I’m floating in a dark, warm space, my body weightless and free from pain. Gradually, shapes form in the hazy darkness, coalescing into Morgan’s bedroom. I’m lying on her silk sheets, my body naked and trembling with anticipation.
“There you are,” Morgan purrs, appearing at the foot of the bed. She’s wearing that black silk robe, but it hangs open, revealing every perfect curve of her body. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She crawls up the bed with predatory grace, her red hair falling around her face like a curtain of fla. Before I can speak, she’s between my legs, her green eyes locked on mine as she takes into her mouth.
“Oh god, Morgan,” I moan, my head falling back against the pillows as wet heat engulfs . Her tongue swirls around the head of my cock with devastating precision, making my toes curl and my back arch.
I look down, watching as she takes deeper, her lips stretched around my shaft, her eyes never leaving mine. The sight is intoxicating, but a flicker of unease cuts through my pleasure.
“Morgan, we can’t,” I gasp, even as my hips betray , pushing upward into her mouth. “This isn’t right...”
She just hums around , the vibration sending shockwaves through my body. I’m about to protest again when I feel soft lips press against mine. I look up in confusion to find Lana leaning over , her blonde hair tickling my face as she captures my mouth in a hungry kiss.
The taste of her is overwhelming, strawberry lip gloss and sothing uniquely her, a flavor that instantly transports back to high school, to stolen kisses in empty classrooms and fumbling encounters in the back of my car.
“Lana,” I breathe against her lips when she finally pulls back. “I miss you.”
Her blue eyes sparkle with sothing cruel as her lips curl into a mocking smile. “That’s sweet,” she whispers, trailing her fingers down my chest. “But I never even loved you, Adam.”
Her words hit like a physical blow, but before I can respond, Morgan increases her pace, drawing my attention back to the exquisite torture between my legs. I’m caught between them, trapped in a web of pleasure and pain, unable to escape either woman as they use my body for their own satisfaction.
“No,” I try to say, but the word dissolves into a moan as Morgan does sothing with her tongue that makes my vision blur at the edges.
I feel a sharp slap against my cheek and jolt awake with a violent gasp, the hospital room materializing around in a disorienting blur. Sarah stands over , her face twisted with annoyance, while Morgan lounges in a chair beside my bed, barely containing her laughter.
“Hey,” I croak, my throat dry and scratchy from the breathing tube they must have removed while I was unconscious. The monitors beep steadily beside , and my left-hand throbs beneath thick layers of bandages.
Morgan’s lips curl into a pleased smirk. “What were you dreaming about, Adam?”
“Drop it,” Sarah snaps, adjusting my IV line with unnecessary force.
“What?” I ask, confusion fogging my mind as fragnts of my dream dissolve like smoke.
Morgan leans forward, her green eyes glittering with mischief. “Oh, you were just moaning my na,” she purrs, looking far too satisfied with herself. “Quite enthusiastically, I might add.”
Heat rushes to my face as pieces of the dream flash through my mind, Morgan between my legs, her mouth, the pleasure, oh god.
“I was not,” I protest weakly, though the knowing look in Morgan’s eyes tells she doesn’t believe for a second.
Sarah narrows her eyes, looking between us with sudden suspicion. “So much for not sleeping with your boss, huh?”
“We didn’t sleep together,” I blurt out, the lie feeling clumsy on my tongue.
Morgan tilts her head, a smile playing on her lips like she’s enjoying so private joke. The amusent in her eyes makes my heart race faster than the hospital monitors can track.
“You’re covered in bruises and bites,” Sarah sighs, gesturing toward my neck with obvious annoyance. “Did you sleep with a wild animal then?”
“I resent that,” Morgan interjects smoothly, not bothering to hide her smirk.
My face burns with embarrassnt as I realize just how visible the evidence of our encounter must be. I tug at the thin hospital gown, trying to cover the constellation of marks Morgan left on my skin.
“It’s... complicated,” I manage, my voice still raspy from the breathing tube.
Sarah throws her hands up in exasperation. “Unbelievable.”
