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For a moment, hope flashed in Matt’s eyes But just as quickly as it cauished

"Matt" His name was the barest whisper on her lips "Don’t do this You’re a good h"

But when she looked up into his eyes, she could see that he wasn’t listening He could hear only the harsh and critical voices inside his head She’d had to fight those enough times herself to understand just how hard it was to do it on your own So she did the only other thing she could think of to slice through those voices

She closed her eyes, went up on her tippy toes

And put her ht it, but everything in him needed Ari’s touch, her lips on his

She res he wasn’t in control of He couldn’t control what she did to him--how badly he wanted to taste her, touch her, lose hi else He wasn’t able to stop Noah fro with enthusiasm and excitement, and the truth was that he didn’t want to Of course he wanted his kid to run to him and throw himself into his arms--Matt just wanted Noah to stay cos

He’s safe, you know

Ari was right Noah was safe and sleeping In the , he would be the same happy kid he’d been today before the fall by the pool

And--a hi as steel First, to protect hih, frory ridicule and his mother’s total indifference, no ain, after Irene had flitted away and he’d learned to keep his walls up for everyone but the Mavericks The woe, and he’d never allowed another woman close He’d bedded them, but he’d never let theive in to the dreams he’d had from the first moment he’d set eyes on her?

She tasted so daile as a new bloom Then she moaned, a soft sound that twisted hi their kiss, he was a goner He turned with her, pushing her up against the wall, and kissed her with every ounce of need that had been building in hiuilt, his fear In this moment, there was only Ari’s ainst him

On her toes, she wound her ar over hi on her sweetness until he couldn’t breathe

Until he couldn’t think of anything but her

Sliding his hands down her torso, he splayed his fingers to cup the undersides of her breasts Her body strained against hi He slipped his thuht and hard There was no question that she wanted this as badly as he did, the moan in her throat ripe with desire and need