LOGINAlex's PovI hadn’t expected things to progress this fast.One minute I was trying to keep my distance, telling myself I was doing the right thing by giving her space. The next, Gwen was straddling my lap in front of half the building, kissing me like she’d been dying to do it for weeks. And then… she asked me to stay.I stood in my apartment, still tasting her on my lips, staring at the wall that separated us. My shirt still smelled faintly like her perfume. The memory of her soft weight on me, the desperate little sound she made when I kissed her back, it was burned into my brain.Fate, or whatever the hell you wanted to call it, seemed to be laughing at me. The more I pushed her away, the harder it pulled us together. Every time I told myself to stay back, something threw us into each other’s path. The banana peel. The package. Last night.I was tired.Tired of fighting it. Tired of pretending I didn’t want her. Tired of carrying the weight of my family’s expectations while trying
I woke up with the worst headache of my life and the distinct feeling that I had ruined everything.My mouth tasted like regret and stale alcohol. My eyes felt like I had sand in them, and when I tried to move, my body protested with a dull ache. The room was dim, curtains drawn, but the light sneaking in still felt too bright. I groaned softly, pressing a hand to my forehead.What happened last night?Fragments came back in flashes, the party, fairy lights, Nelson’s easy laugh, Alex arriving, the game of Truth or Dare… and then me, bold and drunk, straddling Alex in front of everyone and kissing him like my life depended on it.Oh God. Oh my fucking God. I had kissed him. In public. In front of the entire building.Fresh mortification crashed over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the bed would swallow me whole. I needed water. And painkillers. And a time machine to undo last night.My phone started blaring on the nightstand, loud, insistent, and cruel. I reached for it blindly,
Alex's PovI didn’t know how I’d react when I saw her again.Part of me hoped I’d feel nothing. That the days away dealing with my father’s hospital room and the vultures circling the family empire would have dulled whatever pull she had on me. But the second I stepped onto that rooftop and my eyes found her in that soft green dress, laughing at something Nelson said… something in my chest eased and tightened at the same time.She looked good. Better than the last time I saw her, curled up and miserable on her couch. Healthier. Brighter. And standing next to him.I forced my expression to stay neutral as people swarmed me. Heather and Jane, a few others whose names I didn’t bother remembering. Women who smiled too wide, touching my arm, asking where I’d been. I gave short answers. My mind wasn’t on them.It was on Gwen.I was happy to see her. Stupidly, dangerously happy. Even from across the distance, I could tell she was doing okay. That eased something in me I didn’t want to name.
Gwen's PovBy Friday night, I had almost convinced myself I was overthinking everything.Saturday arrived, the night of the building party.I stood in front of my mirror for way too long, debating what to wear. In the end, I chose a simple soft green dress that was cute but comfortable, paired with light makeup and my favorite earrings. Nothing too fancy. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.My phone buzzed just as I was grabbing my keys.Nelson: Hey! I’m downstairs. Ready when you are I smiled a little. He was sweet, safe, and easy to be around. Exactly what I needed tonight.I met him in the lobby. He looked nice in his dark jeans, a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a warm smile the moment he saw me.“You look great,” he said, sounding genuinely happy.“Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself,” I replied with a small laugh. “Shall we?”We headed up to the rooftop lounge together. The moment we stepped out, the party made an impact. There were fairy lights strung ever
Gwen's PovThe next few days passed very quickly with only minimal events. Thankfully, there was no Alex, although I would be a liar if I said I did not look toward my door with longing, expecting him to show up looking concerned and nervous like he had.After that fateful day, my cold had gotten worse before it started getting better. My nose was still stuffy, my throat felt like sandpaper, and the period cramps had eased. Thank God. I kept replaying that evening in my head. Alex showing up at my door with soup and painkillers. The way he had crouched beside the couch, looking genuinely worried. I hadn’t seen him since.At first, I told myself it was fine. I was the one who had been avoiding him after everything that happened. Maybe this was just me finally getting the space I asked for. But as the days went by, a small, annoying voice in my head started whispering.What if he was avoiding me now?By Thursday, I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged myself out of bed, took a long ho
Alex's PovI closed her door softly and stood in the hallway for a long moment, staring at my room's door like I could see through it.What the hell was wrong with me?I had seen her in many states… But today, huddled on that couch in oversized pajamas, red nose, puffy eyes, clutching that mug, she had looked so damn beautiful it actually hurt.I couldn’t explain it. I had been with plenty of women. Polished ones. Confident ones. But none of them had ever pulled at something deep inside me the way Gwen did.I walked back to my apartment, jaw tight, mind restless. Ever since she slipped out of class early, looking pale and in pain, I hadn’t been able to focus. I’d finished the lecture on autopilot, then asked one of the students who sat near her, that Nelson kid, if he knew what was going on. He’d mentioned she wasn’t feeling well and looked really uncomfortable. After a few careful questions, I put two and two together. It was that time of the month.So I went out and bought supplies
Gwen's PovThe air found its way into my opened mouth and I was forced to close it, realising how stupid I probably looked when his cheeks lifted in pure humour. “Is this funny Alex?” I gasped, astonished he could find it in him to laugh. “This is all meant to be fake. And…”“This changes nothing
Gwen's Pov“Come for me Eve.” He whispered in my ear that fine morning.Yet, it was nothing but a beautiful memory of the night before, resurfacing in my dreams.I jolted awake, a sharp gasp escaping my lips. Throughout the night I had dreamt of dirty things that Alex had done to me. My heart raced
Gwen's PovThe private jet was unlike anything I had ever experienced.I sat in one of the cream leather seats, staring out the window as the city disappeared below us. Everything felt unreal. Just weeks ago, my life was quiet and predictable. Now I was flying to Munich with Alex Thorne, a man who
My nerves tingled. I watched him take a drink, swirl it around in his mouth like a fine wine, and then swallow it. The working of his throat made me hot, but that was nothing compared to what the intensity of his stare did to me. “Till then,” he murmured. “I will let you go now .” He kissed me.







