āđāļāđāļēāļŠāļđāđāļĢāļ°āļāļāđāļāļĢāđ
Drinking.....again
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ:
2024-11-30 02:34:30
āļāļāļāļĩāđāđāļāļĩāđāļĒāļ§āļāđāļāļ
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   The Morning After
âThis is so insane,â I muttered under my breath as I walked down the quiet street, my heart still racing from the night Iâd just left behind. I couldnât believe it. I slept with Michael. Again.I needed air. I needed space. I needed Yas.Without thinking twice, I pulled out my phone and called her. She picked up on the second ring.âHey, girl!â Yasmeenâs bright, familiar voice rang through, instantly grounding me. âWhatâs up? You okay?âI took a deep breath, steadying myself. âNo, Iâm not okay. Can you pick me up?âHer tone shifted immediately. âOf course. Where are you?âI rattled off Michaelâs address, hoping she wouldnât catch on too quickly. But Yas was sharp, and she knew me too well.âWaitâĶ Michaelâs place? Arya, donât tell meâââJust come get me,â I cut her off, my voice cracking slightly. âPlease.ââOn my way.âThe wait felt like an eternity, but soon enough, Yasmeenâs car pulled up to the curb. I climbed in, sinking into the passenger seat, my mind still swirling with emotion
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Pretending
Once again, reality hit me like a slap in the face as I saw Lana walking toward Michael. I had no idea he was on work already. Lana's confident stride and perfect smile reminded me exactly where I stoodâor didnât standâwith him.âMichael,â she called out, her voice smooth and sweet, like she hadnât just interrupted my moment of clarity.He turned toward her, a small smile forming on his faceâone I hadnât seen in a while. A pang of something sharp hit my chest, and I hated how much it bothered me. After everything, why did I still care?Lana looped her arm around his effortlessly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. âReady to go?â she asked, completely ignoring me as if I didnât exist.Michaelâs eyes flicked toward me for a brief moment, but his expression remained unreadable. âYeah,â he said simply, his tone cool and distant.And just like that, they walked away together, leaving me standing there, feeling invisible, forgotten, and painfully aware of how little space I
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Fear
I shook my head, trying to steady my breath, though I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through me. "No, not really... but he tried. He grabbed me, Yas. Heâhe threatened me. Said he was going to make me pay for what I did with you and your sister."Yasmeenâs eyes widened with horror, her face going pale as she stepped closer. "Iâm so sorry, Arya. I shouldâve warned you. But thisâthis is insane. I had no idea he would go this far. Iâ"I cut her off, taking a shaky breath. "Itâs not your fault. Heâs justâheâs a sick person, Yas. I was justâĶ I was just trying to protect you."She knelt beside me, her hands shaking as she helped me sit up. "What can I do? Should I call the police? Orâ"I wiped my face with the back of my hand, trying to keep my composure. "I don't know. I justâI'm so done with this. With him, with everything."Yasmeen looked at me, her expression softening. "Weâll figure this out. Youâre safe now, okay? You donât have to do this alone." She pulled me into a hug, he
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Night Shift
Damon and I didn't speak since he laughed in my face. To add on, Michael and I didn't speak either. Now there's Tony in the mix. I frowned at life's recent jabs at me. I was tired. I ended up working late in the office and told Yas to go ahead without me. I convinced her I would be fine. After finishing up, I bumped into Michael. "Are you okay?" He asked, and I broke down.Tears welled up in my eyes before I could even stop them. I shook my head, my hands trembling as I wiped my face. "I donât... I donât know, Michael." My voice cracked, the words coming out in broken whispers. "Iâm so tired. I donât know what to do anymore."Michael didnât say anything at first. He just stood there, watching me, his expression unreadable. Then he stepped forward slowly, almost cautiously, as if he were unsure of how to approach me after everything that had happened between us. I could see the struggle on his faceâwhether to comfort me, to pull away, or just to let me have space. But when I looked a
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Can We Just Talk
I looked at him, feeling the weight of the question pressing on me. "What about Lana, Michael?" I asked, my voice tinged with both uncertainty and a trace of bitterness. "Is she still part of this picture?"His expression faltered, guilt flickering in his eyes. He sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Lana... She's in the past. I know I told you things about her, and I was wrong to string you along like that." He paused, his gaze never leaving mine. "I ended things with her. She was never what I needed, Arya. She was a distraction. A way to avoid what I really wanted... you."I didnât say anything at first. The words hung in the air, but I couldnât shake the doubt that still lingered. After everythingâthe hurt, the lies, the confusionâcould I just trust him? Could I really believe that Lana was truly out of the picture?"How do I know she wonât just pop back into your life?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my chest tight. "How can I be sure this time will be differe
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   First Date
âOh my gosh, youâre going on a date with Michael!â Yasmeen practically squealed, her eyes wide with excitement as she leaned forward on the couch.âItâs not a date,â I said quickly, though the warmth creeping up my neck betrayed me. I could feel my face flush, and I hated how easily she could read me.Yasmeen grinned knowingly, crossing her arms. âYouâre blushing. And, girl, when was the last time you got this worked up over a non-date?âI rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. âItâs just dinner. He wanted to talkâprobably about work.ââYeah, sure,â Yasmeen teased, raising an eyebrow. âWork... after hours... at a fancy restaurant... with Michael. Totally professional.âI groaned, burying my face in my hands. âYouâre impossible.ââYou know Iâm right.â She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. âCome on, Arya. Youâve been through a lot lately. Maybe itâs time to let yourself enjoy somethingâor someone.ââItâs complicated,â I sighed, dropping my hands to my lap. âWe have a lot of history,
