Page 118 of High Reward

I smile up at him and push the laptop to the side for a moment and pick up a strip of bacon. “Thank you. For everything, Tyson. You’ve taken good care of us for so long. I’m really sorry about what happened to Sabrina.”

Tyson settles into the seat across from me and waves a hand. “No guilt. You’re not the lunatic who planted a bomb in her car. I’m glad you’re both OK.”

“Me too,” I murmur. “But I still feel bad. And I would understand if she doesn’t want to live with me anymore.”

Tyson chuckles. “That’s for the two of you to work out. Something tells me you’re moving in with Victor any day now.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That obvious, is it?”

“The question is whether you’ll have a third person with you or not.”

My heart clenches at the idea of Lili not being with us. “I sure hope we do. But she has a lot to figure out for herself.”

Tyson nods. “She does. I’ve been there. Want my advice?”

I lean forward as I pop a strawberry into my mouth. “Of course.”

“Be the person she feels safe walking away from if she needs to.” He reaches for my hand when I recoil. “It’s not easy. I get that. Especially because you love her. But she has some demons to slay, and sometimes those demons have to be handled solo. She’ll come back if you give her the safety to walk away without pushing her away.”

I shove eggs around on my plate, my stomach suddenly queasy. “It makes sense. You’re right, though. It’s not easy to think about.”

Tyson and I sit and talk for a few more minutes while I finish my breakfast, then he clears my plate and kisses my cheek before disappearing into the kitchen again.

I pull my laptop back in front of me and allow myself to be pulled into the fictional world I’ve created once more. Thinking about Lili needing space away from us is a little too much to think about right now, so I’m grateful for the escape. It’s been so long since I’ve opened this manuscript, I find myself surprised by how much I’m enjoying my own story. I don’t even remember writing some of these scenes, but they don’t need nearly as much work as I thought they did.

I have homework I should do, but I’m so wrapped up in my fictional world that I can’t even fathom studying anatomy or writing about the reproductive system right now.

It feels good to be doing something that comes so easily.

Lili

Iwaketothesound of Victor in the shower. Grace isn’t in bed either, and I sit up and stretch, trying to get my back to release.

When I’ve finished a round of stretching, I walk into the bathroom expecting to find the two of them in the shower together getting frisky.

Instead, I find Victor facing the wall, one hand raised and pressed against it, his muscular back towards me as hot water falls down his hair and shoulders.

I slip off my robe and climb in behind him.

“Where’s Grace?” I ask, letting my hands roam up and down his chest.

He stops me, clasping my hands still against his abdomen, then turns me so we’re both under the water and facing each other.

“I’m not sure. But security is tight, and I figured she needed some space when she woke up. Was going to go looking for her after I shower.”

I squirm and press a kiss to his chest.

“What is it?” he asks, his voice dropping to a husky tone I recognize. “What do you need, Liliana?”

I let my forehead rest against his chest as water soaks my hair. “I need to feel. Or maybe I need tostopfeeling. It’s complicated.”

“Do you want my help with that? It sounds to me like your brain is noisy and you need some help quieting it. Do you trust me, Liliana?”

I nod against his slick skin without looking up. “I trust you. What do you have in mind?”

“You shutting up and being my good little pain slut,” he growls in my ear.

My breath catches, but I don’t argue or object. Perhaps he’s right. My brain just needs something else to focus on.