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I stopped mid-stride, my hand still in his, the bedroom door inches away. The lamp glow spilled into the hallway, catching the edge of his jaw, the way his hazel eyes had gone dark and patient, waiting for me to move first.

"Before my pussy is yours again." The words came out steadier than I expected. I turned to face him fully, my heart hammering against my ribs, the silk of my pajamas whispering against my thighs. "You need to fuck someone you don't know. Maddie. And Chris. In that order."

His eyebrows lifted, just slightly. That slow smile started at the corner of his mouth, the one that made my knees weak every time. "That so."

"Yes." I stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat coming off his body, the clean scent of his skin mixed with something darker, something that had been building all night. "Have fun, love."

I kissed him. Hard. Quick. My lips pressed against his, my tongue tracing his lower lip just long enough to taste him, to leave him wanting. Then I pulled back, turned, and walked away before I could change my mind.

The hallway stretched ahead of me, the sounds of the party drifting from the main room — low music, laughter, the clink of glasses. My bare feet were silent on the marble floor. Behind me, I heard him exhale, a slow, surprised breath.

I didn't look back.

The party was still going when I reached the main space. Bodies in sheer silk and satin moved through the dim light, champagne flutes catching the glow of candles scattered on every surface. A man and a woman were kissing against the far wall, her leg hooked around his hip, his hand buried in her hair. Across the room, I spotted Maddie still on the terrace, Leo's arm around her waist, Chris leaning against the railing a few feet away, watching.

I grabbed a champagne flute from a passing tray and pressed the cold glass to my lips. The bubbles burned. My pulse was still racing, my skin flushed with the heat of what I'd just done.

I'd told him to fuck someone else. I'd sent him away. And the ache between my legs, the wetness gathering in my silk panties, only grew sharper.

This was what I wanted. This was what I'd asked for.

I watched the terrace. Chris glanced over, caught my eye, and raised an eyebrow. I shook my head, just slightly, and took another sip of champagne.

Not yet. He needed to start with someone he didn't know.

And I needed to watch.

I found a spot near the wall, half-hidden behind a pillar, where I could see the main room. The crowd parted and shifted, bodies moving in the low light, and then I saw him.

Jake had emerged from the hallway. He was standing at the edge of the room, rolling his shoulders back, his eyes scanning the space with that quiet, unhurried confidence that made my breath catch. He looked like a predator surveying a field, like he knew exactly what he was going to take.

He spotted a woman near the bar — brunette, early twenties, wearing a black slip that barely covered her ass. She was leaning against the counter, swirling a drink, her eyes meeting his with that lazy, knowing look that said she was open to whatever came next.

Jake walked toward her.

I watched him close the distance. He didn't rush. He didn't announce himself. He just moved into her space, his shoulder brushing hers as he leaned against the bar beside her. She turned, her lips parting, her hand reaching out to touch his forearm.

He smiled. That slow, devastating smile.

I pressed my thighs together, the silk of my pajamas sliding against my wet skin. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat.

He said something I couldn't hear. She laughed, low and dark, and leaned in closer. Her hand moved from his forearm to his chest, tracing a line down his stomach. He caught her wrist, brought her fingers to his lips, and kissed them.

Then he led her toward the hallway. Toward the bedroom I'd almost entered.

I watched them go. The door closed behind them.

A sharp breath escaped me, half a laugh, half a whimper. I drained the rest of my champagne and set the glass down on a nearby table, my hand trembling.

He was doing it. He was following my instructions.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and flinched. Chris was standing beside me, his dark eyes amused, his mouth curved in a knowing smirk.

"You sent him off to warm up before he gets to me?" he said, his voice low, meant only for my ears. "I'm flattered."

"Shut up." But I was smiling, something wild and reckless twisting in my chest. "You're third."

"Maddie's second." He nodded toward the terrace. "She's finishing up with Leo. I told her to wrap it up, that you'd need her soon."

I looked at him, my breath catching. "You knew."

"I know Jake." He shrugged, the fabric of his sheer white shirt shifting over his shoulders. "And I know you better than you think, Sam. You're not the kind of girl who just lies back and takes it. You're the kind who sets the terms."

I stared at him, something hot and sharp blooming in my chest. He was right. I hadn't realized it until this moment, but he was right.

I'd given Jake control, but I'd never stopped being the one who chose. And now I was choosing something else. Something that made my blood sing.

Maddie appeared at my side, her cheeks flushed, her sheer blue robe untied and hanging open over her small breasts. She looked at me, then at Chris, then back at me, her grin widening.

"You sent him to fuck a stranger," she said, her voice giddy. "I saw. He looked so fucking hot walking her down the hall."

"He's doing it for me," I said, the words tasting like honey and fire. "He's doing what I told him."

Maddie's hand found mine, her fingers lacing through. "You're a fucking queen, Sam."

I squeezed her hand, my heart swelling. "He's going to come find you next. After."

Her breath hitched, her eyes going bright. "I know." She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. "I'm going to let him fuck me however he wants. And I'm going to think of you the whole time."

A shiver ran down my spine, pooling hot and wet between my legs. I could picture it already — Jake's body moving over hers, his hands gripping her hips, his mouth on her throat. And she'd be looking at me, thinking of me, while he took her.

I watched the hallway, my pulse a steady drum in my ears. The party moved around me, bodies in sheer fabric drifting through the candlelight, but I barely saw them. My focus was fixed on that door, the one Jake had disappeared through with the brunette.

Minutes passed. Or maybe it was seconds. Time had gone liquid, stretching and contracting with every breath I took. Maddie's hand was still in mine, her fingers warm and steady. Chris stood on my other side, his shoulder brushing mine, a silent presence.

"You're shaking," Maddie murmured.

I looked down at my hand. She was right. A fine tremor ran through my fingers, a mix of adrenaline and want that I couldn't steady.

"I'm fine."

"You're not." She squeezed my hand. "You're fucking magnificent."

The door at the end of the hallway opened.

My breath caught. Jake stepped out, adjusting the collar of his sheer white shirt, his hair more disheveled than before. The brunette appeared behind him, her lipstick smudged, a satisfied smile on her face. She touched his arm, said something I couldn't hear, and then disappeared toward the bathroom.

Jake's eyes found me across the room.

Even from this distance, I could see the heat in them. The hunger. He started walking toward me, his gait unhurried, his gaze never leaving mine. The crowd parted around him like water, and I felt my knees go weak, the silk of my pajamas clinging to my thighs.

He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could smell the sex on him, the faint musk of the brunette mixed with his own scent. His hand came up, his knuckles brushing my cheek.

"Done," he said, his voice low. "She was eager. But I was thinking of you the whole time."

My stomach flipped. "Good."

His eyes drifted to Maddie, standing at my side. Her cheeks were flushed, her sheer blue robe hanging open, her small breasts exposed. She was watching him with the same hunger I felt, her lips parted, her breath quickening.

"Your turn," he said to her.

Maddie's hand tightened on mine. She looked at me, her eyes bright and questioning. I nodded, once, and she let go of my hand.

Jake took her wrist, his fingers circling her delicate bones. He led her toward a different door, one farther down the hall, away from the main party. I followed without thinking, my bare feet silent on the marble, my heart hammering.

He opened the door and stepped inside, pulling Maddie with him. I paused at the threshold, my hand on the frame, watching them.

The room was smaller than the master bedroom, with a single bed and a window overlooking the city lights. Jake guided Maddie to the edge of the bed, his hands settling on her waist. He didn't rush. He looked at her the way he looked at me, like she was something precious and filthy at the same time.

"You know what Sam wants?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

Maddie nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "She wants me to let you fuck me. Any way you want."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Yes." Her voice was steady, sure. "I want it. I want you to take me while she watches."

Jake's gaze flickered to me, standing in the doorway. A slow smile spread across his face. "Come here, Sam. I want you to see this."

I stepped into the room, my legs moving of their own accord. I stopped a few feet away, close enough to see every detail, every shift of muscle, every flicker of expression.

Jake turned back to Maddie. He untied the sash of her robe, sliding the sheer fabric off her shoulders. It pooled at her feet, leaving her naked in the dim light. She was small and perfect, her nipples peaked, her skin flushed with anticipation.

He didn't undress her with his hands. He undressed her with his eyes, a slow appreciation that made her shiver. Then he stepped closer, his body looming over hers, and kissed her.

It was a deep, claiming kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth, his hands gripping her hips. Maddie moaned against his lips, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. I watched, my breath shallow, the wetness between my legs intensifying.

He broke the kiss and guided her backward until her knees hit the bed. She crawled onto it, looking up at him from the center of the mattress. He followed, his body covering hers, his mouth tracing a path down her throat, across her collarbone, to her breasts.

Maddie gasped when his tongue circled her nipple, her back arching, her fingers gripping the sheets. He took his time, sucking and licking, his hands roaming her body with that unhurried confidence that drove me wild.

I pressed my thighs together, the ache almost unbearable. I could see everything—the way his mouth worked her, the way her hips lifted, the way her eyes fluttered closed. And I could feel it, too, the phantom sensation of his hands on my skin, his mouth on my throat.

He moved lower, trailing kisses down her stomach, his hands spreading her thighs. Maddie's breath hitched, her body trembling as he settled between her legs.

"Please," she whispered.

He didn't answer. He just lowered his head and tasted her.

The sound she made—a high, desperate moan—sent a jolt straight through me. I watched his tongue work her, his fingers sliding inside her, and I felt my own body respond, a pulse of heat that made me sway on my feet.

"That's it," he murmured against her skin. "Let me hear you."

Maddie's cries grew louder, her hips bucking against his mouth. She was close, I could see it in the way her hands fisted in the sheets, the way her thighs clamped around his head. He pushed her over the edge with a final, precise flick of his tongue, and she came with a sharp, broken cry, her body shuddering through the aftershocks.

He didn't stop. He kept his mouth on her, slow and gentle, drawing out every last wave until she was trembling, gasping, spent.

Then he crawled up her body, his cock hard and leaking, pressing against her thigh. He looked at me, his eyes dark and intense.

"You want to see me fuck her, Sam?"

My voice came out hoarse. "Yes."

He turned back to Maddie. He guided himself to her entrance, not rushing, letting her feel the pressure, the promise of what was coming. She was slick and ready, her eyes locked on his.

He pushed inside her with one smooth, deep thrust.

Maddie's mouth fell open, a silent gasp. Her hands flew to his shoulders, her nails digging in as he began to move, a steady, deep rhythm that filled the room with the wet sound of their joining.

I watched, frozen, my heart pounding in my throat. I watched the way his muscles flexed, the way his hips rolled against hers, the way her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper. I watched her face, the ecstasy and surrender, the way she looked at him like he was the only thing in the world.

And I watched his face, too. The concentration. The pleasure. The way his eyes kept finding mine, checking in, making sure I was seeing what I wanted to see.

I was. God, I was.

"Harder," Maddie begged, her voice breaking. "Please, Jake, harder."

He obliged, his pace quickening, the slap of skin punctuating his thrusts. Maddie's cries turned into sobs of pleasure, her body arching off the bed as another orgasm built. He drove into her, relentless, his hand sliding between her legs to circle her clit.

She came apart with a scream, her cunt clenching around him, and I felt my own climax building in response, the sight and sound of it pushing me to the edge.

Jake didn't stop. He kept fucking her through her orgasm, his breathing ragged, his jaw tight. He was close, I could see it. He pulled out abruptly, his cock glistening, and stroked himself twice before coming across her stomach, thick ropes of cum painting her skin.

He collapsed beside her, breathing hard. Maddie lay there, panting, her body limp, a smile spreading across her face.

I stood in the doorway, my legs trembling, my silk pajamas soaked through with my own arousal. I had never seen anything so beautiful. So raw. So mine.

Jake looked at me, his chest still heaving. "One more," he said, his voice rough.

I turned my head. Chris was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall, watching with dark, knowing eyes. He had seen everything. And he was waiting.

"Chris," Jake said. "Get in here."

Chris pushed off the wall, a slow smile spreading across his face. He walked past me into the room, his gaze meeting mine as he passed.

"You're really something, Sam," he murmured, his voice low. "Setting the whole stage."

I didn't answer. I just watched him join Jake on the bed, watched Maddie shift to make room, her fingers trailing through the cum on her stomach, bringing it to her lips.

Jake pulled Chris into a kiss, deep and hungry, his hand cupping the back of Chris's head. My breath caught. I had never seen him kiss a man before. It was beautiful. Raw. Unpredictable.

I leaned against the doorframe, my body thrumming with heat, my hand drifting down my stomach, past my navel, to the wet silk between my legs.

I didn't touch. Not yet.

I wanted to watch. I wanted to feel this ache build until I couldn't stand it anymore. Until Jake was done, and it was my turn.

He looked over Chris's shoulder, his eyes locking with mine, and I saw the promise there. The hunger. The love.

Soon.

Jake's attention returned to Chris, his hands finding the hem of Chris's sheer white shirt and pulling it over his head. The candlelight caught the planes of his friend's chest, the defined lines of muscle, the way his skin gleamed with a light sheen of sweat from watching, from waiting.

