All Chapters of Stranger in my Bed: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Erica's POVI left Maverick standing outside and hurried straight into the apartment, already calculating how much time I had left before I needed to be walking out the door again.Heather looked up from her laptop on the couch. "How'd work go today?""A whole drama," I called back, already halfway down the hallway toward my room. "I'll tell you everything later, I promise, but I'm running late and my Monday client does not do well with tardiness."I caught the tail end of whatever Heather said next - something about 'you and your night drama' - but I was already too deep into my room to properly respond, yanking off my work clothes and pulling out one of my go-to night outfits: a black two-piece, joggers and a fitted top, my most comfortable look. I grabbed my session bag off the hook and headed straight back out.I made a quick detour through the kitchen, hoping against hope Heather had actually cooked something. She hadn't. I settled for an apple from the fridge, grabbed Heather's

Erica’s POVWhen I got to the office, I gave Priya a distracted nod on my way past her desk and shut myself into my own office before she could catch me for anything else.I sat down, stared at absolutely nothing for a solid minute, and tried to remember what I was actually supposed to be working on that day. Cake tastings. Vendor confirmations. Real, paying-client work. Instead, all I could think about was Heather, and Maverick's brother, and how badly I needed something in writing before I let my best friend walk into whatever this arrangement actually was.I opened my laptop and started drafting a contract of my own - nothing official, nothing I trusted myself to get exactly right, but enough of a skeleton that my actual lawyer, Charlie, could clean it up and make it airtight. A binding agreement, plain and simple: if anything went wrong, if Heather was hurt, manipulated, or abused in any way during whatever this "healing through love" experiment turned into, Maverick would be held

Erica's POVI gripped the table tighter, feeling my whole body beg for mercy. "Malcolm. Please. Leave.""Malcolm?" One eyebrow lifted. "I didn't realize we were on a first-name basis already.""Please." I wasn't above begging at this point, dignity be damned. "I'll attend to you first thing tomorrow morning. I promise. Just… go."He studied me for a second, something in his expression shifting toward actual concern. "Are you okay? You look flushed. Uncomfortable.""I'll be significantly better the moment you leave.""About that email you sent me earlier today," he said, entirely unbothered by my visible distress, "I already forwarded it to my lawyer. It's been properly drafted. Want me to send it to you?"Oh God. Please. Just go."That won't be necessary," I said tightly, gripping the table's edge like it was the only thing keeping me upright. "My lawyer will handle it."He nodded, finally rising. "Alright then. I'll be here tomorrow morning. And you should keep that in mind, Erica -

Erica's POVWe finished the rest of the drive in silence, the kind that sat heavy, with no one wanting to be the first to break it.I was more than comfortable in it. I couldn’t believe I’d almost brought up the past with this man. And a humiliating past for that matter.The venue, when we pulled up, took my breath away a little even though I'd seen it plenty of times before - an original medieval-style castle, all stone turrets and ivy-covered walls, the kind of place that made every bride who saw it burst into tears on sight. I wasn't new here. The staff waved us through without so much as a second glance, familiar enough with me by now to let me wander freely."So?" I asked, watching his face as we walked through the main courtyard. "Do you think Claire would love this?"Malcolm looked around slowly, taking it in - the arched windows, the stone fountain, the gardens, statues, and pure historic landscape of the place. "She would. This is exactly her kind of thing.""I approve too,"

Erica’s POV“Tell me you want me to touch you, Bear. Tell me you want this.” Friday groaned, his lips trailing hot kisses down my neck. I felt lightheaded, as if I was being consumed by fire and excitement all at once."Please." I breathed, closing my eyes as my body screamed and reacted to his touch. I knew this was all shades of wrong and I shouldn’t be letting this unknown man touch me like this, but I’ve been so worked up with him, Malcom and Maverick all at once and I needed some kind of release. Maybe if I finally get laid, this unexplainable pull towards these men will stop. Especially towards Malcom.“Please what?” he whispered into my ear.“Please take me.”His lips found mine again, crushing his mouth into mine, lifting me up to straddle him as he walked back towards the sofa. I wanted to yelp with how easy he’d carried me, but our mouths were pretty preoccupied, and I’d rather continue kissing him than compliment his strength.He dropped me gently on the sofa, pressing my