Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

The room comes back into focus.

Seth and Blake talk to Drew, seeing if he has more information, but I can’t focus on what they’re saying. Noah rubs my hands. Locking on his worried brown eyes, I take in a breath.

I’m here.

I’m safe.

“It’s going to be okay. Just breathe with me, sweetheart,” Coop whispers against my hair. Another breath.

The tightness in my chest eases. Noah reaches out and strokes my jaw.

I turn to look at Drew. He’s saying something important.

“I didn’t recognize the guy’s voice. Sorry. But he said if she was fucking four guys, what was one more?”

My eyes widen. Oh, shit. He knows. My stalker knows. He was there at the benefit, which the video of Coop and me made clear. Why would anyone else tell Professor Alan that?

Why involve Jimi Alan at all? Why not attack me himself when the opportunity presented itself? Maybe Jimi was the scapegoat for the stalker. Someone to pin his sins on. The stalker wanted Jimi to attack me.

We assumed the stalker only knew about Coop and me. But if he knows about all of them, are any of us safe?

My gaze goes to each of my guys. I can’t lose any of them.

Then my gaze falls on Sara. Her hand covers her mouth as she meets my eyes. Well, this should be interesting.

It’s three a.m. when I slip out of bed. I’ve been trying to sleep for an hour now. I grab a discarded dress shirt, and the scent of Coop’s cologne surrounds me as I put it on and button it. I look at my guys sprawled naked with the sheet covering some of them.

Noah took Sara home. I promised her we’d talk soon and I’d explain everything. If I could. The NDA is still in effect, limiting what I can tell people.

The others and I came straight home and fell upon each other like we’d never see each other again. The information about Professor Alan overshadowed the relief from finally being out from under Elizabeth’s thumb.

I needed to feel anything but the fear of losing them. As always, my men took very good care of me.

My body hums with satisfaction, even as a shiver passes over me. There’s nowhere safer for me than in their arms, but what if being there puts them in danger?

Grabbing my phone off the charger, I leave the bedroom for the kitchen and turn on the electric kettle. I left my phone behind during dinner and we were a little occupied when we got home, so I haven’t checked it.

It shouldn’t surprise me that the stalker sent Jimi after me. I’m just lucky Patrick was there to stop him. But what if the guys are right about Patrick being the stalker? Wouldn’t Jimi have recognized Patrick when he stopped him?

Would I have noticed that?

He’s the only one who’s received texts from the stalker. None of my guys have. It’s just odd.

My brain latches onto those questions and has me spinning out. So tea and doomscrolling until I’m tired again.

After I get a cup down, put an herbal tea bag in it, and fill it with hot water, I open my phone. There are several unread messages. Normally I might have a message or two, but definitely not this many.

I release a breath as a quick scan reveals none of the messages are from Unknown.

Mom:

Wondering if you’re doing okay, call us as soon as you get this.

That’s so not like my mother. The time stamp is from eight o’clock. I’ll have to call her first thing in the morning.

The next one is a group message between Sara, Hope, and I.

Hope: