Chapter 44

The bedroom door creaked open a sliver, then wider, and all three of Celeste’s friends swiveled their heads in unison like they were about to catch someone sneaking in past curfew.

Rowan stepped out first. Her hair was a wild, sexy mess, cheeks flushed, lips kiss-swollen. She wore that smug little half-smile that screamed she knew exactly what she’d done — and that she wanted everyone else to know it too.

Celeste followed behind her, tugging at her shirt buttons like they might magically fall back into place. Her hair was tousled in a way no stylist on set could ever replicate. Her cheeks burned, and though she tried to school her face into calm neutrality, her eyes gave her away.

The silence lasted all of two seconds before Simone launched to her feet.

“FIFTEEN MINUTES?” she yelled, hands flying dramatically in the air. “Do you hear me? FIFTEEN. And y’all shook the damn walls! I thought we were about to call a priest. Or an engineer. Headboard thumping, floor creaking, straight-up earthquake mode.“

Rowan laughed low in her throat and casually strolled across the living room like she was walking a runway. She slid right into Celeste’s lap without hesitation, looping her arms around her shoulders. “What can I say?” she said smoothly. “Your girl doesn’t waste time.”

Celeste groaned, covering her face with one hand as laughter bubbled around her.

Lila slammed her drink down, eyes wide. “That was not fifteen minutes. That was like—like a damn highlight reel. Do you even realize what we heard? I had to put a pillow over my face like it was going to save me!”

Naomi, unbothered as ever, swirled her wine. “Could’ve been worse,” she murmured. “Furniture’s still intact. At least for now.”

“Still intact?!” Simone nearly shrieked, pointing between Celeste and Rowan like she’d cracked a murder case. “They almost murdered me! I will never unhear those sounds. You two were loud enough to wake the neighbors’ ancestors.”

Rowan tilted her head back and laughed, planting a deliberately loud, wet kiss on Celeste’s cheek. “Worth every second,” she purred.

Celeste groaned again, half into Rowan’s shoulder, but the corner of her lips betrayed her — a smile tugging no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

“Oh my god,” Lila moaned, dragging a throw blanket up over her head. “I did not sign up to be a witness to surround sound. Dolby Atmos had nothing on y’all.”

Naomi raised a brow, finally setting her glass down. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed. Didn’t think it was possible to shake an entire house in under fifteen minutes.”

Rowan smirked, tangling her fingers in Celeste’s hair. “Guess you underestimated us.”

“Us?!” Simone yelped. “This was supposed to be girls’ night. Popcorn. Wine. Gossip. Not…” She waved her arms frantically. “Not live-action Cinemax!“

Rowan leaned back against Celeste, completely unbothered. “You’re welcome for the free preview.”

Simone grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it. Rowan caught it, still grinning, and tossed it lazily aside. “Seriously, though,” Rowan continued, her voice dropping slyly. “I could definitely go for another round.”

Celeste’s head whipped toward her, scandalized, but Rowan only smirked wider.

“ANOTHER ROUND?!” Simone shrieked so loud the neighbors probably did hear that. She collapsed onto the couch with her hand over her chest like she’d been mortally wounded.

Rowan leaned in close, her lips brushing Celeste’s ear, voice low and velvet-smooth. “You really do know how to please a girl,” she whispered.

Celeste’s ears turned crimson.

The room erupted. Simone was rolling on the floor, cackling. Lila peeked out from under the blanket with eyes like saucers. Naomi simply shook her head slowly, sipping her wine like this was the most predictable thing in the world.

“Oh my god, I can’t do this,” Simone wheezed, fanning herself. “I need another drink just to survive being in this house.”

Rowan only smirked, planting another teasing kiss on Celeste’s temple. “Guess you’ll just have to invest in noise-canceling headphones.”

Rowan giggled wickedly, brushing a strand of hair back from Celeste’s face. “Guess we’ll just have to keep it down next time,” she teased, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

“NEXT TIME?!” Simone shrieked, grabbing another pillow like she was ready for war.

Rowan grinned wider. “Oh yeah. Definitely next time.”

Celeste groaned again, burying her face against Rowan’s shoulder. “You’re going to be the death of me,” she muttered.

Rowan only kissed her again, softer this time, then grinned wickedly. “You’ll die happy, baby.”

And that set Simone off all over again, her laughter echoing through the entire house.