“I wouldn’t beg you for shit,” I say, although it sounds unconvincing even to my own ears.

He clamps down on my flesh, sucking and biting so hard it hurts. “Who says you’d have to?” His palm slithers up my abdomen. “Maybe I’ll just give it to you.” He hitches my leg around his waist, pressing his erection into me. “Pull those jeans down and fuck you senseless right here. Get it over with so we can both move on.”

I swear I stop breathing. “Is that what you want?”

“I don’t know.” He grinds against the spot that’s aching for him. “You tell me.”

My insides swoop when he lowers his head and his mouth brushes the lace material of my shirt. But no matter how much I want this—I’m not willing to accept him with a side of Britney.

I want all of Jace. Every fucked-up piece and broken part. All to myself.

“I won’t fuck you while you’re with her.”

He starts to speak, but my phone rings, cutting him off.

Growling, he shoves his hand inside my pocket and pulls it out.

Instantly, his face fills with disgust and he pushes off me.

His expression is so vicious, it’s like he’s carved from stone. “And I won’t fuck you…ever.” He chucks my phone at me. “But, hey. I bet Tommy would.”

Chapter 24

Dylan

“Thanks for coming to get me.”

Tommy gives me a curt nod and shifts his car into drive.

Five minutes go by before he speaks.

“Jace’s house was the last place I expected you to hang out.”

We’re not dating so technically I don’t owe Tommy an explanation for my whereabouts, but if I was in his position, I’d be curious too.

“I wasn’t. I was at a party.” I wind a loose thread on my pants around my finger. “Long story short, the friend I went there with had to leave because she was late for curfew and my cousin, who I was planning on hitching a ride home with, got really drunk.” I pull the thread tighter. “Jace and Cole are his friends, so they insisted he spend the night at their house, but Cole was drinking so I drove Oakley’s car.”

Tommy makes a face. “Wouldn’t it have made more sense to drive your cousin’s car back home since you live together?”

I blow out an exasperated breath. “Jace didn’t want me to.”

His jaw muscles pulse as he heads down my block. “Old habits die hard, I suppose.”

“Don’t be like that. I didn’t have a choice.”

The look he gives me tells me exactly what he thinks about my excuse.

“If that’s what you really believe, then I guess you’re right.” He parks by the curb near the end of my driveway and cuts the engine. “But don’t expect me to be at your beck and call just so I can end up playing the part of the chump. Again.”

It’s aggravating that he views our relationship that way when I thought we were friends. Not to mention, he told me to call him if I ever needed anything.

“Wow, okay.” I undo my seatbelt. “Appreciate the ride. I won’t bother you again.”

“Dylan, wait.” He reaches for my arm. “I’m not trying to be a dick, but I’ve been completely honest with you from the start. I’m not interested in just being your friend or playing second fiddle to your screwed-up relationship with Jace. I want more than that.” His palm skates over my bare shoulder. “I deserve more than that…and so do you.”

I get what he’s saying, and on some level, he’s right. Neither of us deserve to be jerked around, but I’m not ready. Tommy wants way more than I’m capable of giving at this point.

“I’ve only been back a week. I need more time to sort my head out.”

“I know and I’m willing to give it to you.” His eyes spark. “But don’t play me for a fool.” His shoulders sag a little. “And don’t let Jace play you for one, either. It’s no secret he and Britney have been hot and heavy for years. Those two have been end game since eighth grade.”

My throat closes. “Right.”

His gaze drops to my lips. “Did he kiss you tonight?”

I’m not sure how to answer. Partly because it’s none of his business. And partly because we almost did a whole lot more than kiss.

I settle on the truth. “No.”

“Did you want him to?”

I avert my gaze. “What difference does it make?”

Closing the distance between us, he presses a soft kiss to my lips.

As far as kisses go, Tommy’s isn’t bad. It’s swift, gentle, and safe.

It’s everything I should want.

I start to pull away, but his hand cups my cheek, urging me to open my mouth. The moment I cave; he pushes his tongue inside.

An image of Jace zips through my head like a missile, and I have to remind myself to kiss Tommy back before drawing back.

“I won’t hurt you like he will.” His lips travel to the corner of my mouth, then my jaw. “I like you too much.”

I give him a watery smile. “I know.”

Inclining his head, he goes in for another, much longer kiss.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do this?” he whispers when we break apart.

“Since you were fourteen?”

He laughs. “Give or take.” Desire darkens his expression and his hand slides down my stomach. “But the real thing is so much better than any of my jerkoff fantasies.”

Yeah, he could have kept that little detail to himself.

I stop him before he goes too far. “Sorry, I’m—”

“Not ready,” he finishes for me.

Sucking in a deep breath, I nod. “We’re just…this is all happening a little—actually, a lot—too fast for me.”

“It’s cool.” He holds up his hands. “I’ll keep these to myself until you’re ready.”

Cheesy line or not, the fact that he respects me earns him some major brownie points.

His eyebrows pinch like he’s mulling something over.

“What’s wrong?”

“Go on a date with me.”

Zero to sixty again. “My schedule’s pretty hectic this week—”

“Then next week. After the Vikings whoop the Raiders. You can come hang out with me and a few buddies from my team.”

“Okay,” I say, because I honestly can’t think of a single reason to turn him down.

He grins. “You’ll have fun. I promise.”

“Fun sounds perfect.”

Aside from hanging out with Sawyer earlier, I haven’t had any in a long time.

Sadness claws at my belly. I don’t think Jace has either.

Tommy tips my chin. “Okay, my turn. What’s wrong?”

The events of tonight sit heavy on my heart. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

Given Tommy’s lived in Royal Manor his whole life, there’s a chance he knows a lot more than I do about Liam’s death.

“How did Liam die? I tried messaging Jace and his family, but they never responded. And his obituary—if you can even call it that—only lists his birthday along with the month and year he passed.”