CHAPTER 14.

The first thing Olivia felt was warmth. A steady, slow burning kind of warmth that wasn’t from the morning sun or the silk sheets wrapped around her body. It was him.

Theo’s arm lay heavy over her waist, his chest pressed against her back. His breathing was even, unhurried. Olivia’s lashes fluttered against the pillow, her body humming in recognition of him before her mind even caught up. The memories of last night returned in fragments: the slick slide of water over her skin, his hand guiding the bath gel across her body, the soft pressure of his palm against her breast, the hunger in his touch that triggered all her nerves.

Her lips curved against the pillow. For once, she didn’t want to think about what came next. For once, she wanted to just exist in this cocoon with him, her heart tucked against his steady heartbeat, her body feeling as though it belonged to him.

A deep voice broke the silence. “Morning.”

Olivia turned her head just slightly, her hazel eyes finding his storm-gray eyes. His voice was rough with sleep, but his gaze was clear, sharp, as though he’d been awake far longer than she had.

“Good morning,” she whispered, her voice low.

His lips tilted, barely a smile but enough to warm her. He brushed his thumb against her cheek before leaning forward to press a kiss on her shoulder blades.

“Did you sleep well?” Theo asked, his tone casual, but there was a faint undercurrent of curiosity there.

Olivia’s throat tightened. He wanted to know how she felt.

She nodded. “Better than I have in a long time.”

A glimmer crossed his features, “Good.”

She tucked herself a little closer, as though her body hadn’t gotten enough of him last night. “You?”

“I slept,” he said, understated.

She smirked faintly at that. “That’s your answer to everything. You slept. You ate. You worked.”

Theo’s eyes lingered on her mouth. “Maybe I’m simple.”

Her laugh was soft, muffled against his skin. “You’re the least simple man I’ve ever met.”

For a while, neither of them moved. The sheets cocooned them, the silence unbroken except by the faint ticking of the clock across the room. She could almost imagine this was what mornings could look like, this gentleness, this grounding presence. It terrified her how much she wanted it.

Then, as if on cue, reality reminded her who she was.

Olivia blinked, turned her head toward the window, and caught sight of the light spilling in. “Oh my God.” She pushed herself upright, Theo’s arm falling away as she scrambled for her phone.

The screen lit up. 11:07 a.m.

“Oh no, no, no.” she groaned, tossing the phone back onto the nightstand. “It’s past eleven. I was supposed to….Theo!” She twisted to him, exasperated and mortified, though his expression remained calm, as he stretched lazily against the pillows like he had all the time in the world.

“Yes?” His voice was maddeningly composed, as though he hadn’t just derailed her entire sense of schedule.

“You should have woken me up,” she scolded, slipping out of bed, the silk sheets pooling around her waist before she tugged them back up to cover herself. “I had plans today. Things to do.”

Theo sat up with unhurried grace, watching her scramble with a gaze that stripped away her panic. “You needed the rest. And you look better when you’re not running yourself into exhaustion.”

Her chest squeezed, though she tried to mask it with a roll of her eyes. “That’s not the point.”

When she stood and searched for her dress from last night, Theo swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The sight of him shirtless, skin golden against the morning light, nearly made her forget why she was panicking. He found his watch on the nightstand, slipping it onto his wrist with ease.

“You’ll survive being late for one morning,” he said.

Olivia pulled the dress over her body, running her fingers through her messy curls, wishing she had even a second to look halfway presentable. “Easy for you to say. You don’t have to explain to anyone why you disappeared for twelve hours.”

He rose, his height filling the space in a way that both steadied and unnerved her. Crossing the room, he reached for the hem of her dress, tugging it down where she had pulled it on unevenly. His fingers lingered at her waist long enough to make her pulse jump.

“You’re fine,” he murmured, voice low enough to feel like a secret.

She swallowed hard, her heart flipping, but forced herself to pull back. “No thanks to you for letting me oversleep.”

He smirked, and the faintest shadow of amusement passed his eyes.

