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It had seemed perfect when I was standing in the checkout of the convenience store. I’d spotted it on the counter and immediately thought of her. She fidgeted so much, picked at her cuticles, scratched at her arms, had so much internal anxiety that I figured it would help relieve some of it.

And she couldn’t stab me with it, which was a bonus.

“It’s a stress ball,” I told Cade, sliding it into my backpack. I didn’t want him looking at it or judging me for getting it for her, but it was too late for that.

“What the fuck,” he muttered, shaking his head. But there was a small smile on his lips, and as much as he projected an outward image of a cold-hearted asshole, he was happy for me. And Whitney had grown on him.

I’d also gotten her a punching bag yesterday, but I still had to set it up in the basement. I wanted to give her a healthy outlet for all her aggression. I also wanted to teach her how to defend herself.

I caught a whiff of myself. After a long day of work, I always smelled, but I was highly conscious of it right now. I needed a shower. Maybe Whitney would take one with me?

A smile spread across my face as I imagined dragging that little porcupine into the water with me. I just wanted to feel her again. Touch her. Have her in my arms, press my nose into her hair and inhale my own scent.

My cock thickened in my pants, and I pressed the heel of my palm into my rigid length, staring out the window while Cade drove us home.

“Can you not? I’m right fucking here,” he griped, throwing a disgusted look my way.

“I can’t help it,” I said unapologetically. We were almost back, and the driveway had never felt this long before. I was anxious to see her again. Not only that, I was nervous that I’d scared her off with what I’d told her earlier.

But it was all true. Every last word. And there were so many more things I wanted to say, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her. Well, no, I already had overwhelmed her. There would be time enough to tell her all the things rattling around in my head. She was mine, and I just had to patiently help her realize that I was hers.

As Cade stopped the car, he said, “I gotta go to the compound. Frank needs help with something.”

I paused, my hand on the door handle, and looked at him. “Just you?” Normally Frank would ask for both of us or all four of us.

Cade sighed. “Yeah. Just a quick thing.”

“Let me know if you need any help,” I offered, knowing he wouldn’t ask.

“Yeah. Fuck off now,” he grunted, slamming his head back onto his headrest and closing his eyes.

As soon as I jumped out of the car, Cade pulled back down the driveway. I flung the front door open and took the stairs two at a time, then checked my room.

Empty.

I went back downstairs and turned down the hall, but when I got to the kitchen, only Brooks was there.

Maybe she was out back?

Before I could move, Brooks said, “She’s sitting out back.”

“Thanks,” I said, running to the den and bursting through the screen door.

She wasn’t there. I stepped out onto the deck, scanning the property, but she wasn’t anywhere in sight. “Whitney!” I called.

Silence.

My gut was telling me something was wrong here, but I didn’t know what.

She wouldn’t leave me, right? I knew it was hard for her to open up, and maybe everything I’d told her this morning had swum around in that whirlwind head of hers and she’d needed some space.

I don’t like feeling trapped.

Was that it? Had she gone for a walk or something? She needed to slough off the feeling of being caged in?

Vincent pushed open the screen door, pulling me from my thoughts.

“She’s not here?” he asked.