Page 4 of Verdict

He chuckled against my skin and reached for the nightstand.

“I’m on the pill,” I said impatiently, my body buzzing with desire.

He paused, eyes searching mine. “I’m clean,” he said quietly. “You sure?”

“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate. “I trust you.”

Something unreadable flashed across his face before he nodded.

He kissed me softly before easing into me, inch by incredible fucking inch. I dropped my head back on a moan.

“You okay?” he murmured.

“More than okay," I said on a sigh.

We found our rhythm easily—too easily. He touched me like he knew my body. Anticipating exactly what I needed and when. He played me like his favorite goddamn instrument.

“Fuck, if you keep rolling your hips like that, this won’t last long,” he rasped.

He reached between us, applying pressure where I needed it until I shattered beneath him. He didn’t slow. Didn’t let me come back to myself before flipping us, pulling me on top of him.

“Ride me, baby,” he said. “I want to see you come one more time.”

I leaned back, hands braced on the tops of his thighs, rocking my hips slowly until his eyes rolled back.

“Damn you horse girls,” he groaned.

I set the pace until he took over, meeting me thrust for thrust. Moving together like this wasn’t a one-time thing. We came apart together, breathless and spent, before collapsing side by side.

Afterward, the room fell quiet.

Cohen turned his head toward me. “Jesus Christ, Trouble.”

I stared at the ceiling, a soft laugh slipping out. I rolled my head to the side to look at him.

“You know we can never do this again, right?”

Chapter 2

Ava

10 months ago

I sat on the edge of my bed, bouncing my leg nervously as I chewed on my nails. My gaze kept drifting to the bathroom counter, where seven white sticks lay scattered—each one holding the verdict of my future.

My phone alarm chimed, sharp and unforgiving.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to stand. With shaky steps, I stepped into the bathroom and stopped in front of the counter. I tipped my head back, staring at the ceiling as I whispered a small prayer before finally looking down.

Pregnant.

All seven of them. Clear as day.

I was pregnant. The word didn’t feel real. I stared down at the tests again, like they might suddenly change their minds. Seven tiny windows. Seven identical answers.

Positive.

Maybe all these tests were defective. That was totally possible.