LOGINDaphne’s povI knew I sounded desperate, but I didn't care. I was finally this close to him, and the thought of him stopping was unbearable. His eyes were glued to mine, dark and filled with a hunger that matched my own. He wanted this just as much as I did.“Please,” I begged, my voice cracking. “Please, fuck me.”He didn't wait another second. His lips slammed against mine in a hard, bruising kiss. My hands shook as I reached for the buttons of his shirt, fumbling until they finally gave way. He broke the kiss just long enough to pull the shirt off and toss it aside. When he lowered himself back down, the feeling of his bare chest against my skin made me gasp.The kiss grew even more intense. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him. Our muffled moans were the only sounds filling the quiet room.Stefan pulled back slightly, his face flushed and his breathing heavy. He looked completely intoxicated by me. “Have you ever...?” he ask
Daphne’s POVStefan wasn’t supposed to see Adrian and me kiss.The thought claws at my chest as I knock on his door for the second time. I’ve searched the entire house. If he’s anywhere, it’s here. I lift my hand to knock again, but the door swings open before my knuckles land.“Daphne?” Stefan says, surprise flickering across his face.My mouth opens—then Bella steps into view behind him.Her lipstick is smudged, no longer neat and perfect. My gaze drifts back to Stefan before I can stop myself. The same shade of red stains his lips, uneven and unmistakable. Heat rushes behind my eyes. I school my expression, forcing my face into something neutral, even as envy coils tight in my chest.“Let me guess,” Bella says lightly, smoothing her dress. “Mom sent you to look for me.”She doesn’t wait for an answer. “I should go.”She brushes past Stefan and reaches for my hand, her grip firm. “You can’t tell her I was here,” she whispers.I nod, pasting on a faint smile that feels brittle. As we
Stefan’s POVIt’s good that Daphne is still here. The timing couldn’t be better to introduce Adrian to her.“I thought you left,” my mom says the moment she sees me. She rises from her chair and walks over, then her gaze shifts to Adrian. Her brows knit together. “Who is he?”“Oh my fucking God!” Bianca screams. She jumps to her feet, rushing toward us. “You’re Adrian. Adrian Gilbert.” Her hands fly to her mouth. “How—what—how the fuck are you here?”Adrian stiffens beside me, clearly flustered, his smile stretching wider as if it might save him. I step in before the moment gets any more awkward.“I want you all to meet my really good friend, Adrian,” I say. “He’s a famous actor, and judging by your reaction, Bianca, you already know him.”“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you knew him?” she blurts out, looking like she might faint on the spot. “Is this even reality?”My eyes drift to Daphne. She’s focused on her plate, moving her fork slowly, almost deliberately. No wide eyes. No exci
Daphne’s POV“I don’t give a shit,” I sneered. The smirk on his face vanished, and I deliberately looked away from him.“It’s fine if you don’t know who I am,” he said, his voice turning hard, “but you need to understand that no one can ever know about what you saw earlier. Is that clear?”I sighed before turning back to him.“You don’t need to worry. Your little secret about being gay is safe with me.”“Hey, I am not gay, okay?” he snapped, suddenly defensive. I scoffed.“I—I’m bisexual, okay?” he added quickly.“Whatever you are, Mr. Adrian. I don’t give a shit. Now leave me alone,” I said, irritation burning through my chest.“You—forget this. If anyone finds out, trust me, I won’t spare you,” he warned, annoyance sharp in his tone before he stormed away.Thank God. What the hell was his problem?“You’re here,” Bianca slurred, stumbling toward me. She nearly fell, but I caught her just in time.“Careful,” I muttered, steadying her.“Why are you here instead of enjoying the party?”
Daphne’s POV I stared at my reflection until the girl in the mirror blurred, then a laugh tore out of me—sharp, broken, wrong. It kept spilling from my throat, growing louder, more unhinged, until my chest ached. I shoved my hair back with trembling fingers, frustration burning under my skin. A sister. That was what he saw when he looked at me. After kissing me. After lighting something in me I couldn’t put out. The word felt like a blade twisting deeper every time it echoed in my head. A snarl ripped from my lips as I swept my arm across the vanity. Bottles shattered. Powders exploded across the floor like bruised petals. I pressed my teeth into my lower lip, hard enough to taste blood, but it didn’t stop the tears. They slid down anyway—hot, humiliating. I loved him. God, I loved him so much it hurt to breathe. How was I supposed to accept this? How did someone survive loving a man who belonged to someone else? A knock sounded at the door. I stiffened, eyes snapping
Stefan's POV I watched the light die in Daphne’s eyes. Her hopeful smile didn't just fade; it collapsed, leaving her expression fragile and vacant. I held my own faint smile rigid, focusing on maintaining composure. "Oh, okay," she managed, her voice a thin thread. "I will always be your big brother, and you have nothing to worry about," I insisted, forcing a finality into the words. "What did you want to tell me?" I hoped the sound of my heartbeat wasn't audible. "Hmph... It’s nothing, I just wanted to see you. Now that I have, I should get going." She offered a flimsy wave and turned. The click of the latch as the door secured was the loudest sound in the room. I sucked in a ragged breath and immediately gripped my chest. The last thing I needed was to see her today. I dragged both hands through my hair, pulling the strands back hard enough to sting. What the hell was I thinking? The memory of the kiss, mint and desperate heat, slammed into me. I wanted







