THE NEXT MORNING, I woke to the worst set of realizations.

One, it was possible that I wouldn't be able to walk today.

I could still feel August between my legs. I could still feel him everywhere. It undoubtedly had a lot to do with how he currently had his arms wrapped tightly around me, tucking my body into his like he was afraid I'd try to bolt as soon as I woke up.

But it also had to do with how lasting his touch was, not to mention his words and the looks he gave me while absolutely destroying me over and over again last night. I'd never met a man as relentless or passionate as August Fletcher.

It was terrifying.

There was no way anyone else could compare to him.

And there was no way I could keep him.

Because two, I realized that I had to tell August the truth. The whole truth about why I was here and what I'd been told I had to do before I came home.

The guilt roiling in my stomach this morning told me that I couldn't keep sleeping with him and doing whatever it was that we were doing without coming clean. Even though my purpose for being here had nothing to do with why I wanted to stay and why I wanted him, it still felt wrong that he didn't understand the whole picture.

I should have told him last night. But I'd been too blinded by lust and desire, too drugged by the intensity of August's words and the way he'd wanted me, the way he couldn't wait, the way I couldn't wait.

Fuck.

My high from last night was slowly crashing down around me as realization upon realization sank deeper into my bones.

I wouldn't be able to produce any part of my assignment the way I was supposed to. I wouldn't be able to provide the article they wanted. And I certainly wouldn't be able to deliver August the way they wanted.

I couldn't see August ever returning to play for the Warriors. He felt they betrayed his family—the most important thing to him. They did betray his family. He wasn't about to forget that any time soon.

With a sigh, I attempted to push out of bed to use the bathroom and splash some water on my face to slow the panic that had set in, but August wasn't having it. His arm tightened around me.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his husky, sleep-coated voice making my insides melt.

I cleared my throat. "Who said anything was wrong?"

August slid his hand to my chest, his fingers tracing over the slopes of my breasts until he palm landed over my heart.

"Your breathing picked up, and your heartbeat is faster."

"I thought you were sleeping," I breathed, unsure what to say to his observations. "How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough." He brushed a kiss over my temple. "What's wrong, Castle?"

"Nothing's wrong," I replied, probably too forcefully. "How could anything be wrong after last night? I just need to use the bathroom."

"Are you in pain?" August's hand started wandering down my body, his fingertips skimming my bare skin. "Did I hurt you?"

I shook my head. "You could never hurt me, August."

"Mm," August hummed as his fingers slid down and cupped between my legs. Meanwhile, I felt as his erection grew, pressing against my lower back. I squirmed, trying to resist the flicker of heat in my body. Actually, it was more like a tidal wave. It always was with August. "Don't lie to me, baby."

I closed my eyes, soaking in this moment. From the way August murmured baby to how his body cradled mine, to the sun peeking in the windows and the crash of the waves outside. It was perfect. And the last thing I wanted was to shatter it.

Don't lie to me, baby.

He didn't realize that it felt like I was lying to him about so much more than how my body felt this morning. There were too many big feelings and realizations, and I struggled to keep them all in.

Without permission, my body arched into his hand, needing more. But all August did was move his fingers in a slow circle, massaging.

"You took me so well last night," he murmured. I could feel his breath tickling my skin. It was shallow, as though thinking about last night made it hard to talk. Considering I didn't know how to find words at the moment, I understood. "You did such a good job, Quinn baby. Are you sure you're not sore?"

I swallowed hard before managing to admit, "Maybe just a little. But August, I think—" I broke off with a moan when he pressed a little harder, igniting heat that was hard to ignore. My eyes fluttered shut, and I imagined—just for a moment—that we were in a different reality where I could just be with him, with this man.

"August," I whispered, trying again.

Maybe there was something about the way I said his name or something in the stiffening of my body, but August immediately drew his hand away. I felt his body repositioning. His hand pressed onto my shoulder, urging me to turn over so we could see each other. When I opened my eyes, he was looking down at me, concern dancing in his gaze.

He was so undeniably ruggedly handsome that it momentarily stole my ability to speak, let alone breathe. I just stared at him, wondering how we got to this point. I never imagined I'd see August Fletcher looking at me the way he was right now. Never imagined I'd wake up naked in his bed, sore from all the delicious things he did to my body. Never imagined I'd never want to leave.

"What is it, Castle?" he asked when words continued to escape me. His eyes roamed my face while I parsed out what to say and if I dared to say it.

Part of me felt it was wrong to ruin this moment, to cast a shadow on an amazing night. But another part of me felt it was wrong to keep going without being fully transparent.

August's brows drew together, growing increasingly worried as I worked through my thoughts. He brushed my hair from my face, tucking a strand behind my ear.

"Do you regret it?"

That question—that little question—got my tongue unstuck.

"Of course not." I shook my head. "I don't regret any of the time we've spent together. And I certainly don't regret last night."

I watched as he visibly relaxed. "Good because...." His gaze trailed away from my face, as did his thoughts. He got lost in them for a second before clearing his throat and coming back to me. "Because last night was incredible for me. You are incredible."

I nodded, feeling the glow of his words take over my body. "So are you."

He nodded back, relief and concern warring in his gaze. Because he knew there was something I wasn't saying.

And the last thing I wanted was to cause August any more pain.

"There's something I need to tell you," I admitted after a long pause.

August's whole body tensed. His jaw ticked. "If you tell me anything that has to do with me not getting to have you again, it's gonna kill me, Castle. I told you....Once would never be enough for me, and you agreed. I told you that while you're here, you're mine. And I stand by all of that. I'm not going to let you go that easily."

I shook my head because he was getting it all wrong. "No, August. That's not it at all. I don't want to get away from you. I want more. I want last night again. I do."

He relaxed, but it still killed me to see the anxiety in his expression. How was I ever supposed to leave this man who just wanted someone to stay?

I cleared my throat, trying to talk with more confidence. "It doesn't have anything to do with how much I want you." I moved to sit up, bringing the blankets with me and clutching them to my chest. "It doesn't have anything to do with last night."

August cocked his head to the side, and I got momentarily distracted by the way the light hit his face, illuminating his piercing eyes. "Then what is it?"

I took a deep breath before answering him. "It's about what the Warriors team asked me to do when I was down here."

Darkness washed over his face at the mention of the team, and I knew I was about to ruin his morning somehow. And I hated that. I really hated that, but I had to tell him.

"What the fuck did they do?"

"They want the article," I said. "But there's something they want even more. And since you went no-contact with them, they put it on me."

August gave a jerky nod like he understood. "Because they knew you were my weakness. I've always known that's why they sent you."

Something twinged in my chest. "I'm your weakness?"

"Is that a surprise?" He sighed. "You've brought me to my fucking knees, Castle."

"I–" I shook my head, not knowing how to respond. "I didn't realize. I knew you liked me enough to tolerate my interviews. But when I arrived, when they sent me...I didn't fully know..."

"What did they do?" August asked again, and I swallowed nervously. His shift in my mood and his intensity was making my anxiety climb. I wasn't surprised about it, but still.

"They want you back," I breathed, my eyes tracing his face for any fragment of reaction I could deduce. "I was supposed to figure out why you left and then convince you to return to New York. My job..."

I broke off when I saw the way August's expression hardened.

He finished the sentence for me.

"Your job relies on my return, doesn't it?"

I almost didn't want to confirm his assumption, but I reluctantly nodded.

"Yes, August. My job relies on this assignment. And part of my assignment was to, by any means necessary, convince you to return to the Warriors."

☀️

a/n:

dont put that popcorn away yet!
any predictions?

xoxo amelie