LOGINMaya’s POV When I wake up, it’s still Wednesday.I hear Maya beside me soft, steady, and peaceful. She’s snoring just a little, and for a second, it almost makes me smile. Almost.Then reality hits.I roll over, grab my phone, and squint at the screen.“Shit.”It’s already 8 p.m. here… which means it’s 9 p.m. in Florida.I sit up fast, my chest tightening, and immediately call SJ. The phone rings once before he picks up.“What's up, Dad?”I let out a breath. “Hey, I was trying to catch you guys before bed.”He chuckles. “Dad, we’re not going to sleep no time soon. I don’t know about Lily and Sophia, but I’m up.”I relax just a little. “Alright. How was your day?”“Hold on, Dad.”I pause. “Hold on?”I hear movement of quick footsteps, a door closing, a shuffle. Then his voice comes back, quieter.“Okay, Dad…”Something in his tone makes my stomach drop.“What’s going on, son?”He exhales. “So today we went out with Cousin Stephanie, Mark, and the kids. Mom came too. We went to the wat
Maya’s POVThe moment Shane agreed, the air between us crackled with raw need and deep love. He stepped closer, eyes locked on mine, hands trembling slightly as they slid under the negligee. “God, Maya… you’re so fucking beautiful,” he breathed, voice thick with emotion. “I want every inch of you tonight.”He peeled the sheer fabric off me slowly, letting it drop, unhooked the barely there bra , then hooked his fingers into the tiny orange thong and dragged it down my legs, his thumbs grazing my skin like he was worshiping me. When I stood completely naked in front of him, he groaned low in his throat and pulled me hard against his body, kissing me deep and hungry, like he couldn’t get enough.He laid me back on the bed and settled between my thighs, spreading me open with gentle but firm hands. “I need to taste you first,” he murmured, voice rough. “Let me make you feel good.”His mouth was on me instantly... hot, wet, and relentless. He licked me slow and deep at first, tongue dragg
Explicit Talks Ahead Maya’s POVI stayed right where I was, straddling Shane, watching that look in his eyes shift into something softer.He leaned up just enough to kiss me, quick and warm. I laughed against his lips, still finishing my food like nothing in the world was rushing us.“Come on,” I said after a second, exhaling. “Let’s go take our nap.”He kissed me again before standing, lifting me with him like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck, laughing as he carried me down the short hallway.“This better be the master,” I teased. “Because I didn’t check the other room.”“It is,” he muttered, smiling.And yeah… it was. Big, open, and quiet, just perfect.He eased us down onto the bed, bracing himself so he didn’t put his full weight on me. I shifted slightly beneath him, wrapping my legs around his waist.“I thought we were taking a nap,” I murmured.“We are,” he said softly, kissing the tip of my nose.I laughed. “Okay.”He kissed me again, slow this time, befor
Shane’s POV It was a beautiful day.As we drove up toward Jordan Lake, I couldn’t help but smile. Something about this felt… different. Peaceful in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.This was about to be my home away from home for the next few days.Just me…And this gorgeous woman beside me.And when I say we were about to have fun?Yeah… we were about to have fun.I had already arranged for groceries to be delivered ahead of time, so I was hoping everything would be waiting for us when we got there.And sure enough…As I pulled up to the secluded A-frame cabin tucked deep in the woods, I spotted the bags sitting neatly on the porch. The nearest neighbors were a good five minutes out, and the quiet out here?It hit different.Maya looked over at me, her face lighting up instantly.“Oh my God,” she said, smiling wide. “It has a dock… and kayaks. We should go kayaking tomorrow.”I chuckled. “Yeah… why not? Let’s try it.”She leaned over and kissed me, quick but warm.I pulled up clos
Maya’s POV I am so fucking excited.Yeah, I said it exactly like that.Last night, I already dropped Gabby off at my mom’s house, and of course my brother was there… along with his stuck-up-ass wife. He was going on and on about work, talking about how he had to write up more than half the staff because they kept coming in late, and the supervisor didn’t give a damn. Didn’t even act like he wanted the position.Honestly, I see why Keisha brought my brother in. It makes sense.But then, like always, Alexis had something to say.She rolled her eyes at me and said, “You don’t never keep your children.”I turned to her real slow.“First of all, I don’t have children. I have a child. And you really shouldn’t be speaking, because you don’t keep yours either. When you were in Arizona, your sister had them. Now you’re in Chicago, and my mama got them. So as a stay at-home wife, shouldn’t you be taking care of your own kids?”Yeah… that went left real fast.We started arguing out loud, and we
Shane’s POVEverything had been going good.No, better than good.It actually felt like a real family vacation for once. Isla was there with us, going to the parks, eating breakfast and dinner with us, laughing with the kids… acting like a mom.That alone had me thrown off.Even my cousin Stephanie pulled me to the side at one point like, what the hell is going on? Because Isla had never been like that before.Everything was smooth.All the way up until Tuesday night.I was bringing my bags downstairs, getting everything together for the morning. Isla was still over at my cousin’s house, and I was talking to Stephanie’s husband when he asked,“So you’ll be ready to go in the morning? What’s the plan?”“I’m gonna return the van,” I told him. “Then catch a shuttle to the airport.”That’s when Isla’s voice cut in.“What are you doing?”I turned, confused. “What do you mean?”“What do you mean you’re leaving?”“I’m leaving,” I said plainly.Her face twisted. “So you’re just gonna leave ou
Shane’s POVI wake up early on this fine Saturday morning, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually smiling.I look over to my right.Empty.No one in my bed.That alone makes the morning better, because she had no business being in here in the first place. Not after everything. Not afte
Shane's POVI woke up early Friday morning with a long, tired sigh, staring up at the ceiling like it had answers for me.This week had been… good. Too good. Probably the best week I’d had in a long damn time.And that alone should’ve scared me.I’d been slipping. I knew it. Me the the best family
Crandon's POVBy the time the building started to quiet down, I could feel it in my shoulders.That deep, bone level exhaustion that didn’t come from physical labor, but from thinking too much for too long. We’d been working this case for a few weeks now, and today had been nothing but independent
Isla’s POVBy the time I pull up to the school, my stomach is already tight.It’s not because of traffic. Or work. Or the kids.It’s the feeling.That low, nagging certainty sitting in my gut, whispering that Shane is not working late. Again.I sigh as I shift the van into park. I could follow him.







