. Now, I quiver so hard my chin keeps moving, making it hard for him to keep a hold on me. His grip in my hair fixes that.

I can count on one hand the number of boys I've kissed in my life. In a single moment they vanish away. Because they can't register as kisses anymore, not after experiencingthis.Was it because they were inexperienced? Did they lack the knowledge a man like Jordan Hartford has?

Or is he right … that something is happening between us. Something special.

“Fucking Christ,” he growls down my throat. His mouth inches down my neck, teeth scraping as if he's excavating a path across my flesh.

“Wait!” I push against him, forcing my brain to seek common sense. “You can't leave any marks! Please, Dezmond will—”

“He'll what?” Jordan seethes. I catch the fierceness in his eyes, pupils tiny pin pricks. “What the fuck will he do? Will he scream at you? Raise his hands to hit you again?”

Fear sizzles up my spine. He was talking about what he witnessed at the parade. The moment before I pushed Dez into the street. That was why he was blind at my attempt to kill his son, he couldn’t see anything but Dezmond on the verge of choking me.

He needs to calm down! If he goes after Dezmond, it'll make things complicated. That asshole will use his father against me somehow. I'm sure of it.“Jordan, please,” I whisper.

“Please what? Please end this bullshit engagement?” His fingers roll down my back, exploring the dress' zipper. He rests his palm just above my ass. “Tell me why you're doing this, Lorikeet. I know there's a reason you're marrying him, and it's not because of love.”

I shake my head until he kisses me again. Something hard digs against my belly; his cock, the shape of it bigger than the last time I glimpsed his hard-on. He's wild with lust for me. When I adjust my feet, I feel the slickness in my panties. I'm worse off than him, but I can't give into the craving the way he is. I have more to lose.

Breaking away from his lips with a ragged pull of air, I say, “Jordan, wait.”

“I've waited long enough.”

“We can't do this.”

“Why? Tell mewhy.”

“I can't! If Dez finds out …”

Wicked sin swirls in his stare. He's breathing heavy, chest rising against mine, the friction making my sensitive nipples harder. “Then he won't find out.”

“What?” I ask in confusion.