Stepping inside the room, Ashleigh turned and carefully closed the door behind her. Trying her best not to make a sound.

She glanced back toward the bed. Caleb lay on his side with his back to her. Ashleigh sighed in relief, afraid that he had already woken.

‘…you need to make that call… today.’

Alice’s parting words whispered in her ear. She was right. Ashleigh knew that. She knew she should have called days ago, but it was too late to change that. All she could do was make the call now.

Swallowing her guilt and fear, Ashleigh hurried over to the desk and opened the top drawer where she had left her cell phone. She looked down at it and back over her shoulder at Caleb.

She longed to live in this bubble where only the two of them existed. But the problem was, it wasn’t real. They weren’t the only ones that existed, and she wasn’t the only one that missed him. Nor was she the only person he cared about.

Ashleigh let out a heavy sigh and clutched the phone to her chest as she moved into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

It was early here, even earlier at home.

But Ashleigh was afraid that if she didn’t make this call now, she wouldn’t be able to later. She took a deep breath and pressed the button programmed with Fiona’s number.

The phone rang once, twice, and a third time. Ashleigh expected to reach her voicemail when suddenly she answered.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Fiona smiled into the phone. “I didn’t expect to hear from you for another couple of weeks. Yet here you are calling before the sun has even risen.”

Ashleigh bit down on her lip, trying to calm her nerves. She took a breath.

“Yea,” she said. “Sorry, it’s so early. I should have waited and called later.”

“It’s all right. I was up already,” Fiona replied with a chuckle before clearing her throat. “Is everything okay?”

Ashleigh swallowed.

“I need to tell you something,” she said. Her heart began to race.

“What is it?” Fiona asked.

Ashleigh hesitated. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the door.

“I just wanted to let you know I’m coming home,” she said.

She knew she should tell her everything now, but she couldn’t form the words on her lips.

“Really?” Fiona asked. “Is this another short trip? You usually don’t give me a heads up until you’re already in the territories.”

“This time is different,” Ashleigh said softly. “I think it’ll be a long stay… much longer than before.”

There was a long pause. Ashleigh could hear movement. She guessed it was the sound of the blankets as Fiona got out of bed.

“Ashleigh,” Fiona said softly, “are you okay?”

Ashleigh took a deep breath.

“Honestly,” she whispered, “I am better than I have been in a very long time.”

It was as honest as she could be. She was happy. She just couldn’t explain why. Even if she wanted to tell Fiona the truth, the words would not come out.

“Are you sure?” Fiona asked.

Ashleigh could hear the concern in Fiona’s voice. It was painful to listen to. She had been brave and bold most of her life, but now, she could only think of taking the coward’s way out.

Why three days? Because there were things she still needed to tell Caleb before they went home, and she also wanted at least one more day just for them.

“We?” Fiona questioned. “Who is we?”

“I’m sending you a picture,” Ashleigh continued, ignoring Fiona’s questions. “Just know, it’s real. It’s not a trick or a dream. I promise.”

“Ashleigh, what are you talking about?” Fiona asked.

“Three days,” Ashleigh said. “We’ll be home in three days.”

“Ashleigh,” Fiona called to her, but the line went dead.

She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at it, seeing that Ashleigh had hung up the call.

“What is going on with this girl?” she asked herself.

Just as she was about to call Ashleigh back, she felt the warm pressure of fingertips running over the curve of her hips and a shiver along her spine where his lips touched against her naked flesh.

Fiona closed her eyes and breathed deeply as he squeezed her hips.

“What was that about?” he whispered. His hot breath danced along her back.

“Ashleigh’s coming home,” Fiona smiled as his hand moved over her stomach. “She’s bringing someone with her.”

“Who?” he asked, reaching her shoulder with his mouth. He lightly nipped at her.

Fiona gasped with a soft chuckle.

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

The phone in her hand chimed, a notification of a message received.

“That’ll be from Ashleigh,” Fiona said. Opening her eyes and looking down at the phone. “She said she was sending a picture. Maybe it’s of the person she’s bringing.”

Fiona lifted the phone to check the message, but before she could open it, he took the phone from her hand and placed it on the nightstand. He grabbed her chin and turned her to look back at him over her shoulder.

Landon’s eyes were dark with lust and hunger. He leaned forward and kissed Fiona roughly. His tongue lingered on her lips as he pulled back.

“Your curiosity for Ashleigh’s companion while I caress and taste your body is concerning,” he growled, touching his forehead to hers. “Tell me, Fiona…”

He held her stomach tightly and lifted her up so they both stood on the bed on their knees. Landon adjusted himself to slide in behind her, between her thighs, so that he only rubbed against her folds. Fiona bit her bottom lip as she felt how hard he was already.

“Are you growing bored of me?” he whispered against her throat.

She swallowed and took a deep breath as he pushed his shaft along her entrance. The heat inside of her began to rise again.