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Callum wants to hunt Raithe down to the ends of the earth and make him beg for mercy, to tear the truth from his mind and watch as he takes his last breath. Those are the exact words that Callum has muttered over and over again these last two weeks. Riven won’t allow Callum to go after his brother, even if Riven has mentioned exerting his own brand of torture on Raithe on several occasions.

I know that deep down, Riven wants to believe that his brother had a reason, that he’s not the monstrous version of a human that he left us to believe he is. Maybe that’s exactly what Raithe Reilly wants, though. Maybe it’s easier for Raithe if we all believe him to be the man within the mask, the one who doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Something tells me that Raithe’s story isn’t over, though.

“How are you feeling, love?” Callum’s voice filters through my mind, pulling me from the shadows within it.

I smile up at him, sitting to grab the steaming hot cup of coffee from his hands. Every morning since the accident, my boyfriend makes sure he’s up before me to have coffee and breakfast ready. He’s been so kind and patient with me these last couple of weeks.

“I’m okay,” I say in truth. I bring the mug to my lips, closing my eyes to take a sip of the liquid gold. I swallow, sighing as the taste of caramel and espresso fills my senses in the most delectable way. When I open my eyes, Callum is frowning.

“What?” I ask, feigning ignorance.

“What’s wrong? Is it the nightmares again?” he asks, concern etched between his furrowed brows. Setting the coffee mug on the bedside table, I place my hand over his.

“Yes. But I swear, I’m okay. It will get better with time,” I say, crawling toward the edge of the bed and onto his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck, tugging his hair between my hands playfully. “Thank you, Callum, for everything these last two weeks. Keep this up, and I might never leave.”

“In that case, I’ll never stop,” he says, running his hand down the curve of my jaw and leaning in until our lips brush against one another.

“Mmm,” I moan, pressing my lips softly to his. “I have an idea.”

“Does it involve you naked and chained to my bed?” he asks, pulling me against his growing erection. It swells beneath me as I grind myself shamelessly against him.

“Not exactly,” I say, laughing. “Though I do like that idea.”

“Come on, love,” he whines, trailing kisses down my neck as my head falls back to give him better access. “I’ll be gentle. I promise.”

“Let’s spend a few nights at the retreat,” I say, inhaling as he pulls the strap of my top to the side to expose my breast. His mouth closes around my nipple, tugging it between his teeth.

“What retreat?” he asks, eyeing me with suspicion.

“You know … the healing one?” I say, reaching down to rub my hand over his erection.

I harden my grasp in an attempt to distract him as he presses his hips forward on a groan. I’ll admit, using his body to get him to say yes to me might be an all-time low. But it won’t stop me.

“I know what you’re doing,” he says, his voice full of dark promises that I can’t wait for him to make good on.

He’s been so cautious with me since the accident, so afraid that I’ll break to pieces beneath him. I want to prove to him that I’m not fragile, that I want him to stop taking his damn time and have his way with me.

“Come on,” I plead. “A few nights won’t hurt anyone. Sloane said that Riven is testing a healing frequency. We could attend a few therapy sessions, maybe even a hot yoga class?”

“Lydia,” he groans, “I don’t want to hear another man’s name on your lips right now. Not when all I can think about is how fucking good it would feel to be inside of you, how fucking wet you’d be for me.”

“So, is that a yes, then?” I ask, gasping when he lifts me and drops me softly against the mattress.

The burning in my left lung only adds to the pleasure building between my thighs. He drags my pajama shorts over my hips and down my thighs, staring down at me with a delicious, devilish grin.

“If I agree, will you stop talking and start screaming my name instead?” he asks, his voice low. “I haven’t had breakfast yet, little siren.”

My eyes widen as I nod enthusiastically. A shadowed laugh hums beneath his breath as he grips beneath my thighs and tugs me forward until my pussy is inches from his mouth.

“Then, yes, love. I’ll do anything you ask,” he says, flicking his tongue out and pressing it flat against my clit.

He’s slow at first, his tongue tasting me over and over again in the most agonizing way. Then he picks up his pace, growling as he sucks and bites and loses himself between my thighs.

“Callum, yes,” I moan, breathless and lost in the pleasure. It’s been too damn long. “Make me come for you.”

My words are all he needs as he presses two fingers inside of me, flips his hand, and starts massaging my inner walls while his tongue drives me past the point of oblivion. I come, screaming his name into the ceiling as I grab his hair in my hands and press him closer.

“So needy, love,” he says, his voice a sensitive vibration against me.