Chris didn't wait for direction. He pushed Jake onto his back, straddling his hips, his cock already hard and pressing against Jake's stomach. He leaned down, his mouth finding Jake's in a kiss that was all teeth and hunger, and I felt my breath catch at the sight of them—two men I trusted, both so beautiful, both so completely in control of this moment.

Maddie shifted on the bed, her fingers still tracing lazy patterns through the cum on her stomach. She was watching them too, her eyes half-lidded, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. She caught my gaze and gestured me closer with a curl of her finger.

I stepped into the room, the door clicking shut behind me. The sound was soft, but it felt final—a seal on this space, this moment, this night that had already rewritten every rule I'd ever lived by.

Chris was moving down Jake's body now, his mouth trailing across his chest, his stomach, his hips. Jake's head fell back, his eyes closing, his hands fisting in the sheets as Chris took him in his mouth. The sound Jake made—a low, guttural groan—sent a pulse of heat through me, my thighs pressing together instinctively.

I moved closer, my bare feet silent on the floor. I stopped at the edge of the bed, close enough to see the way Chris's jaw worked, the way his tongue traced the length of Jake's cock, the way Jake's hips lifted to meet him. Maddie reached out and took my hand, pulling me down onto the bed beside her.

"You're trembling," she whispered, her lips brushing my ear. "Is it for him? Or for what comes after?"

I couldn't answer. Both. All of it. The room was thick with the smell of sex and sweat and want, and I was drowning in it, my silk pajamas clinging to my skin, my cunt aching with an emptiness that felt like a physical wound.

Chris pulled off Jake's cock with a wet pop, his hand stroking the length as he looked up at me. "You want to watch me fuck him, Sam?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and electric. I nodded, my voice lost somewhere in my throat.

Chris smiled, slow and wicked, and turned back to Jake. He positioned himself, his cock pressing against Jake's entrance, and I watched Jake's face—the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes found mine, the way he nodded, once, giving permission.

Chris pushed inside him.

The sound Jake made—a sharp, broken gasp—went straight through me. His hands flew to Chris's shoulders, his nails digging in, his back arching off the bed. Chris moved slowly, deliberately, his hips rolling in a rhythm that seemed to pull sounds from Jake I'd never heard before—deep, animal noises that made my cunt clench around nothing.

Maddie's hand found my thigh, her fingers tracing the edge of my silk shorts. "You're so wet," she murmured, her voice full of wonder. "I can feel the heat through the fabric."

I couldn't respond. My eyes were fixed on the bed, on the way Chris's body moved over Jake's, the way Jake's legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper. I watched the muscles in Chris's back flex with each thrust, watched the sweat glisten on Jake's chest, watched their mouths meet in a kiss that was tender and filthy at the same time.

This was what I'd asked for. This was what I'd orchestrated. And it was more beautiful than I'd imagined.

Chris's pace quickened, his breathing ragged. Jake's hands found his hair, pulling him closer, his hips rising to meet each thrust. They moved together like they'd done this a hundred times, like their bodies knew each other in ways words couldn't touch.

"I'm close," Chris gritted out, his voice strained.

"Do it," Jake said, his eyes locked on mine. "I want Sam to see."

Chris drove into him harder, faster, the sound of skin slapping skin filling the room. Jake's mouth fell open, a silent cry, and Chris followed him over the edge, his body shuddering as he came inside him.

They stayed like that for a moment, breathing hard, tangled together. Then Chris pulled out slowly, collapsing beside Jake, his hand finding Jake's and squeezing.

Maddie's fingers tightened on my thigh. "Your turn," she whispered.

Jake's eyes found mine across the rumpled sheets. He was still catching his breath, his chest heaving, his skin slick with sweat. But the look he gave me—that slow, knowing smile—made my heart stutter.

"Come here, Sam."

I didn't hesitate. I crawled across the bed, my silk pajamas sliding against the sheets, my knees sinking into the warmth they'd left behind. Jake reached for me, his hands finding my waist, pulling me on top of him. I could feel his cock, still half-hard, pressing against my thigh. I could feel the cum from Chris and Maddie smeared across his stomach, warm and slick.

His hands found my face, cupping my jaw, tilting my head down until our foreheads touched. "You did this," he said, his voice low and rough. "You set this whole thing in motion. You watched me fuck her. You watched him fuck me. And now you're here, dripping wet, waiting for me to take you."

I nodded, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. "Yes."

"Say it."

"I'm yours." The words came out raw, honest, stripped of everything but the truth. "I'm your whore, Jake. I belong to you."

His smile widened, and he kissed me—deep, slow, a kiss that tasted like Chris and Maddie and the night we'd shared. His hands slid down my back, gripping my ass, pulling me closer until I could feel him hard and ready against my thigh.

"Then take what's yours," he said against my lips. "Take your turn."

I reached down, my hand finding his cock, guiding it to my entrance. I was so wet I could feel the slickness on my fingers, the heat of my own arousal pooling between my thighs. I lowered myself onto him, a slow, deliberate descent that made us both gasp.

He filled me completely. Every inch, every ridge, every pulse of him inside me—I felt it all, a fullness that bordered on too much, that pushed against the walls of my cunt and made me see stars.

I started to move, a slow, grinding rhythm that let me feel every sensation. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me, his eyes never leaving mine. Behind me, I heard Maddie's breath catch, felt Chris's hand settle on my lower back, a warm, grounding presence.

"Look at her," Chris murmured, and I knew he was talking to Maddie. "Look at the way she takes him. Like she was made for it."

I was. I was made for this—for him, for this moment, for the way his eyes burned into mine as I rode him, the way his hands found my breasts, the way his thumbs circled my nipples until I moaned.

"I love you," he said, the words falling from his lips like a prayer. "I love you, Sam."

I leaned down, my mouth finding his, and I whispered it back against his lips. "I love you too."

His hips bucked beneath me, his pace quickening, and I felt myself climbing toward that edge, the one I'd been teetering on all night. His hand slid between us, his fingers finding my clit, circling it with that perfect, practiced pressure, and I shattered.

My orgasm ripped through me, a wave of heat and light that left me gasping, my cunt clenching around him, my body convulsing with the force of it. Jake followed a moment later, his hands gripping my hips, his cock pulsing inside me as he came, filling me with a warmth that spread through my entire body.

I collapsed onto his chest, my heart pounding against his, his arms wrapping around me. For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing, the warmth of our skin, the sweat and cum and love that bound us together.

Maddie's hand found mine, her fingers lacing through. Chris's hand rested on Jake's shoulder. We lay there, the four of us, tangled and spent, the gray dawn light beginning to seep through the curtains.

Jake's lips brushed my forehead. "We're not done yet," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Sunrise isn't for another hour."

I lifted my head, meeting his eyes. The hunger was still there, banked but not extinguished. And I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my bones, that I would follow him anywhere he led.

"Then don't stop," I said. "Not until the sun comes up."

I let the words settle, the three of them still tangled and warm around me. Jake's chest rose beneath my cheek. Chris's hand was still on my lower back. Maddie's fingers were laced through mine. The gray dawn light had started to bleed through the curtains, soft and blue, painting the room in half-shadows.

I pushed myself up on one elbow, the sheet falling away from my breasts. "I've been thinking."

Jake's eyes found mine, that slow smile tugging at his mouth. "That's dangerous."

"Maybe." I looked at each of them in turn. Maddie, her cheeks still flushed, her small body curled against Chris's side. Chris, his dark hair disheveled, his chest rising and falling with an easy rhythm. Jake, his hands already reaching for me, ready to pull me back down. "We have three choices. One: we leave. Go back to our separate rooms, sleep it off, pretend this was just a spring break thing."

Maddie made a face. "Boring."

"Two: we stay. But we stay in this room together. Just us. See where the morning takes us." I let my gaze drift over all three of them. "Or three: we stay. And we go fuck everything and everyone we want."

The room went still. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

Chris was the first to speak, his voice low, appreciative. "That's quite a menu."

Jake's hand found my hip, his thumb tracing a slow circle against my skin. "And you're putting it to a vote."

"Group vote." I looked at each of them, my heart hammering, my voice steady. "On three. Say your number."

Maddie's grip tightened on my hand. Her eyes were bright, her lips parted, the answer already written across her face.

I counted. "One."

Chris's jaw tightened. A muscle twitched in his cheek.

"Two."

Jake's thumb kept moving, slow and deliberate, right at the edge of where I was still slick from him.

"Three."

"Three," Maddie said, her voice a breathless rush.

"Three," Chris echoed, his eyes on mine, dark and certain.

Jake didn't look away from me. His hand slid up my stomach, between my breasts, coming to rest at the base of my throat. "Three."

The word hung in the air, thick and electric. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, a laugh escaping my lips, wild and free.

"Three it is."

Maddie sat up, the sheet pooling in her lap. Her small breasts were bare, her nipples still peaked from the night, her grin so wide it seemed to split her face. "Where do we start?"

I turned to Jake. He was watching me with that look—the one that said he knew exactly what I was doing, and he loved every second of it.

"The party's still going," I said. "There's at least an hour before sunrise. Plenty of time to find someone who catches your eye."

Jake's thumb pressed against my throat, just enough to feel the pulse there. "And you?"

"I'll find my own." I held his gaze. "But I want you to watch."

The smile that spread across his face was slow, devastating, full of heat. "Always."

Chris swung his legs off the bed, reaching for his discarded sheer shirt. "I saw a redhead by the bar earlier. About five-eight, built like she could break me in half." He pulled the shirt over his head, the fabric clinging to his damp skin. "I think I want to find out."

Maddie was already on her feet, her sheer blue robe hanging open, not bothering to tie it. "There was a guy in the corner—dark hair, glasses, looked like he was trying to blend into the wallpaper. I think he needs someone to pull him out of his shell."

I laughed, the sound bright and unguarded. "You're going to devour him."

"That's the plan."

Jake rose from the bed, unhurried, magnificent in his nakedness. He found his sheer white shirt on the floor and shrugged it on, not bothering to button it. The fabric hung open, revealing the trail of hair down his stomach, the lingering marks of my nails on his shoulders.

I watched him, my body still thrumming with the aftermath of what we'd done, and felt a fresh pulse of heat between my legs. "You're going to find someone too, aren't you?"

He stepped closer, his hands finding my waist, pulling me against his chest. "I'm going to find whoever catches my eye. And I'm going to fuck them while you watch from across the room. And then, when the sun starts to rise, I'm going to find you again."

His lips brushed my ear. "And we're going to do it one more time, just us, while everyone else is too drunk or fucked out to notice."

My knees went weak. I leaned into him, my mouth finding his, a deep, slow kiss that tasted like the future.

Maddie was already at the door, her hand on the handle, looking back at us with an impatient grin. "Are we doing this or not?"

Chris was beside her, his hand on the small of her back. "She's got a point. The night isn't going to fuck itself."

I pulled back from Jake, my hand finding his and squeezing. "One hour. Then find me."

"One hour." He squeezed back. "Don't make me wait longer than that."

I let go and walked toward the door, my bare feet silent on the marble. The sheer silk of my pajamas clung to my skin, still damp from the night's exertions, the fabric translucent in the dim light. I didn't bother to adjust it. I didn't bother to cover myself.

I was exactly what I was. And I was done hiding it.

The main room of the penthouse was still alive with bodies. The music had softened to a low, thrumming beat, the candles burned low, the air thick with the smell of champagne and sex. Couples and clusters dotted every surface—a woman bent over the arm of a sofa while a man took her from behind, two men tangled together on a chaise lounge, a trio of bodies writhing on a pile of silk cushions near the fireplace.

I scanned the room, my pulse quickening. The liberty of it—the sheer, wanton freedom—made my head spin.

Near the terrace doors, a man stood alone. Late twenties, dark hair, sharp jaw, wearing a gray suit jacket with no shirt underneath. He was nursing a glass of whiskey, watching the room with a quiet, appraising eye.

He wasn't participating. He was waiting.

I felt a pull, a thread of heat that drew me toward him. I glanced over my shoulder. Jake was already across the room, his hand on the waist of a tall woman with red hair, his lips brushing her ear. Chris had found his target—the redhead—and was leading her toward a shadowed alcove. Maddie was approaching the dark-haired guy in glasses, her robe falling open, her confidence a visible force.

Everyone was moving. The night was still alive.

I walked toward the man by the terrace doors.

He saw me coming. His eyes tracked my approach, slow and deliberate, taking in the sheer fabric of my pajamas, the way it clung to my wet skin, the way my nipples pressed against the silk. He didn't smile. He just watched, his gaze heavy and interested.

I stopped a foot away. Close enough to smell his cologne—something woody, expensive. Close enough to see the glint of a silver chain at his collar.

"You look like you're waiting for something," I said.

He took a sip of his whiskey, his eyes never leaving mine. "I am."

"What?"

"An invitation." His voice was low, smooth, with a hint of an accent I couldn't place. "The right one."

I let my hand drift to the hem of my silk top. I didn't lift it. I just let my fingers trace the edge, drawing his attention to the line of fabric, the shadow of my body beneath. "Is this an invitation?"

