Page 138 of Naughty & Nice

He slept back on the couch last night, but he specifically said he’d join us. So… where is he?

Rix’s t-shirt is the first thing I find, and I drag it over my head as I make my silent escape from the room.

The cabin is in darkness, so I’m fully expecting to find Wilder fast asleep.

But the second I step into the living room, I find that I’m wrong.

My breath catches at the sight of him hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees and his head hanging low.

It’s so dark out here that he’s barely more than a shadow, but that doesn’t stop me from reading the anguish that’s oozing from him.

“Wilder?” I whisper, but despite the cabin being in total silence, he doesn’t seem to hear me.

Hesitantly, I move closer. I don’t want to scare him, but also… he needs someone right now.

“Wilder?”

This time, his entire body tenses up at the sound of my voice, although he doesn’t turn to look at me or react.

I lower myself down beside him, wrapping my arm around his waist in silent support.

It lasts for five seconds before everything changes.

“Don’t,” he barks as he shoves me away and jumps to his feet.

“W-what?” I stutter as he marches toward the windows.

“Just… don’t.” His voice is cold, cruel, and… detached.

Nothing like what I’ve heard from him in the whole time we’ve been away.

“What’s going on?” I ask, ignoring his previous reaction and following him across the room.

“Go back to bed. Hendrix needs you there with him.”

“He’s sleeping. He doesn’t?—”

“Just go, Noelle.”

I know that I should listen, but there’s something in his voice that stops me.

Instead, I move closer.

The wall of floor-to-ceiling windows showcases nothing but the clear night sky. The stars twinkle and the almost full moon casts everything in a silvery glow. It’s beautiful.

My hand lifts to his shoulder, but no sooner has my palm connected with his bare skin than it’s thrown off.

“Ow,” I complain as my bicep pulls.

As I cradle my arm against my chest, he finally turns to look at me.

His eyes are dark, but not in the way I’ve become used to in the past few days. There’s no desire there. Just anger.

A lot of anger.

“Wilder?” I try again.

“We’re done, Noelle. The only person you need to be worrying about is Hendrix. It’s time to go back to real life.”

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