THE FIFTH NIGHT

SKY

I felt his lips trail slowly from my face down to my chest, leaving soft kisses that made my heart race. His hand brushed along my thigh, moving higher, while his mouth trailed down to my stomach. I kept my eyes closed, trying to stay calm, pretending I was still sleeping.

I always remind myself not to get too lost in this moment, this was just a deal.

Five nights already… only five more and I would be free.

But when his lips came back up to my neck, I couldn’t pretend anymore. I placed my hand on his chest and gently pushed him back. My eyes opened, meeting his, with anger flashing through them.

“You can’t give me a hickey on my neck… he will see it,” I said, annoyed. His eyes, which had been filled with desire, suddenly turned cold.

Then he leaned closer to my lips, an inch from them, and whispered. “You are too intoxicating for me to ignore.”

“William, we talked about this,” I said quickly. “The last time you did, it almost got me in serious trouble.”

“Well… I don’t care,” he let out.

“You have to care,” I insisted. “He is my fiancé, and if he finds out I am cheating on him, it will break him. Please, William.”

His eyes darkened as his hands suddenly wrapped around me, pulling me close. “Hold on… are you sleeping with him behind my back?”

I grabbed his wrists, trying to stop him. “Hey, no! I told you…. It’s just the deal so let me go.”

For a moment, it was like something inside him snapped back into place and he released me. I tried to stand, but he pushed my weak body back onto the bed.

“I am not done,” he let out calmly.

I rolled my eyes, frustrated. “But I lost interest already,” I replied, earning a scowl from him.

“He is leaving the country tonight, and I need to go with him.” A small smirk tugged at his lips as he ran his palm along my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin.

“How do you think he will feel,” he whispered, “knowing that while he cries over his loss, you are here… sleeping with his field rival… the winner?”

I bit my lip in anger, fighting the rage in my chest. “I am only here because of the deal. Nothing else.”

His eyes narrowed before he finally stood, slipping into his boxers without the slightest hint of shame. I looked away, sighing, ashamed of myself for even being in this situation.

Just then, my phone began to ring. My stomach twisted as I reached for it, swallowing hard seeing the caller ID before answering.

“Levi..”

I heard the faint rustle of movement on the other end of the line before Levi’s voice came through.

“Are you mad at me because I lost?” I could feel his broken voice from this edge, I wanted to rush to him immediately to apologize for not being there with him.

I quickly cleared my throat, forcing my voice to stay calm. “Levi… of course not. I just came out to clear my head, that’s all.”

It was a lie, and I knew he had heard the hesitation in my voice, but I didn’t want to make him feel worse.

“Coach, I swear I gave it everything, but that bastard…” yeah you heard right, I am a twenty-five-year-old assistant coach for his team, it was hard to get that position but with his help, I got it.

People always ask how I became one of the youngest football assistant coaches in the league. I have helped them win a lot of matches in the past years and that is what made them have a lot of trust in me.

I was supposed to be on the field, not standing at the edge of it with a whistle around my neck. One bad fall had caused a twist of my knee, and everything I had dreamed of ended right there on the grass. But I had never been the kind to stay down for long.

With Levi’s help and a ridiculous amount of sleepless nights studying tactics and strategy, I found my way back into the game.

“Levi,” I interrupted gently, lowering my voice. “Let it go. We will win next time. Don’t beat yourself up.”

He chuckled, a sad sound that twisted my chest. “Then come back. I want to leave with you. I miss you already.”

“I will…” My words died when William's shadow fell over me. The phone was snatched from my hand, and before I could even react, he leaned in locking his lips with mine. His intoxicating scent filled my lungs, no matter how hard I tried to push him away he wouldn't let go until he bit me.

“Hello…” Levi’s voice came faintly through the receiver, but before I could respond again, his lips crashed against mine again.

I tried to push him away, but he deepened the kiss, his fingers curling around the back of my neck. When I finally managed to shove him back, I heard the click of the line going dead signifying Levi had hung up.

“What the hell are you doing?” I breathed, glaring at him. “We agreed no more of this.”

His eyes burned into mine as he moved closer, “The thought of spending the night with his fiancée just after he lost to me is a great delight for me.”

“I hate you.” I let out almost in tears but he grabbed my neck, leaning closer and sniffing it.

“You are flying back with him for seven hours. You really want him to notice the marks I didn’t get to finish?”

My breath stopped, his words sent a shiver through me, the one I didn’t want to feel. I hated that he could still do this to make me tremble between anger and need.

“Levi doesn’t deserve this,” I whispered, but my voice lacked strength.

He smirked, with his fingers brushing my jaw. “And yet you are still here.”

When I didn’t respond, his hand fell away and his expression went cold. “Then tonight’s over. I will have my driver take you home.”

I scoffed. “So the press can get a story about me leaving your place at dawn? No, thanks.”

“Then go yourself.”

I glared at him one last time, grabbed my robe, and stormed into the bathroom. I turned on the water and tried to let the heat wash him off me. But halfway through, I heard the door creak open.

“Get out,” I said, but my voice betrayed me as it was too soft.

He stepped in, his reflection catching mine in the fogged mirror. His eyes were dark, hungry. Before I could move, his arms slid around my waist, his skin hot against mine.

“Don’t start this,” I warned, breath shaking.

“I can’t help it,” he murmured against my neck. “I am missing you already.”

His hands moved up, slowly tracing my body as his lips hovered by my ear.

“You said the night was over,” I whispered, but he only sighed, his breath tickling my shoulder.

“Then let me end it properly,” he said, voice low, taunting.

I turned annoyed, pushing at his chest. “You don’t get to say that. I love Levi and I will not hurt him because of you.”

He smiled, the kind of smile that made me want to slap him. “You can lie to yourself. But not to me.”

I shoved past him, wrapping a towel around myself. I was almost at the door when he caught my wrist again.

He pulled me back and kissed me hard. The kind of kiss that stole all reason but I shoved him away and slapped him, breathless.

“Control yourself,” I snapped.

He only touched his cheek and gave me that dangerous smirk. “Maybe I should lose the finals, just so I can keep you here.”

“You are sick.”

“I am sick for you.”

I didn’t look back, and just yanked the door open, slamming it behind me with my heart pounding, and body trembling.