30: That Name

Maria's POV

The moment I stepped into the apartment, I felt like I could finally breathe. Louisa’s voice called out from the living room, “Ms Santina, you're back?”

“Yeah,” I replied softly, not slowing down.

I didn’t wait around for a conversation. I headed straight to the room and closed the door behind me.

I didn't even change my clothes. I just dropped my bag, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed on the bed.

The ceiling looked extra plain today, but somehow, staring at it made my head clearer. Still, the quiet didn't last long. 

Liam's face came into my mind. His voice. His scent. The way he looked at me like I was someone he used to know but couldn’t figure out anymore.

Our talk at the bar had been... normal. Weirdly normal.

It wasn’t loud or dramatic. Just two people who had a history sitting together like none of it ever happened.

And as much as I liked that calm, I didn’t trust it.

People never change.

I sat up a little, scoffing at myself. Why was I even thinking about him? What did it matter if Liam changed or not?

“For all I care, I’ll never see him again,” I muttered. “And I hope it stays that way.”

But deep down, I knew I still felt something. It wasn’t love. No. It couldn’t be. It was probably just the weird emotions that come with seeing someone from your past. That had to be it.

“It’s just the feeling of seeing him again,” I said to myself. “Nothing special.”

My phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. I didn’t recognize the number at first, but then it hit me.

The landlord.

Rent.

I sighed, dragging my fingers through my hair before picking up. “Hello?”

We exchanged greetings. He seemed in a good mood, which was funny because I didn’t think he even knew what happened at the house. The break-in, the mess... All of it probably swept under a rug by now.

He asked about the rent. I told him I’d call back later to sort it out. That was all I could say right now.

I dropped the phone beside me and laid back again. My head was beginning to ache—not from the conversation, but from how much I was trying not to think.

Then, without warning, the bathroom door opened. I jumped slightly.

“Sorry,” Luca said, drying his hair with a towel. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I didn’t know you were home,” I said, trying to relax my shoulders.

He raised an eyebrow. “I figured. You looked surprised.”

I nodded, sitting up properly now. He looked at me for a moment, then asked, “Were you talking to someone? I thought I heard voices.”

I reached for my phone. “Yeah. It was my landlord. Rent stuff.”

He rubbed his jaw and leaned against the door frame. “You thinking of renewing?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I haven’t decided.”

He didn’t press it. Instead, he walked toward the bed and sat beside me. “How was your day?”

I shrugged. “Called my mom. Then I met an old friend. We talked for a bit.”

“Oh yeah? Where?”

“Some bar. She just wanted to catch up. I figured I could use some time out too.”

I lied. Said it was a ‘she.’ I don't like lying, but I wasn’t ready for questions.

Luca leaned in and kissed my neck. His hand brushed my thigh as he whispered, “I missed you today.”

“I’m here now,” I whispered back.

His touch was soft at first. Gentle. And I let myself melt into it. 

We kissed. Touched. For a moment, it felt easy. Felt like we were in our own bubble. And I could already feel my body tingling, wanting him or wanting something.

I wouldn't even care what he'd do to me, I was ready. Hungry.

I ran my fingers down his chest, loosened his robe in a one swift motion, and jumped down on my knees in front of him.

I'm pretty sure that must have surprised him but I didn't care. I took him in my mouth and went down so much of him could go in.

He tasted so clean, and I could still smell the soap. Like someone who just washed off the weight of the world.

I focused on that—the smell of his skin, the sound of his breath, the way he leaned back with his eyes closed as I took him in my mouth.

He moaned, low and deep, and I kept going. I wanted to make him forget everything for a moment. I wanted to forget too.

I just wanted to be used right now, and this was the best distraction.

My lips moved lower, going on to his two hanging balls as I took them in mouth. The way his body responded pushed me further. He groaned again.

I could tell he really liked this. Like this so much until he messed up.

“Alexa...” Luca moaned.

My hands stopped.

So did my mouth.

I slowly looked up, hoping maybe I misheard him. But the look on his face—eyes wide open now, guilt already sinking in—told me I didn’t.

He realized what he said.

I stood up without a word, my heart suddenly pounding for all the wrong reasons.

“I… Maria, wait…”

But I didn’t want to hear it.

Alexa.

Really?

And to think I was trying not to let the thought of Liam ruin us, there he was thinking about Alexa, dead Alexa, while I was doing all I could to pleasure him.

He probably wants to explain but I'm not in the mood for one, I just needed to leave this space.