chapter One: The House guest

I heard the front door shut behind me exactly at 7:03 a.m and the house was immediately filled with this familiar scent of lemon polish, salt air, and something darker that has always belonged only to him it definitely had to be him I thought to myself even without turning around.

I’m twenty-four, and I just came back from a six-hour drive, still had the taste of the airport coffe in my mouth, as I dragged my lugged to the kitchen and stopped to catch my breathe,

Julian Reyes stood at the island in nothing but he had on a gray sweatpants that hung loosely on his wastline revealing his perfectly built v-line he poured coffee like he was born to ruin lives,Sunlight peered through the blinds and reflected on his body which mad him look as done gold glitters were poured in him right across the deep V- line of his abs cut hips make, across the trail of dark hair that disappears beneath soft cotton every muscle in his back shifts when he turns, slow and deliberate, as if he heard my heartbeat spike from the foyer.“Lila.”he said in a deep arousing voice the kind of one that makes a woman forget her name for a minute ,he made my name sound obscene in his early morning voice “Your mother said you might stay a few weeks.”he said , i couldn't find my voice I manage a nod my tongue suddenly felt thick .

He doesn’t smile,barely,the corner of his mouth lifts just enough to remind me he knows exactly what that mouth can do to a woman his gaze travels down my body without a trail of shame I had a frayed denim shorts riding high on my thighs,thin white tank, no bra, nipples already tight from the air-conditioning and from him is there any problem?” I asked finally proud that I found my voice a little.

His eyes come back to mine, black and amused “Never been a problem, baby girl.”he answered.The nickname hit me as though I just took a shot of tequila,I felt a sudden wetness in between my thighs , I gripped the suitcase handle harder,He pours a second mug without asking and slides it across the marble our fingers brushed,we barely met each other's gaze, yet I felt electricity crackle up my arm and detonates behind my ribs.

“House rules haven’t changed,” he says, voice low this time . “The pool's open bar’s stocked you can eat whatever you want.” he paused deliberately Or nothing at all I’ve seen everything before.”he said wearing this smirk that I wanted to slap off his face.

He definitely hasn't seen me for a long time, at least not like this since I stopped being the gangly teenager who used to “accidentally” forget her bikini top by the hot tub just to watch his jaw clench I thought to myself

I lift the coffee, sip, let the burn ground me “I’m not a kid anymore, Julian I told him

“No,” he murmurs, stepping closer until the cedar and skin scent of him surrounds me “You’re really fucking not.”

He reaches past me for the sink, caging me without touching his mouth right beside my ear I could feel his warm breath on my ear.

“Welcome home, Lila.”he said ,then he left barefoot, he walked toward the basement gym, leaving me throbbing against the counter before I’ve even dropped my bags.

The rest of the day is torture by proximity I unpack in my old room across the hall from the master every creak of the house sounds like footsteps I swim laps until my lungs burn, hoping the cold water will kill the ache it doesn’t.Dinner is a silent negotiation he grills steaks on the patio,I sit opposite him in a sundress that wrapped because I’m still a bit wet from the pool,We didn't speak to each other about anything we both ate in silence

When the plates are cleared he pours two fingers of bourbon, hands me one, and says you need to go to bed early we have a long workout tomorrow.”he said as he stood and left and could only nod, throat dry, and then managed to escape upstairs.

At 2:14 a.m I’m still awake, sheets kicked off, skin too tight, when my phone lights up on the nightstand. a message from an unknown number”You still touch yourself thinking about me”? The message read my pulse risedso hard the room became suddenly stuffy

Another text, thirty seconds later because I never stopped thinking about you.

Fingers shaking, I typed How did you get this number?

Julian

Your mom’s emergency contact list. Don’t ever change it.

I stare at the ceiling, breath shallow another message.

“Julian”

Leave your door cracked tonight

I want to listenI should be horrified but am not

I shove the covers to the floor, spread my thighs, and slide my hand into my soaked panties. I’m already swollen, desperate. I circle my clit slowly at first, imagining it’s his tongue, then faster, chasing years of forbidden fantasies. I don’t bother muffling the sounds. I want him to hear every wet slide of my fingers, every broken moan of his name when I come hard enough to arch off the mattress.

Silence afterward, except for my ragged breathing.Then the hallway floor creaks, soft, deliberate.

I froze, heart slamming against my ribs.

Through the three inch gap in my door, moonlight catches the shadow of bare feet. He stops just outside he didn't speak he didn't even cross the threshold he just stood there with his breathes, slow and heavy, for ten endless seconds.Then the shadow left and another message came in on my phone

My phone vibrates one final time

“Julian”

Good girl.

Tomorrow we pretend that didn’t happen.

The day after that, we stop pretending.

I lie in the dark, thighs slick, pulse roaring, and realize the line I just leaped over has no way back.

Somewhere down the hall, the master bedroom door closes with a whisper.

The house suddenly feels too small for both of us

And tomorrow is already here.