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“I promise to try my best for you,” I say. “Plus, didn’t you say something about hot yoga?”

Her eyes brighten with amusement like she knows something I don’t, and if it weren’t so fucking cute, I’d press her on it. But I don’t care. Lydia could ask me to wear one of those stupid paper gowns backward while pole dancing, and I’d give her the best striptease of her goddamn life. Plus, I have a little trick of my own up my sleeve.

“Mhm,” she says, leaning over to kiss me.

She pulls away, and I murmur, “Mmmm, come here,” wrapping my hand around the back of her neck and tugging her to me.

She laughs against my lips, kissing me back fervently. “Come on, sunshine,” she says, “the healing awaits.”

I groan, pressing my forehead to hers, but not letting her go. I never want to let her go.

“Thank you for this,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper and devoid of the playful air it possessed seconds before.

“Lydia,” I say, moving my hand to the side of her jaw where I trace the lines of it with the pad of my thumb. My eyes find hers, never straying. “I love you, and I’d do literally anything you asked me to. If it isn’t painfully obvious by now, I’m a damn fool for you.” My eyes drift down to her full lips, noting the way they part on a sharp inhale.

“Anything?” she asks, arching a brow as the corners of her mouth turn into a devious smile.

“Anything, love,” I confirm, running my thumb over her bottom lip. “But if we don’t get out of this car right now, I’m going to have you naked and riding my cock where everyone can watch. You know these weirdos love to watch.”

“Callum,” she says, slapping my forearm. “You dirty, dirty boy.” She grabs the door handle and pushes, climbing out of the car as I do the same.

“Oh, you have no idea,” I say, walking around the back to grab our bags.

We head for the entrance as I spot Riven and Sloane at the door to greet us. Did I know they were coming? I search my memory, wondering if I missed the part where she said this was a group activity.

“Lo!” Lydia calls out, running toward her best friend with open arms.

The two of them jump into a hug, twirling in circles like they’ve been apart for years rather than only one month. Riven nods once in my direction before returning his gaze to his girlfriend. He watches her with the kind of passion that could burn this entire place to the ground. I know exactly what that feels like as I watch Lydia with the same expression. She makes me feel everything all at once—wild, reckless, and most importantly, safe.

“So,” Riven says, coming to stand beside me as Sloane and Lydia continue to catch up. “I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you that I’m working with Arcadia Grove to develop a healing frequency. It’s in early phases, but I think it could really be something. Maybe one day I could have my own healing studio. And I-I want you to be a part of that.”

I turn toward him, slapping a hand over his shoulder. “Riv, that’s fucking great. If anyone can do it, it’s you. You deserve that, and everything else,” I say, waving a hand toward Sloane.

“Thanks, man,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking back and forth on his heels. “So, will you be a part of this with me? I don’t think I want to do it without you. You deserve it, too. All of it.”

I turn toward him, tracking his gaze toward Lydia. “Of course I will,” I say, watching as the two women turn and motion for us to follow them inside.

“So, is that why you and Sloane are here?” I ask, still wondering if Lydia invited them to our couple’s retreat weekend. I’m calling it a couple’s retreat because “healing retreat” makes me want to gouge my esophagus out.

“Yep, we’ve been coming a couple of days a week. We’ve learned so much about frequencies that can heal and the psychology behind them. Anyway, you don’t want to hear about all the boring stuff, I’m sure. But I think it’s really going to be something great.”

I smile, watching the way his eyes light up when he gets all nerdy about the stuff he loves. It’s nice seeing him like this.

“I’m glad you’re happy, Riv,” I say.

“Yeah, same for you, man,” he replies.

Once we’re checked in, a staff member walks us to our room. The sign on the door reads ‘Solace,’ and as much as it pains me to admit, it’s entirely accurate. Maybe even cute. Sloane and Riven say their goodbyes, telling us they’ll be back tomorrow to work more on Riven’s project. The second the door closes, it’s like gravity pulls me toward the little siren in the room.

I stalk toward Lydia, backing her against a dresser as her breath hitches and her eyes widen with desire. I lift her, sitting her on top of the dresser as I spread her thighs with my own. Her dress rides up her legs, giving me perfect access to what I want. She leans back on her hands, watching eagerly as I run my fingers up the inside of her thighs. Goose bumps trail over her skin, erupting everywhere my finger grazes. I love how responsive she always is to me. My hand dips between her thighs as I run my thumb over the lace of her pale blue underwear. The damp fabric sends me sprinting toward that feral need to have her, and she thrusts her hips forward as if sensing it.

“So wet for me already, love?” I ask, a dark chuckle following my words.

“So wet,” she breathes out, the sound of her voice a fuel to the fire burning beneath my veins. She spreads her legs farther, taunting me to take what I want.

“I’d be willing to bet you taste fucking amazing right now, too,” I say, my control continuing to spiral like thread from a dwindling spool.

“Why don’t you find out?” she asks, tilting her head to study my next move. I grab her underwear, pulling them over her hips and down her thighs at a pace that kills me as much as it does her. Kneeling, I kiss up the inside of her thigh, taking my time all the way back to her perfect fucking pussy.