Page 72

“Daddy…”

I go still.

My chest locks up. Her body tenses beneath me.

I groan low in her ear. “Say it again.”

She whimpers.

“Say it.”

“Daddy…”

My hand tightens around her throat. My other arm holds her still. I thrust once, hard, then again, grinding deep.

“Fuck, Ani. That’s it. That’s my girl. Say it again.”

“Daddy—please—don’t stop?—”

I fuck her harder, deeper, every thrust slamming into her with more force than the last. Her mouth opens wide. Her hands clutch the sheets. Her whole body starts to shake.

“That’s it, sweetheart. You want to come on Daddy’s cock, don’t you?”

“Yes—yes—yes?—”

“Do it.”

Her orgasm hits so hard I have to cover her mouth with my hand so she doesn’t scream out loud. Her hips jerk, and she clamps down around me so tightly I can barely move. I hold her through it, grinding as deep as I can, and when I come, it’s violent. My body locks. My cock pulses deep inside her. I growl her name against her ear as I come, every muscle burning from the effort it takes to stay upright.

We collapse together.

I stay inside her. I keep my face buried in her neck.

I’ve never fucked like that before.

I’ve never let go like that for anyone.

And now I don’t know how I’ll ever go back.

Chapter 20

Ani

Three days pass without incident.

Nothing bad happens. But the anticipation seems to be getting to everyone. There’s a kind of tension that surrounds the cabin now. Everyone remains on edge—ready to strike when necessary.

No one says anything aloud, but I know they’re worried.

They won’t tell me what happened when they went to L.A. I’ve asked but I’ve been told “not to worry about it.” So, naturally, that makes me worry more.

We keep the curtains drawn and the doors locked. I stay close to Mae during the day and don’t argue when one of the guys insists on staying behind while the others go to the fire station. But today is different.

Today, they all have to go.

Finn is the first one to bring it up. He mentions it like it’s not a big deal—just a scheduling thing, unavoidable. Boone doesn’t say much. Jonah is the one who finally lays it out.

He crosses his arms and leans against the counter while I finish drying a bowl. “We’ll be gone until tomorrow. It’s a 24-hour shift. We don’t like it. But there’s no way around it. Two ofour guys are on vacation and there’s no one else to fill the shift. We have to go.”