Page 126 of Property of Chaos

The tap shuts off, and she emerges at the door, still naked. Still beautiful. “I’ll probably just eat something dry. But don’t let that stop you from getting yourself one.” She moves to the slim closet and opens the mirrored door.

My reflection confronts me: wild hair, scruff on my jaw, and tanned, tattooed skin contrasted against the crisp white sheets.

She shuts the door again, holding a long dress, jeans, and some semi-see-through top in one hand. “What do you think is more appropriate?”

“What message are you trying to convey?” I stretch one arm behind my neck to prop my head up and run a hand over my stomach.

Her lids droop, breath pulled between parted lips. “Um.” Ness closes her eyes, brow pinched as she fights for her words. “I don’t want to give him a reason to pick a fight with me,” she says, lifting the jeans/top combo, “but I also don’t want him to think I still follow his demure bullshit rules.” She raises the dress.

“So, pick a fight.” I shrug. “You’ve got us there to back you up.”

She sighs, studying the jeans combo. “I don’t like confrontation.”

“Ain’t a reason to let him win.”

Her eyes find mine, and she nods. A single, firm movement. “You’re right. Fuck him.”

There’s my girl.

“Give me fifteen, and I’ll be ready.”

I screw my mouth up and bat my morning glory with one hand. “Yeah. Me too.”

“Fuck’s sake, Chaos…” She chuckles, moving the dress back to the closet.

“I mean, you could always help me with it and speed things up.” I give her my best puppy dog eyes when she closes the door again.

“My heart rate is high enough as it is, thank you.”

I scramble from beneath the sheets and snare her by the wrist as she moves past the bed toward the bathroom. “Put that shit down and then get your ass up here.”

“I don’t want to have sex right now.”

“Who said I wanted to fuck you?” I wince at the words. “Yeah, okay. Of course, I do. But that’s not why I want you to lie down for ten minutes.”

She studies me for a moment, lips pressing tight. “Ten minutes.”

“Is all I want.” I back up and pat the mattress, suddenly aware my stiff dick is on display when her gaze drops and pink flushes her cheeks. “He’s staying the fuck out of this.” I hold a finger up and clamber off the far side of the bed to tug my boxers on, tucking my dick into the waistband.

She hangs her outfit on the door and climbs atop the bed with a sigh.

“On your back. Arms at your sides.”

She does as instructed, peeking at me in her periphery as I shuffle myself to her head. Legs splayed as wide as I can get them—a feat when I bulked in the off-season—I sit above her, Vanessa’s head nestled in my groin.Why do I do this to myself?

I take her left hand and set it on her stomach, right on her chest over her heart. “Focus on your breathing.”

“You’re making me meditate?” She rolls her eyes back to try and see me.

“Shut your goddamn eyes, woman, and do it.”

She does so with a smile, amused by my turn in character.Shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.I witnessed Selena do this a lot those first years after we brought her back to the club. Tens of thousands in therapy bills over the years, and I don’t regret a thing because it gave me the incredible woman she is today.

And me the tools to help Vanessa now.

“Four seconds in, hold it, then six to eight seconds out.”

“I know how it works,” she says softly, slowing her breath.

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