We pull on swimsuits, leave the cabana, and jump in the water with laughter spilling from our hearts.

“Cannonball,” Sawyer shouts, pulling up his legs and causing a massive splash across the pool. He pulls me to him, the black bikini I borrowed from Emmy’s stash hugging my body in a way I know the guys find attractive. When I stepped out in it their jaws dropped, and I saw more than one of them adjust themselves.

Now, Sawyer reaches for me in the water, and I shriek as he lifts me up, as if planning to toss me in the air.

He doesn’t, though, he just draws me close until my legs wrap around his torso, and kisses me hard.

Thank god this is a public place, otherwise I’m not sure I could keep my resolve. He squeezes my ass as we kiss, and I guess it isn’t so scandalous here at this Vegas pool where most women wear thong bikini bottoms and some are topless.

Sex is in the air and it covers me in the most delicious way.

Suddenly I am craving more of these men–more than kisses. I want everything. But Melanie’s words are ringing in my ears.

And so are my mother’s.

Be wary of those hawks.

But how can I consider them distractions right now? So what if they are hawk shifters– at least they know what they are. Me? I haven’t a clue.

I just know that when I am with them, touching them, tasting them, kissing them–I feel safe. I feel exactly where I am supposed to be.

And right now, if I were to go home and spend time with my mother, I would feel lost and alone, stuck in a cage.

But here, with these men, I don’t feel locked up.

With them I feel free.

* * *

“Dang, that’s gonna be insane,” Sawyer says as Melanie leads us through another sequence in the show.

“You can pull it off,” Melanie says as I examine the harness that will lift me above the stage thirty feet. “In a month of rehearsal, we’re already eight weeks ahead of schedule. I’ve never seen a cast pick up a routine so quickly.”

Brecken squeezes my shoulders. “It’s because Lark manages to nail everything in one try.”

His hands massage away any tension that might be lingering. The last few weeks I’ve been fighting with my mom, and it seems to get worse every day. I come home and find charms tucked under my pillows, dried herbs on my doorway, putrid-smelling sachets hanging above my bed. I’ve confided in the guys about all of this, and it helps me not feel so alone.

“I’m not the only one who picks up every part of the dance sequence the first time,” I say. “You guys are equally impressive.”

Melanie laughs. “Okay, we get it, you guys are all amazing. Now, let’s try it out. Lark, are you ready to hang in the air and then jump?”

I grin. “I so got this.”

“I love your confidence,” Brecken whispers in my ear. A thrill runs over my skin, his hot breath sending shivers over my body. “Can I help you into that harness?”

Turning toward him, I lean in and lift my eyebrows. “Do you know what to do with your hands??”

He gives me a smile that gets me hot all over. “Oh, Lark, I know exactly where I want to put my hands. You’re the one always pushing them away.”

My cheeks heat up and I let him help me into the harness. “You are a distraction, remember?” I tease. Over the last few weeks, rehearsal has been so exhausting I haven’t had time to consider anything more than flirting and stolen kisses after rehearsal, in the changing room.

But I want more.

I just need to get the courage to tell them that. Tell them exactly what I crave.

I haven’t returned to their suite since the vision … I’ve been too scared.

But I am inching toward the idea of going all in–damn my mother’s warnings and Melanie’s insistence on focus.

Now, the other guys are busy getting into position as Brecken helps me into the harness. His fingers press against my waist and I practically melt on stage.

“You need to step away,” I tease, softly. “Or I’m going to mess up and Melanie will get mad.”

“I notice you don’t mention that you’ll get mad.” He tightens the harness, and then pats my ass. Our bodies are so close I can feel the heat coursing over his body too.

He likes being so close to me, so close he can practically taste me.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be mad about you running your hands over me, Breck,” I tell him. “In fact, I’m pretty much dying for you too.”

“Not sure you can handle me, little bird.” He lifts an eyebrow. “I’m a package deal, remember?”

“Oh I remember.” I bite the side of my lip and replay all our kisses in my mind. My body stirs at the memory. “All for one, one for all.”

“Good,” he says, patting my ass one last time. “Glad you remembered. But there’s no rush, Lark.”

He walks away and I finally breathe. God.

As if I could possibly forget.