The doctor chooses that mont to enter, clipboard in hand, looking thoroughly uncomfortable as he clears his throat. “Mr. Avery, I’m pleased to report the reattachnt went well. With physical therapy, you should regain most functionality in your finger.”
“Most?” I echo, suddenly rembering why I’m here in the first place.
“There was significant nerve damage,” he explains, his eyes darting between the three of us like he’s walked into a soap opera. “But given the clean nature of the cut, we’re optimistic about your recovery.”
Sarah steps forward, instantly shifting into protective mode. “What kind of physical therapy will he need? How long until he can use his hand normally?”
As the doctor launches into a detailed explanation of my recovery tiline, Morgan moves closer to my bed, her fingers discreetly finding mine beneath the thin hospital blanket. The gentle pressure of her touch sends an electric current up my arm.
“You scared ,” she whispers, her voice so low only I can hear it. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Sothing in her tone makes turn to look at her. Behind the carefully composed expression, I catch a glimpse of genuine fear in those green eyes.
“I know,” I whisper back, suddenly overwheld by the gravity of everything that’s happened. The weight of her concern, the reality of my injury, and the complicated ss my life has beco all crash down on at once.
I take a deep breath, wincing as pain shoots through my bandaged hand. The doctor’s words about “significant nerve damage” echo in my mind, and a cold clarity washes over .
Morgan’s fingers are still intertwined with mine, her cool touch oddly comforting. I et her gaze, the gravity of my situation weighing down on like a lead blanket. “Morgan, I’m so sorry, but... I think I need to quit. At least until I regain full mobility.”
Morgan’s face contorts instantly, her cool composure shattering like glass.
“Quit?” she shrieks, her voice rising to a pitch that makes the nurse in the hallway pause and glance through the doorway. “Are you out of your fucking mind, Adam?”
She jerks, her bloodstained designer clothes rustling as she begins pacing manically beside my bed. Her red hair whips around her face as she gestures wildly, green eyes flashing with sothing that looks almost like panic.
“This is absolutely ridiculous! You can’t quit! You literally just started working for !” She’s nearly hyperventilating now, her chest heaving beneath her blood-spattered blouse. “What am I supposed to do without you? We’re practically best friends! Who’s going to make my breakfast? Who’s going to keep the house running? Do you have any idea how long it took to find soone I could actually trust?”
Sarah’s eyebrows shoot up to her hairline as she watches Morgan unravel, her previously composed deanor disintegrating with each frantic step across the linoleum floor.
“Morgan,” I try to interject, “I can barely use my hand. I can’t cook properly or…”
“No, no, NO!” She slams her palm against the wall, making the doctor flinch. “This is my fault! ALL MY FAULT! I should have been supervising you better! I should have gotten you proper knives, proper training!”
Her voice cracks as she spins toward , her face flushed with emotion. “Look, since you’re my employee, this is clearly a workplace accident. It happened on my property while you were performing duties within your job description.”
She runs her hands through her hair, mussing her perfect styling. “You’ll take workers’ compensation. As much as you need! Full salary while you recover, dical expenses covered, everything!” She’s nodding frantically now as if convincing herself. “And, of course, your room is still free of charge. Where else would you even stay? With your parents? Don’t be absurd!”
The doctor clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the outburst but seizing the montary pause to interject. “Mr. Avery, if I may,” he says, adjusting his glasses as he steps forward. “While the injury is certainly serious, it’s just the one digit. The reattachnt went well, and the rest of your fingers work just fine.”
Morgan seizes on this imdiately, her eyes brightening with desperate hope. “See? SEE? It’s just the one finger! You have nine others that work perfectly fine!” She reaches for my uninjured hand, clutching it between both of hers.
“That’s quite enough,” Sarah interrupts, her voice cutting through Morgan’s frantic rambling. She turns to the doctor with a forced smile. “Doctor, can we have the room alone for a mont, please?”
The doctor looks relieved at the opportunity to escape the tension. He nods and tucks his clipboard under his arm. “That’s all I really had to say anyway. Adam can be released in a few minutes once all the paperwork is filed.”
As soon as the door closes behind him, Sarah positions herself between and Morgan, creating a physical barrier. Her protective stance reminds of when we were kids and she’d shield from playground bullies.
