The restraint broke.

Ethan’s control snapped, and suddenly, it was raw and desperate, the room filled with the sound of our bodies moving together, the sharp intake of breath, the whispered curses and moans.

I was lost in him, in the way he moved, in the way he worshipped my body with every touch, every kiss. And when I finally shattered around him, pleasure crashing over me in waves, he wasn’t far behind, his body tensing as he found his own release.

He collapsed against me, his forehead resting against mine, our breaths mingling, our bodies still tangled together.

Neither of us spoke.

Because there were no words for this. No words for what just happened.

What had happened a few times since I’d been here.

No words for the dangerous, terrifying truth settling in my heart.

I was in a complicated mess, and there was no way of getting out.

What the hell was Medford doing to me?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Mason

The gym smelledlike sweat and metal, the way it always did.

The clang of weights, the rhythmic thudding of feet on treadmills, and the occasional grunt filled the space as I stood by the bench press, spotting Owen.

Ethan was at the punching bag, his fists landing with sharp, deliberate force, his usual brooding intensity cranked up a notch.

I leaned against the barbell rack, arms crossed, and smirked. “So, what's the plan for movie night at The Starry Night?”

Owen set the bar back with a grunt and sat up, wiping his forehead with his shirt. “No clue. Haven’t thought about it.”

I rolled my shoulders. “Well, I was thinking I might ask Aurora to be my date.”

Silence.

Owen’s head snapped toward me. Ethan froze mid punch, his knuckles hovering inches from the bag. The air in the gym suddenly felt heavier, charged, like the second before a thunderstorm.

“What?” I asked, glancing between them.

Owen scrubbed a hand down his face. Ethan grabbed a towel and turned away, shaking his head.

“You can’t,” Owen muttered.

I let out a short laugh, expecting some kind of joke, but neither of them cracked a smile.

“Oh, come on. You two aren’t actually,” I stopped, their guilty expressions hitting me like a gut punch. “Wait. No. No way. You guys aregenuinelyinto her? I thought you just liked the way she looked. Plus, she's not from here, so she's a new face.”

Ethan let out a slow breath and grabbed his water bottle. “It’s complicated.”

I blinked, then laughed, because honestly, what else was I supposed to do? “Complicated? Are you kidding me? I said I was thinking about taking her to a damn movie, and you two are acting like I suggested marriage.”

Owen shifted awkwardly, then shrugged, trying for nonchalance but failing. “Well, I think she might be into me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “The hell does that mean?”

He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze.