SARAH “You know what I want,” she replies. I wonder where she found the audacity to look annoyed. “It’s the same thing I’ve been asking you for.” I’m so tired of this conversation. “And my answer still stands.” Her fist slams against the bathroom counter, and I barely flinch. I’m getting good at this, at not reacting to people who think they can intimidate me, and I know just who to thank for that. “The HawkThorne brothers are behind this.” Her voice is rising as desperation eats her tone, crossing the lines on her face. “They’re the only ones with enough money and power to dig up the past from anywhere.” I fold my arms across my chest, leaning back against the wall. A small smile creeps up to my cheeks. “Then ask them.” Caroline’s eyes widen. She opens her mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. Nothing, not a single fucking word comes out. “That’s what I thought,” I scoff. “You’re a fucking coward.” “Excuse me?” “You keep coming after me. Following me to restaurants and cornering me in bathrooms. But you won’t go near them, will you? You’re scared. You know you can’t handle them. You think I’m easier to bully.” Her face flushes red. “I’m not—” “You are. Because deep down, you’re scared of them and what they’ll do to you. You think…you consider me easy prey, easy to scare. Don’t you?” She doesn’t reply, but my answers are evident in her eyes. I kiss my teeth as I push off the wall, and head for the door. “Stay away from me, Detective. I won’t be this kind the next time.” One would think reading her to filth and warning her would be enough. But it’s not. My hand is on the door handle when she grabs my wrist, hard, and yanks me back with full force. I shoot her a glare, and she responds with an equally menacing one. “Don’t forget,” she hisses in my ear, “I’m a mother who would do anything for her child.” I look down at her hand on my wrist. Then up at her face. And I let her see exactly what I think of her right now; that she’s even more despicable than I thought. “So am I.” I pull my hand away and walk out. Jaxon is leaning against the car when I step outside. Ronan and Malachi are inside already, and when I slide into the back seat, all three of them turn to look at me. “What took you so long?” Malachi asks. My face stays perfectly calm. “Using the toilet took longer than I thought.” It’s not technically a lie now, is it? I mean, I was in the bathroom for longer than I thought I would be. Just not for the reasons they’re thinking. Ronan’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t push. Just starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. “You should spend the night with us, baby. Make the rest complete.” Jaxon says after a few minutes of silence. It’s not really a question, but I answer anyway. Even if I’m well aware I’ll want to do everything but rest when I’m with them. “I don’t mind. But I need to grab some clothes first.” “Don’t worry about that.” Ronan’s watching me in the rearview mirror. “We already stocked your wardrobe.” “You what?” “Everything you need is already there.” There’s mischief in his voice—a foxy one that makes my stomach flip. And why the hell is he smirking? “What kind of clothes?” I ask, even though the smile on his face leaves me with a couple of ideas. “You’ll see.” Right. That’s not ominous at all. “We were wondering when you’ll want to move in with us?” Jaxon adds. “Officially?” “Let’s wait until after the wedding,” I reply with a smile. Kevin will be leaving after the wedding. I can’t get him to stay no matter what, so I intend to spend as much time as possible with him.“We should probably also start thinking about how we’re going to announce this to the press.” Malachi reaches back, takes my hand, kisses my knuckles. “We have it all under control, sweetheart. Don’t worry about that.” The drive to their place is quiet as always. I find myself wondering if they ever feel lonely being the only people who actively live in their estate. I watch the city lights blur past the window and try to ignore the weird flutter in my stomach. It’s probably just nerves. Or hunger. Or pregnancy hormones doing something strange as always. Getting to understand my body has been an overwhelmingly humble experience. It’s almost like I’m another person entirely. Dinner is ready when we get home. Malachi had a chef prepare pasta, salad, and garlic bread. We sit at their massive dining table. I try to focus on eating. But something’s wrong. I take a bite of pasta, and the flavors explode on my tongue. It’s too much. Too…intense. Every flavour, sound, and overall sensation feels oddly heightened. I press my knuckles against my neck, trying to feel my temperature. My men keep themselves busy with talk of work, while I feel like there’s a pole crawling up my pussy. Jaxon laughs at something Ronan says, and my eyes snap to his throat. To the way his Adam’s apple moves. The strong column of his neck. The hint of collarbone beneath his shirt. Why am I staring at his throat? I force my gaze away, take a sip of orange juice. Ronan reaches for the bread, and I watch his hand. The veins. The long fingers. The way his wrist flexes as he grabs the basket. This is weird. This is so weird. I’m never this…fixated on…physical parts. Malachi wipes sauce from his lips with his tongue, and I have to close my eyes because I suddenly begin to think of all the things his tongue does…really well. Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me? Heat rushes down my spine. Then cold. Then heat again. My skin feels too tight. My clothes feel restrictive. And there’s this ache low in my belly that’s making my clit swell and throb.I shift in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position. Nothing works. “Sarah?” Malachi’s voice sounds far away, like he’s screaming from upstairs and I can only hear him in hollow echoes. “You okay?” “Fine,” I raise my head up. “Just need to use the bathroom.” I stand up too fast and nearly knock over my glass. Thankfully, Ronan catches it. “Take your time,” he smiles at me. I force one back, then hurry upstairs. I make it to the guest bathroom—my bathroom, apparently, since I have a whole wardrobe waiting for me—and lock the door behind me. The mirror shows a flushed face. Dilated pupils. Lips that look kiss-swollen, needy for a kiss. My entire body is lit on fire. I turn on the cold water, splash it on my face. Close my eyes. Mistake. Immediately, I see Jaxon’s throat. Ronan’s hands. Malachi’s tongue. I see them touching me. Undressing me. Taking me apart piece by piece. My breath comes faster. I’m panting now, leaning against the sink, trying to get control of myself. This is insane. I’ve been a menace since the baby, and I’m beginning to worry they’ll see me as a sex crazed monster. No. I can take care of myself. I need a distraction. Something. Anything. I start opening drawers, searching. Maybe there’s a magazine. A book they’ve kept somewhere for me. I need something to take my mind off the overwhelming need pulsing through my body. Discipline. Yes. Top drawer: toiletries. Second drawer: towels. Third drawer— I freeze.There, nestled between two white towels, is a vibrator. Not just any vibrator. A rose toy; shiny purple. My heart is racing so fast I can hear it in my ears, it blocks the sound of the rock I push down my throat by swallowing hard. How did this get here? I stare at it. Touch the edge of the drawer, but I pull my hand back like I’ve been burned. Is this a trap? This is my bathroom. They said they stocked my wardrobe. Did they stock… this too? The ache between my thighs intensifies. I press them together, trying to relieve some of the pressure. It doesn’t help. I look at the toy again. Then at my reflection in the mirror. Flushed. Desperate. Needy. There’s a lock on the door. I’m alone. And my entire body is screaming for relief. My hand reaches for the drawer.