Reese let out soft moans of ecstasy, her body trembling under the expert touch of his tongue. It had been far too long since she had felt this much pleasure. As he moved with practiced precision, her breaths came in quick gasps, her body responding instinctively to the waves of sensation coursing through her. She gripped the sheets tightly, her knuckles turning white as he delved deeper, his hands urging her legs to wrap around his head, pulling him closer. The warmth spread through her like wildfire, starting in her cheeks and radiating down to the space between her thighs. Her back arched off the bed as a cry of pleasure escaped her lips.

"So, you did miss me," he teased, his voice laced with a smirk as he rolled over to lie beside her, his breath warm against her skin.

"Shut up," Reese chuckled, placing a hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. "It's just been a while."

"I haven't been gone that long," Josh replied, sitting up and running a hand through his tousled hair. "Besides, when I am in town, it's not like you have time for me anyway, Reese. You're a very busy woman."

"Well, maybe if you tried calling me at a decent hour," her voice trailed off, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone.

"What," he flashed that charming smile that had always made her heart flutter, "I thought you liked being my twilight girl. You're the last person I see before I go to bed and the first person I see when I wake up."

"Right," she rolled her eyes, the sarcasm evident in her voice. "And what about all the rest of the hours, Josh?" She flipped the covers back and slid out of bed, heading towards the shower, her mind already racing with the day's to-do list.

"Oh, come on, I thought we weren't going to talk about being exclusive," his voice followed her, the playfulness gone, replaced by a defensive edge.

"No, you said you weren't going to talk about it," she snapped, her patience wearing thin as she entered the bathroom, the cool tiles under her feet a stark contrast to the heat that still radiated from her skin.

Reese stared at her reflection in the large wall-mounted vanity mirror, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the conflicted expression on her face. She sighed deeply, a wave of disappointment washing over her. What was she doing? She was too old to keep playing these games, too old to be stuck in a relationship that was nothing more than a glorified "booty call." She deserved better, she knew that. But somehow, with Josh, she always found herself back in the same place, yearning for something more that never seemed to come.

When she first met Josh Fletcher, things had been so different. He was an aspiring actor with so much promise, and he had swooped in just when she needed someone to mend her broken heart after Collin. Their dates had been exciting, filled with laughter and possibility. But slowly, as time passed, those dates fizzled out, replaced by late-night visits and hurried goodbyes. "Late night house visits," as Naomi called them.

"Hey, did you hear me?" Josh's voice broke through her thoughts as he entered the bathroom, a towel slung low on his hips.

"No," Reese replied, her eyes still fixed on her reflection, searching for answers she wasn't sure she'd find.

"I'm going to take a quick shower and then head out. I've got a flight to catch," he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her forehead, the gesture more routine than affectionate.

"Of course, you do," she mumbled under her breath, a bitter edge to her words as she turned away from him.

Back in the bedroom, Reese began stripping the bed, the satin sheets now soiled and tangled. There was no point in laying back down; it was already 4:00 AM, and the sun would be peeking through the clouds soon, urging her to get up and get ready for her early morning spin class. As she crept past the bathroom to the laundry room, she could hear the soft pitter-patter of water from the shower, the sound almost soothing in the otherwise silent house.

But when she reached the laundry room, she was met with chaos. Loki, had thrown yet another tantrum, his displeasure at Josh's presence evident in the mess he had made. He hated when Josh took his spot in the bed, and this morning, it seemed, he had decided to make that abundantly clear.

Reese sighed as she cleaned up the mess, her frustration mounting. She started a load of laundry and then made her way to the kitchen, where she began preparing her morning shake. Her phone, resting on the cool quartz countertop, flashed with a notification. She glanced at it warily—it was too early to be dealing with anything that couldn't wait. But curiosity got the better of her, and she cautiously picked it up.

3:45 AM 3234933687: Good morning, Ms. Sutherlin. I apologize for the late response. I had a very busy day yesterday.

She felt a surge of irritation as she read the message. It had taken him this long to respond? There wasn't that much work in the world, especially for someone who claimed to be on a tight schedule to sell their house.

3:50 AM 3234933687: If you're available for lunch this afternoon, I would love to discuss the "minor details" regarding my home.

Reese stared at the message from Mr. Grey, her mind racing. The audacity, she thought. Still, this was business, and she couldn't afford to let her emotions get in the way. Taking a deep breath, she typed out a response.

4:22 AM Reese: Good morning. Lunch sounds great. I'll be in touch this afternoon.

"Who's that?" Josh asked, emerging from the bathroom, his voice casual as he dried his hair with a towel.

"Oh, it's just work," Reese replied, placing her phone back on the counter, the earlier annoyance still simmering beneath her calm exterior.

"This early?" Josh raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

"Yeah, well, money never sleeps," she said with a forced smile, trying to keep things light. "Are you getting ready to go?"

"Yeah," he said, walking over to her, his expression softening as he pulled her into a loose embrace. "But don't worry, I'll be back," he added, his voice low and reassuring.

"Have a safe trip," she murmured, pulling away from him, the distance between them feeling more than just physical. "Maybe we can talk more about us when you get back."

"Maybe," he replied with that same infuriatingly charming smile, kissing her forehead. "I'll call you."

As she watched him gather his things and head out the door, Reese felt a pang of something she couldn't quite name. It wasn't sadness, not exactly—more like resignation. She was stuck in a cycle with Josh, a cycle that she knew deep down would never lead to what she truly wanted. But for now, it was easier to stay than to face the uncertainty of letting go.

She sighed, picking up her shake and taking a long sip, the cool liquid doing little to soothe the frustration and doubt that churned within her. Today would be a long day, she could already feel it.