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Your Trust
"You really hurt me, and you never gave me the chance to vent," I sighed."Everything we would do together, and I thought it was special between us, you would do it with her."Michael's expression shifted, the confidence he usually wore like armor cracking under the weight of my words. He leaned back, his hand slipping away from mine, and for a moment, he looked like he didnât know what to sayâlike he wasnât the same composed man who could charm a room full of investors.âArya,â he began, his voice strained, âI know I hurt you. I know I screwed up. And no excuse I give you will ever be enough.âI shook my head, my chest tightening with the emotions Iâd bottled up for so long. âDo you even understand what it felt like, Michael? To watch you with her doing the things we did? The inside jokes, the pet names, the little rituals that I thought were ours.â My voice wavered, but I pressed on. âIt made me feelâĶ replaceable.âHis eyes darkened with guilt. âYou were never replaceable, Arya. Nev
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   My Place
"Do you want to head back to my place?" Michael asked, his voice low and inviting, as his eyes lingered on mine.I raised a brow, a playful smirk forming on my lips. "Really?" I purred, leaning in just enough to feel the tension rise between us.His lips twitched in anticipation, his gaze never leaving mine. "Yeah. Unless you'd rather stay here?"I tilted my head, pretending to consider it, my fingers tracing the rim of my wine glass. "Hmm..." I mused, watching his expression shift between confidence and curiosity.Finally, I leaned closer, my lips just inches from his ear, and whispered, "No."He blinked, caught off guard. "No?"I leaned back with a teasing grin, enjoying the surprise in his eyes. "Thatâs right. No." I stood, grabbing my purse, the sway of my hips deliberate as I started toward the door.Michael quickly followed, his voice filled with determination. "Oh, youâre not getting away that easily."I glanced over my shoulder, my smile challenging. "Try me.""I know we're ta
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-11-30
āļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   He strikes again
I left Michael and by that time I was on my way home. It was evening time. I wasnât far from my apartment when I felt itâa presence behind me. My pace quickened instinctively, but the footsteps behind me matched mine, steady and deliberate. I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart sank. Tony. He stepped out from the shadows, his eyes cold and predatory. My pulse quickened, and a wave of fear washed over me. "Tony," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What are you doing here?" He smirked, a sinister glint in his eyes. "I heard you've been running your mouth about me, Arya. Getting Yasmeenâs family involved... Not a smart move." I took a step back, my mind racing. "Stay away from me." "Now, now," he said, closing the distance between us. "You should've stayed quiet. But you didnât, did you? You had to ruin everything." Before I could react, he grabbed my arm, his grip bruising. I struggled, trying to pull away, but he was too strong. "Let me go!" I shouted, my vo
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Making Up
I sat frozen, staring at the door long after it closed behind him. My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, left beating somewhere on the other side. The silence in the kitchen was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I hugged myself, trying to hold in the sobs threatening to break free. But I couldnât. The pain was too much, too raw. My shoulders shook as I cried, each tear falling like a piece of the life we had built together.Why did I wait so long to tell him?Why did I let fear control me?The questions circled in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last.I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. I couldnât just sit here and drown in my own misery. I had to do something. I had to find him.Grabbing my coat from the back of the chair, I wiped my face hastily, though the tears continued to fall. My hands trembled as I fumble
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Acting Strange
"You seem distant," Michael said, his eyes searching mine as we sat together in the quiet of his kitchen, sipping our morning coffee. His voice was gentle but laced with concern.I looked down at the steam rising from my cup, avoiding his gaze. "Iâm just... tired," I replied, forcing a small smile that didnât reach my eyes. "Workâs been a lot lately."Michael frowned, clearly unconvinced. "Arya, I know you better than that. Itâs not just work." He reached across the table, his hand warm as it covered mine. "Whatâs going on?"I hesitated, the words on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill out. Tell him. Be honest. But my mind flashed back to the elevator, to Damonâs kiss, and my chest tightened with guilt and confusion."I..." I started, then shook my head. "Itâs nothing, really." I pulled my hand away, gripping the edge of the table as if it could anchor me. "Maybe I just need a little space to clear my head."Michael's eyes darkened slightly, a flicker of somethingâdisappointment, may
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   A Mess
