His fingers brushed my thigh, slow and warm.

Athonia’s POV

“But how?” my sister asked. Why did she even care? Was she jealous? Or just being nosy?

“Ask her yourself,” Ethan replied with that annoying smirk of his.

That smug look always got under my skin.

“I need to go. Please tell Dad,” I said to Maya. “I feel a little dizzy.”

I completely ignored her question. Ethan raised an eyebrow, but I said nothing. Instead, I turned and walked off. I was almost out of earshot when his voice followed me.

“I’m an exchange doctor. I work at St. Calisha. And your sister? We’ve known each other for a long time. Really close friends.”

What?! My heart skipped. He knew. He must have remembered me… from the hospital.

He even said St. Calisha. I shook my head and rushed out of the hotel. Outside, I headed straight to the parking lot. I was in such a hurry, digging through my bag like a mess, trying to find my car key. My hands were shaky. My thoughts were racing. And then, something touched my foot.

“Aaaaahh!” I screamed.

I jumped back. My bag slipped. Things flew everywhere. A rat. A disgusting rat. No, not today. This could not be happening. I panicked. My ankle twisted. I lost my balance. I shut my eyes and braced myself… But I never hit the ground. Someone caught me. I opened my eyes slowly. And that was it, I broke down crying. Yes, I know how it looked. But between the rat and the pain in my foot, I just lost it.

“Hey, it’s okay. Do not cry,” the voice said gently.

Even with tears clouding my eyes, I knew it was him. Ethan. Suddenly, I felt light. He had lifted me, carrying me like a bride in some romantic movie.

“What happened?” he asked.

I kept quiet. My throat was tight. He carried me over to a bench and gently sat me down.

“What happened?” he asked again, this time wiping my tears with a clean handkerchief from his pocket.

I wanted to hide. The embarrassment was too much. Why was he here? Why now?

“T-The rat,” I managed to say, still shaking. His face was close. His breath warmed my cheek.

“Lean on me.”

I did not think. I just listened. I leaned back against the bench. He moved slightly, then lifted my leg and placed it gently on his lap. Without a word, he removed my heels.

“This might hurt at first… but it will help,” he said, voice low and calm.

“What?” I blinked.

That tone… Did he mean something else? He laughed a little and shook his head.

Then he began to massage my foot. Slowly. Gently.

“Ah..ow! That hurts!” I whimpered, my eyes filling again.

“Sorry. I will be more gentle now,” he said. And just like that, my breath caught. Why did my mind go there? Why was I thinking about us… about what we did before? Seriously. What was wrong with me? Which one of us was worse? I shut my eyes as pain shot up from my ankle.

But slowly… minute by minute… the sharp sting faded. And in its place, something else took over.. a strange kind of calm. A comfort I had missed without knowing.

“Ahh!” I gasped as he pressed a spot on my foot a little harder. But this time… the pain was gone. I opened my eyes and moved my foot slowly. No more pain.

I could move it. Just like before. I blinked, surprised. Wow. He was really good at this. Was he secretly trained in massages too? Well… he is a doctor. Maybe this was nothing new for him.

I glanced at him and caught his eyes on me. His stare was deep… and serious. I quickly looked down, heat rushing to my cheeks.

“Um… thank you,” I said in a small voice. I reached for my heels, but he grabbed them before I could.

“No. Do not wear these,” he said, his face suddenly serious. “Wait here.”

“O-Okay…” I mumbled.

The moment he turned away, I let out a long breath. I pressed my hand against my chest.

Why is my heart beating like this? What is happening to me? In just a few minutes, Ethan returned. He was holding a pair of men’s slippers, black, oversized, and Nike.

“Here,” he said. “Sorry they are big. But wear them.”

He placed them in front of me, and as he did, his hand brushed gently against my arm.

“I…” I started, ready to say no, but he cut me off.

“Just wear them,” he said. “It will help keep the swelling down.”

His tone was direct. No space to argue. And… he was right. So I nodded. He even helped me slide them on. I bit my lower lip to keep myself calm. Why did something so simple make my heart flutter like this?

“I will take you home,” he said.

“What?” I blinked. “Really?”

“I will drive you,” he repeated, locking eyes with me.

“There is no need. I am already troubling you,” I said softly.

“I insist,” he replied. “If the pain comes back, you may not be able to control the brakes. Do you really want to risk it?”

His jaw tightened slightly. It made his face look even more sculpted.

“Why do you even care?” I asked without thinking.

Great. Now I sound rude. After everything he just did for me.

“You are so stubborn,” he muttered under his breath. His voice dropped, low and serious.

“What did you just say?” I shot back.

Did he just insult me?

“Hmm! Just give me your address,” he said, sounding irritated now.

I raised an eyebrow. “I can handle this, okay? You can go back…”

But it was too late. He scooped me up again. Like I weighed nothing. Like I was a bride or something.

“Hey!” I tried to protest. “Put me down!”

He ignored me. He kept walking, carrying me as if it was no big deal. I wanted to push him away… but my body felt weak. Too tired to fight. I looked at his face.

Wow…

He really was handsome. Perfect skin. Strong jaw. Sharp eyes. But those lips… Soft. Rosy. Way too perfect. I swallowed hard. Nothing was even in my mouth, but I did it anyway. Why do his lips look like they want to be kissed? What is happening to me?

This is not me. Why am I suddenly thinking about kissing this man?

“Done staring?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Oh no.

Was I seriously just staring at him… without even knowing? I quickly looked away, my face burning. At some point, we had reached his car. I had not even noticed.

“Huh?” I said, confused, as he opened the passenger door and helped me inside.

“Now tell me,” he said, voice calm but distant, “where do you live, so I can take you home?”

His face had turned cold again. Almost like he was hiding whatever he really felt.

I sighed. “Okay, fine. Akarion Condominium. Do you know it?” I asked, raising one brow.

“Yeah. My uncle owns that place,” he said, sounding casual, like it was no big deal.

Wait… what? That building? It was a luxury condo. Everyone knew it. So his family must be really wealthy.

“Do I look like I care?” I muttered under my breath. Better to act cool than keep acting like some lovesick girl. I had already stared at his lips too much. So embarrassing.

“Is it not obvious?” he snapped, clearly annoyed.

Wow. So he had a temper. The more time I spent with him, the more I saw it.

“Ugh,” I sighed and turned toward the window, leaning against it. Then I heard him shift.

I turned my head back, and his face was suddenly right in front of mine. So close. I could feel his breath. It was warm. A mix of wine and mint. The heat coming off him made my stomach twist.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice barely above a breath. He did not answer. Instead, he gave me that smug grin again and leaned even closer. My eyes shut on instinct. But instead of a kiss…He was only adjusting my seatbelt. I opened my eyes fast and saw him smiling like he had just won a game.

Ugh. Athonia. Seriously?

“Just drive already,” I mumbled, trying to hide how flustered I felt. He leaned back, like he was about to start the car.

But then… He leaned in again. And kissed me. What?! His lips touched mine, soft at first. Before I could react, he bit my lower lip gently, and I gasped. That was all he needed. He kissed me deeper, slipping his tongue in.. And that was it.I lost control.

The heat. The pressure of his lips. Everything. I kissed him back. Even though I did not want to. Even though I told myself no. My body did not care. My hand reached for the back of his neck.

“I missed the taste of your lips,” he said. Before I could say anything, his lips were back on mine.

My head spun. My knees felt weak. Then I felt it, his hand sliding under my dress. His fingers brushed my thigh, slow and warm.

“Uhmm…”

A sound slipped from my lips before I could stop it.