Page 66 of Mask and the Magnolia

”Of course,” I grunt under my breath as I open the sliding door to close the screen. The glass is next, both locked up tight, and I drop the wood in the track for good measure before I pull the curtains closed.

I don’t know how I missed that earlier.

It’s a pretty normal part of my routine to go through and lock up before shutting things down for the night.

Granted, I had one hell of a day between Camden and everyone on Ward C. When I got home all I wanted to do was take a hot bath and listen to some music before climbing into bed and sleeping for a million hours. I was on track, too, until Eve called me. I have no idea if I’m going to be able to get back to sleep now.

I yawn again as I walk into my room, hopeful since that’s twice now but I’m not going to hold my breath.

I stretch my arms above my head and make my way to the closet, dropping my pants and stepping out of them, and decide that’s where they’re going to stay. At least they’re in the closet. That’s closer than most of my clothes get. I stretch again then rub my hands over my face, happy to feel another yawn coming on.

A yawn that turns into a scream when I hear, “I think you need a bigger mattress, Maggie.”

I run to the lamp on my desk and turn it on, squinting against the low light until Desmond fucking Hawthorne comes into focus, sprawled out on my bed like he fucking lives here.

My eyes widen as I hiss, “What are you doing here?”

I hurry to close my door, only to find it closed already and blocked by all six-foot-five of Korvin Severe, who’s actually grinning at me as he leans against it.

”How the hell did you two get out?” I rush to my window and drop the blinds before I pull the blackout curtains closed. “How did you find my apartment?”

I look between them several times, my heart racing just as quickly as my mind becausethere are two convicted murderers-turned-escapees in my apartment.

Oh my god, I am going to be in so much trouble if anyone finds out about this. I’m going to get fired, kicked from the program completely, I’ll get cut off from my family which isn’t really a bad thing, but being homeless and penniless is. That sucks.

And these two? They’ll also get kicked out of the program and be sent back to their respective prisons. Most likely with longer sentences than they had before and considering they both had life, I’m sure they’ll just take away the option for parole.

”Oh my god,” I say as I start breathing heavily. “Oh my god, you’re going to be in so much trouble if they find you here.”

”Who?” Korvin grunts as Desmond asks, “How would anyone find us?”

”I don’t know.” I start pacing. “I don’t know who or how, but this could be so bad for you two and that’s the last thing I want. You have to go back.” I nod to myself like I just solved all the world’s problems with that one statement. “Yes, that. You have to go back to Ward C.”

Desmond wiggles around on my bed and kicks off his white slip on sneakers. “We will.”

”Right now.”

”No.”

I stop mid stride and look at him. “No?”

”No,” Vin echoes as he walks over and gets on my bed next to him.

They must know it’s like looking into the face of god when they’re right next to each other. They have to. Why else would they do this to me? I can’t argue with the face of god, no one can. Arguing with them is no different.

“Please?” I plead, taking a few steps toward them. “I’m asking nicely.”

Desmond nods. “You are and it’s appreciated but we aren’t going back, not yet.”

”We just got here.” Vin kicks his shoes off and good lord they both have enormous feet.

“I know, but…” I gnaw on my lower lip and look down at my feet, only now realizing I’m standing in front of them in nothing but an oversized t-shirt and panties. “Shit.”

They both chuckle, the low rumble vibrating through me from head to toe. I felt every bit of that, and it’s trying to centralize right between my legs.

So, I close my eyes and take a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down, but it backfires. It backfires horribly because that deep breath drew in a whole ass lungful of their scent, stronger and more potent than it’s ever been.

My eyes pop open, and I look between them and blurt, “You had sex.”