LOGINRielle.I pulled into Mom’s driveway just as the sun was dipping low, painting the old brick house in that warm golden light that always made it feel like stepping back in time. I grabbed my overnight bag from the passenger seat, slammed the car door, and then it hit me.Oil.I had totally forgotten about the Oil Lucas had gotten for me… he must have been so carried away with that old lady and he forgot too.“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, already halfway up the walk. Whatever. I’d run out tomorrow and grab it. She’d forgive me. She always did.I pushed open the front door without knocking, some habits never die and called out in that sing-song way I’d done since I was ten.“Mooooom!”The house smelled like her famous chicken stew simmering on the stove, garlic and rosemary drifting through the air. Comfort in scent form.“In the kitchen, baby!” she called back, her voice bright and warm.I kicked off my shoes in the entryway and padded down the hall, bag slung over my shoulder.“
Lucas I hurried back down the hallway, the small bottle of that specific oil for Rielle clutched in my hand. It had taken longer than I wanted to find it…they even had to check the back stock but I knew she’d appreciate the effort. The office was quiet this late afternoon; most people had already left for the day. I was already mentally rehearsing the apology for the delay when I turned the corner.And froze.There she was.At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks stress, lack of sleep, whatever. But no. The same soft features, the same quiet elegance.Although I was little, but who could forget someone like her.She was standing near the elevator, phone in hand, glancing around as if deciding whether to leave or stay. And right beside her..,talking to her was Rielle.Rielle, laughing softly at something the woman said, completely unaware of who she was speaking to.My stomach dropped.“Mrs. E—”She spun at the sound of my voice, eyes widening in recognition and something shar
My smile faltered for just a second- then widened when I truly saw who stood in front of me.“We meet again, darling.”The familiarity in her voice startled something soft inside my chest.“I…” I laughed lightly, surprised at myself as I stepped forward and hugged her.To my shock, she hugged me back without hesitation.“Ma’am,” I greeted properly when we pulled apart, still smiling.It was her.The woman from the other day. The one I’d met at the other mall.For a strange moment, it felt less like coincidence and more like fate deliberately nudging us into each other’s paths again.“How are you?” she asked warmly, holding my hands like we were old acquaintances instead of strangers who’d met twice.“I’m good,” I replied honestly. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”She chuckled. “Life has a funny way of circling back, don’t you think?”We talked for a bit, small things at first. The mall. The weather. How crowded places always made her nostalgic. There was something incredibly comfor
Past twelve.“Shoot,” I muttered, grabbing my towel and heading straight for the bathroom.I had promised to be at Mom’s place by two..no excuses. We were supposed to spend the rest of the day together, just us. No work. No drama. No Zayden Wolf occupying space in my head like rent was free.The shower was quick, too quick. I barely enjoyed the warmth before my mind betrayed me, replaying fragments of yesterday: his voice, his hands, the way he looked at me like the world had narrowed down to just one point…me.I dressed in record time, hair pulled back, minimal makeup, comfortable but presentable. Then I grabbed my bag and headed out.The mall was buzzing, soft music, polished floors, people moving with no urgency. I grabbed everything I needed quickly, determined not to linger for too long.Still… my hand betrayed me. I held my phone, wanting to call Zayden. But instead of his name lighting up my screen, it was Elsie’s text messages.Elsie: Have some self-respect and don’t touch yo
ZAYDENShe’d been gone an hour, maybe less, but the apartment still smelled like her: vanilla, skin, and the faint trace of sex we hadn’t quite finished. I tried to shake it off. Paced. Answered a call from Linda, who wouldn’t stop talking about her new pop-up boutique idea, numbers, locations, investors. I nodded along, said “mm-hmm” in all the right places, but every word was underwater. All I could see was Rielle on her knees earlier, lips swollen, eyes glassy, whispering my name like a prayer while I fucked her mouth slow and deep.The second the call ended I stripped and stepped into the shower, thinking cold water might kill the ache.Big mistake.The hot spray hit my back and every muscle remembered her nails digging in. Water ran down my chest, over the marks she’d left, little half-moon scratches and the faint outline of teeth on my shoulder. My cock was already half-hard before I even touched it. By the time my palm wrapped around the base it was throbbing, heavy, angry I’d
I lay back on my bed, the room dark except for the faint glow of the streetlight slipping through the blinds. Elsie had left barely thirty minutes ago, but it already felt like hours. Past midnight, Friday bleeding into Saturday; no work tomorrow, no rush. I was supposed to sleep, supposed to be good.But my mind wouldn’t shut up.First it was groceries. Then it was her; that quiet girl at the store the other day, the one with the sad eyes and the soft voice. I wondered if she was okay. I pushed the thought away. Then Zayden flooded in, uninvited and unstoppable.“Stay the night,” he’d whispered against my ear, hands already sliding under my shirt, mouth hot on my neck. “Stay the whole damn weekend.”I’d said no. I’d promised my parents I’d drive home in the morning. Family first. Always.Now I was paying for it.I let out a slow breath, thighs pressing together under the thin blanket. My body remembered everything; the weight of him on top of me, the way his fingers had dipped beneat







