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I’m almost a foot taller than Elena, and yet her body fits perfectly against mine. The tight curve of her ass presses harder into my thigh, and all I can think is that it would be the perfect place to nestle my cock.

My johnson twitches a little at the thought, and I try to focus on something other than the warmth of her skin or the soft whisper of her hair as it catches in my stubble.

But then Elena reaches up and hooks a hand around my neck. My skin tingles at her touch, and my pulse leaps.

Her movements become more fluid as the music picks up, and I realize she’s having fun. My chest aches, and I tug her closer, allowing my hands to move just a fraction of an inch until my thumbs find the creases of her hips.

Then another scent wafts up to greet me — the sweet tang of female arousal.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Elena’s not just having fun. Elena is turned on.

A soft growl rumbles up my throat as I sweep my hands over the tops of her thighs. Elena’s rhythm falters for half a second, but she doesn’t pull away or let go of my neck.

The DJ lays down a more intense beat, and I grind harder against her. Elena keeps dancing, though I’m positive I’m not imagining the shallowness of her breath or the way her body quivers.

Feeling bold, I tilt my hips so that my erection nudges between her ass cheeks, and a soft sigh slips from her throat as she rubs against me.

Hot, maddening desire pulses through me, and my mind goes entirely blank. I let my hand drift up to caress her side, roving over her stomach until it brushes the underside of her soft, supple breasts.

Elena sucks in a breath, turning her head to the side so her cheek is pressed against my chest.

I forget everything and everyone around us as I touch her through her clothes, my right hand exploring her ribs and the soft plane of her stomach as my left grips her hip. I’m dying to let my fingers wander between her thighs to find her most sensitive spot, but we’re in the middle of the dance floor, and there are certain things I want to do to her in private.

But then the song starts to fade into something else, and I hear her name cut through the noise in a low, masculine voice.

Elena stiffens in my arms, and there’s a loud record-scratch in my mind as another man’s name tumbles from her lips.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ELENA

“Derek?”I choke as my ex cuts through the crowd toward me. It’s so weird seeing him here after almost two years apart that it takes my brain a moment to catch up.

Derek is the shifter guy I dated for six months back in Boulder. He’s tall and handsome with sandy-blond hair and cool gray eyes, but his looks hold no appeal for me anymore.

“You here for the wedding?” Derek asks.

“Yeah,” I say, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

I’m not sure why, but having Jake in the same room as my ex is awkward as hell. It’s worse when I realize that I’m still touching him.

Jake’s left hand is splayed across my thigh, and his right hand is resting on my stomach. I can feel his body heat burning through my dress.

As if he read my mind, Derek’s flinty gaze slides up to Jake, who stands a good three inches taller. “Who is this?” he asks, his voice smooth and dark.

There was a time I found that voice incredibly sexy. Now it just makes me feel sick to my stomach.

“This is Jake,” I say, resting my hand over his before I realize what I’m doing. I hurriedly snap it away. “He’s a . . . friend.”

Jake stiffens against me.

“A friend, huh?” Derek’s voice is practically dripping with condescension.

“We go way back,” Jake rumbles. “I’ve known Elena her whole life.”

Derek’s mouth stretches into a sneer, revealing the sharp points of his canines. I canfeelthe testosterone rolling off these two.