We bought a house at the bottom of the hill the year Claire graduated with her bachelor’s in art, but maybe it’s time to upgrade. Six bedrooms is starting to feel like a bit of a squeeze.

I work part-time at the Goltz clinic—less when we have a little one under a year old—and my investment portfolio is kept healthy enough to invest in a larger property. Maybe Charlotte can decorate this time. I like our current place, but it’s a bit impersonal. Claire’s friend left her corporate job last year to start up an interior decor firm. I hear she does good work.

“How did it go?” Arlo prompts, coming down from the upper floor.

“Talk to your son,” Claire snaps. “I can’t even have wine.”

“I had a case of alcohol-free Champagne imported, Claire. I hear it’s very good. One’s in the fridge already. Let me know how you like it?”

The man’s smarter than me. I whistle, impressed. “That’s good. Should have let me in on it. And we’re having twins. That’s why she’s pissed.”

“Twins.” He blinks. “Let me open actual Champagne.”

Hours later, buzzed, with our three monsters running around the house where I grew up, my niece attempting to herd them, my wife on my lap, I grin into her wild platinum curls.

Five is almost six. What’s one more?

The End

That was a hell of a lot of fun! Next in Thorn Falls, we will have Lily’s story, Team Player, which is a kinky, steamy, light-dark swinger’s tale, followed by Unnecessary Evil, the long, used-to-be-a-swinger, then-I-met-you-now-I-don’t-like-it story of Dez and Markus.

As usual: remember that I write many books, in many genres, and prioritize whatever’s getting the most reviews and shares, so if you’d like more Emm books, don’t forget to leave a few words. Reviews absolutely determine my schedule.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks so much for reading Feel Free to Scream.

I want to take a moment to thank my patreons for supporting me. Being a full-time author isn’t easy, with ups and downs, and you’ve been a lifeline, particularly the last few crazy months.

All of you are amazing, but I a few of you have literally supported me at a level that pay for full book edits, or cover design. Kyrsty, Dawn, Katie, Keila and Tyller, that’s you, ladies. I’ve had a couple of months that made me fear for my career so far in 2025 (along with the rest of the indie author world! It’s been grim.)…and your constant support has been one of the things that made me breathe out, and go, okay, I got this. I have readers who are going to be there no matter what.

Cannot thank you enough.