I almost dropped my margarita when Russ strolled into the backyard. Giving Erika a furious look, I hissed, "You said he wouldn't be here!"

Erika cringed at the sight of my ex-boyfriend. "I didn't think he would be! I told Tony not to invite him, but I guess he forgot."

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. Erika, my best friend since high school, had been dating Tony for over a year. He was a little older, and she craved the stability he offered; he wasn't wild like the guys she normally fell for. The two of them recently decided to move in together, and they found a perfect place with reasonable rent. The house was a little beyond the suburbs but not way out in the sticks. When Erika invited me to a party at their new home, I agreed to come on one condition: that Russ wouldn't be there. I knew it wasn't fair to issue the ultimatum since Tony and Russ were good friends. But my breakup with Russ just a few weeks ago had been painful and ugly, and I wanted to avoid seeing him at all costs.

Yet here we were, in the same place at the same time, which was the last thing I wanted. Still, I couldn't help but sneak glances at Russ as he headed toward Tony and a small group of guys I didn't know well. He didn't look my way once.

Tony, however, grinned sheepishly when he noticed my icy glare. As Russ talked with one of their mutual friends, Tony raised his eyebrows expectantly and then gestured for me to join them. I flipped him the bird in response.

"I'm going to kick Tony's ass!" Erika said. "I guess he thought he was being cute, trying to get you two back together." She shot Tony a warning look that wiped the grin from his face. Then she turned to me. "I'm so sorry, Amie."

"It's fine," I sighed. "But I'm gonna need another drink. How about you?"

"I'm good, thanks." When Erika squeezed my hand, I forced a smile. I didn't want to ruin her party by acting like a sulky little bitch, but I knew I needed a minute alone to get my emotions under control. Right now, there were only about twenty people in the backyard for the cookout, so it wasn't as if I could hide among the crowd. If I stayed outside, Russ and I were sure to run into each other.

I got up and headed toward the back door, which led into the kitchen. Once inside, I poured myself another margarita from the huge pitcher Tony had made. He was heavy-handed with the tequila, and I made sure to pace myself so I wouldn't have to take an Uber home. When I heard the screen door open behind me, I figured it was Erika coming for a second drink, after all. "Change your mind?" I asked, looking over my shoulder. But it wasn't Erika standing behind me.

Russ lingered near the door, arms folded over his chest. Being in the same room with him made me bristle. "Kitchen's all yours," I said, my voice flat. Gripping my glass too tightly, I tried to move past him, but he held out a hand to stop me.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

I stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him. "I think you and I said more than enough last time we were together."

"Amie, I'm sorry." Russ took a sideways step, so he was directly in my line of vision. He was also blocking the damn door. "I hate the way things ended between us."

I didn't trust myself to speak. Instead, I lifted my glass to my lips and took a sip. Like me, Russ wore jeans and a T-shirt. I could tell his wavy brown hair had been cut recently. His blue eyes were entreating as they met mine. "I'm surprised you showed up here tonight," I finally said. Though I felt my face pulling into an ugly sneer, I was powerless to stop it. "I thought you decided you were too good to slum around with lowlifes like us."

"That's not fair, and you know it!" he shot back. "Christ, I was only trying to give you some advice, and you took it all wrong!"

I snorted at that. For months, Russ and I had dated. We'd laughed at each other's silly jokes and walked along city streets holding hands. We spent our nights together and fucked like rabbits. And we confided in each other, sharing all our wild dreams we knew would never come true. I'd fallen in love with him. I thought he loved me. And then he got a new job. He was so excited, going on about how great it was for his career. At first, I'd shared in his excitement, because I knew how much the job meant to him.

But then he began to change. It started with his comments about my lack of ambition. "Don't you want to go back to school?" he asked. "You don't plan to wait tables for the rest of your life, do you?" I tried to overlook his "advice" even as I sensed us growing further apart. At twenty-two, I was only six years younger than Russ, but I started feeling like I was dating someone my dad's age.

Our relationship ended the night Erika and I decided to get matching tattoos. I hadn't mentioned it to Russ beforehand, and when I showed him the fresh ink—a vine of ivy wrapped delicately around my ankle—he gave me a disapproving look. "It's pretty, Amie, but you know it's going to be harder for you to get a decent job if you're covered in tattoos. You have plenty as it is."

At that moment, I understood what people meant when they said their blood boiled. Hot fury surged through me as I shouted, "Fuck you, Russ! I've had it with you trying to change me!"

Russ looked shocked at my outburst. "I'm not," he insisted.

"The hell you're not!" I pointed an accusing finger at him. "You constantly criticize my job, and my 'life choices,' and now you have a problem with my tattoos? Why the fuck did you want to get involved with me in the first place?" As angry as I was, I couldn't hide the fact that I was deeply hurt. Tears pooled in my throat, preventing me from saying another word.

Russ reached for me, but I jerked away. "Amie, I love you. I just want what's best for you."

I shook my head. "I'm sick of trying to live up to your expectations!" I hated myself for crying in front of him. It felt like weakness on my part. "You know what?" I went on. "You're boring now, Russ. All you ever talk about is your 'career.' Even the sex is boring!"

That was a low blow, I knew, and it was also a lie. The man could absolutely fuck, boring job talk notwithstanding. But he'd wounded me, and now I wanted to hurt him. I could tell by the way he blanched at my words that I'd succeeded. He held up his hands as if to fend off any more insults. "Then I guess we're done," he said, and I heard the unshed tears coating his voice.

"I guess we are!" I turned on my heel and strode out of his apartment. Only when I was in my car did I break down sobbing.

As Russ and I now stood in the kitchen, with the party going on outside, he dared to step closer to me. "I'm sorry I was a controlling asshole when we were together. But what you said?" He shook his head at the memory. "Talk about going for the jugular, Amie."

I was too full of pride to apologize, so I focused on my drink. Although my hair was pulled back in a ponytail, my face and neck grew flushed. My heartbeat reverberated in my skull, the way it sometimes did before I got a migraine.

Russ moved even closer. "Did you mean what you said?" he whispered. "About the sex being boring?"

"What the hell does it matter if I meant it or not?" I jutted out my chin, still defiant. "We're through, remember?" In response, Russ pried the glass from my hand. "Hey!" My scowl did nothing to deter him. After placing the glass on the counter, Russ leaned toward me. Mere inches separated us, and I could smell a hint of detergent wafting from his clean shirt.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you got bored fucking me," he demanded.

I tilted my head to glare up at him. He didn't look at all angry, I realized. No, he looked almost amused, as if he was fully aware he'd caught me in a lie. Swallowing hard, I steeled my spine. "I... got bored..." I desperately wanted to sound convincing, but the words came out shaky. Russ raised an eyebrow, and I knew I couldn't lie to his face. Instead, I murmured, "I still hate you." Then I wove my fingers through his hair and guided his mouth to mine.

The moment our lips met, Russ wrapped me in his arms, as if he thought I might bolt. He couldn't have known how much I missed the hunger in his kiss, the way he made every single one seem like our first. He moaned from low in his throat, and the feel of his hands squeezing my ass coaxed forth my own pleasured sigh.

When I broke the kiss, I was breathing fast, acutely aware of all the places our bodies touched as Russ held me close. With a self-satisfied grin, he said, "I'd try to fuck you right now, but I wouldn't want to bore you."

"Asshole," I replied through clenched teeth.

Russ slid a hand between my thighs, making me gasp. "But I'm the asshole who's getting you wet right now," he taunted. I glared at the wall, afraid of what I'd reveal if I looked at him. "Say you want me to fuck you," he insisted while rubbing me through my jeans. I let out a desperate whimper. "Tell me you want my cock, and I'll give it to you."

My pride was crumbling beneath Russ's expert touch. He knew just how to get my clit throbbing! Still averting my eyes, I mumbled under my breath. He grasped me by the chin and forced me to meet his stare. "What was that?" His teasing grin made it clear he was enjoying every second of this. "I heard you say you wanted something. What do you want, Amie?"

"I said, I want you to fuck me!" I practically shouted. I could only hope the music playing in the yard drowned out my voice so everyone didn't hear me begging for Russ's dick.

He took my hand and brought it to his crotch. I could feel him growing harder through his jeans. "You know I love to give you what you want," he said, then lifted me into his arms.

I released a startled shriek as he carried me out of the kitchen. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to the bedroom."

"We can't do this here!"

"Sure we can. Carpe diem and all that." Russ took me into the spare bedroom across the hall from the one Erika and Tony shared. Still holding onto me, he fumbled for the light switch. Once the room was illuminated, I noticed boxes on the floor, waiting to be unpacked, but the bed was neatly made.

As horny as I was, I felt my courage waver. "What if Erika comes looking for me and finds us fucking in here?"

