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His are scorching when they meet mine, and I swallow hard.

My pulse kicks into a frantic rhythm. A rush of liquid heat pools between my thighs, testing every single ounce of my resolve to keep my hands to myself.

He stops right in front of me, bringing his two friends with him. "Hey. You look incredible," he says, his voice dropping lower, and tingles flare out under my skin.

"Thanks, Maverick," I say, forcing my voice to stay steady. I’m dying to fan my face because damn.

"Hey, Goldie girl," Colston chimes in, flashing his perpetual smirk. "I showed Shamu that meme you sent earlier and he did not get it."

"I told you he wouldn't," I laugh.

Sumner flips Colston off and then gestures to the guy standing beside him. "This is Trace." Ah, his other bestie. Colston’s filled me in on the ongoing battle of which one of them is Sumner’s number one best friend.

The new guy, Trace, has thick dark hair, a full blackwork tattoo sleeve, and he's currently smirking at me like he knows a secret I don't.

"Nice to meet you," Trace says, flashing a sharp grin that carries a dark, wild edge—completely different from Colston's easygoing vibe. "Sumner hasn't shut up about you."

Sumner doesn't even try to deny it. He just holds my gaze, completely unapologetic. "I haven't," he confirms.

Before I can figure out how to process the flush creeping up my neck, the heavy metal door of the stairwell bangs open again. A group of guys in leather vests walks out onto the roof—Andie’s older brother, Jude, and a few guys from his motorcycle club who are always hanging around her garage downstairs.

I glance up at Sumner, expecting the new arrivals to catch his attention. Instead, he’s watching me. He takes a half-step forward. He respects my stupid boundary by keeping his hands to himself, which I hate, but he gets close enough that his broad frame blocks the breeze, trapping me in his spicy, clean scent.

Before either of us can say anything, Scout pops up beside me and taps a neon-painted fingernail against Colston’s chest.

"If it isn't Jenny," she says. “Come to lend us your muscles again?”

Colston looks down at her. "It's Colston."

"Sure it is." She shoves an empty plastic cup into his hand. "You're tall. Go grab the tequila off the top shelf."

He stares at the cup, then at her. "This is a shitty bribe. It’s empty."

"Get the bottle and you can fill it."

He rolls his eyes but follows her toward the bar.

Trace watches them go. "I'm getting a drink before she puts me to work, too."

He claps Sumner on the shoulder and heads after them, leaving us alone on the edge of the roof.

Sumner steps into my space. He's close enough that his arm brushes my bare shoulder. His gaze drops to my mouth for a split second before coming back up to mine. "I was wondering how long it would take for them to leave us alone."

"Way too long," I tell him, fighting the urge to lean into him. "They're basically a pack of feral dogs."

A slow, devastating smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Good thing I don't scare easily."

I open my mouth, but before I can fire back, a fresh wave of people spills out from the stairwell. The music gets cranked up, and suddenly we're swallowed by the crowd. Tatum waves me over to help her grab more ice, completely bursting our private little bubble.

The party fills up fast now that Jude's crew and the rest of the people the other girls invited have shown up. People crowd around the bar and the seating area under the wooden pergola.

I circulate, hyping up Ellie’s outfit and laughing with Tatum, but my focus is completely hijacked. I know exactly where Sumner is at all times. He talks to Jude and Trace near the edge of the roof, but he stays close to my side of the party.

And he never takes his eyes off me.

I step up to the bar to grab a fresh sparkling water as sweat rolls down the back of my neck because it’s hot as shit and I’m melting. Glancing across the roof, I catch Sumner already looking at me. He takes a slow drink from his beer bottle, watching me over the rim like he’s mentally stripping this dress right off my body.

With his teeth.