He set down his glass on the nearest table. The sound was soft, but it felt deliberate. "It's a start."

My heart was hammering, but my voice came out steady. "Then let's see how far it goes."

He stepped closer, his hand finding my waist, his fingers curling around the silk. He didn't pull me toward him—he just held me there, his thumb pressing into the curve of my hip, a slow, possessive pressure.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Sam."

"Sam." He said it like he was tasting it. "I'm Marcus."

"Marcus." I let his name hang in the air between us. "You came alone?"

"I came to observe. But observation has its limits." His other hand came up, his fingers brushing my collarbone, trailing down to the edge of my top. "You're not alone either."

I followed his gaze. Across the room, Jake had the redhead pressed against the wall, his hand between her legs, her head thrown back. But his eyes were on me. They found mine across the dim space, and I saw the heat, the approval, the hunger.

"I'm with someone," I said, not looking away from Jake. "But he's occupied. And I have permission."

Marcus's thumb traced a slow circle on my hip. "Permission for what?"

I turned back to him, my hand sliding up his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the open jacket. "For whatever I want."

The smile that crossed his face was slow, dangerous, beautiful. "Then I'm going to make sure you don't regret using it on me."

He pulled me closer, his mouth finding mine, and the kiss was deep and commanding, tasting of whiskey and ambition. I felt his hand slide down, cupping my ass through the thin silk, pulling me against him. He was hard, pressing against my hip, and I felt a fresh surge of wetness, a hunger that hadn't been sated by the night's events.

I kissed him back, my tongue sliding against his, my fingers tangling in his hair. The party moved around us, a blur of bodies and candlelight, but I was anchored by his mouth, his hands, the solid press of his body against mine.

He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine. "Not here," he said, his voice rough. "I want you somewhere quieter."

I glanced over my shoulder, one more time. Jake was still with the redhead, but he was watching me, his eyes dark and intent. I gave him a small nod—I'm okay, I'm in control—and he nodded back, a sliver of a smile crossing his face.

I turned back to Marcus. "Lead the way."

He took my hand and guided me through the crowd. We passed Chris in the alcove, his body pressed against the redhead, their mouths fused. We passed Maddie, who had the dark-haired guy pinned against the wall, her hand sliding down his pants. She caught my eye and winked, and I felt a rush of affection so fierce it almost stopped me.

We reached a door near the far end of the hall. Marcus pushed it open, revealing a small study—bookshelves, a leather armchair, a desk scattered with papers. The curtains were drawn, the only light a single lamp on the desk, casting a warm amber glow.

He pulled me inside and closed the door behind us.

The lock clicked.

I stood in the center of the room, my breath coming fast, my body humming with anticipation. Marcus didn't rush. He walked around me, slow, his eyes traveling over every curve, every line of silk, every inch of exposed skin.

"You're beautiful," he said, his voice low. "But you already know that."

"I'm learning."

He stopped behind me. I felt his hands on my shoulders, sliding the silk straps down my arms. The top pooled at my waist, leaving my breasts bare. The air was cool against my skin, but his hands were warm as they cupped my breasts, his thumbs circling my nipples.

I let my head fall back against his shoulder, a soft moan escaping my lips.

"Tell me what you want," he murmured against my ear.

I turned in his arms, facing him. My hands found the lapels of his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders. It fell to the floor with a soft thud. He was bare-chested underneath, lean and defined, with a tattoo curling over his ribs—a dark, intricate design I couldn't quite make out in the dim light.

I pressed my palms against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart. "I want you to fuck me."

The words felt like a claim, a demand. Not a request.

Something flickered in his eyes—a flash of heat, of approval. "Where?"

I looked around the room. The leather armchair. The desk. The rug in front of the fireplace. "The desk."

He lifted me like I weighed nothing, setting me on the edge of the desk. Papers scattered, a pen clattered to the floor. I didn't care. I pulled him closer, my legs wrapping around his waist, the silk of my pajama shorts already soaked through, already ready.

His hands found the waistband of my shorts, sliding them down my thighs. I lifted my hips to help him, and then I was naked, perched on the edge of the desk, my legs spread, the cool air kissing my wet skin.

He didn't take his eyes off me. He unfastened his pants, letting them fall, his cock already hard, already pressing against my thigh. He was thick, the head glistening with a bead of pre-cum. He guided himself to my entrance, not pushing, just resting there, letting me feel the pressure.

"Look at me," he said.

I did. His eyes were dark, intent, holding mine.

"Tell me you want this."

"I want this." My voice was steady, clear. "I want you inside me."

He pushed in, slow, inch by inch, letting me feel every ridge, every pulse. I gasped, my back arching, my hands gripping the edge of the desk. He filled me completely, a deep, stretching fullness that made my eyes roll back.

He started to move, a steady, deep rhythm that rocked the desk, that made the lamp tremble, that sent papers fluttering to the floor. I wrapped my legs tighter around him, pulling him deeper, my nails digging into his shoulders.

"Yes," I breathed. "Yes, don't stop."

He didn't. He drove into me, harder, faster, the sound of skin slapping skin filling the study. I could feel my orgasm building, a coil of heat tightening in my core, and I let myself fall into it, let it take me, let the pleasure consume me.

I came with a cry, my cunt clenching around him, my body shuddering. He followed a moment later, his hips thrusting deep, a low groan escaping his lips as he spilled into me, hot and filling.

We stayed like that, breathing hard, tangled together on the edge of the desk. His forehead pressed against mine, his arms still wrapped around me.

I looked up at him, a slow smile spreading across my face. "Thank you."

He kissed me, soft and lingering. "The pleasure was mine."

I slid off the desk, my legs unsteady, reaching for my discarded pajamas. The silk was damp, but I pulled it back on anyway, the fabric clinging to my skin. I found my way to the door, my hand on the handle.

I looked back at him. "If you're still here at sunrise, find me."

He nodded, a smile playing at his lips. "I might just do that."

I opened the door and stepped back into the hallway. The party was still going, though the crowd had thinned. The first pale streaks of pink were beginning to touch the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I found Jake leaning against the wall near the bar, his shirt untucked, a glass of water in his hand. The redhead was nowhere in sight. He looked up as I approached, his eyes scanning me, checking me over with a quiet, possessive tenderness.

"Good?" he asked.

"Good." I took the water from his hand and took a sip. The cool liquid was a relief against my dry throat. "Yours?"

"Satisfying." He took the glass back, finishing it in one long swallow. "But not as satisfying as you."

I felt the warmth spread through my chest, the love and the hunger and the endless, reckless freedom of this night. I took his hand, lacing my fingers through his.

"The sun's almost up," I said.

"I know." He pulled me close, his lips brushing my ear. "One more. Just us. Like I promised."

I looked past him, through the windows, at the pink and gold beginning to spill across the horizon. The night was almost over. But the morning was wide open.

"Then don't make me wait," I said.

He took my hand and led me back toward the bedroom, the one we'd started in, the one where the sheets were still warm and the smell of us still hung in the air. Behind us, the party continued, bodies moving in the candlelight, the night refusing to end.

But I didn't look back. I only looked at him.

The door clicked shut behind us, sealing out the muffled thrum of the party, the distant laughter, the clink of glasses. Just us now. The gray-pink light was bleeding through the sheer curtains, painting the rumpled bed in soft washes of rose and gold. The sheets were still tangled from earlier, the pillows dented, the air thick with the smell of our bodies, of Chris and Maddie and everything we'd done.

Jake turned to face me, his hazel eyes dark and patient, that slow smile already tugging at the corner of his mouth. His sheer white shirt hung open, revealing the sweat-slicked planes of his chest, the marks of my nails still red on his shoulders. He looked like something carved from heat and hunger.

I met his gaze, let my own smile spread slow and wicked across my lips. Then I wet my mouth, held his stare, and said it.

"Fuck this used, filled pussy like you hate me."

The smirk came easy, a dare wrapped in a prayer.

Something flickered in his eyes. A darkness. A kindling. His smile didn't drop—it sharpened, the corners lifting into something that made my stomach flip.

"Yeah?" His voice dropped, rough and low, like gravel wrapped in silk. "That what you need, baby?"

I stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat rolling off his chest. "That's what I'm asking for."

He didn't answer with words. His hand came up, fingers wrapping around my throat—not tight, just enough to feel the pressure, the control. He pushed me backward until my knees hit the edge of the bed. I let myself fall onto it, the sheets cool against my back, my bare legs already parting.

He stood over me, still fully dressed in that open shirt and his loose pants, looking down at me like I was something he'd just caught. My sheer blue pajamas had ridden up, damp and twisted, barely covering anything. My thighs were already slick, already ready, and I could feel the evidence of Marcus still cooling between them, a warm, wet reminder of what I'd been up to.

Jake's gaze dropped to my thighs, to the glisten there. His nostrils flared. His jaw tightened.

"You're already full, aren't you?" His voice was low, almost a growl. "He came inside you."

"Yes." No shame. No hesitation. I held his gaze, my chest rising and falling. "Just like you wanted."

He knelt on the bed, crawling over me, his body blocking the light. His hands found my hips, yanking the soaked pajama shorts down my thighs. The fabric peeled away, cool against my heated skin. He tossed them aside without looking, his eyes fixed on the mess between my legs.

"Look at you." His thumb traced through the wetness, collecting the evidence—mine and Marcus's mixed together—and brought it to his lips. He tasted it, slow, deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. "That's a good girl. Taking what I gave her."

I whimpered. A raw, needy sound that I couldn't stop.

He leaned down, his mouth brushing my ear. "But now I'm going to fuck it out of you. Every drop. Until all you can feel is me."

I spread my legs wider, an invitation and a plea.

He unfastened his pants, shoving them down just enough to free his cock. It was hard, swollen, the head dark and glistening. He didn't tease. He positioned himself at my entrance, the head pressing against my slick, full hole, and drove into me with one brutal, unforgiving thrust.

I cried out—a sharp, broken gasp. The stretch was almost too much, the mix of wetness and fullness sending a shockwave through my body. He bottomed out, his hips flush against mine, and held there, letting me feel every inch.

"This what you wanted?" His voice was ragged, tight with restraint. "You wanted me to fuck you like I hate you?"

"Yes," I breathed, my fingers gripping the sheets. "Please—move."

He pulled out nearly all the way, then slammed back in, harder. The sound was wet, obscene, the slap of skin echoing off the walls. He set a punishing pace, each thrust driving the air from my lungs, pushing me up the bed until my head hit the headboard.

I didn't care. I wrapped my legs around his waist, digging my heels into his lower back, pulling him deeper. His hands found my wrists, pinning them above my head, his weight pressing me into the mattress.

"Look at me," he growled. "I want to see your face when I take what's mine."

I forced my eyes open. His were dark, pupils blown wide, a sheen of sweat on his brow. He was beautiful in his intensity, his jaw set, his lips parted. He was fucking me like he meant it, like every thrust was a sentence, a claim, a brand.

"Whose pussy is this?" he demanded, his rhythm never faltering.

"Yours." The word came out a moan, broken and desperate. "Yours. Only yours."

"That's right." He released one of my wrists, his hand sliding down my stomach, through the slick mess of my own arousal, finding my clit. He pressed hard, circling with the same punishing rhythm. "Now come for me. Come on my cock, right now."

The orgasm hit me like a freight train, sudden and catastrophic. My back arched, a scream tearing from my throat, my cunt clenching around him in violent waves. He kept fucking me through it, through the convulsions, through the aftershocks, driving deeper, harder, his breathing ragged.

He followed moments later, a low, guttural groan escaping his lips as he buried himself to the hilt, his body shuddering, his release flooding into me, hot and thick. He collapsed onto me, his forehead pressed to my shoulder, his breath hot against my skin.

We lay there, tangled and trembling, our hearts hammering against each other. The sun had climbed higher, the pink and gold now a soft, warm orange that spilled across the floor.

Jake lifted his head, his eyes finding mine. The darkness had softened, replaced by something tender, something that made my chest ache.

"I don't hate you," he said, his voice rough but gentle. "I love you. You know that, right?"

A tear slipped down my cheek. I didn't know where it came from. I didn't care. "I know."

He kissed the tear away, his lips warm against my skin. "And I don't want to pretend I do. But if you ever need that again—I'll give it."

I reached up, my hand cupping his jaw, my thumb tracing the line of his cheekbone. "Just this once. I needed to feel it. To know you could."

"I can," he said, his eyes holding mine. "I can be anything you need."

I pulled him down into a kiss, soft and slow, tasting the sweat and salt and love on his lips. Around us, the room grew brighter, the sun cresting the horizon, spilling golden light across the bed, across our tangled bodies, across the evidence of everything we'd been.

Maddie and Chris were still out there, somewhere in the penthouse, finishing their own adventures. Marcus might be waiting for sunrise, might find me later. But right now, in this moment, there was only Jake and me, and the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing against my chest.

I didn't know what came next. Breakfuls. My parents. The hotel. The rest of spring break. But I knew one thing, with a certainty that settled deep in my bones:

I wasn't going back to the girl who needed permission to be alive.

