Page 79 of Property of Fox

I sit up, the sheets slipping off my body like water draining from a pond, and I can’t help but feel an ache of disappointment settle deep in my chest.

Where is he?

A twinge of anxiety flutters in my stomach as I swing my legs over the side of the bed, bare feet meeting the cold floor. The smell of burnt coffee wafts from somewhere nearby.Maybe that’s where Fox is.I push myself up from the bed, my mind still reeling from the whirlwind of last night.

I spot my bag from Fox's truck perched on top of a chest of drawers nearby. I rummage through the contents of my bag, retrieving a fresh set of clothes. I turn, looking for the bathroom, when I spot an open door a few feet away. Taking a chance, I step inside, feeling for a light switch, only to find it just inside the door. The light flickers, revealing a small, but fully equipped bathroom. The space is clean yet smells like Fox. Like home, if I dare to admit it. I step inside carefully, closing the door softly behind me.

As soon as I turn on the shower, steam fills up the room like a warm embrace. The sound of water cascading down makes everything else fade away for a moment—my thoughts about Fox’s confession bubbling to life amid this soothing backdrop. He told me he wanted to protect me; his voice had been low yet insistent, brushing against my skin like a tender caress even hours later. I step into the shower and close my eyes beneath runny rivulets pouring over my body; each droplet feels electric against my skin. The perfect antidote for all those moments spent worrying if maybe he'd pull back again once reality takes hold after our tangled night together. But there was something raw in his words that clung onto every syllable ‘I want you just as you are.’

What does that mean? My heart races thinking about how vulnerable I've felt lately… or perhaps it's more than merely vulnerability. It’s allowing myself to put my safety and trust into someone else’s hands.

I lean against the wall, letting the water wash away the remnants of anxiety as I contemplate Fox. The fight, the passion.It had felt so charged, so real, much more than this fleeting fling I had convinced myself it was. It’s so much more than that. Even with my threats of walking away from him, I knew, deep down, that doing that would rip me apart. It’s more than my body craving his touch. It transcends the bonds of physical barriers into something else. Something that feels like devotion, and love.

After a few more moments under the hot water, I finally turn off the faucet and step out of the shower, wringing my hair in a towel. I dry myself quickly, hurriedly tossing on dark jeans that hug my curves perfectly and an oversized blue sweater that feels soft against my skin.

I slip on my shoes and open the door to venture into what feels like another world entirely.

The common room greets me with laughter bubbling through warm sunlight filtering through half-drawn curtains. Hallie sits cross-legged on one end of the couch while Keira occupies its opposite side, both expertly balancing plates piled high with pancakes topped by mountains of syrup drizzled down like liquid gold.

"Good morning," Hallie's bright voice slices through layers of unease wrapped around me.

Keira's head snaps toward me too, her mouth full giving her tiny smile an unmistakably adorable touch as she swallows down food first. “About time. I thought I was going to have to send a search party for you after he dragged you away last night. You okay?”

"Yeah, I’m good," I reply, trying to mask the tinge of uncertainty edging its way into my tone. I move to join them, taking a seat on the armrest of the couch closer to Hallie. She turns to me, a soft smile on her lips. “Az told me what Asher said to you. I’m sorry he was such an ass to you.”

“He certainly knows how to make someone feel welcome.”

“Yeah, he was like that with me in the beginning. Not so much now, but he’s not really the warm and fuzzy type. You hungry? I saved you a plate before the guys devoured it all.”

“That would be great.”

Hallie sets her plate down on the coffee table in front of her before walking towards the kitchen. Leaving Keira and I alone.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, this place is kind of awesome. Hot guys, comfortable beds, good food. I mean, I could have done without the guard outside my door, but I get it. I’m not from around these parts,” she remarks.

“You had a guard?”

“Yeah, it’s not a big deal, B. You had Fox to watch you. I got a guard. He was cute, at least.”

“Have you seen Fox?”

“No,” she answers, taking another bite of her pancakes. “The guys just went into the big meeting room. I found Hallie while I was waiting for you to wake up.”

“But you didn’t see him?” I ask, feeling a twinge of worry settle in. I can’t shake the feeling something’s not right.

Hallie returns with a steaming plate piled high with fluffy pancakes and a generous dollop of whipped cream perched on top, and warm syrup. “Here you go,” she says with an encouraging smile. “Eat up! You need your strength to contend with these guys.”

“Thanks.” I take the plate and sink back onto the couch, digging into the mountain of carbohydrate goodness, savoring each bite as it melts in my mouth. My nerves start to settle, momentarily overshadowed by the comfort of food and laughter from Hallie and Keira as they talk about the signing we’d all just been at only a few days ago.

“Did you really meet Fox at the hotel bar?” Hallie directs towards me. “I never know when to believe he’s messing with me or telling me the truth when it comes to women.”

“Yeah, I did. I may have spilled my drink on him.”

“That would explain why he reeked of whiskey at the welcome party. Eden was so pissed at him thinking he showed up drunk to the event.” I stiffen at the mention of Eden’s name. Hallie catches my reaction. “He explained that the whole Eden thing was fake right?”

“Only after he got caught and I kicked him out of the house,” Keira chimes in. “He came back with his tail tucked between his legs to explain the situation.”

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