bChapter /bb599 /b

Joshua conceded with augh. It seemed their encounter in Ustrana had left a deep impression on Shermaine—no wonder she’d been avoiding intimacy since their return. He held her close and asked, “How long did you n to ban me?”

“Three months,” Shermaine replied.

Three months without sex would’ve driven him to frustration. He had been too intense that time.

Joshua massaged her lower abdomen. “Did we use protectionst time?” If not, he could live with three months of abstinence.

Shermaine rolled over, ignoring him.

Joshua wrapped his arms around her. “Angry?”

Only a nightlight glowed in the room. He coaxed, “What’ll it take to make you forgive me, Shearyi?/ii” /i

The thought of Joshua fixating solely on getting her pregnant still irked her.

They hadn’t used protection that night. It was her safe period, but with Joshua’s sperm count, the odds of conception were high.

Yet Shermaine suspected Joshua’s words held magic–if he kept talking, she might actually get pregnant.

Joshua pressed on, “We talked about going on a date two years ago. What if we make it a space trip?”

Her eyes lit up. Apocalypse could navigate the cosmos, even if itcked a spaceship’s instant teleportation. But with Dave around, travel was effortless. Dave had once feared wandering far, but now Shermaine’s protection emboldened him.

Shermaine’s mood shifted instantly. She rolled back to face Joshua. “No backing out. When?”

She refused to explore alone–he had toe with her.

Joshua thought a moment. “If you’re not pregnant, we leave now. If you are, we’ll go after you give birth.”

“Deal.” Before sleeping, she grinned, “I didn’t just give Molly handcuffs. Danielle got a pair too.”

Molly and Danielle were her closest friends, both in rtionships, s? Shermaine had shared the “gift” with them.

Joshuaughed, “I’d happily let you cuff me, Sheary.”

“Save the chatter. Sing me to sleep.” Shermaine was restless, needing Joshua’s stories to drift off.

He nodded,unching into a soothing bedtime tale in his deep voice.

Down the hall, Gracie slept soundly in her crib. She nodded off quickly, ino /ilubies needed–so she never got to enjoy such perks.

Danielle had owned the handcuffs for days, hiding them at the bottom of her closet to avoid Ross‘ notice.

But she’d craved using them, with no luck. Shermaine had also sent condoms from the Kingdom of Xyperia–seven, each with unique packaging and instructions. Danielle wanted to try them too, but opportunities eluded her.

She stood in the walk–in closet, staring at the handcuffs.

She, Molly, and Shermaine shared everything, When Molly gushed about the handcuffs‘ effectiveness, Danielle ached to take charge in bed for once.

Danielle frowned. Molly and Shermaine thrived as dominants, but she’d always let Ross lead.

“Danielle, you’ve been standing there a while.” Ross leaned in the doorway, suit jacket discarded.

4:37 Fr, 25 JUN (30

bChapter /bb599 /b

bShe /bbjumped, /bspinning around. Usually cool, her cheeks flushed like roses. “Wee home, Rost

bRoss /bsmiled, the elegant man teasing, “Hiding something?”

Danielle sped her hands, eyes darting. “Curious?”

She thought, ‘This is my chance to use the handcuffs.”

Ross arched a brow, waiting.

Danielle crooked a finger. “Come here, dear, and I’ll show you.”

Ross approached, unguarded. Marriage had only amplified Danielle’s allure..

Between their busy schedules–Danielle as a surgeon, often hometer than him–quiet evenings together were rare.

But Ross soon sensed her tone shift. He advanced anyway, curious.

Danielle breathed in his scent–faint smoke mingled with the cologne she’d gifted him. It disarmed her.

Ross asked, “What’s the secret?”

“Hold out your hands,” she said, and he obeyed.

She said, “Both.” He alsoplied.

Danielle whipped out the handcuffs, but Ross moved faster, grabbing her wrist and cuffing her.

She couldn’t reach the fingerprint lock. Flustered, she red. “That’s not fair!”

Ross‘ smile turned knowing at the sight of the cuffs. He pulled her close, gripping her jaw. “Sorry, it’s my instinct.”

She thought, ‘Liar.‘ Her face burned–her dream of dominating him shattered.

Ross brushed her lips. “Sheary send anything else?”

She said, “Nothing.”

“Dr. Shelly, control your heartbeat before lying.” Ross pressed a hand to her chest, feeling its rapid thud.

Danielle swatted his hand away. “Can we pretend this never happened?”

Ross shook his head, then found Shermaine’s condoms in the closet–seven, each with distinct packaging and instructions.

He read them carefully. Danielle tried to stop him, but Ross pinned her against the closet wall. Cuffed, she was helpless.

Five minutester, he finished studying the condoms. He held one up, murmuring in her ear, “Let’s test these.”

She’d wanted the handcuffs, not these.

Danielle found herself cuffed to the bed, Ross gripping her jaw as he kissed her.

Roy and Molly had left the seaside vi, returning to Loang. He clung to her, following wherever she went.

That night, after Molly finished work, she took Roy to dinner. As soon as she parked, he insisted on a kiss. Molly relented.

His mating season wasn’t over in a day, but that night had eased it.

ALA

Chapter b599 /b

bSuddenly/bb, /bbMolly /bbnoticed /bshes paparazzi outside, taking photos.

bRoy/b, sensing her distraction, bit her lip harder. “Focus, Momo.”

Molly caught his driftb, /bgrinning as she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him openly.

Within two hours, all of Ustrana knew–the Hill family’s new leader was making out in a luxury car with her Wallington boyfriend. The bphotos /bbgiere /bcrysta

clear.

Men who’d idolized Molly as a fantasy mourned. The aloof Hill heir, letting a man kiss her like that. Her indulgence screamed his importance bto /bbher /b

Details about Roy emerged: he was a Shay, scion of Wallington’s elite.

What’s more, he’d pursued Molly two years ago, vanished after she did, and now returned–their love rekindled.

That night, Roy celebrated the news over dinner, thrilled that the world knew they were together.

They returned to the Hill mansion, where Hiry had prepared mountains of gifts for Roy’s family, stacked in a corner. bIt /bwas Hiry’s first time bmeeting /bRoy, and she noted his good looks.

Roy smiled. “Hello, I’m Roy.”

Hiry summoned coffee, gesturing for him to sit.

Roy joined Molly on the couch as servants brought fruit.

Hiry asked Molly, “Gifts are ready. When’s your trip?”

“Tomorrow.” Molly fed Roy a cherry. “Why so many?”

Hiry shrugged. “Seemed insufficient.” She stifled a sigh at their sweetness–she’d get used to it.

Molly arched a brow. “I’m meeting his parentsi, /inot getting engaged.”

Hiry marveled that the Shays would let iRoy /imarry into the Hills.

Molly rified, “He’s not.”

Hiry sighed and nodded.

Roy said, “Momo, I want kiwi.”

She speared a piece and fed him.

20

Hiry stayed silent a moment, then watched Molly wipe a drop of juice from Roy’s ilips/i, then kiss ihim/i.

That was too much. Ustrana was a liberal ce, but watching her daughter make out? Hiry left, servants trailing.

Roy pinned Molly ito /ithe couch. “Momo, I want you.”

She cupped his face. “Later.” She licked her lips. “Lucky’s upstairs. Let’s go to the garden.”