I'd found what I wanted. And I was going to keep choosing it, every day, for as long as the world would let me.

Jake shifted, his arm tightening around my waist. "We have a few hours before the world finds us." His lips brushed my temple. "What do you want to do with them?"

I smiled, the answer already forming on my lips. "Stay right here. With you."

The sun rose fully, flooding the room with light, and I closed my eyes, letting the warmth wash over me, letting the night settle into memory.

This was the beginning of something. I could feel it.

I felt him soften inside me, his weight a warm, familiar pressure. His breath evened out against my shoulder, the rise and fall of his chest slowing into something peaceful. For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of the morning—a distant seagull, the hum of the AC, the soft rustle of the curtains in the breeze.

My phone buzzed somewhere on the floor. I ignored it.

It buzzed again. Then a third time, insistent, the vibration skittering across the marble.

Jake stirred, lifting his head. "You gonna get that?"

"No."

"It might be your parents."

I opened my eyes. The golden light was warm on my face, but the thought of my parents—of the hotel room they'd expected me and Maddie to return to—sent a cold trickle down my spine. I shifted, sliding out from under him, the sheets cool against my skin. My legs were unsteady as I crossed the room, my body still humming with the aftershocks of everything we'd done.

I found my phone face-down near the leg of the desk. Three missed calls from Mom. A text from Maddie: parents are calling. i said we crashed in a friend's room. cover me?

I typed back fast: got it. say we're safe, will call at breakfast.

Then I called my mom.

It rang twice before she picked up. "Samantha Bennett. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

I winced, pressing the phone to my ear. "I know, Mom. I'm sorry. We stayed up watching the sunrise with some friends from the beach. Maddie's with me. We're fine."

A pause. I could hear the disapproval crackling through the silence. "You could have texted. Your father was about to call the front desk."

"I know. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." The lie tasted easy on my tongue, smoother than it should have.

Another pause. Then, softer: "Are you okay, sweetheart? You sound… different."

I looked at Jake. He was sitting up now, the sheet pooled around his waist, the morning light carving shadows across his chest. He was watching me with that quiet, steady gaze, a small smile on his lips.

"I'm good, Mom. Really good."

"All right. Well, breakfast is at nine. Your father wants to hit the boardwalk before the crowds get bad. Don't be late."

"We won't."

I hung up and set the phone on the desk. The room felt different now, smaller, more fragile. The night had been a bubble—candlelight and bodies and the electric hum of permission. But morning had a way of letting the real world back in.

Jake rose from the bed, crossing the room in two easy strides. His hands found my waist, pulling me against him, his skin warm from sleep. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Breakfast at nine. Boardwalk after." I let my head rest against his chest, breathing him in. "She said I sound different."

"You are different." His lips brushed my hair. "You're not the same girl who walked into that hotel room three days ago."

I pulled back, looking up at him. "Is that a bad thing?"

"It's the best thing." He kissed me, soft and slow, a kiss that tasted like goodbye and promise at the same time. "You're not going to fit back into that old life, Sam. I hope you know that."

I let the words settle, let them take root. He was right. I already knew it. The girl who'd been afraid to want things, who'd let Tyler's comfortable love fill the space where passion should have lived—she was gone. I'd left her somewhere on the beach, or in the penthouse, or on the boat at dawn.

"I don't want to fit back," I said. "I want to build something new."

His smile widened, and I saw something in his eyes—relief, maybe. Or pride. "Then let's start now."

He released me, bending to pick up his discarded pants. He pulled them on, the fabric riding low on his hips, and found his shirt on the floor. He didn't button it. He left it open, the morning light catching the lines of his chest.

"What about Maddie?" he asked. "And Chris?"

I found my pajama shorts, still damp, and pulled them on anyway. The silk clung to my skin, cool and familiar. "They'll find us. Or we'll find them. That's the thing about this group—we always end up together."

He laughed, low and warm. "True."

A knock at the door made us both turn.

I crossed the room and opened it. Maddie stood in the hallway, her sheer blue robe retied, her hair a tangled mess, a grin so wide it seemed to split her face. Behind her, Chris leaned against the wall, his shirt untucked, his dark eyes amused.

"Morning," Maddie said, her voice bright. "We heard you two were done being loud."

I laughed, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on. Sunrise's almost over, and I want to watch the rest of it with you."

They filed into the room. Chris flopped onto the bed, stretching out like he owned the place. Maddie climbed up beside him, her head finding his shoulder. Jake settled at the foot of the bed, and I slid in beside him, my back against his chest, my legs stretched out across the rumpled sheets.

The four of us watched the sun climb higher, the pink fading into a soft, clear blue. The city was waking up below—car horns, distant voices, the clatter of a delivery truck. The real world, creeping back in.

But for this moment, we were still in our bubble. Still warm. Still together.

Maddie's hand found mine, her fingers lacing through. "What happens now?" she asked, her voice quiet.

I looked at Jake. He looked at me. Chris's hand settled on Maddie's shoulder, a silent answer.

"We keep going," I said. "We figure it out as we go."

Maddie squeezed my hand. "Together?"

"Together."

The sun crested the horizon, full and bright, and I felt the warmth of it on my skin, the warmth of them around me, the warmth of a future I was finally brave enough to want.

This wasn't the end of the night.

It was the beginning of everything.

The warmth of the sunrise had settled into the room, golden and patient, spilling across the four of us tangled on the bed. Jake's arm was still around my waist, Chris's hand resting on Maddie's hip, and for a long moment, nobody moved. The night clung to us like a second skin—sweat and cum and the smell of candle wax and champagne.

I sat up, the sheet falling away from my chest. "We should get moving."

Maddie groaned, burying her face in Chris's shoulder. "Five more minutes."

"Breakfast is at nine." I found my phone on the nightstand. 7:32 AM. "We need to shower. Change. Pretend we didn't just spend the night fucking strangers in a penthouse."

Chris laughed, low and rough. "Speak for yourself. I'm wearing this night like a badge."

I swung my legs off the bed, standing on unsteady knees. The silk of my pajama shorts was stiff and damp, clinging to my thighs. I peeled them off, dropping them on the floor, and crossed to the bathroom to grab a towel. The mirror caught my reflection—hair a wreck, lips swollen, a bruise blooming on my collarbone where Jake's mouth had been. I looked wrecked. I looked alive.

When I came back, Jake was pulling on his pants, still bare-chested, that easy smile playing at his lips. Chris was already dressed, his shirt untucked, his hair finger-combed. Maddie was sitting cross-legged on the bed, the sheet wrapped around her, watching me with those bright, knowing eyes.

"We need to make a plan for today," I said, wrapping the towel around myself. "Family day. Boardwalk, lunch, probably some forced fun on the pier."

Jake zipped his pants and walked over to me, his hands settling on my waist. "And tonight?"

I looked up at him, letting the smile spread slow across my face. "Tonight, we find each other again. But first—" I turned to Maddie. "I need a minute with my sister."

Maddie's eyebrows lifted, a grin already forming. "Oh?"

Chris caught on first. He clapped Jake on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's give them space."

Jake looked at me, a question in his hazel eyes. I nodded, once, and he leaned in to kiss me—soft, lingering, a promise against my lips. "We'll see you boys tonight," I said against his mouth. "Need some family time."

He pulled back, a slow smile spreading. "Tonight, then."

They grabbed their things and headed for the door. Chris paused, looking back at Maddie. "You good?"

"Always." She blew him a kiss. "Tell that redhead I said hi."

He laughed and disappeared into the hall. The door clicked shut, and then it was just the two of us, alone in the golden morning light.

I turned to face my sister. She was still wrapped in the sheet, her hair a wild tangle, her skin flushed from a night of being thoroughly fucked. She looked at me with that familiar mischief, the one that had been there since we were kids, sneaking cookies from the pantry.

"So," she said, drawing the word out. "Family time."

"Family time." I let the towel drop to the floor and walked toward the bed, my bare feet silent on the marble. "We have an hour before we need to shower and pretend to be normal."

Her grin widened. "That's plenty of time."

I climbed onto the bed, the sheets cool against my knees. She met me in the middle, the sheet falling away, her small breasts pressed against mine. Her skin was warm, still slick with sweat from the night, and I could smell Chris on her, Jake on her, the evidence of everything we'd done.

I kissed her—not soft, not gentle. A hungry kiss, a claiming one, my tongue sliding into her mouth as my hand found her hip. She moaned against my lips, her fingers threading through my hair, pulling me closer.

"I need this," I breathed against her mouth. "I need to feel you one more time before we have to be sisters again."

"Then take it," she whispered. "Take whatever you want."

I pushed her onto her back, my body covering hers. The morning light caught the dust motes floating in the air, caught the sheen of sweat on her collarbone, caught the way her eyes fluttered closed as my mouth found her throat. I kissed down her neck, across her chest, taking one nipple into my mouth. She arched into me, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

"Sam—"

"Shh." I switched to the other breast, my tongue circling the hard peak, my hand sliding down her stomach, between her legs. She was already wet, already slick, her hips lifting into my touch. "I've got you."

I slid two fingers inside her, slow, watching her face. Her mouth fell open, her eyes rolling back, and I felt a surge of something fierce and possessive. This was my sister. This was the girl who'd followed me into every adventure, who'd trusted me enough to let me lead her into the dark.

"You're so beautiful like this," I said, my fingers pumping faster, my thumb finding her clit. "So open. So ready."

"Don't stop," she begged, her hands gripping the sheets. "Please, Sam—"

I lowered my head, my mouth finding her cunt. She tasted like Chris and Jake and herself—a mix of sweat and sex and the night we'd shared. I licked into her, my tongue circling her clit, my fingers still buried deep. Her moans grew louder, her hips bucking against my face, and I felt her start to tense around me.

"Come for me," I murmured against her skin. "I want to taste it."

She came with a cry, her thighs clamping around my head, her body shuddering through wave after wave. I stayed with her, licking gently through the aftershocks, until she collapsed onto the mattress, panting.

I crawled up her body, my mouth finding hers, letting her taste herself on my lips. "Good?"

"Fucking incredible." She was still catching her breath, her hands roaming my back, my ass, pulling me closer. "But I'm not done with you yet."

She flipped us, her body pressing mine into the mattress. Her mouth found my neck, my collarbone, my breasts, her tongue tracing a path down my stomach. I spread my legs for her, already aching, already desperate for her mouth.

She took her time. She kissed the inside of my thighs, her breath hot against my slick skin. She teased me, her tongue flicking out just to taste, then pulling back, a smile playing at her lips.

"Maddie—" I groaned, my hips lifting. "Please."

"Please what?"

"Please eat me out like you mean it."

She laughed, low and dark, and lowered her head.

Her tongue found my clit, flat and broad, then pointed, circling with a precision that made me gasp. Her fingers slid inside me, curling against that spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids. I fisted my hands in her hair, pulling her closer, my hips grinding against her face.

"Yes," I breathed. "Right there—don't stop—"

She doubled down, her tongue flicking faster, her fingers pumping harder, and I felt the orgasm building, a pressure that threatened to shatter me. I came with a scream, my back arching off the bed, my cunt clenching around her fingers as she rode me through it.

She crawled up my body, her lips slick, her eyes bright. "Good morning, sister."

I laughed, breathless, pulling her down into a kiss. "Good morning."

We lay there, tangled and sticky, the sun climbing higher. I checked the time on my phone. 8:10. We had forty minutes to shower and make ourselves presentable.

"We should clean up," I said, but I made no move to get up.

"Five more minutes," Maddie murmured, her head on my chest.

I let myself have those five minutes. Her weight was warm and familiar, her breathing steadying. I traced patterns on her back, feeling the sweat drying on her skin, feeling the shift from night to day settling into my bones.

Finally, I nudged her. "Come on. Shower."

We stumbled into the bathroom together, the tile cool underfoot. I turned the water on, letting it heat up, and we stepped under the spray. I washed her hair, my fingers working through the tangles, and she washed mine. We didn't talk. We didn't need to.

By 8:45, we were dressed in clothes from the pile we'd left by the door—simple shorts and tank tops, the same ones we'd worn to the beach what felt like a lifetime ago. I borrowed a brush from the bathroom and worked through my hair while Maddie texted Chris.

"He says they're grabbing breakfast at a diner near the boardwalk. Wants to know if we'll sneak away after lunch."

"Maybe." I twisted my hair into a messy bun. "We have to play the good daughters first."

She pocketed her phone, a sly smile on her face. "You know, I think I'm getting good at this whole double life thing."

"Me too." I checked my reflection one last time. The girl in the mirror looked almost normal. Almost innocent. If you didn't look too closely at the marks on her neck.

I grabbed a concealer stick from my bag and dabbed it over the bruise. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.

We slipped out of the penthouse, the door clicking shut behind us. The hallway was quiet, the party long since cleared out. A cleaning cart was parked near the elevator, and a woman in a uniform gave us a knowing look as we passed.

I kept my head high. Let her look. Let her wonder.

The elevator took us down to the lobby, and the bright, sterile light of the hotel lobby greeted us. A few families were already gathered near the restaurant, kids in swimsuits, parents holding coffee cups. I spotted my mom near the hostess stand, her phone in hand, her expression a mix of relief and irritation.

