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I didn’t understand why people would create lies just to see if the other party would settle. Forrest had been dealing with an insurmountable amount of stress, and yet he still took on mine without hesitation. He’d done so much for me, and I appreciated every bit of it.

This had been one of the most stressful times of my life. Forrest needed a break too.I smiled as an idea formed in my mind to help him release stress.

I walked into his office, where I’d seen an emergency kit. I took out the stethoscope and borrowed his white lab coathe had hanging on a hook in his closet with other medical supplies.

On my way to the bathroom, I found an unopened box of essential oils from Full Circle Apothecary. Morena had probably given it to him. I lifted the box to my nose, inhaled, and made the executive decision to open the box so he could benefit from it.

Tonight, he’d be pampered like a king.

CHAPTERFIFTY-EIGHT

FORREST

After retrieving the letter from the mailbox,I entered the house with takeout from a Thai restaurant. I placed the food and letter on the counter and walked to the back deck, where Kiera had been hanging out for the past few days. I loved that she was living in my home—our home. We’d fallen into a rhythm as though she’d always lived here.

I glanced toward the back deck through the sliding doors and didn’t see her.

“Kitty K, where are you?”

“Find me.” Her voice told me she was upstairs.

What is she up to?

Smiling, I made my way up the stairs. “You misbehaving while I was gone?”

“Yup,” she shouted from the bedroom.

As I stepped onto the second-floor hallway, an aroma of sensuality greeted me. I wasn’t sure if that was the right word, but the enticing floral scent made me think of passion with her. The soft music in the background added to the allure. What had my kitten been up to?

Pink rose petals scattered the floor in a trail that led into the bedroom. On the way, I picked up a pink thong, a pink bra, a blue T-shirt, and khaki shorts.

I inhaled her scent from her clothes, and my cock immediately hardened. When I entered the bedroom, I chucked the clothes aside, making a pile on the floor.

Kiera stood at the center of the room wearing my lab coat, which was way too big for her.Using my black tie, she’d belted herself, looking sexy and ready to be fucked.

I walked up to her and pouted. “You’ve been causing trouble without me. I don’t like it.”

“The pout tells me you’re unwell,” she said with a serious expression as she placed a hand on my cheek.

“How do you know?” I bent down and sniffed her neck. A hint of lavender and something else charmed my senses. “You smell so good, baby.”

“Your cock is hard.” She palmed me through my jeans. “Your breathing is heavy.” She squeezed me. “Those are symptoms of a man in heat, and he needs immediate treatment.”

I laughed and played along. “You’re right. How will you remedy that, Dr. Sexy K?”

“Sit.” She pointed to the velvet ottoman in front of the armchair. “I’ll give you a thorough examination.”

Did she know she was fucking hot in my lab coat? I wanted to yank it off her. Was she wearing a sexy set of lingerie underneath the lab coat? Or was she naked for me?

I hadn’t expected this role play when I came home, but it was a pleasant surprise I didn’t mind repeating. My heart thudded at the thought of coming home to her every day. My mind had never wandered into that “forever” arena before. Never even considered it . . . until now. Somehow things had shifted in my life, and there was now only room for her.

I couldn’t imagine my life without her. She belonged here in my home. She belonged with me.

I sat down on the ottoman as directed. “I think I’m developing a fever, doctor. Overheated.” I fanned myself with my hand.

She studied me, pursing her lips. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Would it help if I removed my clothes for you to examine?”