Chapter Four

Xavier’s POV

The door slammed behind her, and for a second, all I could hear was my own heartbeat thundering in my ears.

She kicked me.

She actually kicked me.

The pain in my leg pulsed, hot and sharp, but somehow it made everything worse—because the image of her wide eyes, flushed cheeks, trembling lip as she bolted out…God.

It only made her more intoxicating.

I dragged in a breath, running a hand down my face.

“Damn, princess,” I muttered, half laughing, half pissed. “You’ve got a hell of a kick.”

Then my gaze fell to the floor.

And there it was.

Her ID card—lying face down, the lanyard curled like a snake.

Something in my chest jerked. “Wow. Look at you,” I said jokingly, “I bet you fall for me before the end of camp, firecracker”.

I crouched slowly, my fingers brushing the cold tile as I picked up the ID.

It felt heavier than it should.

Almost like I already knew this moment would ruin something important.

I turned it over.

And then the world froze.

SARAH BLAKE

Blake.

Fucking Blake!

Henry’s last name.

Henry’s bloodline.

Henry’s family.

Henry’s—

“What?” I whispered, chest tightening. “What the hell?”

My pulse slammed against my ribs as if trying to break out.

I felt heat scrape up my spine — anger at Henry, fury at the universe, and something dark that tasted too much like fate.

Sarah.

The girl who pushed me away.

The girl who looked at me like she hated me and wanted me at the same time.

The girl who kicked me and ran like her life depended on it.

Henry Blake’s sister. The one person I already couldn’t stop thinking about.

I laughed — a low, humorless sound.

It vibrated through the room like a crack in glass.

“That’s why you were acting strange,” I breathed, laughing under my breath in disbelief. “That’s why he touched your hair like that. That’s why he kept glaring at anyone who got too close to you.”

“Oh, this is rich,” I whispered, the laugh dying into something darker. “This is so damn rich.”

Should I back off? 

Absolutely.

Would I?  

Not a chance.

If anything, this changed everything.

My grip tightened around the ID until my knuckles blanched.

I imagined Henry’s face.

His stupid, smug, perfect-athlete face.

The one I’d come here to ruin.

And here she was — his weak spot.

His soft spot.

His blind spot.

Henry Blake was finally, finally vulnerable.

And Sarah…

Sweet, shy Sarah with the big eyes and the trembling breath…

She was already in my head.

Already under my skin.

Already in my damn dreams.

“Oh, princess,” I murmured, brushing my thumb over the edge of her picture. “You just made this game a whole lot more interesting.”

I dropped the ID onto my palm, flicked the bathroom light off, and walked toward my bed.

She thinks she hates me.

Thinks she can run from me.

Thinks she can resist me.

Cute.

I grabbed my phone, leaned back against the wall, and let the cold air kiss my half-naked skin.

If she wants to pretend she doesn’t want me…

I’ll show her exactly what she’s trying to resist.

I snapped the first picture — towel low on my hips, chest still damp, abs cutting like hard ice.

Then another.

And another.

A smirk curled at the corner of my mouth as I typed send.

Then I tossed the phone onto the bed and stared at Sarah Blake’s name one more time.

And that’s when it hit me —

The white-hot punch of realization, disbelief, and something vile curling in my gut.

“What. The. Actual. Fuck. Men!!”

The words tore out of me, raw and violent.

Because I knew even then…

I wasn’t getting out of this clean.

Not anymore.

---

Sarah’s POV

I was still breathless when Henry’s voice rang in my ears from earlier—

“What the hell are you doing here?”

God.

What a mess.

I hadn’t meant to end up in that hallway.

It was supposed to be a simple elevator ride to the Henrys' floor.

But stupid me, I don't even know my brother's room—

I rubbed my arm as I walked beside Henry down the hallway, still shaken, still feeling Xavier’s breath on my cheek like a ghost.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “—I wasn’t—Henry, it’s not what it looks like.… I just got mixed up.”

Henry sighed, shaking his head like I was a lost puppy. “It’s fine. Just be careful next time, this is Xavier's floor and I hate for you to run into him”.

I nodded, even though my chest tightened painfully at the mention of Xavier. I had just run into him, right now I pray he doesn't come out at that instant.

Now in Henry's room. He pulled out a black shopping bag.

“This is for you,” he said, smiling proudly. “For the party tomorrow. You’re going to look incredible, Sare-bear.”

I smiled despite the chaos in my head.

“Thanks, Henry. Really.”

We hugged — quick, warm, grounding.

Then I left.

---

Back in my room, I shut the door and leaned against it.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Xavier’s face flickered in my mind again — the smirk, the eyes, the closeness, the way my whole stupid body reacted like he was gravity.

“No, not now,” I whispered. “Just try the dress. Focus.”

I pulled it out — a lingerie, midnight blue, soft, elegant. Henry really tried.

It fit against my skin as it belonged there.

I turned toward the mirror—

And that’s when my phone buzzed.

Once. Twice.

I froze.

Unknown number.

I unlocked it.

And my heart almost died.

Xavier.

His body.

The towel.

The abs.

The smirk.

My breath stuttered painfully.

Another image arrived.

Then another.

Then the caption:

You know you want it, good girl.

Heat shot through me so fast I had to sit down.

I shouldn’t look.

I really shouldn’t look.

But my thumb zoomed in anyway — over the sharp line of his hip, the curve of muscle, the way he stared into the camera like he could see my reaction.

My thighs tightened involuntarily.

But another message came.

You’ll be craving me soon. Good night.

My chest rose and fell way too fast.

I dropped the phone onto the bed and closed my eyes.

And somewhere between breath and heartbeat—

I slipped into sleep.

---

Snow fell in slow motion outside the window.

Everything was blurry, muted, like someone had drained the color from the world.

I lay alone on the bed. Then a figure emerged above me.

Broad shoulders.

Sharp jawline.

Xavier.

But not fully him — a shadow, a silhouette, a heat that moved like smoke.

He leaned close, breath warm against the back of my neck.

My knees almost gave out.

“Still running from me?” his voice murmured, velvet-soft, dangerous.

I opened my mouth—No sound came out.

His hand slid down my waist, slow enough to kill me.

My pulse became a drumbeat. Thump.

Thump.

“You feel it,” he whispered, lips almost touching my ear. “Don’t you?”

I did.

I felt everything.

Heat pooled low in my stomach.

My breath hitched.

My skin burned where his fingers had traced.

I leaned back into him—

Without meaning to.

Without thinking.

His hands turned me to face him.

The world blurred.

The snow fell harder.

His face dipped closer—

And closer—

My lips parted—

I wanted him.

I hated that I wanted him.

I hated how much I wanted him.

His mouth hovered a breath above mine—

“Say it,” he murmured. “Say you want me.”

My heart pounded so loudly it shook the world.

“I—”

I jolted awake.

My chest heaved.

Sweat clung to my skin.

My hands trembled.

“Oh my God…” I whispered, dragging a hand through my hair. “No. No way…”

I pressed both palms to my burning face.

“I can’t be dreaming about my brother’s rival.”