"There you are." She looked us over, her eyes lingering on our rumpled clothes. "You look like you barely slept."

"We stayed up watching the sunrise," I said, the lie smooth and easy. "It was beautiful."

Mom's expression softened. "I'm glad you had fun. But please—text next time."

"We will," Maddie said, her voice bright. "Promise."

Dad appeared, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Ready for a day on the boardwalk? I'm thinking mini golf. Maybe some bumper cars."

I smiled, letting the normalcy wash over me. "Sounds perfect."

We followed our parents to a table near the window. The restaurant was bright, filled with the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation. I ordered pancakes, and Maddie ordered eggs, and we talked about the weather and the crowds and which rides we'd hit first.

But under the table, Maddie's hand found mine. She squeezed, once, a secret between us.

And I found my mind drifting. To Jake's hands. To Chris's mouth. To the taste of strangers on my tongue. To the way the night had felt infinite.

I wanted more. I wanted the night again, and next time, I wanted it even bigger.

I wanted to find the boys on the beach. I wanted to find someone new. I wanted to feel that first electric moment with someone who didn't know my name, who would look at me like a discovery.

Maddie caught my eye, a question in her gaze. I shook my head slightly, a silent later.

But the hunger was already coiling in my stomach, warm and insistent.

I was going to need more before this trip was over. High school boys on the boardwalk. College guys at the arcade. Someone who didn't know I was spoken for, who would try to charm me, buy me a lemonade, walk me down the pier.

And I was going to let them.

I bit into a piece of pancake, letting the sweetness dissolve on my tongue, and smiled at my parents like everything was perfectly ordinary.

It was the beginning of everything. And I was already planning the next chapter.

I noticed him the moment we walked in. The host had the kind of presence that demanded attention without trying—sun-bleached hair falling loose around a face that belonged on a surf magazine cover, cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass, a jaw dusted with light stubble. He was built lean, the way surfers are, all wiry muscle and long lines, his white linen shirt open at the collar, revealing a sliver of tanned chest. He moved like he had nowhere to be and all day to get there, a slow, easy confidence that made my breath catch.

He was seating a family near the window, his smile wide and genuine, his hand gesturing toward the menu with a casual grace. When he turned, his eyes swept the room and landed on our table. On me.

His smile didn't flicker. It sharpened, just slightly, like he'd found something interesting.

I looked down at my pancakes, my heart rabbiting against my ribs. Under the table, Maddie's knee brushed mine. I felt her lean closer, her voice a thread of breath against my ear. "Did you see the host?"

"Yeah." I kept my voice neutral, my eyes on my plate. "I saw him."

"He's looking at you."

I risked a glance. He was still watching, his gaze unhurried, his hand resting on the back of an empty chair. He didn't look away when our eyes met. He held my stare, a slow smile spreading across his lips, and I felt heat bloom in my cheeks, between my legs, a pulse of want that caught me off guard.

Mom was saying something about the boardwalk schedule. Dad was ordering coffee. The world moved on, normal and steady, while I sat there in my rumpled tank top and cutoffs, the ghost of the night still on my skin, a new hunger already stirring.

I took a sip of orange juice, the tartness sharp on my tongue. "I need to use the restroom."

Maddie's hand found my thigh under the table. "Need backup?"

I looked at her, the question clear in my eyes. She nodded, almost imperceptibly, and I turned to my parents. "Maddie's coming too. We'll be right back."

Mom waved a hand, already deep in conversation with Dad about parking. "Don't take too long. We want to beat the crowds."

"We won't."

I slid out of the booth, Maddie following close behind. We wove through the tables, my pulse climbing with every step. The host was near the hostess stand, a stack of menus in his hand, his back half-turned to us. I stopped a few feet away, close enough to smell the ocean in his hair, the clean soap of his skin.

"Excuse me."

He turned. Up close, his eyes were a pale, clear green, like sea glass, with flecks of gold around the pupil. He looked at me, then at Maddie standing just behind me, and that sharp smile returned.

"Can I help you?" His voice was low, with a lazy drawl that made me think of long afternoons on the water.

I let my gaze drift down his body and back up, slow and deliberate. "I'm Sam. This is my sister, Maddie."

His eyes flickered, just a fraction, but the smile didn't waver. "I'm Kai."

"Kai." I let his name sit on my tongue. "We were wondering if you had a break coming up."

He set the menus down on the hostess stand, his movements unhurried. "I have a fifteen-minute in about ten. Why?"

I stepped closer, close enough that I could see the tiny scar above his eyebrow, the way his chest rose and fell with a steady, easy breath. "Because I want to spend them with you."

The air between us thickened. He looked at me, really looked, his gaze traveling over my face, my throat, the curve of my shoulder, the bare skin of my thighs. He didn't rush. He took his time, and when his eyes met mine again, there was a heat there that hadn't been before.

"My break's in the back. Staff room." His voice dropped, almost imperceptibly. "There's a couch. Lock on the door."

I felt a surge of triumph, hot and bright in my chest. "Good."

He glanced at Maddie. "She coming too?"

"She is."

That shark-tooth smile again. "Even better."

He looked around the restaurant, scanned the room, then met my eyes. "Ten minutes. Back hallway, past the kitchen, last door on the left. Don't be late."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

I turned and walked back toward the table, Maddie at my side. My hands were trembling, but not with nerves—with anticipation, with the sheer, electric thrill of the chase.

"Ten minutes," Maddie whispered, her voice giddy. "We have ten minutes to get through breakfast and get back there."

"We don't need to get through breakfast." I slid back into the booth, picking up my fork. "We just need to wait ten minutes."

"And then what?"

I took a bite of pancake, chewed, swallowed. "And then we excuse ourselves to the bathroom and don't come back for a while."

Mom looked up from her phone. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," I said, smiling sweetly. "Just stretching my legs."

The next ten minutes were a blur of small talk and coffee sips, my leg bouncing under the table, my eyes drifting to the clock on the wall. The second hand crawled. Every time I looked at Kai, he was watching, a quiet, patient heat in his sea-glass eyes.

At the ten-minute mark, I set down my fork. "Be right back. Bathroom."

Maddie was already rising. "Me too."

Mom barely looked up. "Don't get lost."

We headed toward the back of the restaurant, past the kitchen doors, past the clatter of dishes and the hiss of steam. The hallway was narrow, painted a muted beige, with a fluorescent light buzzing overhead. The last door on the left was slightly ajar, a sliver of dim light escaping.

I pushed it open.

The staff room was small—a couch against one wall, a table with a microwave, a few lockers. A single lamp cast a warm glow. Kai was leaning against the table, his arms crossed, his smile widening as we stepped inside.

I closed the door behind us and turned the lock.

The click echoed, soft and final.

Kai pushed off the table, closing the distance in two easy strides. He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off his body, the clean, salt-sweat smell of him. He didn't touch me—not yet. He just looked, his gaze traveling over my face with a slow, appreciative reverence.

"You're even prettier up close," he said, his voice low.

"You're not so bad yourself."

His hand came up, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. The touch was light, barely there, but it sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes dropped to my lips, and I saw the hunger there, banked but present.

"Your sister," he said, glancing at Maddie. "She's in on this?"

"She's in on everything."

Maddie stepped closer, her shoulder brushing mine. Her hand found my lower back, a grounding touch. "We share," she said, her voice light, teasing. "Hope that's okay."

Kai's smile deepened. "More than okay."

He reached for me, his hand cupping the back of my neck, and kissed me.

It was a slow kiss, exploratory, his lips warm and soft against mine. His tongue traced my lower lip, asking, and I opened for him, letting him in. He tasted like coffee and something sweet, and his hand slid into my hair, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss.

Maddie pressed against my side, her mouth finding my throat, her teeth grazing my pulse point. I moaned against Kai's mouth, the sensation doubling, tripling, the two of them working in tandem.

Kai broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine. His eyes were dark, his breath quick. "How long do we have?"

"Long enough." My hand found his chest, sliding down his stomach, resting at the waistband of his shorts. "You got a condom?"

He laughed, low and rough. "In my wallet. Like a boy scout."

"Good boy."

Maddie's hand slipped under my tank top, her palm flat against my stomach, her fingers tracing the waistband of my shorts. She was warm, her touch familiar and electric at the same time. Kai watched her, his eyes darkening, his hand still tangled in my hair.

"I want to watch you two," he said, his voice rough. "Is that okay?"

I met Maddie's eyes. She nodded, a slow smile spreading across her lips. I turned back to Kai. "Only if you join in when we're done."

His grin sharpened. "Deal."

I stepped back, pulling Maddie with me, guiding her toward the couch. The cushions were worn, the fabric faded, but I didn't care. I pushed her down onto it, the springs creaking under her weight. She looked up at me, her eyes bright, her lips parted, her chest rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths.

I knelt over her, my knees sinking into the cushion on either side of her hips. I lowered myself, my mouth finding hers, a deep, hungry kiss that tasted like morning and want. My hand slid down her body, under the waistband of her shorts, finding her already slick, already ready.

"You're so wet," I murmured against her lips.

"For you." Her hips lifted into my hand. "Always for you."

I slid two fingers inside her, slow, watching her face. Her eyes fluttered closed, her mouth fell open, a soft moan escaping her lips. I pumped my fingers, building a rhythm, my thumb circling her clit.

Behind me, I heard Kai's breath catch. I felt his gaze on us, heavy and hot. It made me bolder, my movements more deliberate, my fingers pushing deeper, faster.

"Look at him," I whispered to Maddie. "Look at him watching us."

She opened her eyes, turning her head. Kai was leaning against the table, his hand resting on his crotch, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on us. The sight of him, so clearly aroused, so hungry, sent a pulse of heat through me.

"He likes it," Maddie breathed. "He likes watching."

"I know." I leaned down, my mouth brushing her ear. "I'm going to make you come for him. And then I'm going to let him fuck you."

She whimpered, her hips grinding against my hand. "Yes. Please."

I doubled down, my fingers curling against that spot inside her, my thumb pressing harder on her clit. She came with a sharp cry, her body arching off the couch, her hand gripping my wrist. I stayed with her, riding her through it, my fingers slowing as the waves subsided.

When she opened her eyes, they were glassy, dazed, full of trust.

I pulled my fingers out slowly, bringing them to my lips, tasting her. Kai let out a shaky breath.

"Your turn," I said, turning to him. "You wanted to watch. Now I want you to take her."

He didn't need to be told twice. He crossed the room, his movements quick, eager. He knelt on the couch, his body covering Maddie's, his mouth finding mine in a brief, fierce kiss before he turned to her.

I watched as he undressed her—slowly, almost reverently, pulling her shorts down her thighs, lifting her tank top over her head. She was naked beneath him, her skin flushed, her nipples peaked. He took his time, his mouth tracing a path down her throat, across her collarbone, to her breasts. She arched into him, her fingers threading through his sun-bleached hair.

I moved to the side, my back against the lockers, giving them space. But I didn't look away. I couldn't.

He settled between her legs, his mouth finding her cunt, and I watched her fall apart all over again. His tongue worked her with a practiced rhythm that made her gasp, her hips lifting, her hands fisting in his hair. He brought her to the edge and held her there, teasing, until she begged.

"Please. Please, Kai."

He rose over her, his shorts pushed down, his cock hard and glistening. He positioned himself at her entrance, looked up at me, and smiled—that slow, shark-tooth grin—before pushing inside her.

Maddie's cry filled the small room. He moved with a steady, deep rhythm, his eyes never leaving mine, as if he was fucking her for my benefit. Which, I realized, he was.

I pressed my thighs together, the ache between my legs becoming unbearable. My hand drifted down, my fingers pressing against my clit through the fabric of my shorts, but I didn't touch myself. Not yet. I wanted to wait.

He came with a low groan, his body shuddering, his forehead pressed to Maddie's shoulder. She held him, her arms wrapped around his neck, her breath coming in soft, satisfied gasps.

He pulled out slowly and turned to me, his chest heaving. "Your turn."

I crossed the room, my legs unsteady. He met me halfway, his hands finding my waist, pulling me against him. His skin was slick with sweat, his mouth hot as it found mine. I tasted Maddie on his lips, tasted the salt and sex of them both, and it made me dizzy.

He guided me to the couch, my knees sinking into the cushion where Maddie still lay. She shifted to make room, her hand finding my thigh, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin.

Kai settled behind me, his chest against my back, his cock pressing against my entrance. He reached around, his fingers finding my clit, circling with a slow, deliberate pressure. I moaned, my head falling back against his shoulder, my hips grinding against his hand.

"You're so wet," he murmured against my ear, his voice rough. "You've been watching this whole time, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"You wanted this. Wanted me to fuck her while you watched."

"Yes."

"Good girl." He positioned himself, the head pressing against me. "Now I'm going to fuck you. And I want you to look at your sister while I do it."

He pushed inside me, a slow, deep thrust that made me gasp. He filled me completely, stretching me in a way that made my eyes roll back. He started to move, a steady, driving rhythm, his hand never leaving my clit, his mouth on my neck.

