The rain had finally stopped by morning, leaving Willow Creek glistening under a pale gray sky. The house, however, felt heavier than ever. Every creak of the floorboards seemed louder, every silence more loaded. I had barely slept, my body still aching in the best and worst ways from Elias’s relentless claiming the night before. His c*m had dried on my thighs, a secret reminder I carried as I slipped back to the guest room before dawn.
Downstairs, the kitchen smelled of fresh coffee and toast. Amina was already there, moving with stiff, deliberate energy. She didn’t look up when I entered. Her shoulders were tense, her usual bright energy replaced by something sharper.
“Morning,” I said, keeping my voice light as I poured coffee.
She finally turned, eyes narrowing slightly. “Morning. Y
