Shaking my head, I reply, “I still have it in a bag at the top of my closet.”

Running the tip of her finger down the bridge of my nose, she says, “I’m intrigued by the fact that you’d tell me that. That would totally creep out some women.”I have no doubt.She taps the tip of my nose. “I’m not one of them. Why’d you keep it?”

“Because some things are worth holding on to.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Wellington.” I love that I can see every emotion trailing across her face. “I have a confession. It’s going to make you really mad.” Despite the fact she knows it will upset me, a smile still wiggles the corners of her mouth.

We’re talking about Tealey Bell.How bad can it be?“I doubt it, but I’m ready. Confess away.”

“Senior year . . .” she starts but pauses, biting her lip. “Don’t hate me, okay?”

“I couldn’t.” If I were wearing a shirt, I might be tugging at my collar, though. She has a knack for amping up the suspense. I have no idea what she’s about to tell me, but I might need to brace myself, after all.

“Senior year at NYU, I ran into your date to the bowl game in the bathroom at that bar down from the stadium. We’d gone there to watch since we didn’t all get tickets.”

“I remember.” I nod. “We sold the three we had so we could all watch together.”

“Yep.” She smiles so sweetly that I’m wondering how this could possibly lead to something bad. “So, we were at that bar, and I needed to use the restroom. She was in there.”

“Okay.”

Her gaze pivots, and then she takes a deep breath and exhales. “I told her that we had just broken up, and she was a rebound.”

Not what I expected.“Kayla.”

“Yep.” She snaps her fingers. “Kayla. That’s right. I’d forgotten her name. She was very nice. Well, before I said that . . .”

Staring at her in disbelief, I try to remember how that worked out with Kayla.Ah.“She dumped me during halftime.”

Her arms tighten around my neck, and she kisses my face. Probably to hide the guilt. “I know.” She giggles. Guess there’s no guilt felt. “I’m a terrible person. I’m sorry yet . . . not at all sorry.”

Still surprised by how devious that was, I never saw Tealey doing something like that. “You sabotaged my relationship.”And why didn’t I think to do this to Steve? Fucker.

“I did.” This time, she doesn’t even try to hide her smile. I rub her thigh, finding her devious side a turn-on.

“I’m impressed, Bell. You play dirty.”

Tilting my head to face her, she kisses the corners of my mouth. “Only when I want something. How does that make you feel, Counselor?”

Counselor.Hearing that name elicits a possessive growl in my throat. I know Tealey never would have told me aboutdoing that to Kayla if we weren’t where we are today.She was possessive back then. I like that even more.

Running a hand into the back of her hair, I move her closer, and then whisper, “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Standing, I lift her into my arms and start for the bedroom. “I know what I want to do today.”

“And that is?”

I toss her on my bed and plop down next to her. “I want to be inside you.”

Running her hands over my comforter, she laughs. “That’s all you want to do today?”

“Yep.” I roll to the side and tuck her hair behind her ears. “That’s all I need.”

Our clothes come off as our lips find each other.

My mind spins as I watch her wriggle. She’s desperate for my hands on her—my rough touch and my gaze drifting over her body. I want to give her what she wants.

Freckles on her thighs draw me in, and I move to cover her softness with the heat of my hand. Her body moves, her eyes wild with the same desire I feel inside. We made love last night several times over. As great as that felt, seeing her lying in my bed brings out a different craving.