I pretended not to notice the way she shifted, trying to chase my hand. I just gave her the faintest brush of knuckle over the seam of her shorts. Nothing more.
She whimpered.Whimpered.
I almost lost it.
“You’re evil,” she breathed.
“I’m patient,” I said. “There’s a difference.”
She reached down, grabbing for my wrist, trying to pull my hand where she wanted it. I let her move me. Let her think she was winning — before I redirected, dragging my fingers back up her stomach instead. Just light pressure. Teasing. Theghostof touch.
She slapped her hand over her face. “You’re gonna kill me.”
I smiled against her temple. “That’s the plan.”
Her shirt had ridden up the slightest bit. I ran my hand along the warm skin beneath it, brushing my knuckles against the bottom swell of her breast. She arched.Reacted.Her entire body tuned to me like a struck string.
I was high on it.
“Ansel,” she rasped. “Please.”
I looked down at her, voice low. “Say the words, June.”
She trembled. My hand slid higher. Fingers ghosting up her ribs, not quite cupping her breast.Almost. “Say it.”
“I can’t,” she whispered.
I grinned. “Then we wait.”
And with that, I pulled away — not entirely, just enough to let herfeelthe loss. To leave her gasping and empty, thighs clenching around nothing.
The movie rolled on.
Juniper was vibrating. Practically levitating off the couch with tension.
I was proud of her for not lunging at me.
But I wasn’t about to let up.
Not yet.
She tried to scoot back in my lap, wriggle her hips just so — and yeah, okay, maybe shefelthow badly I wanted her. But that didn’t mean I was going to give her what she wanted. Not yet. Not until I got to watch herbreakfirst.
I dipped my head, nosing along her neck.
“You smell like heaven,” I said, murmured low and distracted.
“That’s because I use shampoo. I shower. I don’t get arrested.”
“Oh, right.” My teeth grazed her pulse point — just the edge, just enough for her tofeelit. “Guess I forgot, just assumed you were filthy like me. Like I’ve beendreamingyou’d be.”
She groaned. “Let me show you how filthy I can be, Barlowe.”
I chuckled. “I would — but I’m really invested in this movie.”
My hand found its way back under her shirt — slow and careful — but this time I didn’t stop at teasing. No, this time Ipalmedher breast, let my thumb flick over her nipple through the thin fabric of her bra. She made this broken little sound and immediately arched into it, so desperate, soready.
Still watching the movie.
