Chapter 1

Experts say women should spend more time looking at muscular men.

It was hard to argue with that, especially when it was said by real experts.

And I wasn't even freeloading. I was helping the guy gain traffic, too.

At midnight, my best friend, Bridget Poe, sent me a thirst-trap video from an account named "elaire" and demanded a full review.

I tapped the video open.

The room was dim, lit by a single mood lamp behind him.

The man kneeled on the floor with his hands tied behind his back, chest pushed forward. A black lace blindfold covered most of his face, leaving only the sharp line of his jaw…and lips barely holding onto a loosened tie.

The red silk shirt stretched tight across his chest like the buttons were fighting for their lives.

Lower down, defined abs faded in and out beneath the shadows, his waist tense like a drawn bow.

The whole thing radiated restrained power, like he might snap the ropes at any second.

Damn. No wonder he blew up.

I snorted and started typing.

[I'm not desperate, okay? I'm simply a fan of pretty aesthetics. Any guy willing to make an effort scores points with me. That's just how it works!]

After replaying the video a few times, something started feeling off.

That tiny mole beside his Adam's apple, the mark on his collarbone that looked suspiciously like a bite scar...

Then Bridget's verdict popped up.

[Holy crap, he looks exactly like your ex!]

I exited the video and replied, [What a coincidence. He IS my ex.]

The bite mark on Oliver's collarbone was my final act of resistance after he had absolutely wrecked me in bed.

But I definitely didn't remember biting him that hard…

Wait. That wasn't the point!

Why was I lying awake having a meltdown at midnight while Oliver was online seducing the entire internet?

My phone immediately blew up with a nonstop barrage of question marks and "no ways" from Bridget.

I lazily typed back, [Can't even hate. He's got the face, the body, and the skills to back it up.]

Ten minutes later, Bridget forwarded me another video. That traitor actually screenshotted our chat and posted it on TikTok.

The comments section was a disaster:

[Okay but HOW good are we talking? Elaborate.]

[Waiting for the ex-girlfriend review!]

Then, a familiar username got pushed straight to the top.

[So why did you break up?]

I stared at the comment, fingers trembling as I typed back.

[Because I was afraid I'd wear you out.]

Three seconds later, "elaire" replied.

[Wanna put that theory to the test?]