1. Not a stranger

Mirelle's POV

“Humm…” I moaned in fulfillment and rolled to the middle of the bed, pushing one knee up as I wiggled my butt happily.  I was enjoying the incredible softness of the bed, and I didn't want to open my eyes yet. 

For the first time in what felt like forever, my body was not weighed down by stress throughout the night. Every muscle felt wonderfully relaxed. 

A smile spread across my lips as I lazily ran my fingers over the bed, feeling the expensive fabric of the mattress. Sincerely, I couldn't remember the last time I slept this comfortably. 

I stretched my legs out and rolled onto my back, letting a cool morning breeze blow through the room and brush against my bare skin, but then, my eyes snapped open at once.

Bare skin?

I jerked up, my heart beating fast against my chest, as I quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped it tightly around my chest. "What the hell!" 

Sweat broke out on my forehead when I realized that I could barely hear my own voice. Was I screaming throughout the night? I roamed my eyes around the strange room that didn't look anything like mine. 

Everything, from the furniture to the curtains, the wooden floor, and even the walls, screamed extraordinary luxury. The last traces of sleep vanished instantly. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought that this might be my fiancée’s room, as yesterday was our engagement. 

I covered my face as regret washed through me. 

“How can I give my body to someone so easily? I even claim to be irritated by him, but…” I couldn't finish those words as my brain dragged me back to the moment I caught him having sex with a maid yesterday night in an empty room, and how I trembled on the floor with my hand clutching my heart. 

I couldn't dare to go in to interrupt them because it would turn chaotic. I swallowed the pain because if this relationship is cut off, I will still be on the losing side. 

My ears began to vibrate as I searched my hazy memories of the previous night. My stomach churned painfully as my memory slowly began to remind me of how I ran out in tears, took a glass of alcohol from a server's tray, and gulped it down, pretending to be alright. 

Then, after the night party, I carelessly told myself that I would go wild for the night too. All in all, I ended up seducing a stranger to take me for the night. 

I winced, roaming my eyes around to see if I could catch a glimpse of him; his face was so blurry in my head. “Let me get out of here,” 

I quickly used the blanket to cover myself, then crawled out of the huge bed. I felt like falling on the floor and crying my eyes out, my whole body was shivering badly as I picked up my gown and undies from the floor, putting them on anyhow I could.  

I have never felt so ashamed of myself. I started making my way towards the door, but, unfortunately for me, it was one of those difficult doors. 

My heart dropped at the realization of what was happening. 

I wiped off any negative thoughts and started hitting my hand on every part of the door in frustration. I continued to do that, breathing heavily until it touched a button, and it automatically opened. 

“Yes!” I jumped up happily, but the moment I raised my leg to step forward, I froze as a deep, commanding voice echoed behind me.

"Isn’t it rude to run away without saying goodbye to the man who gave you the best night of your life?”

I felt a drop of pee on my panties as all the hairs on my whole body stood up. My palms were so sweaty as I forcefully clapped my hands together. I started doing a quick calculation in my head on how to clear up this mess that I have gotten myself into. 

I gulped, trying to be fearless as I turned around, even though my heart was beating so fast. My mouth dropped in amazement at the sight of the most gorgeous creation I had ever seen standing beside the bed. This was who I spent the night with?

Water trickled from his wet hair, sliding down to his toned and very muscular chest. His towel was barely wrapped around his waist, leaving the shape of his torso glaring at me as if it was silently calling for an invitation.

If only I could explore that body one more time, though. I couldn’t even remember everything we did last night, but I know for sure that it was great. I mean looking at him, all gorgeous and confident. 

I swallowed my throat, melting in embarrassment as my nipples hardened against my dress.

“Hmm,” He nodded his head. I see that you enjoy the view since you cannot answer my simple question.” He said arrogantly as he used another towel to rub his wet hair. 

I quickly looked away. Damn, I feel so hot. I couldn't even find the right words to say. 

This person looks so familiar, but his hair was scattered over his face, so I couldn't see him very well. I held my breath. 

“It never happened, whatever went on last night never happened,” I said, trying to keep my voice strong, but it came out lower than the sound of a dying mouse. 

My eyes itched with tears at once. 

“What happened last night, Mirelle?” A mischievous smirk spread on his lips as he dropped the towel on the bed. 

Wait, how the hell did he know my name? I wanted to scream so bad, but I couldn't. What did he do to me that even my voice was gone? Was he that good? 

“People having sex is normal, don't make a big deal out of what happened between us, okay? It was a mistake that should have never happened,” The words came out a bit stronger this time. 

I felt my heart swell with pride, but it was wiped off the moment I noticed how his eyes scarily darkened. He silently walked towards me, and I stepped back when he got closer. I almost tripped over the entrance of his room, but he quickly caught me and placed me against the cold wall of his room, right beside the entrance. 

He smelled so good, like my favourite vanilla ice cream. He was so huge that his whole body covered me, even though our skin wasn't touching at all. 

He smiled warmly, probably to calm my nerves. 

“A mistake? Of course, people do have sex, but is it normal to scream throughout your engagement night on your uncle-in-law’s bed? What will you tell people when they ask how you lost your voice? Answer me, Mirelle?” He teased, using his finger to play with my chin. 

My bones weakened as I just leaned on the wall there like a mannequin. It dawned on me that I was now doomed.

I desperately wanted to kick him away and argue to his face that he wasn't the one, but the familiarity was there, and it just started to click into my senses.  

I was intimate on my engagement night with the man everyone would know as my uncle, Asher St Ledger.