I looked at Maddie. She was watching me, her eyes half-lidded, a satisfied smile on her lips. Her hand was between her legs, touching herself, matching his rhythm.

"That's it," she whispered. "Take it."

I came with a cry, my body convulsing around him, my cunt clenching in wave after wave. He followed a moment later, his hips thrusting deep, his breath hot against my shoulder.

We collapsed onto the couch, the three of us tangled together, breathing hard. The lamp flickered. A distant voice called for Kai over the intercom. His break was ending.

He stirred, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "I have to go."

"I know." I didn't move. I didn't want to.

He pulled out, found his shorts, pulled them on. He adjusted his shirt, ran a hand through his disheveled hair, and looked at us with that slow, easy smile. "Best fifteen-minute break I've ever had."

I laughed, breathless. "Come find us on the boardwalk later. We'll be the ones looking for trouble."

"I'll keep an eye out." He opened the door, glanced back once, and disappeared into the hallway.

The door clicked shut. Maddie and I lay there, sticky and satisfied, the morning light filtering through the small window near the ceiling.

"We should get back," she said, her voice drowsy.

"In a minute." I pulled her closer, her head finding the curve of my shoulder. "Just give me a minute."

The door creaked open. Kai stood there, already breathless, a grin splitting his face. Behind him, three guys loomed in the hallway, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. Kai stepped inside, pulling the door wider.

"Change of plan," he said, his voice low and quick. "I told my manager I found a leak in the back. Bought us ten more minutes. And I brought company."

The three friends filed in—a tall, broad-shouldered guy with dark curls and a silver chain; a stocky guy with a shaved head and a nose that looked like it'd been broken; and a lanky, sharp-jawed kid who couldn't have been older than nineteen, with a mouth that was already curling into a hungry smile. The room suddenly felt very small.

I sat up, the towel Kai had tossed me earlier slipping from my chest. Maddie stirred beside me, her hand finding my thigh as she took in the sudden crowd.

"Ten minutes?" I said, looking at Kai. "That's not much time."

Kai's grin sharpened. "You'd be surprised what I can do in ten minutes."

The lanky one—his nametag said Jace—already had his eyes on me, traveling down my bare legs, the curve of my hip. "Kai said you two were trouble. He didn't say you were this hot."

Maddie laughed, low and dark, her fingers tracing my inner thigh. "We're worse than that."

I swung my legs off the couch, standing. The towel fell away, and I didn't reach for it. Let them look. The morning light caught the sheen on my skin, the marks from the night still blooming on my collarbone, my thighs. I felt their gaze like a physical weight, and it made me wet all over again.

The one with the silver chain—Remy, I saw on his crest—looked at Kai. "You weren't kidding. She's got that thing about her."

Kai stepped closer, his hand finding my waist. "She's got everything."

I turned to face all of them, letting my gaze wander from one to the next. "Ten minutes. That means we don't waste time talking." I looked at the stocky guy—his nametag read Marcus, different from the Marcus at the penthouse, but the name sent a little jolt. "You. What's your name?"

"Eli." His voice was gravelly, his eyes dark and steady.

"Eli." I let the name sit. "I have a thing for men who don't say much. You gonna be my strong, silent type?"

A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "If that's what you need."

"It is." I turned to Remy. "You. Silver chain. You look like you know what you're doing."

He shrugged, easy confidence. "I manage."

"Good. You're on my sister."

Maddie rose from the couch, naked, her small body moving with a fluid grace that never failed to make my breath catch. She walked toward Remy, her hand finding his chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of his collared shirt. "Hey there."

He looked her over, his smile slow and appreciative. "Hey yourself."

That left Jace. He was still watching me, his hands in his pockets, trying to look casual but failing—the slight bulge in his shorts betrayed him. I walked toward him, stopping a foot away, close enough to smell the salt in his hair, the clean sweat of a morning shift.

"You look nervous," I said.

"I'm not." His voice cracked, just a little. "I'm just—you're a lot."

I reached out, my hand cupping the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Our lips were almost touching. "Then let me show you how a lot can feel."

I kissed him. Soft at first, my tongue grazing his lower lip, then deeper, taking control. He melted into me, his hands finding my waist, tentative at first, then firmer. When I broke the kiss, he was flushed, his eyes dazed.

"Better?" I asked.

"Yeah." He swallowed. "Definitely better."

Kai was already on the couch, his shorts pushed down, his cock hard, waiting. He looked at me, a question in his eyes. I answered by crossing the room and kneeling between his legs.

"Ten minutes," I said, my hand wrapping around his shaft. "Let's make every second count."

I took him in my mouth, deep, letting my tongue trace the vein on the underside. He groaned, his hand finding my hair, holding me there. I worked him with a practiced rhythm, using my hand where my mouth couldn't reach, feeling him swell, tasting the salt of his pre-cum.

Behind me, I heard Maddie's low laugh, the shuffle of clothing being shed, the creak of the table as someone leaned against it. I didn't look. I stayed focused on Kai, on the way his hips bucked, the way his fingers tightened in my hair, the way he gasped when I took him deeper.

"Fuck," he breathed. "Sam—"

I pulled off with a wet sound, my hand still stroking. "Not yet. I want you to watch the rest first."

I rose, turning to the others. Eli had already stripped off his shirt, his chest broad, a thicket of dark hair across his sternum. Remy was pressed against Maddie, his hand between her legs, her head thrown back, a low moan escaping her lips. Jace stood frozen, watching me, his hands still in his pockets.

I walked to Eli. He didn't wait for me to reach him. He met me halfway, his hands gripping my waist, lifting me onto the table. Papers scattered, a coffee cup tipped, but I didn't care. He stood between my legs, his cock already hard, pressing against my thigh.

"Condom?" I asked.

"Back pocket." His voice was rough, strained.

I reached behind him, found the foil packet, tore it open with my teeth. I rolled it onto him, slow, watching his face—the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes burned. Then I guided him to my entrance, already slick, already hungry.

"Don't be gentle," I said.

He wasn't. He drove into me with a single, deep thrust that knocked the breath from my lungs. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, my nails digging into his shoulders. He set a hard, punishing rhythm, the table rattling against the wall, the lamp wobbling. I didn't care. I let myself feel it, every inch, every pulse, the way he filled me.

Across the room, Remy had Maddie bent over the arm of the couch, his hips driving into her from behind. Her cries filled the air, a counterpoint to my own. Jace was watching me, his hand moving in his pocket, his jaw slack.

"Jace," I gasped, my voice breaking on each thrust from Eli. "Come here."

He stumbled toward me, his eyes wide. I reached out, my hand finding his, pulling him closer. I guided his hand to my chest, let his fingers find my nipple, felt him tremble.

"Touch me," I said. "I won't break."

He didn't need more encouragement. His mouth found my throat, his teeth grazing my pulse, his hand sliding down my stomach to where Eli was driving into me. He pressed his fingers against my clit, circling, and I cried out, my back arching.

Eli didn't stop. He drove deeper, faster, his breathing ragged. I felt the orgasm building, a pressure that threatened to split me open. Jace's fingers kept working, Eli's hips kept slamming, and I shattered with a scream, my cunt clenching around him, my body convulsing.

Eli followed a moment later, a low groan escaping his lips as he came, his hips stuttering against mine. He stayed there, breathing hard, his forehead pressed to my shoulder.

I didn't have time to recover. Kai was standing beside me, his hand on my arm, pulling me off the table. "My turn. Promised you I'd fuck you again."

I let him guide me to the floor, onto the thin carpet. He knelt over me, his cock still hard, the condom gone. He didn't reach for another. He just slid inside me, wet and ready, and I felt myself open for him, felt the familiar stretch, the perfect fit.

He fucked me slow this time, deep and unhurried, his eyes locked on mine. "This is for you," he said, his voice rough. "This is for watching you take them. For being so fucking beautiful."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I didn't know why. I just felt everything—the weight of him, the warmth of the bodies around us, the low hum of Maddie's moans as Remy finished inside her.

Kai came with a shudder, his hips pressing deep, his mouth finding mine in a kiss that tasted like salt and surrender. He stayed inside me, his forehead against mine, breathing me in.

The intercom crackled. "Kai, line's building. Need you up front."

He pulled out slowly, a small smile on his lips. "Time's up."

I lay there, on the carpet, catching my breath. Maddie appeared beside me, her skin flushed, her hair a wreck. She collapsed next to me, her hand finding mine.

"Best breakfast ever," she whispered.

I laughed, a breathless, wild sound. "Best breakfast ever."

We scrambled to our feet, grabbing discarded clothes. The guys were already half-dressed, tucking in shirts, adjusting waistbands. Eli handed me my tank top. Remy found Maddie's shorts under the couch. Jace was still flushed, avoiding my eyes, but when I caught his gaze, he smiled—small, shy, grateful.

Kai was at the door, looking back at us. "Boardwalk. After lunch. Look for the pier."

I pulled on my shorts, ran a hand through my tangled hair. "We'll be there."

He nodded, then slipped into the hallway, the three friends following. The door clicked shut.

Maddie and I looked at each other. The small room smelled like sex and sweat and the faint trace of coffee. I checked my phone. 8:52. We'd been gone twenty minutes.

"We should go," I said.

"Yeah." She didn't move. "In a minute."

I laughed, pulling her into a quick hug. "Come on. Family awaits."

We straightened our clothes as best we could, used a wet paper towel to wipe the evidence from between our thighs. I checked my reflection in the small mirror above the sink. My hair was a disaster, my lips swollen, a bruise blooming on my collarbone. I tucked the strap of my tank top up to cover it, knowing it wouldn't stay.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

We stepped into the hallway, the bright light of the restaurant hitting us like a wall. The clatter of dishes, the hum of conversation. A family with two small children passed us, none the wiser.

My mom looked up as we slid back into the booth. Her eyes narrowed, just slightly. "Everything okay? You were gone a while."

"Long line," I said, reaching for my orange juice. "But we're back now."

She studied me for a moment, then shrugged, picking up her menu. "Your dad wants to do the mini golf first. I say we hit the arcade before the crowds get bad."

I took a sip of juice, feeling the cool liquid slide down my dry throat. Under the table, Maddie's hand found mine. She squeezed, once, a secret between us.

"Arcade sounds perfect," I said.

The morning stretched ahead, bright and endless. And somewhere on the boardwalk, Kai was waiting.

I smiled at my parents, already tasting the next adventure.

Breakfast passed in a blur of small talk and half-eaten pancakes, my body still humming with the aftershocks of the staff room. Every time I shifted in my seat, I felt the slick evidence of Kai and Eli still cooling between my thighs, a secret I carried beneath the table. Mom asked about the boardwalk schedule. Dad debated the merits of mini golf versus go-karts. I nodded at the right moments, laughed when expected, while my mind replayed the way Eli's hips had slammed against mine, the way Jace's fingers had trembled against my clit.

Maddie caught my eye across the table, a flicker of a grin that she quickly buried behind her orange juice. Her thigh pressed against mine under the table, a warm, conspiratorial pressure.

"You two are quiet this morning," Mom said, her eyes narrowing. "Everything all right?"

"Just tired," I said, the lie smooth as butter. "Didn't sleep great."

Maddie nodded along, her expression perfectly innocent. "The sunrise was worth it, though."

Mom's face softened. "Well, pace yourselves. We've got a full day ahead."

I pushed my plate away, the last bite of pancake sitting heavy in my stomach. "I'm going to run to the restroom before we head out."

"Again?" Dad raised an eyebrow.

"Orange juice." I shrugged, sliding out of the booth. "Maddie, you coming?"

She was already on her feet. "Yeah, me too."

We wove through the tables, past the hostess stand where a new girl stood with a stack of menus. No sign of Kai. The restroom was at the end of a short hallway, tiled in pale blue, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. I checked the stalls—empty—and leaned against the counter, meeting Maddie's eyes in the mirror.

"That was insane," she said, her voice low, giddy. "Even for us."

"I know." I wet a paper towel, pressing it to the back of my neck. "I can still feel him. Eli. The way he—" I stopped, a shiver running through me.

Maddie stepped closer, her hand finding my hip. "I know. Remy was rough. I've got marks." She pulled down the collar of her tank top, showing a dark bruise blooming on her shoulder. "He bit me."

I traced the edge of it with my finger, a possessive tenderness. "You okay?"

"More than okay." Her grin sharpened. "I want more."

I met her eyes in the mirror. "Me too."

We fixed ourselves as best we could—re-tucking shirts, finger-combing hair, dabbing concealer over the worst of the marks. By the time we stepped back into the dining room, my parents were already at the register, Dad pulling out his wallet.

"Ready?" Mom asked, her purse slung over her shoulder.

"Ready."

The boardwalk hit us like a wave—salt air, frying dough, the tinny music of arcade games spilling from open doorways. Families milled between stalls, kids clutching stuffed animals, teenagers slouching in clusters. The sun was high now, warm on my shoulders, and I felt the night finally beginning to peel away, replaced by something brighter, more awake.

We walked through the crowd, my parents leading the way, pointing out rides and games. Maddie's hand found mine, her fingers lacing through. We passed a cotton candy cart, a ring toss, a booth with a giant teddy bear hanging from the rafters.

