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Story: Love Loathe Devotion

His eyes light up. “Seriously? That would be perfect. We could use someone who knows how to get the word out.”

Warmth spreads through me at the thought of working on something that actually matters. “I’d love to help. Anything for Joey.”

We eat in companionable silence for a moment, the occasional clink of silverware filling the space. The food is incredible—Eddie can definitely cook. But soon, exhaustion starts creeping in, my body reminding me that I’m still recovering. I let out an involuntary yawn, covering my mouth quickly. “Sorry.”

Eddie chuckles, standing up and gathering the plates. “Don’t be. You should get some rest. Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”

I follow him down the hall, my body heavy with fatigue but my heart oddly light. At my door, he pauses, then leans in andpresses a soft kiss to my cheek. “Thanks again for helping me with this.”

A small shiver runs through me at the warmth of his lips against my skin. “Goodnight, Eddie.”

He watches me for a beat longer, something unreadable in his expression, then nods. “Goodnight, Laney.”

I step into my room and shut the door, exhaling slowly. As I change into my pajamas, I can’t help but wonder how I ended up in this alternate reality—living in Eddie’s house, agreeing to be his fake girlfriend, feeling things I really shouldn’t be feeling.

I crawl into bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin. This is dangerous. But God help me, I don’t want to walk away.

13.Eddie

I wake up feeling good.Better than I have in weeks. Maybe it’s the solid sleep, or maybe it’s the knowledge that Laney is under my roof, in my space, where I can keep her safe. Or maybe it’s the fact that I have a plan—a damn good one. She’ll be my fake girlfriend for the next four weeks, but by the time this arrangement is over, I fully intend for it to be real.

I toss the covers back and stretch before heading to the shower. Hot water cascades down my body, easing the tension in my muscles, but it does nothing for the tension building elsewhere. My balls ache from when I kissed Laney, the hard-on like steel between my thighs. The moment my eyes close, I’m back in the barn, feeling the way her lips molded against mine, the way she whimpered when I deepened the kiss.

Damn, she’s intoxicating.

The image of her, standing here with me, water slicking over her soft skin, fills my head. I imagine her pressed against the tiles, her breath hitching as I explore every inch of her. My body tightens, and I wrap a firm grip around my cock, stroking slowly, deliberately. The fantasy deepens—her moans, her fingers digging into my back, the way she’d come apartbeneath my hands. My release hits hard, a deep groan spilling from my lips as her name escapes in a whisper.

I brace myself against the wall, panting as the water washes away the evidence of my climax. Shit. I’m in trouble with this girl.

After drying off and throwing on jeans and a T-shirt, I make my way downstairs and start the coffee. The rich aroma fills the kitchen, a welcome distraction from my earlier thoughts. As I take a sip, my mind shifts back to business. I grab my phone and dial Nico.

He answers on the third ring.

“Talk to me,” I say.

A groan of pain echoes in the background, followed by Nico’s unimpressed sigh. “Punks these days have no stamina. Can’t even handle a little incentive to talk.”

I chuckle. “Still like to be hands-on, I see.”

“Somebody has to.”

My amusement fades. “What the hell happened with security? How did someone get close enough to hurt Laney?”

Nico blows out a breath. “Still figuring that out. But I’m sending two of my own guys to watch your back. I trust them completely.”

Knowing full well the men he sends are ‘made men’ and loyal to the Mancini family, who are my family in all but blood, eases some of my tension.

I grind my teeth. “Good. Because if this happens again, I’m holding you personally responsible.”

Nico snorts. “Understood. She mean something to you?”

“She’s mine.” The words come out before I can stop them. They feel right.

A beat of silence. Then, “Shit. This is serious.”

“Damn right, it is.”

“Well, you can breathe easy, brother. The guy who touched her? He won’t be touching anyone ever again.”