One confrontation. Two truths. No escape.
The morning after the bourbon, the moans, the couch, Claire thought she could slip out quietly.
She was wrong.
The kitchen was too bright. The air too clean. And Daniel Whitmore was already there — sitting on the stool by the marble island, sipping black coffee like he owned the silence.
Claire froze, robe cinched too tightly around her, hair still damp from Gloria's shower. Shit.
Daniel didn't look up right away. He stared into his mug. Then:
"You slept well, I assume?"
Claire swallowed. "Excuse me?"
He finally turned — those same dark eyes Gloria had, but colder. Younger. Watching her like she was prey.
"I heard... noises last night," he said slowly, voice too even. "And I know what I heard."
Claire's breath hitched. "Daniel—"
"Don't lie to me."
He leaned forward.
"You think we don't notice it? You women? You all walk around like there's some fucking code we're not allowed to crack."
Claire's fingers tightened around the fridge handle.
Daniel stood.
"You were on the couch. Between Nina and my mother. Moaning so loud I thought someone was being murdered."
Claire flushed. She hated how her nipples tightened under the robe. She hated how her pussy throbbed at the memory.
"I'm not ashamed of what happened," she said quietly.
Daniel chuckled — but it wasn't humor. "Aren't you? You didn't even close the blinds."
Claire stared at him. "Did you watch us?"
Silence.
He didn't deny it.
"I saw enough," he muttered. "And you... you were the loudest."
Claire's instincts warred with her shame.
She should've backed away. Should've denied it.
But instead...
She stepped forward.
"You liked it."
Daniel's eyes twitched. "Fuck you."
"You watched it. You came in your pants like a horny teenager."
He gritted his teeth. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Claire smirked now. Something about this reversal thrilled her. "You don't know how long I've wanted to be seen like that. Spread out. Touched like I mattered."
Daniel's jaw clenched. "You're old enough to be—"
"Your mother's best friend," she whispered. "I know."
She took another step. The robe slipped slightly, revealing a line of cleavage. He couldn't look away.
"You don't get to shame me, Daniel," she said, voice soft but dangerous. "You saw something beautiful. And you fucking enjoyed it."
He cracked.
"I came," he said suddenly, breathing hard. "I watched you… your legs shaking, screaming, riding Nina's tongue... and I fucking came."
Claire's lips parted.
"And I hated myself for it," he added. "You're supposed to be—normal. Not... that."
She walked right up to him now, chest brushing his. Her breath warm on his cheek.
"Maybe what scares you," she whispered, "is that we don't need you anymore."
He stepped back, flushed. "You're sick."
"No," she said. "I'm finally awake."
Enter Gloria.
The front door opened. Gloria stepped in with a box of croissants, sunglasses still on.
She paused, sensing the air.
"What's going on?"
Neither spoke.
Daniel turned sharply. "You didn't tell her?"
Claire blinked. "Tell me what?"
Gloria raised a brow. "That he watched us last night."
Claire's heart thundered. "You knew?"
Gloria shrugged, unfazed. "I always know."
Daniel's voice rose. "You wanted me to see, didn't you? Like some twisted punishment."
Gloria sipped her coffee. "If the truth punishes you, that's your burden."
Lines are drawn.
Daniel's fists curled. "You're disgusting. Both of you."
Gloria's eyes were flint. "And yet you came all over yourself watching me lick your neighbor's cunt."
Claire gasped. The room burned.
Gloria walked to Claire, kissed her cheek, then whispered, "He doesn't know who he's dealing with."
Claire stood tall.
"I'm not hiding," she said. "Not from him. Not from anyone."
Daniel's stare hardened. "This isn't over."
"No," Gloria said. "It's just beginning."
Later that night…
Claire stayed.
Not because she had to.
But because she wanted to.
And in the stillness of Gloria's bed, Nina joined them — lips still tasting like smoke and secrets.
Claire let herself be touched again — this time slower. Deeper. With a kind of sensual rage that made her sob.
Daniel saw everything.But now... Claire didn't care.
Let him watch.
Let the men all watch.
Because this wasn't a phase.
This was power.