MELISSA’S POV Life had a rhythm again. Work, meetings, shoots, time with Xavier—it all blended together into something that felt oddly familiar yet new at the same time. This wasn’t my first big break, not the first contract I had ever signed, and certainly not the first time I had tasted fame. I’d walked red carpets before, faced flashing cameras, even had my name trending more than once. But this one… this was different.The morning I went to sign the deal, I knew it carried a weight that went beyond glossy magazine covers or another campaign shoot. This contract wasn’t just about me as a model—it was about me as Xavier’s partner. For the first time, the personal and professional were officially tangled together, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.Marco was buzzing, of course. He thrived on days like this. His phone never left his hand, and his grin was wide enough to split his face in two as he paced the lobby of the office building where the signing was scheduled.“Do you ha
MELISSA'S POV The morning light slipped through the curtains of Xavier’s room, soft and golden, warming the edge of the bed where I lay tangled in the sheets. I turned my head, half-asleep, only to find him already awake, propped up on one elbow, studying me with a smile that was so gentle it made my chest flutter.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he teased, his voice low and rough from sleep.I stretched with a yawn. “Morning. You’ve been staring at me, haven’t you?”“Guilty,” he said without hesitation, leaning down to brush a kiss against my forehead. “Couldn’t help it.”Heat crept into my cheeks, and I rolled onto my side to hide it. “You’re ridiculous.”He laughed, climbing out of bed and tugging on a T-shirt. “Come on. Breakfast.”I thought he meant room service, but a few minutes later I found myself in his sleek, polished kitchen, barefoot in one of his hoodies, helping him hunt down a frying pan and arguing about the right way to crack eggs. He insisted he was the better cook, t
MELISSA’S POV The remaining days of our vacation after the party rolled by far too quickly. One minute we were swaying under fairy lights, sand clinging to our feet, laughter spilling freely into the night. The next, we were squeezing every last drop of joy from the trip—sightseeing, buying souvenirs from small shops tucked into busy streets, sampling foods I never thought I’d have the courage to taste.We took silly pictures everywhere we went. Xavier, who usually carried himself with a sort of calm, confident edge, was surprisingly playful. He pretended to be a tour guide once, pointing at random statues and inventing ridiculous stories about their origins. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, clutching my stomach while tourists glanced at us like we were crazy.We tried fresh seafood by the docks, where the smell of saltwater and fried batter hung heavy in the air. Xavier wasn’t a fan of the oysters, but he ate them anyway because I dared him to. I, on the other hand, discov
XAVIER’S POV Morning came by faster than I imagined. For a second, lying in that soft bed with the faint hum of the AC filling the silence, I thought everything that had happened yesterday was some kind of dream. Maybe my mind had created a fantasy too good to be true. But when I shifted slightly and my arm tightened around something warm, soft, and real, I blinked open my eyes to find Melissa nestled against me.She looked so peaceful, her lips slightly parted, her lashes brushing her cheeks. Even in the dim orange glow filtering in from the curtains, she looked breathtaking. Angelic. I had seen her fierce, stubborn, playful, teasing—but like this, in my arms, she looked fragile in a way that made me want to protect her from everything.I leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to her forehead. She stirred, frowning a little as if she wasn’t ready to leave her dreams. Then her eyelids fluttered open, and hazel eyes met mine. The corners of her lips curved up lazily, and for the fi
MELISSA’S POV My body felt like it had been stretched, tested, and set on fire all at once. I hadn’t expected it—not this soon, not like this. But after the heat between us boiled over earlier, after his lips claimed mine with that intensity that could melt ice, there was no holding back.Now I was sore, in places I had only imagined, in ways that left me both weak and completely alive. Every muscle hummed with the echo of his touch, every inch of my skin carried the memory of him and gosh, I was exhausted. So much that I drifted into sleep almost instantly, my body pressed against his warmth, my cheek resting on his chest as if that spot was carved out just for me. Just as sleep was about to pull me under, I felt the softest kiss land on my forehead. Then barely above a whisper, I heard him murmur, “I love you Mel”. It was so faint I almost thought I imagined it, but the way my heart fluttered told me I hadn't. A small smile graced my lips as I let the warmth of his words carry me
MELLISA'S POV The air in the room was thick with heat, the kind that clung to your skin and made every breath feel heavy with anticipation. I stood there, heart pounding, my mind a whirlwind of desire and recklessness. Screw caution. Screw rationality. All I could focus on was Xavier, his presence overwhelming, his scent, a mix of cedarwood and something dangerously primal, flooding my senses. My body was already betraying me, tingling with a need I could not ignore, a deep ache that pulsed through my veins and made my knees weak with longing.One moment, he was hesitant, the next, his hands were on me, yanking my bikini top away with a swift, confident tug that sent a thrill racing down my spine. The fabric hit the floor, and I gasped, the cool air hitting my bare skin like a shock, hardening my nipples instantly under his gaze. His eyes, dark and molten, locked onto mine, and I swear I saw a flicker of something wild in them, a predatory gleam that made my pulse quicken even more.