Page 160 of The Final Cut

“Stop.”

They stop, fingers pausing in the act of stripping.

“I do not need to be managed.” My voice shakes, so I make each word clean. “I don’t need to be distracted like a cranky child until I take a nap. I don’t need sex as sedation. I am angry. I get to be angry.”

Ever’s gaze holds mine. “Sure, baby.”

“You are literally undressing.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“After I said I don’t want to be managed.”

“Also yes.”

Shiloh’s mouth curves faintly. “For the record, I personally enjoy your anger and will never, ever tell you to calm down.”

“I’m going to throw something at your head.”

“That feels fair.”

“No.” I cross the room, yank the door open, and point into the hall. “Out.”

Nash is standing right there, because apparently my life is now a heavily armed comedy of errors.

He leans one shoulder against the wall, dressed in black trousers and a wrinkled shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, hair slightly mussed from whatever thinking he has been doing in another room. His gaze moves from my face to the two shirtless men behind me.

One eyebrow lifts.

“Are you being difficult, Reva?”

My lips press together, and I start to close the door in his face. He catches it with one hand.

“No,” I say.

“I haven’t asked you anything yet.”

“You asked if I was being difficult.”

“I already know the answer to that; I don’t know why I bothered asking.”

Shiloh says, “She kicked us out of the attempted orgy.”

Ever adds, “Technically, she opened the door first.”

Nash steps forward. I step back on instinct, and his eyes darken at the tiny surrender of ground. He enters the room slowly, closing the door behind him without looking away from me. The click of the latch sounds too loud.

“You told me to get some sleep,” I say.

“Changed my mind.”

That makes me laugh, once. “You can’t just⁠—”

I break off as his hand goes into his pocket. When it comes out, he is holding a length of black silk. My pulse stops, then returns at double-speed.

“What is that?”

His gaze drops to the silk, then back to me. “A solution.”