Page 131 of The Yoga Teacher

But he’d wanted her for it. Still did.

A wave of heat crept up his spine. He remembered how she used to sound—at the height of it. Mouth open, gasping, her fingers fisting in his hair. He remembered the way she’d collapse after, boneless and quiet, smiling like she’d just won something.

And then he remembered she had given that to someone else now.

Tristan.

Daniel’s stomach turned. His grip tightened on the chair in his hands until his knuckles went white. He pictured Tristan’s hands on her, his mouth on her skin, his cock inside her—

He blinked hard.

Don’t do this.

But it was too late. The image had burned itself into his skull. Tristan’s laugh echoing from her kitchen. Tristan’s mug on her counter. Tristan’s fingerprints on the body Daniel used to worship.

The jealousy was a knife twisting in his gut. But worse—so much worse—was the hunger underneath it. The desperation to make her feel that way again. To be the one who put that look on her face.

He didn’t want to claim her. He wanted toserveher.

He wanted to give her pleasure again. Every kind. With hands that asked. With reverence. With apology in every breath.

He swallowed hard and turned his head.

Mia stood a few feet away, watching him with narrowed eyes.

“Hey,” she said, arms crossed. “Didn’t think you’d show.”

Daniel wiped his palms on his jeans. “Yeah, well. Figured someone should take out the trash.”

Mia arched an eyebrow. “You volunteering or flagellating?”

“Both,” he said quietly.

She studied him. “You’ve been showing up a lot lately.”

“I’m trying not to be a problem.”

“Mm,” she said. “Trying not to be seen, more like.”

Daniel offered the smallest shrug. “Maybe I shouldn’t be.”

Mia looked over her shoulder—toward Hannah. “She’s not the same woman you cheated on, you know.”

Daniel felt shame like a bucket of ice water had been tipped over him. The self-loathing followed, a familiar wave of hatred.

“She’s stronger now.”

“I know.”

“And if she decides she wants you again—if she even lets youtry—you better understand you don’t get to love her the same way. You don’t get toneedher.”

Daniel looked down at his shoes. “I can’t help that.”

Mia tilted her head. “Can’t you?”

He met her eyes. And for a second, he let the truth bleed through.

“I’ll follow her to Denver.”

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