He groans, and I become suddenly aware of the soft sounds of skin meeting skin. His arm moves slowly at first but speeds up—the sounds of water and skin slapping and slurping together.
I hold my breath.He’s fucking masturbating.His back muscles tighten, his ass flexing as he pumps into his hand with a quick ferocity. He groans again, and I feel my own body respond, a small heat spreading between my legs.
I rub my thighs together, searching for friction that just won’t satisfy.
“Fuck,” he hisses again, his bad arm extending above his head now as he leans once more against the wall, his good arm still working his cock. He moves at a maddening pace, borderline painful looking.
Can that really be pleasurable?
I have my answer when he starts panting, the sounds mixing with the lewd noises of his dick in his hand. I bite my lip to keep from crying out to him, my fingers wrapped around the edge of the door, cracking at the knuckles.
He’s close—his back taunt like a bow string.
McCrae freezes, his hips jerking forward as he fucks his hand. He tips his head back into the spray, eyes closed as hecomes on the shower wall. I moan quietly into my fist as I watch him, wishing it was my body he was coming on.Then I’d know I was his.
Starring in rapt fascination, I watch as he pulls the last drop of his release from his body, whispering a name as he does so, and the last flicker of hope dies in my chest.
I can’t get away fast enough, the sharp stab of a knife protruding from my chest excruciating. I back away quickly, tripping over my feet as I go.
I shouldn’t have watched him. I shouldn’t have intruded.
Ignorance is always better than clarity—a hard-earned lesson I should know by now.
I don’t close the bathroom door as I flee, tears already scalding my cheeks. His voice rings in my ears, the sight and sound of him finishing burned into my mind—it wasn’t my name he cried out when he finished.
I’m not sure it ever will be.
SIX
VALENTINA
April 25th, 2025
I didn’t meanto show up here. Being in this dumpy little town, on this creepy little ranch, does nothing but make my skin crawl. And yet, I knew I wouldn’t know peace until I got here and saw it for myself.
Why’s everyone who’s supposed to choose me choosing this place instead? These people?What’s so special about it?
As the gravel crunches beneath my tires, the moonlight rips pale gashes across the tired Texas landscape. I feel the immense weight of my hair-trigger decision like a brick on my chest, and I try to focus on anything but the fear threatening to destroy me. Once more, I’m being dragged beneath the icy water, the ivory moon winking at me through the ripples of my decent.
Regret fills me, and yet, I can’t stop. I’ve never been able to stop. Stopping now would be admitting defeat, and defeat is weakness.Reyeses don’t have weakness.
I round the last bend of the driveway and have to stomp on the break to keep from barreling over the man standing likea wraith, his form darker than the night around him. A small ember flickers near his face, and I roll my eyes.
No matter how many times I’ve told him I find smoking repulsive, he still lights up. It’s just one more thing about him I can’t control—and secretly love. He’s untamable, formidable in the darkest way, and he’s mine.
Or was mine.
But now that I see him here, standing between me and the people determined to take my own brother from me, I’m not so sure. Is he choosing them?
My chest instantly tightens. I don’t want to lose Mateo, but Ican’tlose McCrae.
I come to a complete halt, my tires sending a wave of sand toward him and his bike only inches from my bumper. Fear and anger pulse through me, and I throw open my car door.
“What the fuck, McCrae? I could’ve fucking hit you,” I snap, stomping toward him. His familiar scent of smoke and mint coats my lungs, and for a single second, my rage wavers.
His eyes narrow as he takes another drag, and then the cigarette falls, dying beneath the toe of his boot. “You didn’t. Now, what the fuck are you doing here?”
I bare my teeth at him. “It’s the middle of the night. Why are you outside? Baby brother kick you out? Again?”And if he did, why didn’t he come back to the casino? To me?
