My mouth dries as I stare at the box. It’s been a long time since I last had to disappear. It was easy then. I didn’t have links, people I care about. Now, I have shit to lose, things at stake.

I should never have allowed myself the luxury of caring about someone else. I should never have allowed myself to get close to Sasha and Lily-May. They’re all I have and the thought of walking away from them feels like a knife to the gut. What choice do I have, though? If I stay, I put them and the entire club at risk. I put myself at risk. Isaac will demand me back, and I’m not sure the Sons won’t hand me over just to keep the peace.

Pushing those thoughts aside, with trembling hands, I tug the box out and place it on the carpet in front of me. For a moment I stare at it, like it’s a live bomb. Touching this means I’m moving on, that my life in London is done. That makes my stomach fill with lead.

Carefully, I pull the lid off and peer inside. There’s documentation, a passport, ID, money—everything I need to start a new life somewhere else.

With a heavy heart, I gather up all the stuff in one hand and stand. Then I toss it on the bed before moving to the wardrobe and pulling out a large holdall bag. I shove the stuff in the side pocket, carefully zipping it up. That is my road to safety. I can’t afford to lose it.

I step over to my drawers and start to empty my clothes into the bag. When I’m finished, I put the bottom drawer back into the unit and close it, hiding all evidence it was ever out in the first place.

I’m just zipping the holdall up when there’s a knock on the door and Nox pops his head around the frame.

“You done?”

“Nearly,” I tell him. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Anything for you, baby.”

His words make my stomach heat and I duck my head to hide my smile.

He moves into the room and closes the space between us. His hand cups my jaw and I can’t stop from leaning into it. All my sense, all my resolve disappears when he’s around me. I can’t stop from feeling things, from wanting things. If it wasn’t for Isaac, I wouldn’t question it at all. I want Nox. I want him with every fibre of my being.

When he takes my mouth, I let him, welcome it, encourage it. My tongue finds his, sweeping over it as he claims me, takes me, uses me. Nox’s hands sweep under my tee, trailing over my spine and a shiver of pure pleasure runs through me. I shouldn’t let this happen, but I can’t stop from taking what he’s offering. It’s the last chance for real happiness, because when I leave, my life will be filled with darkness I’m not sure I can wade through this time. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave the life I’ve made, but that isn’t my choice.

So, I tangle my fingers with his as he reaches for my hands and when he walks me back to the mattress, I let him come down on top of me. I know it’s cruel to do this to him, but I can’t stop now that I’ve started. When he pulls my tee over my head, I let him do it and when he pulls the cups of my bra down, I can’t stop my fingers from moving to the clasp on the back.

He takes one of my breasts in his hand and caresses over the nipple until I’m squirming. I can barely draw air as he moves back and forth over the sensitive nub. When he sucks it into his mouth, my back arches off the mattress and tingles race through my belly. Heat pools between my legs and he lifts off me to remove his kutte. He slides it off his shoulders before he drags his tee over his head. Then he moves to unbutton his jeans, his eyes locked on mine as he pushes them down his thighs.

Standing in his boxers, Nox scrapes his thumb over his bottom lip, his heated gaze taking me in. He moves to my jeans and slowly pulls them down my legs. When his touch comes back to skim over my hips to pull my underwear down, my body quivers with anticipation.

Lying naked in front of Nox, my bruises yellowy-green, fading from the crash, the urge to cover myself is a heartbeat away, but the way he’s looking at me gives me confidence. It’s like he’s a starving man and I’m his next meal.

“Okay?” he questions.

I nod. I’m more than okay.

My fingers scrape over his shaved head as he moves between my legs and then he dives in down there, his tongue flattening against my slit before he drags it up to my clit. The sound I make is feral, inhuman and desperate. I squirm, trying to bring my thighs together to create some friction, but his fingers hold them apart as he licks his way around my pussy.

I’m so close to the edge as he keeps licking, so close I’m about to come apart at the seams. My breath rips out of me in little pants, sounds I’ve never heard erupting from my mouth. Isaac didn’t care if I got off, as long as he did, so Nox taking his time to make sure I get my happy ending is novel and it makes tears prick my eyes.

His fingers slip inside me, hitting that spot that nearly takes me over the edge and I writhe under the mix of sensations that are coming at me from all directions.

I forget about all of that as he darts his tongue out once more and my orgasm slams into me. My breath catches as my lungs stutter and then a delicious shiver goes through my entire body.

He gives me a moment to recover then he tugs his boxers down, freeing his cock. It’s thick, veiny and my mouth waters as I stare at it. He snags his jeans and pulls out his wallet, tugging a condom from the back of it.

I watch, mesmerized as he slides the rubber down his shaft, giving his dick two pulls before he steps back towards the bed. He moves up my body and his cock nudges against my entrance. I’ve never felt such a connection, such chemistry with a man before. I’ve never felt cherished and wanted. He’s hard as a rock against my heat and he watches my face as he slowly pushes into me. My pussy, vibrating from the aftermath of my orgasm, clenches around him as soon as he enters.

He feels amazing, big, stretching me as he settles for a moment, then he drags out of me before pushing back in. I moan, fisting my hands into the duvet beneath me as I try to stay grounded, but my mind is wild, focusing on nothing more than the feeling of what we’re doing.

He flips me onto my front and pulls my bum towards him, then he enters me from behind, his fingers bruising as they grip my hips. At this angle, he’s able to get deeper and I can’t stop from falling forwards onto my elbows, my face pressed into the mattress as I try to take steady breaths.

His long strokes continue to push me closer to the edge and my orgasm comes quickly. I fall over the edge, gasping his name and with a grunt, he explodes into the condom a moment later.

Nox pulls out slowly, and I moan as he does. Then he collapses onto the mattress next to me. Face down, I twist my head to look at him.

He brushes my tangled hair from my face.

“Okay?” he asks again.

“Yeah,” I give him the words this time.

“We should clean up.”

“In a second. I can’t feel my body right now.”

He chuckles and I love the sound. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard him properly laugh. He’s normally so serious.

Nox leans forwards slightly and kisses me. It’s awkward because of the angle I’m lying at, but we manage to lock lips.

I should feel at peace, happy, but the only emotion that hits me as I take in this beautiful man is guilt.

I should never have slept with him when I’m planning on leaving.

Can I really walk away from this, from him?