“I don’t think Adam should stay with you for now, Morgan,” she says firmly. “I can watch him, and we can decide if your work is his best option after he’s had ti to recover properly.”
Morgan’s face darkens, her previous desperation hardening into sothing colder. “Excuse ? I’m his employer. I’m responsible for his dical care.”
“Sarah, I think she’s just trying to help out,” I interject, my voice stronger than I expected. Both won turn to with matching expressions of surprise. “Morgan’s been nothing but supportive since... everything happened with Lana.”
Sarah’s eyebrows shoot up so high they nearly disappear into her hairline. “Adam, she’s clearly…”
“Taking care of ,” I finish firmly. “Look at her, Sarah. She’s literally covered in my blood because she rushed to the hospital. She saved my finger.”
Morgan’s expression softens, vulnerability flickering across her face before she quickly composes herself. Sothing in her eyes makes my heart clench, a flash of genuine relief that I’ve defended her.
Sarah’s face hardens, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses. “You don’t get it, Adam. You don’t understand what’s happening here.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, shifting uncomfortably in the hospital bed.
Sarah steps closer, lowering her voice. “I’ve been friends with Morgan for two months. She approached right after my breakup with Michael, beca my shoulder to cry on, my wine night buddy, my confidante.” Her voice trembles slightly. “She claid she was a fashion model, never once ntioning she worked in porn.”
Morgan’s face remains impassive, but I notice her fingers tightening around the strap of her designer bag.
“Don’t you see?” Sarah continues, her voice rising with frustration. “She befriended to get to you. She manipulated our friendship. She’s clearly up to sothing dark here, Adam. I think she’s manipulating both of us.”
The accusation hangs in the air between us, heavy and suffocating. I look at Morgan, searching her face for any sign of guilt or deception.
“Is it true?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Morgan doesn’t flinch. Her green eyes et mine steadily, unflinching. “No,” she says simply. The single word carries such conviction that I almost believe her imdiately. “I genuinely enjoy Sarah’s company.”
Sarah scoffs, crossing her arms. “So it’s just a coincidence that you hired my brother after he broke up with his girlfriend? That you just happened to take him in when he was at his most vulnerable?”
Morgan’s shoulders slump suddenly, and her eyes fill with tears. “I didn’t even know your Adam was with Lana,” she says, her voice cracking with what sounds like genuine emotion. “I swear, Sarah. When you ntioned your brother was dating soone in the industry, I thought it was a different Adam.”
The tears spilling down her cheeks seem real. She looks genuinely devastated.
“There are plenty of Adams in Los Angeles,” she continues, her voice small and hurt. “Do you really think I’m so kind of monster who’d orchestrate this elaborate sche? I just wanted to help.”
I study her face, trying to detect any hint of deception, but all I see is a woman who seems genuinely wounded by the accusations.
“Sarah,” I say gently, “I think you’re being a little harsh.”
Morgan turns to , then back to Sarah, her hands open in a pleading gesture. “Look, I understand why you’re suspicious. This situation is... unusual. But I promise you both, I never intended any harm.” She wipes at her tears with the back of her hand. “When I saw what happened with Lana, I wanted to help him. I was already going to offer him the position to begin with because of how well Lana spoke of him.”
Sarah’s expression wavers slightly, uncertainty creeping in. Morgan seems to notice this and continues.
“I know how much you love your brother, Sarah. That’s one of the things I really admire about you, your loyalty to family.” She takes a tentative step forward. “And Adam, I respect your decision if you want to quit. I just... I’ve co to care about you. As a friend. As my employee. The thought of you leaving when you’re injured feels wrong.”
Sothing in her voice, a vulnerable tremor, makes believe her. There’s a sincerity in her eyes that I can’t imagine being faked.
I take a deep breath, my mind racing with everything that’s happened. The finger, the hospital, Morgan’s breakdown, Sarah’s accusations. It’s all too much.
“I need a minute to think,” I say, rubbing my temple with my uninjured hand. “Morgan, do you mind if I speak alone with Sarah for a minute?”