Near the pier, I spotted him.

Kai was leaning against the railing, his white linen shirt untucked, his sun-bleached hair catching the light. He was talking to a girl in a bikini top and cutoffs, her hand on his arm, her laugh carrying across the boards. He said something that made her toss her head back, but his eyes were scanning the crowd.

They found me.

His smile didn't change, but something in his eyes sharpened, a private acknowledgment that sent a pulse of heat through my chest. He said something to the girl, touched her arm in a gesture of dismissal, and pushed off the railing.

I kept walking, my heart hammering. Maddie's grip tightened on my hand.

Kai fell into step beside me as we passed, his shoulder brushing mine. "Pier. South end. Twenty minutes." His voice was low, meant only for me. "Bring your sister."

Then he was past us, merging into the crowd, gone before my parents could turn around.

I kept my face neutral, my pace steady. "Mom, can Maddie and I go check out the arcade? We'll meet you at the mini golf course in half an hour."

Mom hesitated, glancing at Dad. "I don't know—"

"Please?" Maddie's voice was sweet, almost childlike. "We'll be careful. And we have our phones."

Dad shrugged. "Let them have some freedom. It's spring break."

Mom sighed, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. But stay together. And text me if you change locations."

"We will." I hugged her quickly, already pulling Maddie toward the arcade entrance. "Love you!"

We ducked inside, the dim interior a relief from the bright sun. Rows of flashing games stretched before us, the cacophony of beeps and buzzes swallowing us whole. We wove through the crowd, past a group of teenagers clustered around a racing game, past a couple making out in the photo booth, and out the back exit that led to the pier.

The south end was quieter, the crowds thinning out. Wooden planks stretched toward the water, the ocean glittering beyond. A few fishermen stood at the railings, their lines cast into the blue. And there, at the very end, Kai stood with his back to us, looking out at the horizon.

I walked toward him, my bare feet silent on the warm wood. Maddie stayed close, her hand still in mine.

He turned as we approached, that slow, shark-tooth grin spreading across his face. "You came."

"I said I would." I stopped a foot away, close enough to see the freckles dusted across his nose, the tiny scar above his eyebrow. "What's at the pier?"

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a key. "My boat. Down at the dock." He nodded toward a set of wooden stairs leading down to a small marina. "Figured we could use some privacy. And I know a spot where the water's calm enough to swim."

I looked at Maddie. Her eyes were bright, eager. I turned back to Kai. "How long do we have?"

"However long you want." He held out his hand. "Coming?"

I took it. His fingers were warm, calloused, steady. "Lead the way."

The boat was a small motorboat, white with blue trim, rocking gently against the dock. Kai helped us aboard, his hand on my lower back, steadying me as I stepped onto the deck. The seats were worn leather, the fiberglass warm from the sun. He untied the lines, started the engine with a low rumble, and guided us out of the marina.

The wind whipped my hair as we picked up speed, the boardwalk shrinking behind us. Maddie sat beside me, her hand on my thigh, her grin wide and wild. The salt spray cooled my skin, and I felt the tension of the morning—the parents, the lies, the careful performance—fall away, replaced by something freer, more alive.

Kai cut the engine about a mile out, the boat drifting to a gentle stop. The water was a deep, clear blue, the shore a distant line of green and gold. No other boats in sight. Just us and the sky and the endless water.

He turned to face us, his shirt already unbuttoned, sliding off his shoulders. "Swim?"

I didn't answer with words. I pulled my tank top over my head, shimmied out of my shorts, and stood naked on the deck, the sun warm on my skin. Maddie followed, her small body pale against the blue of the water. Kai's eyes traveled over us both, his smile deepening.

"Beautiful," he said, his voice low.

I stepped to the edge of the boat, looked down at the clear water, and dove.

The shock of it—cool, clean, endless—washed over me, rinsing away the sweat and the sex and the last traces of the night. I surfaced, gasping, laughing, the salt bright on my lips. Maddie splashed in beside me, her hair plastered to her face, her laughter echoing across the water.

Kai dove in after us, his body cutting through the water with a clean, easy grace. He surfaced near me, close enough that I could feel the wake of his movement, his hand finding my waist under the water.

"This is better than the staff room," he said, his voice husky.

"Much better." I floated on my back, the sun warm on my face, the water cradling me. "But we're not done yet."

I felt his hand slide down my stomach, between my legs, his fingers finding me under the water. I gasped, my body arching, the cool water and his warm touch a dizzying contrast.

"No," he agreed, his lips brushing my ear. "We're not done."

Maddie swam closer, her body pressing against my side, her mouth finding my throat. Under the water, Kai's fingers worked me, slow and deliberate, while Maddie's teeth grazed my pulse point. I floated between them, weightless, suspended in the blue, the sun and the salt and the heat of them surrounding me.

I came with a cry that echoed across the water, my body shuddering in the cool embrace of the sea. Kai held me as I drifted, his arms around my waist, his mouth pressed to my shoulder.

Maddie treaded water beside us, her eyes bright. "I want to watch you two."

Kai looked at me, a question in his eyes. I nodded, pulling him closer, my legs wrapping around his waist under the water. He was hard, pressing against me, and I guided him to my entrance, the water slick and cool between us.

He pushed inside me, slow, the water offering a strange, buoyant resistance. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his hips, and let him fuck me in the open water, the sun blazing down, the shore a distant dream. Maddie circled us, her hand trailing across my back, her eyes fixed on the place where we joined.

It was slow, unhurried, the rhythm of the waves guiding his thrusts. I felt every inch of him, every pulse, every breath. He came with a low groan, his body shuddering against mine, his forehead pressed to my collarbone.

We floated there, tangled together, the water lapping at our skin. The sun climbed higher, the day stretching out before us, endless and full of promise.

I looked at Maddie, treading water beside us, her smile soft and satisfied. I looked at Kai, his arms still around me, his breath warm against my skin.

This was the beginning of something. I could feel it in my bones—the shape of a summer that would rewrite every rule I'd ever lived by.

And I was ready to let it.

I caught my breath, still floating in the salt water, my body humming with the aftershocks of Kai's release. The sun was warm on my face, the water cool against my skin. I looked at Kai, his arms still around my waist, his chest rising and falling against my back. Then I looked at Maddie, treading water a few feet away, her eyes bright and patient, waiting for whatever came next.

"Kai." I turned in his arms, facing him. My hand found his chest, the water beading on his skin. "I want you to fuck my sister."

His eyebrows lifted, just slightly, that slow grin spreading across his face. He didn't look surprised. He looked intrigued. "Here? Or on the boat?"

I glanced at the boat, rocking gently a few yards away. The fiberglass gleamed in the sun, the seats shaded by a small canopy. "The boat. I want to watch. I want to see every angle."

Maddie swam closer, her body brushing against my side. "Sam—"

"You want this?" I asked, my hand finding her waist under the water. "You want him to take you while I watch? While I film it?"

Her breath caught. Her eyes flickered to Kai, then back to me. "Yes."

"Then let's go."

We swam to the boat, the water streaming from our bodies as we pulled ourselves onto the deck. The fiberglass was warm from the sun, the salt drying on our skin. Kai climbed aboard last, his body lean and golden in the light, water dripping from his hair down his chest.

I found my shorts on the deck, pulled out my phone. The screen was dry, the case still intact. I unlocked it, opened the camera, and looked at Kai and Maddie, standing naked and glistening in the afternoon sun.

"Don't mind me," I said, my voice low. "Pretend I'm not here."

Kai laughed, a low, rich sound. "That's going to be impossible."

But he turned to Maddie. His hands found her waist, pulling her against him. He kissed her—deep, unhurried, his tongue sliding into her mouth. Maddie melted into him, her fingers threading through his wet hair, her body pressing against his.

I raised the phone, framing them through the lens. The light was perfect—golden and soft, catching the water on their skin, the way his hands slid down her back, the way she arched into him.

I snapped a photo. Then another, adjusting the angle.

Kai broke the kiss, his mouth trailing down her throat, her collarbone, her chest. He knelt in front of her, his hands gripping her hips, his mouth finding her breasts. She gasped, her head falling back, her fingers gripping his shoulders.

I circled them, my bare feet silent on the deck, capturing every angle. The way his tongue circled her nipple. The way her back arched. The way his hands gripped her ass, pulling her closer.

"Look at me, Maddie," I said, my voice soft but clear.

Her eyes found mine through the lens. They were dark, dilated, full of trust and hunger. I snapped the photo—her face, her parted lips, the glisten of Kai's mouth on her skin.

Kai lowered her onto the bench seat, her body stretching out across the worn leather. He settled between her legs, his mouth finding her cunt, and I heard her cry out, sharp and desperate. I moved closer, the phone steady, capturing the way his tongue worked her, the way her hips lifted to meet him, the way her hands fisted in his hair.

I took three photos, then switched to video. The sound of it—her moans, the wet slide of his tongue, the creak of the leather—filled the air, and I felt my own body respond, a pulse of heat between my legs.

"Tell me how it feels," I said, my voice steady.

"So good," she gasped. "His tongue—fuck, Sam—"

"Good girl. Let me hear you."

She came with a cry, her body shuddering, her thighs clamping around his head. I held the video steady, capturing every second of it—the way her back arched, the way her mouth fell open, the way she called out my name at the peak.

Kai rose over her, his cock hard and glistening. He positioned himself at her entrance, looked at me through the lens, and smiled—that slow, shark-tooth grin that made my knees weak.

"You filming this part too?"

"Every second."

He pushed inside her, slow, letting the camera capture the way she stretched around him, the way her eyes rolled back, the way her hands gripped the leather. I zoomed in, capturing the place where they joined, the slick heat of it, the way his hips pressed flush against hers.

I held the phone steady as he fucked her, his rhythm deep and punishing, the sound of skin slapping skin echoing across the water. Maddie's cries grew louder, more desperate, her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper.

"I'm close," she breathed, her eyes finding mine. "Sam—"

"Come for me," I said. "I want to see it."

She came with a scream, her body arching off the bench, her cunt clenching around him. Kai followed a moment later, his hips thrusting deep, a low groan escaping his lips as he spilled into her.

I stopped the video, my hand trembling. I opened my messages, found Jake's thread, and sent the best photo—Maddie's face, her lips parted, Kai's mouth on her breast. Then the video, captioned: Thinking of you while my sister gets fucked.

I sent a second video to Chris: Kai pushing into Maddie, the look on her face at the moment of entry. Captioned: Wish you were here to join.

My phone buzzed almost immediately. Jake: Fuck. That's the hottest thing I've ever seen. Where are you?

I typed back: Boat. Mile off the pier. Come find us.

Another buzz. Chris: On our way. Don't finish without us.

I smiled, pocketing the phone. Kai was still on top of Maddie, his forehead pressed to hers, their breathing slow and synchronized. I knelt beside them, my hand finding Maddie's cheek, turning her face toward me.

"Good?" I asked.

"Perfect." Her voice was dazed, dreamy. "You're going to make me addicted to this."

I kissed her, tasting Kai on her lips, tasting the salt and sex of them both. "That's the idea."

Kai pulled out slowly, rolling onto his back beside her. He looked at me, his eyes half-lidded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Your turn?"

"Not yet." I stretched out on the deck, the fiberglass warm against my skin. "The boys are coming. We'll wait."

His eyebrows lifted. "Boys?"

"Jake and Chris. You'll like them." I reached out, my hand finding his, squeezing. "They're part of this too."

He didn't ask questions. He just nodded, his thumb tracing a circle on my palm. "I'm along for the ride."

I closed my eyes, letting the sun wash over me, the boat rocking gently on the water. My phone buzzed again. Jake: See you in twenty. Keep her warm.

I smiled, the screen warm against my fingers, the taste of the sea on my lips. The afternoon stretched ahead, bright and endless, full of salt and skin and the promise of more hands on my body.

I was ready for all of it.

The sun had shifted, the shadows lengthening across the deck as we lay sprawled in the aftermath. Maddie's head rested on my stomach, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my thigh. Kai was propped on one elbow, watching the horizon, his chest rising and falling with an easy rhythm.

I checked my phone. Eighteen minutes since Jake's message. I sat up, the fiberglass warm against my skin, and scanned the water. A speck in the distance, growing larger—a boat, cutting toward us with purpose.

"They're coming."

Kai stood, stretching, unconcerned by his nakedness. He pulled on his shorts, the fabric riding low on his hips, and leaned against the railing, watching the approaching vessel. "That them?"

"That's them."

Maddie stirred, sitting up, her hair a tangled mess. She didn't reach for clothes. She just watched, a slow smile spreading across her face as the boat drew closer.

I could make out two figures now. Jake at the helm, his dark hair whipping in the wind, his eyes fixed on our boat. Chris beside him, shirtless, his hand raised in a lazy wave.

My heart hammered as they pulled alongside, the engine cutting to a low idle. Jake killed the motor and stepped onto the deck of his boat, then leaped across the gap onto ours, landing with a easy grace. Chris followed, a cooler in one hand, a grin on his face.

