They set me up with a pillow and blanket for the trundle bed in their small, air-conditioned trailer. I lay down, eyes heavy and heart spinning.
What is Thor doing right now?
He’s probably halfway across the country. I picture his hand gripping the shifter, those abs tensing under a tight shirt. Eyes locked on the road…
I laugh.
Funny that I still haven’t seen his eyes. I can only picture him in that ridiculous—but maddeningly sexy—mask.
My fingers trace the edge of my phone.
I slide the ring off my finger and slip it into my bag.
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage.
When I was little, I thought that’s exactly how my life would go.
Neat. Predictable. Safe.
But now…
I glance at the photo Thor sent me—the one that’s burned into my brain. And my body starts to heat, slow and steady.
There’s a part of me—one I’ve kept tucked away for years—that stirs at the memory of his voice. That velvet, commanding tone.
And I realize something.
I’ve always had a secret fantasy.
Not just about sex.
But about being with a man who’s only wearing a mask.
Someone powerful. Mysterious. Watching me.
Touching me like I’m the only woman in the world—without even needing to show his face.
I’ve never said it out loud. I’ve barely admitted it to myself.
But the idea sends a pulse of heat straight between my legs.
I glance again at Thor’s photo.
My finger hovers over the send button for a picture of my own.
But I hesitate.
Not because I don’t want to.
But because…
Life’s a lot messier than I thought.
15
HUNTER
I’m caught off guard when Faith—Luna—calls me mid-afternoon, right in the middle of a CrossFit-style tire-flipping workout outside with Ty. He’s not just my best friend—he’s also my off-season training partner and official bullshit-caller.
