Page 32 of Whispered Desire

His brothers know it.

There's just one tiny, troublesome problem I keep trying to ignore—the unfortunate truth that part of me wants to stay and live in this weird fantasy world for as long as Mathias lets me.

And how wrong is that?

How totally screwed up do you have to be to want something like that?

Then to actually bethankfulfor Mathias’s stubbornness in not letting me go.

It plays into my dreams of someone fighting for me. Someone caring enough to want me around. Who won’t be dissuaded by my half-hearted protests because they care too much for me.

Now, am I delusional enough to believe Mathias is on his way to falling in love with me? Ha! The possibility is so laughable I’m liable to turn into that scene fromMary Poppinswhere they laugh so hard they end up on the ceiling.

But he feelssomething, and it’s strong enough to warrant him warning the security guards stationed outside the manor to not let me through the gates without his presence.

He happily notified me ofthatparticular rule about an hour after dinner that first evening.

So, I’m torn between what I should do and what I want to do, which honestly is the story of my life, and why I’ve secretly yearned for someone to make the decisions for me in the first place.

You’re going in circles now.

Because I’m right back to the beginning, rehashing the same thoughts over and over again.

“Hey, do you want to play another game?” Rafe asks. He’s technically the youngest, but that hardly makes him boyish. He’s just as muscular and hardened-looking as the other brothers but with a spark of humor that slightly lightens the dark shade of gray hanging over this place.

“What? Racing is fine. Why?”

“Because you seem distracted. If you’re not interested in this, we can—”

“No, sorry. I’m good.”Just trying to spiral into another anxiety attack. No biggie.

My phone dings, and I really don’t want to check it. Since leaving North Carolina, my inbox has blown up with angry messages from Bailey as the movers Mathias hired gathered my stuff. And on top of her texts, my brother keeps hounding me for the money to pay his phone bill because an unexpected expense made him short this month.

Based on the photos he’s shared on social media of multiple nights clubbing with friends, I can guess what his unexpected expenses were.

Preparing myself for either Bailey or Josh, I’m pleasantly surprised when it’s neither. Then confused.

“That's odd.”

"What? That someone's texting you?" Rafe jokes.

"No…” I lightly slap his arm. “It's the pharmacy letting me know that my prescription will be delivered tomorrow."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Not when I didn't submit a refill request or switch to a Boston pharmacy. I think I was hacked."

Rafe is quiet for a moment before he chuckles and bumps my shoulder with his. "Yeah, by Mathias. Or me, after Mathias asked me to transfer your prescriptions to a local store and set up auto delivery."

"He did what?" Shock zaps down my spine, and I consciously ignore the other reaction the news brings—unabashed pleasure at the forethought.

“I probably shouldn't tell you about your therapist either, huh?”

“Did something happen to Tasha?”

Rafe shrugs while shaking his head, keeping his focus on the game while I've completely abandoned it.

“She wouldn't have been able to continue being your therapist since she wasn't licensed in Massachusetts, but that's taken care of now. Her license is being expedited after some finagling to get her to apply.”

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