Minutes later, Olivia found herself ushered toward the elevator's door, Theo’s hand at her back, gentle but firm. “Go home, shower, breathe. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Theo–”

But he cut her off with a kiss, quick, firm, enough to silence the protest on her lips.

“Later, love.” he said softly.

—

Olivia barely had time to drop her bag before Daniela was on her, hands on her hips, silk robe falling open, hair piled up in a messy bun.

“Babe!” Daniela’s voice came out sharp, high, teasing. “Where the fuck have you been? Don’t play with me. Did you stay the night?” Her eyes widened, dramatic as ever. “Tell me everything.”

Olivia sighed, half-smiling, because Daniela never eased into anything. “Dani—”

“No, no, no,” Daniela wagged a finger at her, bouncing onto the sofa. “Don’t start with the I’m tired shit. Sit down. Spill. Right. Now.”

Olivia dropped onto the couch beside her, pressing her palms over her face. “I went to his house.”

Daniela clapped so loud it startled her own cat off the armchair. “Okay, wait, wait, wait!” she tucked her legs under her, already squealing. “Details. Don’t you dare hold out on me.”

Olivia peeked through her fingers, cheeks burning. “It was… Dani, it was insane. I had three orgasms. Three.”

Daniela’s mouth fell open, then she let out a squeak so sharp it was practically a scream. “THREE?!” She kicked her legs, slapping her thighs. “Oh my God! Babe, I’m rubbing my legs, look at me, this is insane.”

Olivia groaned into her hands. “And he didn’t even want anything in return. He just wanted to…..” she lowered her voice, almost embarrassed, “.....to satisfy me.”

Daniela flopped back dramatically, one arm across her forehead. “Jesus, take me now. He’s not even my man and I’m about to cry. Are you kidding me?” She sat up instantly, eyes sparkling. “So what next? Tell me you didn’t just stop there.”

“We… we went in the shower too.”

Daniela froze for half a beat before letting out another shriek. “Babe! Nooo. Shut the fuck up. Shut! Up!” She slapped Olivia’s arm. “That’s so sexy. I swear to God, that’s not just sex, that’s like…..like…..” She flapped her hands, at a loss for words.

Olivia leaned back, the memory flickering over her face. “It was… it was intense. Like, we weren’t rushing. We just….God, Dani, we fell asleep together afterward. His arm was over me, and I woke up his arm was around my waist…Fuck! Dani! I've met a man.”

Daniela was grinning so wide her cheeks hurt. “Stop. My heart cannot take this. I’m squeaking, I’m rolling, I’m about to combust!” She grabbed Olivia’s hands and shook them. “Do you hear yourself right now? Do you know how rare that is?”

But Olivia’s smile faltered, guilt slipping into her tone. “I feel… I don’t know. Guilty. Because… Alex. Dani, Alex is Theo’s friend.”

Daniela sat forward, eyes narrowing, voice sharp now. “Babe. Fuck that.” She pointed a finger in Olivia’s face. “Don’t you dare ruin this with guilt. Alex made his choices. If Theo wants you, and you feel this way about him? Then live in it. Enjoy it. You deserve to have someone who makes you feel like this.”

Olivia chewed her lip, torn. “It just feels… a bit messy.”

Daniela rolled her eyes, snatching a cushion and hugging it tight. “Life is messy. Sex is messy. Feelings are messy. But three orgasms in one night, a shower session, and a man who just wants you? Babe, that’s not messy. That’s a blessing. Don’t self-sabotage. Take the win.”

Olivia let out a reluctant laugh, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

Daniela gasped, hand to her chest. “You’re ridiculous, sitting here trying to feel bad about what might be the hottest night of your life. I’m literally squeaking for you, and you’re moping. No. Not in my house.”

Olivia smiled, letting herself relax.

Daniela beamed, satisfied. “That’s my girl. Now—” Daniella was cut off by a buzz from Olivia's phone.

She reached for it, thumb swiping across the screen.

Unknown Number

Hi Olivia, it’s Taylor. Would you like to meet up?

Her stomach plummeted.

Taylor.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, breath caught in her chest.

Everything was about to change.