“What did you need, anyway? Did Gemma and Jamie rattle you that much?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to vent. I’m good now.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, man. Can I ask you a question, though?”

“Always.”

“How did you know with Cassidy?”

“That I wanted to marry her and have her demon spawn?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, that.”

“It was love at first fuck. I felt like I might die if I wasn’t with her. Her pussy was magic.”

“You were hypnotized by pussy?”

“Absolutely.”

“It didn’t last very long,” I remind him. “How long did it take for the spell to wear off?”

“She left me for Guy Sellers. The dude has a comb-over.”

“Sellers is also fucking loaded.”

“All it took was seeing his white, hairy rich ass in my bed. Spell officially broken.”

The Park men are cursed when it comes to love. I’m pretty sure of that.

“A lot of questions for someone ‘not serious,’” Hugo says, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Sounds like your woman has a bit of the pussy magic, too.”

He has no idea.

“I took her virginity tonight,” I admit. “It was pretty goddamn magical.”

His brow hikes. “A virgin? Seems like you got yourself a young one, too.”

I shrug off his imploring gaze, not willing to admit anything on that front.

“For fuck’s sake,” he mutters. “You should see your face right now. You are in love.”

I don’t confirm or deny it.

I’ve already said too much.

Chapter Eighteen

Willa

The house is quiet when I arrive. I’m not sure what I’d expected, but this wasn’t it. Not complete silence and a dark house.

I’m alone.

Again.

A shot of anger shoots up my spine and makes my head grow hot. If Mom cares so much about my well-being and where I’m at, why isn’t she here now?

She wants to talk about my “behavior” according to her text. As if that statement didn’t come directly from Darren’s mouth. I hate how he’s turned her into a robot.

I should have stayed at Callum’s. At least then, Mom would have something to worry about. My heart clenches at the thought of him.

God.

Tonight was perfect. He was perfect.

Like any girl, I imagined my first time with a man and how it would go. In my fantasies, the man was gentle and loving. Callum was more than I could have ever dreamed of. He not only gave me incredible pleasure, but he took care of me every step of the way.

I’ve never felt so wanted or needed by anyone.

For once, I felt like I held power over my life.