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I give him a murderous glare. He backs up several steps, but that devious smile doesn’t leave his face.Jackass.

“We’ll be right out,” Julia says.

As I close the door in Matrix’s face, Julia’s girlish giggle fills the room. I turn to find her doubled over, laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I demand. My cock doesn’t find any humor in this at all. It’s still throbbing and desperate to slide into her hot, wet, tight little body.

“Just … the timing.” She chuckles.

“It’s not funny.” I reach down to adjust my dick. She sobers and walks over to where I’m standing.

“We can talk more later, okay?” She blinks up at me with those gorgeous green eyes, and I’m ready to agree to anything.

“Right. Talk.” That’s the last thing I want to do. Until I’m buried balls deep inside her, I won’t be able to think about anything else. I don’t know how the hell I’m going to be able to walk to the living room without busting my zipper. I need a minute. “Can you go out and wait for me? There’s something I need to take care of first.”

“Anything in particular?” Her sly smile and glance at the bulge in my pants tell me she knows exactly what I need to deal with before I can face the others. But to her credit, she doesn’t continue teasing me about my painful predicament.

“Go. Please.” I force a smile.

“We’ll talk again later tonight. Okay?”

“Yeah. Sure.” I look away. The temptation to rip off her clothes and finish what we started is overwhelming, but I want to take my time with her. She’s not the kind of woman you throw up against the wall and fuck like a dog. No. She’s better than that. When I finally take her, I’m going to make sure we’re not rushed.

She kisses my cheek before leaving, and as soon as she’s in the hall, I close the door with one hand while tearing down my zipper with the other. I fish out my cock, then wrap my fingers around my shaft, jerking my fist back and forth. There’s no time for long, drawn-out fantasies. This is nothing more than white-hot lust that needs to be sated immediately.

I’m so consumed by passion that it only takes a few seconds to jerk myself into oblivion. I nut so hard I cry out. Hot spurts jut from my cock, again and again, draining my lust. My eyes roll back, and I don’t care if the whole world hears me moan. She did this to me, and she wasn’t even in the room. I can’t even begin to imagine how good it’ll feel when I come deep inside her velvety heat. I was so close to making her mine before Matrix fucked it all up.Damn him.

I collapse onto the bed, flat on my back, staring at the ceiling until rational thought returns. Ultimately, I know I should have stopped things before I got her partially naked. All she wanted to do was talk, but I couldn’t handle it. If I’m being honest with myself, I need to admit I was using sex to avoid talking about my past. I get it. I just don’t know how to talk to her about what happened. It’s too overwhelming. Maybe I shouldn’t say anything. Maybe I need to keep my demons to myself.

I don’t know why I feel so compelled to open up to this woman. But this feeling? It’s dangerous. She’s dangerous. She could get me to confess to everything that happened. But if I do, if I tell her every filthy detail, she’ll never look at me the same way. She’ll look at me with horror and disgust. She’ll be repulsed if she knew my entire story. So, I don’t know if I can tell her anything. The dark secrets hidden deep within my heart need to stay stuffed down where no one can see them. I can’t say another word. I’ve already told her too much.

From now on, I need to keep my mouth shut. The only way I know how to do that is to use it to do other things. I still want her. I just have to figure out how I can have her without giving up part of my soul in the process.

Chapter 10: Julia

I’m in the kitchen helping Nina make a huge batch of potato salad when Scar strolls in. Our gazes lock for a moment before he looks away. My heart does a little flip as I return my attention to the food. My body aches for him to finish what he started. I’m still wet and needy, and if he bent me over the kitchen island in front of Nina, I don’t think I’d protest. I’d give anything to feel his huge, rough hands againstmy skin right now. Maybe I should have stayed behind to tempt him into keeping me captive in his bed. I know he wants it just as much as I do.

“Where are the others?” Scar asks.

“Talon’s outside getting the barbecue ready. Nitro is giving Max piggyback rides. I warned him not to get too boisterous, but you know how he can be. You should probably check on them,” Nina suggests.

“I will. Is Reaper here?” Scar asks.

“He’s floating around here somewhere. I’m sure he’ll appear as soon as food’s ready. We’re almost done with the salads.”

“Do you need any help?” Scar’s eyes meet mine. A rush of raging heat coils in my sex. I’m wound so tight I’m afraid I’m going to break. I definitely need help, but it’s not the kind he’s offering.

“If you could grab drinks from the fridge, I have the ice chest outside,” Nina says.

“On it.” His searing gaze rakes down my body as he walks to the fridge. When he finally tears his eyes away, I wilt under the loss of his attention. I’m acutely aware of every move he makes. I don’t even have to look at him, and I know where he is in the room. I try to focus on measuring the correct amount of mayonnaise, but I can’t remember how much I’ve added already.

“I think that’s enough.” Nina smiles as if she can read my thoughts. Her aura shimmers lavender, and I wonder if her ability is making me an open book. Maybe she knows everything I’m thinking. That would be incredibly embarrassing.

I blush and avert my eyes. I grab a mixing spoon, then begin stirring the potato salad as if my life depends on it. I don’t stop until Scar leaves the room.

“Your conversation with Scar seems to have gone well. I take it you’re not leaving anymore?” Nina lines up several cucumbers and begins slicing them.

“We’re waiting to see what Max’s mom has to say. Scar thinks—I think—we’re safest here. If that’s still all right.”