All Chapters of TALES OF INSTANT LUST - SHORT READS : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Chapter ThreeIn a city that never rested, the garden on the rooftop was a secret. It was the only spot Ivy felt alive again, hidden above the bustle of the Las Vegas Strip, where the noise finally subsided. The aroma, which clung to the skin like memory, was a subtle combination of flowers and stormy rain. After looking for hours, she had found herself here. Her phone was full of unanswered texts, and the Aurelia lounge was suddenly deserted. The previous evening, Luca had disappeared like smoke, leaving her with only the sound of his words.He had once remarked, "You don't chase what isn't ready to be caught." Nevertheless, she had pursued him through her own restless thoughts, through the hallways of that glistening hotel. Until she arrived here, at the silent apex of the city, via the lift. She relaxed against the railing, the wind pulling at her clothing. The spotlights of Vegas extended on and on below the sea. She shut her eyes and tried not to think about how Luca

Chapter Two EthanThere's something about Los Angeles nights that makes you feel alive, as if the city is pulsing underneath your skin even while you're still. The subtle aroma of the evening shower's rain, the noise of traffic below the balcony... Every single object has a pulse. I wasn't meant to be here. Not this late, not in this area of the home, and most definitely not lingering outside her art studio, pondering why I had let her speak on the phone to persuade me to do so. She'd said, "Just five minutes... "A strong pair of hands is necessary to assist me in moving a canvas.”Five minutes. I ought to have been more aware. There was never a five-minute encounter with Lila Hartman. There was already a crack in the door. Warm light streamed in, and I could hear jazzy, sluggish music played on a languid saxophone. After hesitating, I knocked. Before I could say anything, she called, "Come in, Ethan." I entered. Her perfume, subtle but unmistakable, filled the ai

Chapter Three The rain had ceased hours before, yet the neon lights reflected off the wet streets below, making Los Angeles look as if it had just been washed. The air within the flat had retained its power from the storm that was gone between them and outside, and it was heavy. Observing the slight steam rising from his unfinished coffee, Ethan leaned against the counter. His heartbeat hadn't calmed since Ava had approached him earlier that night, her words clinging to his skin like heat and her eyes dark and lips parted. Now that she was silent, she was wandering the living room while holding her phone and feigning to go through texts. She wasn't reading anything, though, and they both knew it.The faint sound of the refrigerator, the subdued roll of a car outside, the steady beat of their breathing attempting not to sync—all the sounds in the flat seemed heightened. Then she raised her head. For a little moment, their gazes locked, but it was sufficient. That one look

Chapter TwoCompared to the night's creak, the rooftop lights gave out a little buzz. Ethan's words echoed in the air like a challenge Lana wasn't sure how to respond to, and she could still feel his warmth in her fingers. "Go for it," she had said. However, her confidence seemed to have been taken by the wind now that she was present there, just inches from him. With a steady, amused stare, Ethan leaned backwards against the railing. "So," he said nonchalantly, "what are you going to do next, naughty girl?" Lana's forehead raised. "You think I've got one." He remarked, "Oh, you always have one." "You prefer to act as though you don't.”She crossed her arms. "Perhaps I'm reserving it for the ideal time." He laughed. "You mean when you believe it will surprise me the most?" "Exactly." Like a dance that none of them wanted to stop, their banter flowed effortlessly. Below them, cars swerved between streets like shimmering insects as the city lights twinkled. Lana

Chapter OneEven at midnight, the city hums, whispers, and sparkles, never truly sleeping. I could see the hazy reflections of car lights gliding across streets slippery with rain from the balcony of my flat. On the railing, my wine glass was half-empty, with condensation forming at the bottom. I should have been relaxing after a demanding week, but all I could think about was her.Lena.She was the next-door resident. My closest friend, my best buddy since college, and the one particular person who could understand me without using words. Last year, we had relocated into the same building, but in different flats on the same level. Perhaps it was fate, but it seemed safe and convenient. But for some reason, it didn't feel safe at all lately. Before I proceeded to turn to look at her, I heard a gentle knock on my door. Her signature is three soft taps. Lena was standing barefoot, her hair wet from the rain, her jacket slung loosely over one of her shoulders, and a smile tu