MasukHis jaw clenched, and I could see the war going on behind his eyes. Like he was holding back. Like if the kids weren’t around, he would’ve unleashed hell.What the hell did I do?He looked at me like I’d broken something sacred. The worst part? I couldn’t even defend myself.Because I didn’t know what I was defending against.All I had were fragments. A kiss. Heat. The feel of him under me. His voice—strained, gasping my name. And then…Nothing.Just blank space and regret.Ace took a step closer, and I instinctively stiffened. His glare didn’t waver. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under already.“First,” he began, voice low but cutting, “you brought a man into my house and almost fucked him in my living room.”My stomach dropped. He didn’t stop.“When I called you out for how shameless you were, you cried and went off to my club to drown yourself in alcohol.”I opened my mouth to speak, to deny, to breathe, but he wasn’t finished.“Not only did you drink like a hopeless fool i
I set the machine going and leaned against the counter, breathing in the comforting smell of caffeine salvation. Once the mug was full, I wrapped both hands around it like it was the last warm thing on earth. But then my stomach growled—loudly. Right. I didn’t eat last night. Just drank on an empty stomach like a total amateur.I pulled open the fridge, hoping to find something I could munch on that didn’t require actual cooking. That’s when I spotted them: snacks. Glorious, sweet, carby salvation.A whole row of stuff caught my eye.— A half-open pack of butter cookies— Chocolate chip biscuits in a fancy gold tin— Strawberry cream wafers— Digestives (not exciting but reliable)— And then… jackpot.Peanut butter biscuits.One of my favorites. The kind that crumbled perfectly, tasted like heaven, and had just enough salty-sweet kick to go with my creamy coffee. I grabbed a pack without hesitation and closed the fridge.I carried my bounty over to the counter and perched on one o
**Aria**I woke up slowly, like my body was afraid to face the reality my mind hadn’t caught up to yet.My head throbbed. Not the kind of dull ache you get from a bad dream or restless sleep, but the kind of pain that comes after too much alcohol and not enough sense. My mouth was dry, my throat raw, and every beat of my heart echoed in my skull like a warning bell.I sat up with effort, pressing a hand to my temple. My surroundings came into focus one blurry detail at a time—soft sheets, plush pillows.This wasn’t my room.I blinked, heart skipping. No... this place was far too elegant, too pristine. It looked like a five-star hotel suite designed for royalty.Panic tugged at my chest. I rushed to the window, flung it open—and froze.I knew this view.Ace’s house.A wave of nausea that had nothing to do with alcohol crashed into me. I gripped the window frame, trying to make sense of it.Why was I here?The last thing I remembered was crying—pathetically, hopelessly—after Ace had to
I was teetering on the edge, my sanity held together by a thread thinner than her dress strap.She leaned in again, her lips parting in slow motion, breath warm against mine. Her eyes, half-lidded and full of wicked promise, locked onto my mouth like it was her target. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My heart thundered in my chest, every muscle in my body drawn taut like a bowstring. I closed my eyes awaiting her soft lips.And then—she hiccupped.Violently. Loud. Sudden.Like a squeaky horn shoved into the middle of a porn scene.My eyes snapped open. Her face froze—confusion, alarm, and something dangerously close to panic flashing across her features. Her cheeks puffed out like she was holding something in. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.Then it hit me.The shift.The pale face.The way her hand shot to her mouth.“Oh no,” I muttered, all arousal evaporating like smoke in a storm. “Oh no no no.”“Shit!” I yelped, shoving her back just in time.She
“Aria,” I muttered, trying to pry her off me. “Let go.”Her grip was surprisingly strong. “Ace…” she whispered, her voice breathy and slow.I froze.“The alcohol is making me so horny.”My spine locked. My breath caught somewhere in my throat.What.I cleared my throat and shifted awkwardly. “Okay… you just need sleep. You’ll be fine in the morning.”“No,” she murmured. “I can’t sleep.”Before I could react, she yanked me forward—and suddenly, I was on the bed beneath her.She straddled me with terrifying accuracy for someone half-conscious. Her legs pinned me down, her hips pressing flush against mine. I stared up at her, stunned.Her eyes were barely open, but her fingers slid into the back of my hair. She flicked her messy curls over her shoulder like some drunk goddess preparing for war.“Aria,” I growled. “Get off me. Now.”She smiled lazily and brought her finger to my lips. “Shhh,” she whispered like I was the one causing problems.I clenched my jaw, trying to stay calm.“Aria
I stole a glance at her. Her eyes were half-lidded, a loopy smile on her face. “Ace?”“What?”“I’m sorry.”I paused. “…For what?”She blinked slowly. “For existing in the same oxygen space as you. It must be exhausting.”I snorted, in spite of myself. “You’re not wrong.”“I mean, seriously. You're like... if a thunderstorm and a grudge had a baby.”“And you're like if a tornado and a wine bottle had an affair,” I shot back.She grinned lazily. “Bet the tornado would treat me better than you do.”“Yeah? At least the tornado leaves when it’s done.”She gave a dramatic gasp. “Ouch. My nonexistent feelings!”I chuckled under my breath, shaking my head as I drove. “You’re a handful, Aria.”“And you’re a whole damn curse.”She yawned, leaning her head back against the seat. “But… maybe tonight... you’re a decent curse.”I glanced at her again. Her eyes were closed now, lashes brushing her cheeks. For once, she looked peaceful. Small. Breakable.I muttered to no one in particular, “You’re lu
The icy grip of the river surrounded me as I plunged into its depths, the cold shocking every nerve in my body. The impact left my ears ringing and my chest tightening, water surging into my mouth and nose before I could close them.For a terrifying moment, I didn't know which way was up. The mur
The night air is way colder than I expected. Like… disrespectfully cold. I keep my eyes ahead, scanning the way home. The men in the truck are still following me. I mean why wouldn't they? My skirt is basically a belt. I might as well be holding a neon sign that says: “FREE ATTENTION—NOW OPEN FO
I take a shaky step away from the tree, my sneakers crunching loudly on the leaves.Great. Perfect. Let’s announce my location to the entire forest. Maybe send out an invitation while I’m at it.The rustling comes again, and this time, it’s so close I swear I can feel the movement in the air around
The car ride was definitely not silent. I found immense joy in peppering Ace with ridiculous questions, mostly to annoy him. Pissing him off has become one of my favorite things to do."Can you just shut up? You've been spouting nonsense since you got into my car. A little peace and quiet would be







