Page 48 of Sunrise

I feel guilty. They were probably a lovely couple, and I just ruined their chances of exploring their kinks in the best sex club around. As much as I want to tell Ryker to not go that far, I also know that I don’t want to be on edge every night at the club, looking over my shoulder for them. She was sweet, but he was… yeah. No. I’m not defending them, no matter if they’re innocent or not.

This ismysafe space. They’re not tainting it with their presence.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling relieved. “That makes me feel better.”

“Good.” Ryker returns to his chair behind the desk. I think I’m about to be dismissed, but he asks, “How were Vault and Knox?”

I lift a brow. “You know already. I’m sure you watched.”

“Not all of it,” he says. “Dmitri and I took it in shifts, and he didn’t give me many details.”

My attitude turns a little feral, and I think it’s because I’m protective of them. “How many details did you want, Mr. Hudson?”

He’s not threatened by me. “I want to know your endgame, Sophie.”

“Myendgame?” I shake my head. “My arrangements with them are—”

“I’m not talking about your arrangements. I’m asking aboutyourfucking endgame.”

Of course he’s going to be protective over his friends. I might be in the Monarch family, but I’m an add-on, not an original. And I’ve lied to this man from the beginning, which I’m scared he’ll eventually find out and blacklist me, too. “I have no idea.”

“Yes, you do.” God, I think he’s going to burn a hole in my retinas with how hard he’s glaring at me. “What is it?”

“I. Don’t. Know.” That’s as honest as it gets. I really have no idea what the end of my arrangement with Knox and Vault will look like. I’ve tried to imagine it a gazillion times and can’t figure it out.

“What do you want it to be?”

That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I’d rather not admit that I’m in love with Ryker’s two best friends. I haven’t even fully admitted it to myself yet. Besides, his loyalty will lie with them, not me, and I can’t risk Ryker telling them how I feel. I’m not ready and may never be. Hell, I don’t even know how they feel about me outside the bedroom, so we’re putting the cartbefore the horse here.

“I want them together,” I say flatly. “That’s all I fucking want.” The words “with me” donotcome from my lips, but my heart screams it.

“Is that all?”

“Isn’t that enough?” Hell, a year ago, even five years ago, that would have been too much to ask for. “They belong together.”

“I know that. But where doyoubelong, Sophie?”

Jesus, why is he being so annoying this morning? Steeling myself, I roll my shoulders back and say, “I belong right where I am, Mr. Hudson.” Shoving up from my chair, I leave and slam the door shut behind me.

???

Marching back to the Butterfly Suite, I pull my shit together. These men don’t need a precious petal running scenes, they need a professional.

Iam a professional.

Shit, I forgot my stupid key to the room. They’re probably asleep, considering they were out all night, so I don’t want to knock and wake them.

Mid-spin on my heels, I freeze when the door opens, and Knox pops his head out. “Where the fuck you going now, woman?”

Why do I feel better anytime I see this man? A little weight lifts off my shoulders just looking at him. How can someone’s mere existence do that? “I forgot my key and thought you guys would be asleep by now. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“As if we’d fall asleep without you between us. Pssht.” He playfully snags my arm and pulls meinside. “Come on, now.” He pats my ass. “You should know better than that.”

I giggle, feeling better by the second. “Well, it’s not like we’ve done this before, pup.”

Vault studies us cautiously from the other side of the room.

“You two must be exhausted.” I let my robe drop and saunter over to him. Cradling his head in my hands, I let him nuzzle my breasts.

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