Maddie POV
I stepped into my room, slumping against the door as it clicked shut behind me under my own weight.
The weight of everything that had just happened pressed down on me, and I let out a long, shaky sigh. Stephen’s touch still lingered on my skin, his kiss burning like an unshakable memory on my lips. I hated how much I wanted more of it; how the thought of his hands on me sent my heart racing. And yet, the self-loathing that followed was just as intense. How could I feel this way after spending the night with Derek? How could I let myself get caught between them—two brothers, no less?
My fingers brushed over the hickey on my neck, the evidence of last night glaring back at me. I groaned under my breath, silently berating myself for my lack of self-control.
“Maddie!” Averie’s
