Page 103 of The Haunting Plot

She pinches the bridge of her nose. “For fuck’s sake, Sawyer, please tell me you didn’t make a red room in the house I live in with my kids.”

I open the door and take a step back, motioning for her to enter.

She peeks in, cautious at first, then I see the moment she realizes what I’ve done. “Sawyer, this is incredible.”

A dopey grin lights up my face as I watch her take in the space. I did this. I made her look like that.

What was once a cluttered guestroom with walls lined with dated wallpaper has been transformed into a writer’s dream. I spent many nights scouring Pinterest trying to design the perfect space for Raven to write.

Floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookshelves take up the right side of the room, with a simple desk placed in front of them. An oversized chair sits in the corner with a lamp beside it. The walls are painted a deep purple, and heavy curtains cover the window.

“Is this a standing desk? I’ve always wanted one of these.”

“It is. And there’s a lock on the door so no one can come in and interrupt you while you’re writing.”

Her head swivels as her eyes bounce around inspecting each item. She smooths a delicate finger on the wall. “Purple?”

“McKenna picked out the color. She wanted purple, and when I saw the sample was called Eggplant, I knew it was the perfect color for your writing room. You can write about eggplants in an eggplant-colored room.”

She tugs on her bottom lip like she’s trying not to laugh. “So the dad jokes are going to continue?”

“I’ll stop when you’re fully groan.” She blinks at me several times. “Get it? Fully grown like grow, but it’s groan like an annoying laugh.”

“Oh, I got it. It just wasn’t funny.” Her focus shifts around the room like she’s trying to figure out something, and I know it’s not my bad joke. “Is this room smaller? It feels smaller. Maybe it’s just the furniture?”

“It’s smaller. Don’t be mad.”

“Why would I be mad? This is incredible.”

I walk over to the shelf with the hidden book lever and pull it. The shelf swings open, revealing a narrow space behind it. “I might have added a secret red room hidden in your bookshelf.”

Her head whips to mine. “You what?” She rushes over, peeking inside.

The hidden room is barely six feet wide and runs the entire length of the wall. “It has a pegboard to hang toys, a cross for bondage play, and there are several other hidden hooks and ties too.”

She runs her hands along the wall, pushing on the paneling. “Is it soundproof?”

I can’t help my grin. “Yup. There’s no room for a bed, but we could probably squeeze a small lounger in here if you want.”

“You built me an office with a secret sex room?”

“Are you mad?”

“I’m not mad.”

I finally exhale, relieved that she likes my surprise.

“But I might fuck you like I am, so remember that later when you’re begging me for mercy.”

“Yes, madame.”

CHAPTER 25

RAVEN

There’s a constant and persistent buzzing, and I roll over, reaching out for Sawyer, but the bed is empty. I push up quickly, my head swiveling around the room to look for him, and my muscles groan in protest. Getting old is for the birds. Fuck, my name is a bird. I guess it’s inevitable.

The buzzing starts again, and I sit up. Is he fucking with my vibrators again? I look over at the nightstand, and my phone is lit up with notifications.