LOGINLORETTA The first taste of Elion's mouth was devastating in every sense of the wordThe second made me forget why I was even angry to begin with, and by the third....I didn't know my own nameThe kiss wasn't gentle, it wasn't even fair, not with the knowing way his lips and tongue captured mine prisoner, taking absolute control over meThe rain continued to fall around us, heavier now. The sky was dark, the city kept moving, but when Elion kissed me, nothing else excited me except his mouth on mineHe tasted of everything I've ever yearned for, of passion, and ecstacy and bliss and recklessness and so much more than I could fully process His mouth was hard against mine, his hands framing my jaw, a downpour of rain running between us, I raised a hand to clutch his shirt, to push him away but instead, I realized that I was only pulling him closer to my body so that my tender breasts flattened against his hard chestAnd so help me God, I could not stop. If a gun was pointed to my head
LORETTA He crossed the distance between us with long, furious strides that made the world narrow down to himThe traffic disappeared, the people on the sidewalk disappeared, even the ache in my heart disappeared Even though Elion was striding towards me with a dead look in his eyes, the first thing I felt — actually felt was relief He came.For one reckless, almost humiliating second of it all, I wanted to break into a run and wrap my hands around him, to let his warm hands and scent comfort me“Elion” my breath caught when he reached me and grabbed me by the shoulder, his large hands closing around my body hard but not hard enough to hurtI could see the dark energy rolling over him in waves, it should have scared me and it did, but...those coal dark eyes swept over me frantically, going over my face, my neck, my arms, down and back up againIt took me a second to understand what Elion was doing, and when I did realize that he was checking to see if I was okay, my heart melted in
LORRETA The taxi lurched forward, pulling into the road before I could hurl out a very colourful insult towards HeathHe leaned back against the seat, his notes crinkling as he glanced around the taxi. “You could have ...”“Did you seriously just pull the 'I'm the man, so I decide' card?” My voice came out sharper than I have ever used with him, I stared at this stranger who was seated beside me with new eyesHeath sighed softly, “Look, I didn't mean to...”“How dare you come at me with that sexist crap?" I snapped, not caring about what else he wanted, and planned on saying I was done hearing him out. I was D O N E. Genuine remorse crossed over his face, he reached a hand to touch me but I swatted it so fast and hard that Heath flinched, shifting backwards and away from me. “Lo, what's wrong with you?”Shock and agitation rippled through me “What's wrong with me? You dare ask me that question after this foolishness you just pulled?” My hands shook, not from fear this time but fr
LORETTA FIVE MINUTES EARLIER Heath's hand was extended out, hovering between us in a pregnant silence, hope lit up in his eyes “Come with me” he said again, as if he repeated it enough times, I might agree to I looked at his hand, then at his face, the boyish face I once admired years ago, and my heart softened for him “Heath…” I started gently, choosing my words with care. “I appreciate that you're looking out for me. I really do.” His eyes brightened even more, a slow smile spreading across his face. “So you'll come with me then.” It wasn't a question. “There's this new Michelin-star restaurant close to my place. We could check it out if you're up for a date.” His gaze drifted toward Rosa's, his nose wrinkling in disapproval. “It's a lot better than... whatever this is.” A sad smile settled on my lips. In some ways, Heath wasn't a bad person. He could be thoughtful, caring, and even incredibly kind to the people he considers his friends, but his biggest flaw had alw
ELIONI pulled up to Rosa's so hard and recklessly that my tires screeched against the pavement.I was out of my car before the engine fully turned off. My heart hammered so violently it felt like it was trying to outrun me, to find Lorreta himself before I make another mistake and screw us up like I did in the office The bell above the café door chimed as I shoved it open without enough force to break the fragile glass. Every conversation paused, every single movement froze, and everyone watched me as if I'd just dragged a storm in behind me. They wouldn't be wrong to think so.My eyes swept the room with quick desperation. Past the students, an elderly couple, a woman typing on a laptop, a mother trying to keep her toddler from taking off his shoesNo Lorreta My heart skipped beats I scanned the room again, slower this time, hoping this time, hoping that I had somehow missed her, that if I looked close enough she'd be right there, sitting by that empty table close to the windo
LORRETA“Heath?”I blinked— twice, just to be sure that the person across the street from me was infact Heath and not some doppelganger who looked exactly like him His honey brown eyes lit up in surprise the minute he spotted meMy father had told me Heath would be returning to Seattle, but I hadn't expected him to be here of all places. I wasn't even supposed to come here today...at all. So meeting my past friend, and ex-boyfriend, across the street in Seattle was very unexpected. I guess the day was still full of surprises after allHe tried to cross the street, but a truck sped past immediately making him halt. That single second was enough for the knots in my stomach to pull tight. While a part of me was glad to see an old friend from my past, another part of me dreaded what Heath's presence would bring He finally crossed the street, covering the distance between us. “Lo" A grin spread on his face and before I could answer, Heath pulled me in a hugInstinctively, my body stif
LORETTA Rosa's smelled like delicious coffee and butter. It was calming in a way. With soft lighting, windows fogged at the edges, and small talk around equally small tables here and there “You know how you're the unhinged one in our friend group?” I startedMichelle straightened slightly with a
LORETTA “Who do I need to murder?”I blinked “What?””Your voice sounds like my cat's chew toy” My brows bunched together, I was about to ask what a chew toy sounds like only for her to go on with something even worse“Tell me Lo, who do I need to murder? I know a guy who knows a guy that can get
LORETTAI needed airAir that wasn't filled with the heady scent of Elion's cologne. My body didn't feel like my own, my lungs refused to work properly, every breath catching somewhere between my chest and my throat.I barely made it to my office before my legs gave way, a shattering sound wrenched
ELIONThe second I felt her pulse jump beneath my grip, something beastly inside me strained against its leash.That part of me that I spent three days trying and failing to bury. “Tell me something, Rea,” I breathed into the space between us “Do you enjoy making me choose between my sanity and yo







