Stephan stepped back away from the bed and his eyes warmed as they traced the lines of my body, from my head to my feet. He still had his slacks on, unbuttoned. His large hands unzipped and let them drop to the floor, pooling around his ankles.

He wasn’t wearing underwear.

“God, I love a man who goes commando,” Jill mutters, and I can’t help but nod in agreement as I sip my drink, listening intently.

“Hmm, what shall I do to you first?” he murmured as he joined me on the bed. He crawled over me and lined his perfect, long, smooth cock against my mouth. “Open your pretty mouth, sugar.”

I immediately complied, and he slipped just the head of his dick between my lips.

“Suck,” he whispered.

With my eyes pinned to his, I closed my lips around the crown of his cock and sucked hard, pulling him deeper into my warm, wet mouth. He bared his teeth in a grimace and swore under his breath as I began to move my mouth more vigorously against him. He fisted the base of his erection and reached for my nipple with his other hand, twisting and pulling on it as I squirmed beneath him.

“You like that, don’t you baby?”

“Hell yes, I like that!” Jill agrees with a giggle, and refills her drink.

I nodded vigorously and moaned in agreement, then sucked his velvety flesh to the back of my throat and swallowed, massaging the head with my muscles.

“Ah hell, honey,” he groaned as I felt the first stream of hot cum bathe the back of my throat. He pulsed against me, threaded his fingers into my hair, and held me still while he came, long and hard, into my mouth.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered raggedly.

“Wow,” I mutter, and blink at Cara. Her cheeks are flushed as she stops reading, fanning herself with the book.

“I’m telling you, all three books are this hot,” Jill assures me.

I watch both of them soberly and bite my lip. Should I tell them? Can I trust them?

Ty trusts them implicitly, and I would trust Ty with my life.

And honestly, I’m dying to share this part of my life with people who know me.

“Lo?” Cara frowns, watching me. “What’s wrong?”

“Can you guys keep a secret?” I cringe. Shit, am I doing the right thing?

“When we’re together for girls’ night, this is a vault. Nothing will be repeated,” Jill assures me, all kidding aside. “Honest, we don’t spread rumors, Lauren. You’re part of Ty’s life, and that means that you’re a part of ours too. We would never intentionally hurt you. Any of us.”

“She’s right.” Cara nods. “We are your friends.”

I scrape my hands over my face and take a deep breath, still disbelieving what I’m about to tell them.

“I wrote those books,” I say in a quick rush, the words coming fast, as though I’m tearing off a Band-Aid.

“What?” Jill asks with a frown.

“You wrote these?” Cara asks.

I nod and watch their faces carefully.

“But your name isn’t Peyton Adams,” Jill points out.

“It’s a pen name,” I reply softly. “I don’t know how I can prove it to you.” I shrug and look out over the back pasture to the tall mountains behind the Lazy K.

“You wrote these,” Cara repeats, her voice more excited now.

I nod, not quite ready to meet their gazes. “I did.”

There’s a long, silent pause. I’m sure they’re trading glances and staring at me like I’m a crazy liar. Why did I say anything?

Suddenly, I’m tackled in a big hug and pulled out of my chair.

“You wrote these amazing books!” Jill exclaims, and holds on to me, her arms wrapped around my torso, my own arms pinned to my sides, and jumps up and down excitedly. “That’s so cool!”

“Lo, this shouldn’t be a secret!” Cara exclaims, and hugs us both.

“It has to be a secret.” My eyes are wide with fear as I pull out of their embrace. “No one can know.”

“But why?” Jill asks.

I rub my fingertips over my forehead. “Jack can never know.”

“Oh,” Cara sighs, and scowls. “I hate that asshole.”

“What will happen if Jack finds out? You’re divorced.”

“But they weren’t divorced when she released them,” Cara guesses correctly.

“I sold them and released them after we were legally separated, but I don’t know what he’d do or how far off the handle he’d fly if he found out,” I whisper, embarrassed.

“Has he hurt you before?” Jill asks, and fills my glass. I should stop drinking. I tend to talk too much under the influence.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“What? What did he do?” Cara asks angrily.

“He knocked me around a bit when I kicked his ass out.” I shrug. “We’re in the middle of a legal mess, and I just don’t need to add this to it.”

“Our lips are sealed.” Jill’s smile spreads widely across her pretty face. “I know a famous person!”

“I’m not famous.” I wave her off with a laugh.

“Uh, Lo, yeah, you are.” Cara pats my shoulder. “Your books are being made into huge movies.”

“I guess.” It’s still weird to think about.

“Do you know who the actors are gonna be?” Jill asks.

“No.” I shake my head and laugh. “The producers have that job.”