Page 48 of Little Bird

I batted away her hands but was unable to wipe the grin from my face. “It was pretty fucking amazing.”

“And? What happened next?”

“He took me home, and we had more amazing sex.”

She raised one manicured brow at me. “What happened to the one free pass only?”

I shrugged. I’d like to see her resist Bane when he gets that look in his eye. “I made a decision when we were at dinner. I told him I accepted his offer of two weeks with me, and in exchange Hawk’s debt is gone.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.” I let out a sigh. “Last night, we went to dinner, and afterward, he brought one of my fantasies to life.”

“Threesome?”

“Sex swing,” I corrected. “And it was fucking amazing. Seriously, Dee, you and Baron have to get one.”

She tapped her chin in thought. “I’ll just get one and surprise him,” she said with a chuckle. “His poor uptight accountant pants wouldn’t know what hit them.”

She looked around the bar for a moment. “What’s going to happen at the end of two weeks? Will you be able to walk away from him?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. I feel like the more time I spend with him, the more I get to know him, the more I want to stay. Is that messed up? I mean, he’s a drug dealer and runs a strip club. How can I move past that? It’s hardly an honest living.”

“The drug dealing is definitely not an honest living, but the club is legit. Men love sex, and if women can get paid to dance for them, I say more power to them. Do you know if he’s slept with any of them?”

“I asked him last night.”

“What did he say?”

Smoothing my hair back with my fingers. “He said he didn’t have penetrative sex with any of them.”

“Penetrative?” She screwed up her face. “So, that means…”

“Oral. I guess he gets blowjobs?”

My best friend pursed her lips. “And this is something he’ll continue to do while he has you in his bed?” I could hear every single ounce of disapproval in her tone.

“No. He said he won’t see any other woman while I’m sleeping with him.”

“Well, at least he’s not a complete asshole,” she muttered. “Fuck, I love you, Wren, and want to hang out longer, but I need to go home to Baron. All this sex-deal talk has got me all hot and bothered. Want to share an Uber?”

I laughed at my friend’s impulsivity but nodded. “I’m sure Baron will be very happy to hear that. I should probably go too… work tomorrow and everything.”

Darcy navigated her way through the rideshare app, booking us a lift. “When do you see Bane again?”

“Probably tomorrow night.”

With a nod, she glanced at her phone. “Our ride is around the corner,” she announced, turning off her phone and sliding it back into her purse. Darcy slid from the seat, and I followed her out, and together we walked out of The Nightingale. As we stepped onto the sidewalk, a car pulled up. “This is us.”

We both got in, declining the offer of water and mints.

“How’s the baby-making going?” I asked once we’re on our way.

She was silent for a moment, then said, “Our first round of IVF is next week.”

Reaching across the dark back seat, I took her hand in mine. I didn’t need to ask her how she felt about that because I knew. She was terrified. She was terrified of it not working. She was terrified that whatever reason she’s unable to have children naturally will interfere with the artificial process too.

“Have you spoken to Baron about how you’re feeling?”

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