That intolerable grin returned to Russ's lips. "All talk and no action?" With a regretful sigh, he put me down so I was standing before him. "Should have known as much. Now who's the boring one?"

I bit back a few choice insults as I moved to close and lock the door. No way was I going to let him win this battle. And besides, I'd already soaked my panties. He was unable to hide his surprise while watching me unbutton my jeans. "Hurry up!" I snapped at him. "We don't have all night."

Russ yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Though I tried not to stare, I couldn't help but wonder if he'd been working out even more since we broke up. "See something you like?" he murmured.

I rolled my eyes in response, then strode toward the bed. Standing at its side, I glanced uneasily at the window. At least the blinds were closed, shielding us from everyone in the backyard. I yanked down my jeans and panties before leaning forward to brace my hands against the bed. When I didn't hear Russ moving toward me, I looked over my shoulder. He'd taken out his cock and was now stroking it while gazing at my ass. "Let's get going!"

His eyes locked with mine. "You don't want me to suck your tits first? You love that."

My anger toward him softened even as I struggled to sound cold and unfeeling. "I don't even want to look at you," I said. "Now, are you going to fuck me or not?"

The tenderness vanished from his face. Closing my eyes, I heard him approach. His grasp on my hip was rough, almost painful, but I didn't dare complain. I had to swallow a needy moan when he slid his cockhead between my pussy lips. "You are dripping wet, Amie," he breathed. "So ready for my dick."

I felt him at my entrance, yet he only teased me, easing just a little inside. Fighting the urge to thrust back and take every inch of his cock, I growled, "What part of 'hurry up and fuck me' do you not under—"

Russ's first brutal thrust stole my voice. He slammed into me with a force that would have sent me flying forward if he hadn't been holding tight to my hips. I had no chance to recover before he began pounding my pussy. "This is how you want it?" he demanded.

"Oh, my God!" I cried. "Yes, please!"

Throughout our relationship, Russ and I had never fucked like this. He always made a point to be gentle and loving. Now I wondered what kind of beast I'd unleashed! The sounds of our bodies meeting, and his dick thrusting in and out of my wet cunt, heightened the bliss of our primal fucking. I didn't even need to rub my clit; his relentless cock was more than enough to drive me close to orgasm in record time.

I made ridiculous mewling sounds, unable to help myself. When Russ grabbed my ponytail and pulled my head back, I began quaking all over. I could hear his heavy breathing and the way he grunted with his own excitement. "You want to tell me I'm boring you now?"

"Christ, Russ, you know I didn't mean it!" My desperate need to come made me pliant, ready to bend to his will.

Never once slowing the pace of his thrusts, he asked, "And did you mean it when you said you still hate me?" I was close, trembling in his grip, yet I had to blink back tears. All the emotions flooding through me became so overwhelming that I couldn't speak. "Do you still hate me, Amie?" he repeated, his voice growing urgent. I could sense he was on the brink as well. "Because I still love you."

A sob escaped my lips as I came hard around him. Those fierce contractions made him groan from his struggle to hold back. "I still love you," I finally managed to choke out. My body continued seizing while the orgasm shuddered through my every muscle.

Russ's thrusts grew shallow and even more fervent. "Amie!" he cried. I knew he could feel the aftershocks gripping me. Just before reaching his own climax, he pulled out, and I shivered with pleasure as he came all over my lower back, each spurt painting my skin. Lowering my head, I smiled while tears spilled down my cheeks to strike the bedspread.

Russ caressed my hips, still breathing hard. "Stay right there, baby." I heard him moving around the room, and a moment later, he began wiping me clean. Looking over my shoulder, I saw him mop up his semen with his T-shirt.

"You could have used my underwear," I said.

"Now you tell me." He flashed a playful grin. "It's no problem. I'll just borrow a shirt from Tony." Before I could find out if my shaky knees were ready to support my weight, Russ wrapped his arms around my waist and gently pulled me upright so I was nestled against him. I felt his cock, still semi-hard, prodding my skin. Nuzzling my neck with his lips, he whispered, "I'm sorry for hurting you, Amie."

"And I'm sorry I hurt you," I whispered back. Turning toward Russ, I pressed a hand to his face. With the pad of his thumb, he wiped a stray tear from my cheek. Then he gave me a gentle kiss, as if to assure me he could still be tender after such a hard fucking. Smiling up at him, I said, "I'm also sorry I lied, because while you are many things, boring is definitely not one of them."