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She shrugs, taking a sip of tea. “Yeah, but I guess I’m glad I found out now. Better that than after the wedding right?”

I nod.

“I have no idea how long it’s been going on for. I haven’t spoken to him yet. I can’t bear to.”

“Do you have to go back to Sydney tonight?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve taken the week off. I’m going to stay here in Rosella Bay for a little longer. Just until I figure out what I’m going to do. That is, if I won’t be in the way? Oh, you probably need to know what I’m going to do about the house and the renovation and everything.”

“Don’t worry about that now. Though, I should probably finish the bathroom since you’ve paid for the tiles and it’s not watertight the way it is.”

She nods. “Of course. I promise I won’t bother you while you work. You won’t even know I’m here.”

I can’t help it. Setting aside my mug I get up and go over to her. When I sit down beside her, she doesn’t shift away, even though she’s sitting in the middle of the sofa and our thighs are practically touching. “Mia, I don’t think you could be anywhere within a one hundred kilometre radius and I wouldn’t know about it—” I break off, scrubbing my face with my hand. I’m being too honest. “You won’t be in the way. The only thing you need to worry about right now is doing whatever you need to do to feel better.”

She glances at me and I swear her gaze drops to my lips like she wants to kiss me again. It takes everything I have not to put my arm around her and pull her into my lap.

If I thought I was tempted before when she was engaged to that asshole, I was wrong. Now she’s technically a free woman, I’m in hell just stopping myself from getting on my knees in front of her and showing her how much better I’d treat her. I’d never make the same mistake Oliver made.

Not a chance.

If she was mine, I’d make sure she knew what a bloody treasure she is.

EIGHT

Mia

I’m hyper aware of all the places our bodies almost touch. All the hairs on the back of my arm stand up on end and goose pimples prickle my skin. My thigh practically trembles with the urge to nudge against Luke’s. But when I kissed him in the bathroom, he pushed me away. Nicely, of course. I don’t think there’s a mean bone in his body.

He still pushed me away. So I probably shouldn’t be projecting my needy fantasies on him.

With a sigh, I tuck my feet up under me and take another sip of tea. “This is why you’d be the perfect rebound guy,” I say wistfully.

His mouth drops open. Did I mention he’s adorable when he gets all tongue tied? His green gaze drops to my lips before I see him wrench away. He runs a hand through his tousled blonde hair. “Mia, that’s not a good idea.”

I frown. I haven’t done this for so long. Not since... Well, not since Luke. Even on my gap year, if a guy was interested I was usually the one shutting things down.

Maybe, though, it’s just I’m realising I’ve spent years being not quite happy and right now I have a chance to grab something that might change that.

More than anything, I think it’s that it’s Luke. Something in me draws me to him as much now as it did all those years ago.

Maybe it’s the wild emotions of the last twenty-four hours, too. Whatever it is, I’m not feeling like myself.

So, I persist. “Why not?” I watch his face, looking for signs he doesn’t want this.

“Mia...”

“Come on, it doesn’t have to be weird. I live hours away, so it would be totally no strings.”

“That’s not the issue.” He groans and flops back against the back of the sofa, running both hands through his hair. “You have no idea how tempting you are.”

Me? Tempting? God, it’s been a long time since anyone found me tempting. The impact of his statement travels all the way through my core, down to my pussy frankly still a little tingly after that kiss. And getting caught masturbating. Yeah, I’m very much in need of being touched.

Throwing caution to the wind, I quickly set down my tea and climb into Luke’s lap before I can talk myself out of it. For one moment I savour the adorable wide-eyed look of wonder on his handsome face before I lean in and continue the kiss I started earlier.

His hands go instantly to the back of my neck, threading through my hair and holding me there. As if I’m going anywhere! Between us, I feel the bulge of his thickening cock against the seam of his jeans. My heart races. My hips move as I instinctively grind on him.

“We shouldn’t.” Despite his words, he uses his grip on my hair to tilt my head to one side and kiss along my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

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