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I grin. “Neither do you.”

He pulls me to my feet and gives me a deep, hard kiss before pulling away and looking at me in the curve of his arms.

Then he taps my ass and reaches for a bottle of the shampoo I use off to the side.

“Turn around, baby, let me wash your hair.”

I stand in front of him while he massages shampoo gently into my hair, his hands slow, methodical, almost reverent.

“You’re dangerously good at this,” I murmur, leaning back into his chest. He leans his chin on my shoulder as his hands wander down from my hair to my breasts and I watch as he pinches my nipples with his thumb and forefinger, watching them harden. My body is far from perfect but the way Eddie acts, you would think it was a work of art.

“At what?” he asks, his voice low as he returns his hands to my soapy hair and rinses the bubbles out before he smooths his hands down my back.

“All of it. Seduction. Distraction. Hair care.”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my spine, then presses a soft kiss to my shoulder. “You’re the one who said shower, Laney. I just followed orders.”

“Mmmm,” I hum, eyes closed as he works conditioner through the ends of my hair. “I’m meeting Sam for coffee in a bit. Assuming you let me leave this shower today.”

“I was going to let you,” he says. “But now that you’ve said that, I’m thinking of new ways to delay you.”

I swat playfully at his stomach, which earns me a low laugh and another kiss.

“I’ve got errands in town,” he adds. “I’ll drop you off. Don’t want anyone else seeing you like this.” His hand traces down my side, slow and possessive, even though we’re both clean and spent.

“Like what?”

“Flushed. Wrecked. Glowing. Mine.”

I roll my eyes, to hide how much I like his words.

As we rinse off, I glance at him over my shoulder. “You know, it still surprises me.”

“What?”

“That you don’t have a security team shadowing your every move. No bodyguard, no entourage. You’re… you.”

He shrugs, grabbing towels. “I don’t need it.”

“Really?” I raise a brow as he hands me one. “You’re a global music star, Eddie. I’ve seen the way people look at you. The things they write.”

He smirks. “I can take care of myself.”

There’s something under the surface of his voice. Not arrogance—certainty. Confidence forged in something real. Something earned.

He leans in, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss that’s soft but lingering.

“And besides,” he adds, just before pulling back, “if someone wants to get close to me… I’d rather it be you.”

And just like that, I melt all over again.

The bellover the café door chimes softly as I step inside, greeted by the comforting scent of roasted espresso, cinnamon,and something vaguely sweet—maybe muffins. It’s one of those cozy little corner spots with mismatched chairs, exposed brick walls, and plants hanging lazily from every windowsill. Sunlight streams through tall windows, dusting everything with gold.

I spot Sam immediately. She’s tucked into the booth by the window, oversized sunglasses pushed up into her strawberry-blonde hair, one hand wrapped around a to-go cup that’s probably her second latte of the day. She grins the moment she sees me.

“There she is,” she calls out, waving dramatically like I’m a celebrity and not the woman she FaceTimed in pajamas two nights ago.

I slide into the seat across from her, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. I feel… floaty. Still a little raw from everything that happened this morning, but in the best way. My body is sore in places I forgot I had, and I’m almost certain my mouth is still red from the fourth time Eddie kissed me goodbye.