Page 53 of Phoenix

“Nora. It was a nightmare. Nothing more. Please...come here.” He reaches his hand out to me and I take it, letting him pull me back into him.

“Any regrets?” he asks.

“I wish I could say yes,” I tell him.

“Why?”

“It would be easier to resist you that way.”

“So you’re saying I’m irresistible?” He smirks.

“Very.” I’m leaning in for another kiss when a knock on the door echoes off the walls.

“Wake the fuck up, you lazy asses.” Grayson says through the door.

I sit up quickly. “Oh shit. Oh no.”

“What? Relax. It’s just Grayson.”

“Exactly. I don’t want to hear their comments on this. Give me a chance to get into the bathroom before you let him in.” I scramble from the bed, kicking around my clothes that were shed last night.

“You’re cute when you’re embarrassed.” He is propping his head up on his hands behind it.

“Why aren’t you more concerned?”

Grayson knocks again.

“Why should I be? We are adults. Consenting at that.”

I stop and take a breath. “You’re right. I know that. I just don’t want to have to explain it, you know?”

Grayson knocks again so Case calls out. “Let a man get dressed, will ya?”

He climbs from the bed, stands in front of me, and takes my face in his hands.

“I won’t say a thing to him. This is our secret. I promise.”

I relax a little and smile. “Okay. I should go shower so he doesn’t think of anything happened.” I step to move away.

“Hey. One last thing.”

I turn to face him. “What?”

He crosses toward me and tips my face up with his finger under my chin. “Just wanted one last taste.” He leans in and captures my lips in a kiss.

Case

Once Nora is in the bathroom behind closed doors, I pull on a shirt and jeans, then give the room one last look to make sure nothing is suspicious.

Once I’m certain, I pull open the door to find Grayson still standing there.

“You’re so fucking slow,” he says.

“I was sleeping. It’s early.” I step aside so he can come in.

“Where’s Nora? Shower?” he asks.

“Yep.” I walk in behind him. “Where’s Amelia?”

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