Jake's eyes found me first—naked, still glistening from the water, the marks of the afternoon blooming on my skin. His gaze traveled down my body and back up, slow and deliberate, and I saw the hunger there, banked but present.

"You've been busy," he said, his voice low.

"I told you to keep her warm." He crossed the deck, his hands finding my waist, pulling me against him. He kissed me, deep and possessive, tasting of salt and the open water. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark, his breath quick. "You did good."

I smiled, my hand finding his chest. "I always do."

Chris had set down the cooler and was eyeing Kai with open curiosity. "You must be the host."

"Kai." He extended his hand, easy and confident. "Sam told me about you two."

"All good things, I hope."

"The best."

Maddie rose, walking over to Chris, her body bare and unselfconscious. She pressed herself against him, her mouth finding his in a kiss that was all tongue and heat. His hands found her ass, pulling her closer, and I watched them for a moment—the way they fit together, the way her body softened into his.

Jake's hand slid down my back, his fingers tracing the curve of my spine. "What's the plan?"

I looked around at the four of them—Jake, Chris, Maddie, Kai. The sun was still high, the water calm, the shore a distant line of green and gold. We had hours before the world demanded us back.

"We stay here," I said. "We swim. We fuck. We see where the afternoon takes us."

Jake's smile deepened. "I like the way you think."

I turned to Kai, who was watching the exchange with an amused, patient expression. "You good with that?"

"I'm good with whatever you want, Sam." His voice was low, sincere. "I told you—I'm along for the ride."

I felt a surge of warmth, of gratitude, of something that might have been affection if I let it. I crossed the deck and kissed him, soft and lingering, a thank-you and a promise all at once.

Then I turned back to the group, my body humming with the possibilities. "Who wants to swim?"

Maddie was already at the edge, Chris behind her, his hands on her hips. She looked back at me, her grin wide and wild. "Race you to the boat."

She dove, a clean arc cutting into the blue. Chris followed, then Kai, then Jake. I stood at the edge for a moment, the sun warm on my skin, the water glittering below.

Then I dove after them, into the cool embrace of the sea, into the afternoon that stretched before us like a promise.

I hit the water clean, the cool shock of it washing over me, rinsing away the last traces of salt and sex from my skin. I surfaced in time to see Jake's body cut through the surface beside me, his dark hair slicked back, his eyes finding mine through the glare. He grinned, lazy and knowing, and I felt that familiar pull in my chest, the one that had been there since the first moment he walked into my hotel room.

"You look good out here," he said, treading water. "Happy."

"I am happy." I floated on my back, the sun warm on my stomach, the water lapping at my ears. The sky was a perfect, endless blue. "I don't think I've ever been this happy."

He swam closer, his hand finding my waist under the water, pulling me against him. Our legs tangled, the water offering a strange, weightless intimacy. "Tell me what you did. Before we got here."

I traced a pattern on his chest, the water beading on his skin. "I will. But only if you tell me what you did. After I left the penthouse."

His smile sharpened. "You first."

"Fair enough." I took a breath, the words coming easily, like a story I'd already told myself a dozen times. "After I sent you to fuck the brunette, I went back to the party. I found a host at the restaurant where we had breakfast. Kai. Blond, sun-bleached hair, green eyes, built like a surfer. We snuck into the staff room during his break. Maddie came with me."

Jake's eyes didn't leave mine. "Go on."

I let my hand drift lower, my fingers brushing his stomach. "He brought three friends. Eli, Remy, Jace. We had ten minutes before his break ended. We used every second." I paused, letting the image hang. "Eli fucked me on the table. Remy took Maddie over the couch. Jace watched, then touched me while Eli was still inside me. Kai finished me on the floor."

Jake's breath had gone shallow. His hand tightened on my waist. "That's a lot for ten minutes."

"I'm efficient." I smiled, slow and wicked. "And then we went to the pier. He took us out on his boat. We swam. He fucked me in the water. I filmed him fucking Maddie. Sent it to you."

He let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "I watched that video three times before I got here."

"Good." I ran my hand up his chest, hooking my fingers around the back of his neck. "Your turn."

He pulled me closer, his mouth brushing my ear. "After you left with the brunette, I went back to the main party. Found a woman near the bar—tall, red hair, dressed in black. Took her to a bedroom down the hall. Fucked her until she screamed. But I was thinking of you the whole time."

"And then?"

"Then Chris found me. We went to the roof. Watched the sunrise. Talked about you." His voice dropped, rougher. "He asked if he could fuck me. I let him."

A pulse of heat shot through me. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He held my gaze, unflinching. "It was good. Different. But not as good as you."

I kissed him, deep and salt-tanged, my tongue sliding into his mouth. He held me against him, the water swirling around us, the boat bobbing nearby. When I broke the kiss, I was breathless, my legs wrapped around his waist under the water.

"I want to watch you two," I said. "Next time. You and Chris. Together."

His grin spread slow and devastating. "I was hoping you'd say that."

A splash nearby made us both turn. Chris surfaced a few yards away, water streaming from his hair, a grin on his face. "You two done making out? Missing the show."

I looked past him. Near the boat, Kai was treading water, and Maddie was between them, her arms resting on their shoulders, her legs wrapped around something—someone—under the surface. Her head was thrown back, her lips parted, a low moan carrying across the water.

Kai caught my eye and winked. Chris swam closer to them, his hand finding Maddie's hip under the water, sliding down.

I watched, my body responding to the sight of them—Maddie suspended between two men, her small body rocking with the rhythm of whatever was happening below the surface. She let out a sharp cry, her back arching, and I felt my own breath quicken.

Jake's hand found mine, his fingers lacing through. "You want to join?"

I looked at him, at the question in his hazel eyes. "Not yet. I want to watch a little longer."

He nodded, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. We floated together, our bodies rising and falling with the gentle swell, our eyes fixed on the scene unfolding near the boat. Maddie's moans grew louder, more desperate, and I saw Kai's shoulders tense, his hand gripping her ass.

Chris's head dipped below the surface. A moment later, Maddie cried out, her body shuddering, her legs tightening. She surfaced a moment later, gasping, her hair plastered to her face, a wild grin spreading across her lips.

"That was—" She panted, treading water, her eyes finding mine. "Fucking incredible."

Kai surfaced beside her, his chest heaving. "She's got a talented mouth." He looked at Chris, who surfaced a moment later, water streaming from his dark hair. "And you're not bad with your hands."

Chris laughed, low and rough. "I've had practice."

The four of them floated together, a loose cluster, their bodies brushing and tangling in the water. I felt a tug in my chest, a pull toward them—toward the warmth and the salt and the easy, unhurried intimacy of the afternoon.

I looked at Jake. "Let's go find out what they're planning."

He took my hand, and we swam toward them, the water cool and welcoming, the sun warm on our shoulders. As we drew closer, I saw Maddie's hand slide under the water, reaching for Chris, and I saw Kai's arm wrap around her waist, pulling her against him.

I stopped a few feet away, treading water, watching them. "Room for two more?"

Kai's grin widened. "Always."

I swam into the circle, my body sliding between Chris and Kai, my back against Jake's chest. The water was alive with movement—hands finding hips, mouths finding skin, the quiet gasp of someone's breath catching. I felt Chris's hand slide up my thigh, felt Kai's lips brush my shoulder, felt Jake's arm tighten around my waist.

The afternoon stretched around us, endless and golden, the five of us tangled in the blue, the boat drifting nearby. The shore was a distant line of green and gold, forgotten.

I didn't know what came next. The boardwalk. My parents. The rest of spring break. But right now, in this moment, there was only the water and the warmth and the weight of bodies pressing close.

Maddie's hand found mine under the surface. She squeezed, once, a secret between sisters.

I squeezed back.

I held her hand under the water, the salt lapping at our joined fingers, and let myself drift in the warmth of bodies surrounding me. Chris's hand had found its way to my hip, his thumb tracing a slow circle against my skin. Kai's shoulder pressed against mine, solid and warm. Jake's chest was a steady wall at my back, his arms loose around my waist, his breath warm against my ear.

We floated like that for a long moment, the five of us suspended in the blue, the boat rocking gently nearby. The only sounds were the lapping of water, the distant cry of a gull, the soft rhythm of breathing.

Maddie broke the silence first, her voice dreamy. "This is perfect."

"It is." I turned my head, catching Jake's eye. His face was relaxed, his usual sharp hunger softened into something quieter, something that made my chest ache. "I could stay here forever."

"Forever's a long time," Kai said, but his voice was warm, teasing. "We'd get pruny."

Chris laughed, the sound low and easy. "Worth it."

I felt Jake shift behind me, his lips brushing my ear. "You cold?"

"A little." The sun had started its slow descent, the light shifting from gold to amber, the breeze picking up. "But I don't want to move."

"Then we don't." His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer. "Not until you're ready."

I let my eyes drift closed, let myself exist in the sensation of it—the cool water, the warm bodies, the slow pulse of the afternoon. I could feel Chris's hand still on my hip, could feel Kai's knee brush mine under the surface, could feel Maddie's fingers still laced through mine.

But it was Jake's arms around me that anchored me. That made this feel like more than just another adventure.

"I love you," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. Quiet. Just for him.

His arms tightened. His lips pressed against my temple. "I love you too, Sam."

Maddie's hand squeezed mine, a silent acknowledgment. Chris and Kai didn't react—they might not have heard, or they were giving us the privacy of the moment. Either way, I was grateful.

I opened my eyes. The sky was shifting, the first hints of pink bleeding into the blue. The afternoon was slipping away, the evening waiting in the wings.

"We should head back soon," I said, the words heavy. "My parents are going to start wondering."

"Not yet." Jake's voice was soft but firm. "A few more minutes."

I nodded, letting myself sink into the moment, into the warmth of his arms, into the salt and the sun and the gentle rhythm of the water.

Kai was the first to move, his body breaking the surface with a quiet splash. "I'll get the boat ready." He swam toward the ladder, his body sleek and golden in the fading light. Chris followed a moment later, his hand trailing across my shoulder as he passed.

Maddie floated beside me, her head tipped back, her eyes on the sky. "We're going to have to face them eventually."

"I know." I looked at her, at the way the light caught the water on her skin. "But not tonight. Tonight, we find the boys. We find the party. We keep going."

Her grin spread slow and wicked. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Jake's arms loosened, his hand finding mine under the water. "Come on. Let's get dried off before you turn into a prune."

I laughed, letting him guide me toward the boat. The ladder was warm under my hands as I pulled myself up, water streaming from my body, the fiberglass warm against my skin. Jake followed, his body dripping, his eyes finding mine with that familiar heat.

Kai handed me a towel, rough and sun-warmed. I pressed it to my face, breathing in the smell of salt and fabric softener. Maddie climbed aboard beside me, wrapping herself in another towel, her hair a tangled mess.

Chris was already at the cooler, pulling out bottles of water. He tossed one to me, then to Maddie, then to Kai. "Hydrate. We've got a long night ahead."

I caught the bottle, the plastic cool against my palm. I twisted off the cap and drank, the water a clean, cold relief against my dry throat. "What's the plan?"

Kai was at the helm, his hand on the ignition. "I know a spot. Beach party, south end. Bonfire, music, the whole thing. Friends of mine run it every spring break." He looked at me, his green eyes catching the light. "You in?"

I looked at Jake. He looked at me, a question in his eyes. I looked at Maddie, already grinning, already hungry for more.

"We're in," I said.

Kai's smile widened. He turned the key, the engine rumbling to life, and guided us away from the open water, toward the shore where the first lights were beginning to flicker.

The wind whipped my hair as we picked up speed, the boat cutting through the water, the spray cool against my skin. I leaned against Jake, his arm around my shoulders, watching the shore grow closer.

Maddie sat beside me, her hand on my knee. Chris was at the bow, his eyes on the horizon. Kai stood at the helm, his sun-bleached hair streaming behind him.

I didn't know what the night would bring. More bodies. More heat. More of this endless, reckless freedom.

But I knew one thing, with a certainty that settled deep in my bones:

I wasn't done yet.

The boat slowed as we approached the shore, the engine dropping to a low purr. I could see the bonfire already blazing, a warm orange glow against the darkening sky. Figures moved around it—silhouettes, laughing, dancing, the thrum of music carrying across the sand.

Kai cut the engine and dropped anchor a few yards from the shore. "We'll wade in from here."

I swung my legs over the side, the water cool against my calves. The sand was soft under my feet as I walked ashore, the water receding, my towel wrapped around my shoulders. The bonfire was closer now, the heat of it reaching across the sand, the music wrapping around me like a second skin.

I turned back, watching the others follow. Jake, his towel slung over his shoulder, his body cutting a dark silhouette against the firelight. Chris, already scanning the crowd, his eyes sharp and curious. Kai, moving with that easy, unhurried grace, like he owned the beach. And Maddie, her hand finding mine as she stepped onto the sand.

"Ready?" she asked.

I looked at the fire, at the bodies moving in the light, at the night spreading out before us, dark and full of promise.

"Ready."

We walked toward the flames together, the five of us, the sand warm under our feet, the music pulling us in. The night was just beginning.