Chapter 004

Jescyka’s POV 

Shame’s heavier than any hangover.

It sits right on your chest, makes it hard to breathe, harder to move.

I woke up in a bed that wasn’t mine. The sheets smelled like him, a little strong, like regret and trouble.

For a few seconds, I just stared at the ceiling, trying to remember how the hell I’d ended up here.

Then it came rushing back — last night. Darren.

I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. My head was pounding. My mouth felt like sandpaper. My heart… worse.

I shoved the covers off and looked down at myself. My underwear is still on, but my skin is bare, except for one dark mark on my neck.

Great. Proof. Evidence. Whatever you want to call it.

Relief should’ve made it better, but it didn’t. My body still remembered him—his mouth, his hands, the way he’d whispered mine.

“God,” I whispered. “What’s wrong with me?”

How do you even begin to want the brother of the man you were supposed to marry?

I yanked his shirt tighter around me and stalked out before I could overthink it.

The kitchen smelled of coffee, eggs, butter sizzling in a pan. Standing with his back facing me was Darren. 

He was barefoot. Sleeves rolled. Flipping eggs like this was some normal morning. Like he hadn’t kissed me senseless on that couch. Like I hadn’t begged for it.

 I lost it. Completely.

I slapped his arm. Hard. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He didn’t flinch, he didn’t even look surprised. He just tilted his head slightly, his eyes flicking to me once, then back to the pan.

“You took advantage of me,” I threw at him. “You’re no better than your brother. You just wanted to…” I choked on the word, “—to screw me too.”

It came out louder than I meant, blunt enough to cut my own throat. Blaming him was easier than facing my shame. Because rage and shame twisted together inside me.

He didn’t argue. Didn’t rush to fix it. He just slid toast onto a plate and hummed low in his throat. That sound—half hum, half growl—ran straight down my spine.

“Say something!” I snapped.

He set the plate in front of me like I hadn’t just accused him of everything.

I tore his shirt off, standing there in my bra and panties, skin prickling. “Keep your damn clothes. I’m leaving.”

I turned, grabbed my bag. My fingers were shaking too hard to find the handle. Then his hand caught mine. 

“Let go,” I hissed.

“No.” His voice was calm. Too calm for everything going on. “You’re not walking out of here half-naked.”

“Watch me.”

His grip didn’t tighten; it just stayed there, immovable. His eyes met mine, and I hated that my stomach still fluttered.

“I’ll take you home,” he said quietly.

“I don’t need your help.”

“Maybe not,” he said. “But you’re getting it anyway.”

My phone started buzzing in my bag—again and again. Marvy. Then Ethan. Then Marvy.

Each vibration made my chest tighten a little more.

“Answer it,” Darren said.

“I don’t owe them anything.”

“Maybe not,” he said, voice flat, “but you owe yourself some peace.”

I yanked my hand out of his grip. “I don’t want to hear their voices.”

His jaw flexed once. “Then let me drive you.”

We just stared at each other—me falling apart, him steady as ever. His calm made me furious; it made me feel small. Finally, I snatched my jacket off the chair.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But only so you’ll shut up.”

The drive was pure torture.

Every few seconds, I felt his eyes flick toward me, checking if I was still breathing or something. The air between us was dense, too warm, too… charged. Every time our hands brushed near the gearshift, a spark jumped through my arm. I jerked away like I’d touched a live wire.

“Stop looking at me,” I muttered.

“Then stop shaking.”

“I’m not…” but I was. My fingers wouldn’t stay still, tapping against my leg like I had caffeine in my veins.

“I had the weirdest dream last night,” I blurted, just to make the drive feel less weird and . “I swear I heard growling outside. And these… eyes. Amber ones. Like a wolf was pacing on your balcony.”

For the tiniest moment, he froze. Then he blinked, nothing more, but I saw it.

Then his voice smoothed out again. “Dreams feel real when you drink too much.”

I looked away, pretending to watch the city roll past, heat creeping up my neck.

When we turned onto my street, my stomach dropped.

Marvy was outside, pacing like a man ready to explode. The second he saw the car, he froze—then stalked straight toward us. His eyes found me first, then moved to Darren.

He yanked open my door. “What the hell are you doing with her?”

Darren was out of the driver’s seat before I could breathe. He stepped in between us, tall enough that Marvy had to tilt his chin up.

Marvy threw a fist—fast, too fast—but Darren caught his fist midair before it even landed.

He Didn’t even flinch. Just held it there, muscles taut, eyes flaming and golden under the sunlight. No normal man should’ve been able to move like that.

“Don’t,” Darren said, voice calm but heavy enough to make the air shift.

Marvy tried to pull free, but Darren leaned in close enough that I could feel the tension ripple off him. “If you’re so worried about her,” he said quietly, “maybe take better care of your woman.”

Then he let go. Shoved Marvy’s hand back, turned, and walked away like the fight bored him. The air he left behind felt too heavy to breathe.

Marvy spun on me. His anger cracked, falling into panic. “Jessica—Jesus—you scared me. Why didn’t you answer your phone? Do you know how worried I was?”

I folded my arms tight across my chest.

“If it’s about the engagement, fine,” he said quickly. “Take your time. I’m not pushing. I love you. You’re the one I want.”

The words sounded hollow, like a script he’d rehearsed in the mirror.

I laughed without any humor.

 “Funny. Because last night, the only thing falling out of your pocket was proof you don’t.”

His face went white, then quickly turned red. “Where were you? Why was Darren the one bringing you home? What happened?”

“I spent the night in the hotel he’s staying at,” I said, my voice flat. “Then I ran into him in the car park. He offered to drive me home.”

Marvy’s brow furrowed, fury barely contained. “Jess…”

“What, Marvy?” I tilted my head, letting every word drip with sarcasm. “You’ve got a problem with me being around your family now? Or does loyalty only matter when you’re the one wearing the ring?”

His mouth opened…nothing came out. For once, Marvy Coldridge had no answer.