“There you are,” I say to Emily. “I was about to send out a search party.”

She smiles. “No need. I’ll just jump into the shower.” She blows me a kiss as she disappears into the bathroom.

The sound of the shower follows minutes later. I’m impatient for her to be done and in bed with me.

I want tonight to be good, to end on a high note after everything.

The bathroom door opens, and Emily steps out, wrapped in her robe, her damp hair falling over her shoulders.

She looks so soft, so beautiful, and all I want is to hold her, to forget whatever distance has come between us today. She walks to the dresser, finds her nightgown, and slips it on before coming to bed.

When she lies down, I reach for her, pulling her close, pressing a kiss to her lips, feeling her warmth. Her lips meet mine, soft and familiar, but then she pulls back slightly, giving me a small, apologetic smile.

“Not tonight,” she says gently. “I’m just so tired. Can we take a raincheck?”

I nod, swallowing down the sting of rejection. I brush it off with a smile, not wanting her to feel guilty. “Of course,” I say, trying to sound casual, even though I can feel something clench tight inside me. “Long day, right?”

She nods, turning to her side and nestling into her pillow. “Yeah, it was just a lot. I’ll be fine after some rest,” she says, her voice already drifting, her eyes closed.

I lie there, staring at the ceiling, trying to tell myself she’s just tired, that it’s not personal. But it’s hard not to feel the ache, that strange hollow feeling when someone you love seems to pull away.

I turn onto my back, trying to shake the unease. She needs sleep; that’s all it is. She’s right here beside me, after all.

I stare at the darkened ceiling, willing myself to ignore the thoughts gnawing at me, to let sleep take over.

Yet sleep doesn’t come easily. And somewhere in the quiet, all I can think about is what she’s not telling me.

Chapter 32: Emily

I wake up with a deep ache lodged deep inside my core and hands rubbing over my nipples. A moan rips out of my body as Andrew’s mouth finds a nipple.

His lips are gentle at first, teasing and exploring my sensitive skin. As I gasp and writhe beneath him, he grows more insistent, sucking and biting with a hunger that matches my own.

I’m caught between sleep and wakefulness, my body responding to his touch without hesitation.

I'm overtaken by a wave of intense desire, my body trembling as Andrew continues to explore me. I moan his name, feeling the pleasure build inside me until it is almost unbearable.

I reach between us, and wrap my hands around his rock-hard cock.

“I want you,” I say, the ache between my legs intensifying.

Andrew groans, his hips bucking against me. He positions himself between my thighs, his erection nudging at my entrance.

“Now?” he asks, his voice hoarse with need.

“Yes,” I whisper, my body trembling with anticipation.

He pushes inside me, and I gasp at the sensation of his thick length filling me completely. Our eyes lock as we move together, our bodies syncing perfectly.

The pleasure builds rapidly, and I cry out Andrew's name as the climax crashes over me, my body shuddering with the force of it.

Andrew's face contorts in pleasure, his eyes shut tight as he thrusts deeper inside me. With a final cry, he releases, filling me completely.

As soon as he rolls off me, reality crashes into me like ice water. My father is in the hospital. Panic and fear claw their way up my throat, and I scramble for my phone.

Nothing. No missed calls, no messages. That’s good news, right?

Andrew plants a warm kiss on my forehead. “That was amazing.” His eyes are bright, carefree, and I manage a weak smile.