LOGINAiden’s POV The clock on the wall ticked louder than it should have. I checked it again, even though I already knew what it would say. The meeting time had passed. Three hours, to be exact. Three hours of sitting in my office, pretending to work while my attention stayed fixed on the door. Kailin was never late. Not late late. Not like this. He was the kind of man who arrived five minutes early and waited in silence, already prepared, already ahead. If he wasn’t on time, it meant something had gone wrong. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed a hand over my face, unease settling deep in my chest. “Where the hell are you?” I muttered. I picked up my phone and checked it again—no missed calls, no messages. I’d already called him twice. Both times it rang until it stopped. No answer. No voicemail. That bothered me more than the delay. Kailin didn’t ignore calls. Especially not mine. Especially not on meeting days. I stood up and walked to the window, staring out at t
Kailin’s POV I shut the door behind me. It didn’t help. My mind betrayed me immediately—Rose’s body, warm and bare beneath my hands the night before, the way she’d trusted me without knowing it. I cursed under my breath. I still didn’t understand how I’d managed to stop myself when I undressed her, how I’d walked away instead of letting instinct take over. I pulled off my shirt, tossing it aside. The room felt too small, the air too thick. I reached for the zipper of my trousers, dragged it down halfway— The door opened. I looked up. She stood there, wearing my shirt. It hung off her shoulders, too big for her, sleeves nearly swallowing her hands. The sight hit me harder than it had any right to. “Why?” I asked immediately, sharper than I meant. She stopped in front of me. “I just… I have one last question.” I exhaled slowly. “What is it?” She didn’t answer. Her gaze dropped to the floor. “Look at me,” I said. She shook her head. “Rose,” I said again, firme
Kailin’s pov I looked up at her—really looked at her—standing there with her fist twisted in my collar, demanding answers like she wasn’t shaking inside. A small chuckle slipped out of me before I could stop it. I stood up slowly, deliberately, even while she was still gripping my shirt. Up close, she looked smaller than I’d realized. Fragile. And yet—this kid had nerves. “You want to know how you ended up here?” I asked. She didn’t answer. She just stared into my eyes, searching for something—anything. “Right?” I asked again, louder this time. Her body flinched. I felt it before I saw it. Her fingers loosened, then dropped from my collar completely. I exhaled and stepped back. “I knew you wouldn’t leave that place,” I said, my voice low, controlled. “I knew you’d still be there.” She frowned, confused. “That’s why I went back to the club,” I continued. “And I was right. You were still there.” I paused, watching her carefully. “You know what surprised me?” H
Rose’s pov I woke up slowly, my head throbbing, my body heavy. Nothing looked familiar. For a moment I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my heart starting to race. “Where am I…?” I whispered to myself. Then pieces of last night crashed back in—music, lights, a stranger’s face. I followed a man..... to a hotel. My breath hitched. I pulled the blanket down and froze. I was naked. I sat up too fast, a sharp ache tearing through my body. Pain spread everywhere—my legs, my back, places I didn’t want to think about. I hissed under my breath. “Bastard.” Everything hurt. And worse than the pain was the emptiness in my head. I couldn’t remember anything. Not how it started. Not how it ended. Nothing. My chest tightened as the truth settled in. I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I’d given that part of myself to a total stranger—and I couldn’t even remember what my first time was like. That realization hurt more than my body did. I glanced around the room, searching for h
Kailin’s pov I stepped out of the club and into the night, the cold air hitting my face harder than it should have. "Damn, this kid is daring." I whispered to myself. I got into the car and drove off, hands steady on the wheel even though my head wasn’t. The road stretched ahead of me, empty enough to think, crowded enough to stay alert. I called him. He picked up immediately. “I’m almost at the club. Two minutes.” “No,” I said. “The location’s changed.” “What do you mean, changed? To where?” “My house.” There was a short laugh on the other end. “Your house? Why?” “Because the club isn’t safe anymore,” I replied, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror. “I wasn’t alone. Someone followed me there.” The line went quiet. “No,” he said after a moment. “I’m not meeting you at your place.” I cut in. “If someone’s watching me, they’re watching you too. Turn around. Come to my house.” Another pause. Longer this time. 'I know you don't trust me, but......." I took a t
Rose’s POV Days had passed since that night. And somehow, I still kept coming back here. Same club. Same noise. Same lights. Every night, I told myself I was done. That I wouldn’t come again. And every night, my feet still brought me here. I’d sit in the same area, order the same drink, and watch the crowd like I was waiting for something to appear out of it. Or someone. The first night, I told myself it was curiosity. The second, I said I was just bored. By the fourth night, I stopped lying to myself. I was looking for Kailin. I needed to see who he came with. Needed to know if he really had someone. A lover. A one-night stand. Someone he spends steamy nights with. Each night he didn’t show up, my chest tightened in a way I hated. And then tonight— I saw him. My breath caught instantly. Same tall frame. Same calm expression that never matched this place. He walked in like he owned the space without trying, eyes scanning the room like he was checking exit







