When Barnaby and Ss showed up, they walked right up to the door. Ss suddenly stopped dead, and Barnaby, caught off guard, plowed straight into his back.


    "Ow, damn!" Barnaby muttered, rubbing his nose, annoyed. "What the hell, man? Knock already, will you?"


    What was Ss doing? Just standing there, staring at the door like he was waiting for a sign from above? They''d stood through enough storms by now-wind, rain, snow, you name it.


    But Ss didn''t move an inch.


    Barnaby huffed, exasperated. "Fine. I''ll do it."


    He figured Ss was just nervous—Hull hadn''t been in the best mood when he left Brett''s room earlier, and Ss clearly wasn''t looking to poke the bear. But honestly, after all the trouble they''d gotten into together over the years, and Hull had never actually killed them...


    Barnaby brushed past Ss, ready to knock. Before his fist could hit the door, Ss grabbed him by the back of the neck, fast as lightning.


    "Ow! Dude, what the hell?" Barnaby yelped, feeling like his skin was about toe off.


    Ss winced like he had a headache. "Are you nuts? You really got a death wish, huh?"


    Barnaby red. "What now? You look like you''ve seen a ghost."


    Neither of them had even seen Hull yet. Barnaby had no idea what Ss was freaking out about.


    Ss hissed, "Did you not hear that?”


    Barnaby froze.


    The soundsing from inside the room...


    He cocked his head, about to press his ear to the door.


    Ss, looking like he''d rather face the Grim Reaper than be caught


    eavesdropping, yanked Barnaby away from the door.


    And just as he was dragged off, Barnaby finally realized what the noise was. He sucked in a sharp breath.


    "Man, big bro really doesn''t care about timing, huh? He''s supposed to be talking business with Brett."


    Ss shoved him away. "Watch your damn mouth."


    Barnaby blinked. "What? I''m just saying he''s not exactly subtle."


    To be fair, Ss had to agree-Hull was usually moreposed than this. Guess there''s a first time for everything.


    Barnaby shrugged, all innocence. "I mean, I''m not wrong, am I?"


    "Just shut up already." Ss muttered. Hanging around Barnaby too long was a recipe for disaster-he''d get himself exiled at this rate, and Ss wasn''t about to go down with him.


    Barnaby just rolled his eyes. "Alright, fine. Geez, no need to get so worked up."


    ***


    Inside the room, Susanna was


    practically out of breath, feeling like she''d been through a full-blown marathon. Hull didn''t seem any less energetic-she''d scratched him a few times in the heat of the O moment, and her nails had only just healed fromst time.


    Didn''t seem to faze him though.


    It was nearly four in the morning by the time they were done.


    Susanna felt like she''d been hauled out of ake, limp and exhausted When Hull got up and leaned over to scoop her up for a shower, she kicked at him, still fuming. "You absolute jerk."


    She didn''t hold back, but Hull, with those ridiculous reflexes, caught her ankle in


    one hand, grinning like the cat that got the cream.


    "Gotta say, Yvonne deserves some credit."


    Susanna stared at him, confused. “What?”


    Hull just smirked. "Guess your stamina''s improved."


    Susanna fell silent. The way he said ''stamina'' was so loaded, she wanted to throw a pillow at him. She rememberedst time at theke. house she''d passed out more than once. This time, at least, she was stiff conscious-barely.


    But it still hurt.


    “You''re unbelievable,” she huffed, ring at him. “Seriously, you''re the worst."


    And she meant every word.