Morgan’s expression shifts instantly, her eyes widening with sothing that looks almost like panic. “Adam, please...” she says, her voice tight with anxiety.
“Just for a little bit, okay?” I say kindly, trying to reassure her. “I promise I’ll talk to you again after.”
She hesitates, clearly reluctant to leave us alone, but finally nods and steps out of the room. The door closes behind her with a soft click that sohow feels deafening in the sudden silence.
I sigh heavily, turning to Sarah who’s watching with a mixture of concern and frustration.
“Look, I believe her, but...” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “I know you’ve had your opinions in the past about my life choices, including Lana, and I feel like I’ve been spiraling lately. So if you desperately think I shouldn’t live with Morgan, I’ll listen to you.”
Sarah’s eyes soften at my words, the anger draining from her posture.
“The only thing I want to ask you is this. Was there anything weird about your friendship looking back? Anything you can possibly think of that points to her trying to manipulate you? Is there any chance this is maybe just a coincidence after all?”
Sarah sits on the edge of my hospital bed, her brow furrowed in thought. She removes her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose as she considers my question.
“Adam, I don’t know,” she admits finally. “Our friendship seed genuine. She was there for when Michael left. She brought soup when I was sick. She rembered my birthday when even when I had to text you because you’re dumb ass forgot.”
I feel a stab of guilt. All this suspicion seems unfair if Morgan never showed unusual interest in through Sarah.
“Did she ever ask about specifically? Like, trying to get information?”
Sarah’s brow furrows as she thinks, absently cleaning her glasses with the hem of her shirt.
“No,” she says after a mont. “I brought you up a few tis just to rag on my dumb brother, you know?” She smiles faintly. “Complaining about your stupid girlfriend or how you don’t call Mom enough.”
“And she was interested?”
“Not really,” Sarah admits reluctantly. “If anything, she always seed disinterested in that stuff. She’d laugh at the stories, but she never pressed or dug deeper. She was more interested in my life, my career, my dating disasters.”
I nod slowly, processing this. “Then this really seems like a non-issue to .”
Sarah sighs, slipping her glasses back on. “Maybe. But sothing still feels off, Adam. The timing is just too convenient.”
“Or maybe it’s just coincidence,” I counter. “Look at the facts, she didn’t pump you for information about , she gave a job when I needed one, and she literally saved my finger today.” I hold up my bandaged hand. “Does that sound like soone with malicious intent?”
Sarah’s shoulders slump slightly. “I guess not. But what about the porn scene thing? That’s definitely crossing a line for an employer.”
“No, that wasn’t Morgan’s idea,” I say quickly. “Lana pushed that, not her. Morgan was just doing her job.”
Sarah shakes her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Lana is fucking cooked, isn’t she?”
I nod with a frown, mories of the studio flooding back, Leo’s hands on her throat, the way she looked at as he took her, that smug satisfaction in her eyes.
“You miss her, though,” Sarah says softly, not a question but a statent.
I nod and say, “Yeah...” The admission feels like a betrayal after everything, but it’s the truth. “Pathetic, right?”
“It’s not pathetic to miss soone you loved,” Sarah says, her voice gentler than I expected. She reaches out, squeezing my uninjured hand. “Even when they hurt you.”
I look down at my bandaged hand, the reality of my situation finally sinking in. Even with all her warnings, Sarah is always there for .
“I think I’m going to stay with Morgan,” I say quietly, the words feeling like both a surrender and a decision.
Sarah sighs, a sound I’ve heard countless tis throughout our lives whenever I’ve made choices she questions. “Of course you are.” She squeezes my hand again, her fingers warm against mine. “Try not to get your heart broken this ti, bro.”
The wry concern in her voice makes smile despite everything. “I’ll do my best.”
Sarah opens the door, and Morgan steps back in, her eyes imdiately finding mine, questioning. The vulnerability I glimpsed earlier is gone, replaced by her usual composed deanor.
“So?” she asks.
“If you’ll have , I’d love to stay,” I tell her simply.
Morgan’s expression shifts subtly, her shoulders relaxing as she gives a small, composed smile.
“It’s my fault you chopped your finger off, Adam,” she says with surprising calmness. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you, Morgan.”
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