I practically ran out of the elevator the second the doors opened, putting as much distance between me and Damon as possible. My heart was still racing, my lips still tingling from his kiss. Why did I kiss him back? The question replayed in my mind over and over as I forced myself to focus on the client meeting.I managed to get through it, delivering the pitch and discussing terms like nothing had happened, but I was on autopilot the entire time. The second it was over, I grabbed my things and headed home, needing to talk to someoneâsomeone who wouldnât judge me but would help me sort through this emotional chaos.Yasmeen was already lounging on the couch when I got home, a bowl of popcorn in her lap and a reality show playing on TV. She took one look at me and immediately knew something was up.âOh no,â she said, setting the bowl aside. âWhat happened?âI dropped my bag and collapsed onto the couch beside her, burying my face in my hands. âYouâre not going to believe this.ââTry me,
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Please Don't
I pushed his hand off my waist, my breath quick and unsteady. âGet away from me, Damon,â I snapped, my voice trembling with barely contained anger.He didnât move immediately, just stood there with that same infuriating smirk. âWhy are you so worked up, Arya? Iâm justâââJust what?â I cut him off, my voice rising. âJust trying to manipulate me? Just playing your stupid mind games? You waltz back into my life like nothing happened, like you didnât hurt me, like you didnât laugh in my face when I told you how I felt!âDamonâs smirk vanished. I took a shaky step back, my fists clenched at my sides, every word pouring out like I had been holding it in for far too long. âYou think you can just show up, say a few words, and Iâll fall at your feet again? Well, I wonât. Iâm not that girl anymore.ââAryaââ he started, but I didnât let him finish.âYou broke me, Damon!â My voice cracked, and before I could stop myself, tears spilled down my cheeks. âDo you have any idea how hard it was to put
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Elevator
The day started off as ordinary as any other.I adjusted my blazer and smoothed down my skirt as I entered the sleek, glass-walled building just a few blocks from Michaelâs company. The client meeting was supposed to be quickâdiscuss the details, finalize a proposal, and be out in no time. But life had a twisted sense of humor.As I stepped into the lobby, the soft hum of classical music playing through the speakers did little to calm my nerves. I pressed the button for the elevator, checking my phone for any last-minute updates from the client. Nothing. Good. One less thing to stress about.The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and I stepped inside, pressing the button for the 18th floor. Just as the doors were about to close, a hand slipped between them, forcing them back open.Of course. Life just couldnât resist.Damon.My breath hitched as he stepped inside, looking as infuriatingly confident as ever in a perfectly tailored suit, his dark eyes locking onto mine the momen
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Surprises
Michael had been teasing me all day about a surprise, but I never imagined heâd pull off something like this.âWhere are we going?â I asked as he held my hand, guiding me into the car. He simply smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. No answer. Just that maddening smirk.After a short drive, we pulled up to a small, private airstrip. My heart skipped. âMichaelâĶâ I started, but he shook his head, opening the door for me.âTrust me,â he whispered.A sleek, black helicopter waited for us, its blades slowly spinning. He helped me inside, buckled me in, and within moments, we were airborne. The city lights sparkled beneath us like a sea of stars, and I couldnât help but gasp at the breathtaking view."Still think Iâm predictable?â he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin.âNot at all,â I laughed, my heart racing from the adrenaline andâĶ well, from him.We landed atop a skyscraper, the rooftop transformed into an intimate dining spaceâjust for us. A table for two, draped in wh
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   Next Level
Michael and I found a moment of quiet in the chaos of our work. We sneaked away, away from the prying eyes and the pressures of our professional lives, finding a secluded spot where we could finally be ourselves. The tension between us had been building for so long, and now, away from everything, we finally had a chance to breathe. His hand brushed against mine as we stepped into the empty office, the door clicking shut behind us. It was only then that I allowed myself to fully look at him, my pulse racing at the sight of his focused expression, and the way his lips curved into a smile when our eyes met. âYouâve been on my mind all day,â he admitted, his voice low as he stepped closer. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his presence overwhelming and magnetic. âYeah? Iâve been thinking about you too,â I whispered, before I leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was slow, exploratory, but deep, like we both needed to feel each other, to make up for all the time we had spent ap
Dark Temptations: Falling For My Ex   My Past
Michael and I sat down talking about our past when the question about Damon came up."What was he to you?" He asked."We were fuck buddies."Michaelâs hand froze midway through, bringing his coffee to his lips. His brows lifted slightly, but his expression remained calm, though I could see the flicker of somethingâcuriosity? Jealousy?âflash in his eyes."Fuck buddies," he repeated, setting his cup down carefully. His voice was neutral, but there was a subtle tension beneath the surface. "And you thought it could be more?"I nodded, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "Yeah. I thoughtâĶ I donât know. I thought if I gave it time, maybe things would change between us." I let out a soft sigh, playing with the edge of my sleeve to avoid looking directly at him. "But they didnât. Damon didnât want anything more than... that."Michael leaned back, his eyes studying me closely. "And you wanted more.""Yeah," I admitted, biting my lip. "I wanted more. I wanted someone who saw me as more than justâ" I
