Alex's P.O.V.

After Stella disappears into the bathroom, I grab a pair of shorts from the cupboard and quickly pull them on before dialing Sky back. I wait as it rings.

He answers it with frustration. "Why the hell weren't you picking up my calls?"

"I was sleeping," I reply, rubbing my forehead.

"What? Aren't you coming for match practice?"

"No. Actually, Stella isn't well. Her mom's not around, so I've stuck here to look after her." I say, trying to sound annoyed because I can't let him doubt what's really going on between us.

Sky is my friend. It's not like I don't want to share what's really going on between Stella and me, but I'm not sure how he'd react. To him, she's my stepsister, a boundary that shouldn't be crossed. But to me, she's so much more—someone I'm starting to care about in a way I never expected.

He falls silent for a moment before he responds, "Oh, Zoe told me about her ex. Alex, just... don't be too hard on her, alright? She's been through a lot."

Hard on her? Never.

I was never the gentle type, not with anyone. But with Stella, it's different. If Sky knew how I've been with her—how I've held back, been patient, doing everything I can to make sure she feels safe, he wouldn't probably recognise me.

"I won't, Sky," I assure him.

"Good," he replies. "Anyway, the coach is pissed off about you missing practice. He's been giving us an earful."

I sigh, glancing toward the bathroom where the sound of the running water continues. "He'll get over it. Once we win the match, he'll forget all about it."

Sky scoffs. "Overconfident as always."

I chuckle. "It's not overconfidence when you've got the best player on your team."

Sky laughs. "Yeah, right. But without you, it's boring. I'm thinking of heading home myself. Zoe's still injured, and she needs me."

"Take care of your girl, man. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Bye." He hangs up, and I set my phone down, running a hand through my hair.

I glance toward the bathroom door. I've never been this protective of anyone. What's happening between us is more than just physical—Stella also knows it, but she isn't ready to accept it. I won't pressure her into anything she's not ready for. She's been hurt, and I'll be patient to let her heal at her own pace.

I lean back, listening to the water running, and it's impossible to stop my mind from wandering. The image of Stella, soaked and naked under the shower, drives me crazy. I can imagine how the water must be cascading over her skin, how the droplets would cling to her body.

Fuck! I just don't want to imagine. I want to see her.

Without another thought, I rush towards the bathroom door. As I step inside quietly after pushing the door open, my heart almost stops beating at her sight.

Damn, she's hotter than I imagined. The water streams down her body, her wet hair sticks to her shoulders, and the way she's standing there, so natural, so perfect—it's all too much. My shaft twitch inside my shorts.

She turns, startled for a moment, but then a smirk spreads across her lips. "Do you want to join me, Alex, or are you just going to stand there and stare?"

Her voice ignites something deep inside me. Fuck! I like her even more when she acts so bold.

"Do you even need to ask?" I tug off my shorts in one swift motion, letting them fall to the floor.

I step into the water with her, and instantly her eyes drop to my body. The way she looks at me, her eyes dark with desire, makes me feel like I'm on fire. She bites her lower lip, taking me in as the water hitting our skin.

I move closer, so close I can feel the heat from her skin. My hands find her hips, fingers sliding over her slick skin. Her eyes meet mine, full of desire, and she lets out a moan as I squeeze her butt.

I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. "You drive me fucking crazy, Stella."

She shivers under my touch. "You're driving me crazy too, Alex," she whispers back, her hands roaming over my chest, down my stomach, making my muscles tighten, and I let myself get lost in it.

My hands find her waist and pull her close, pressing her wet body against mine. "Can you feel it, Stella? What's between us?"

Her eyes flicker with fear and something deeper. "It's something I've never felt before... and it scares me, Alex."

I cup her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes. "So what do you want, flower?"

She responds, her hands sliding lower. "To just keep things physical between us."

She strokes my hardness, waking the beast inside me.

I groan, lifting her off the floor effortlessly. As her legs wrap around my waist, I pin her against the cold, tiled wall. Her breath becomes heavy as I position myself at her entrance. "Is that what you truly want?"

"Yes," she breathes, but her voice is trembling, as if she's fighting something deeper.

"If that's what you want, Stella, I'll give you exactly that." With one hard thrust, I'm inside her, and she gasps, her nails digging into my shoulders. I can feel her heat, her need, and I lose myself in her completely, moving hard and fast, the sound of our moans filling the bathroom as water pours over us.

For now, I'll give her what she thinks she wants.

I feel her tightening around me, her breathy moans mixing with mine. Her fingers scratch my shoulders as she shudders, and I follow right after.

For a few moments, the only sound in the bathroom is our heavy breathing, the water still running, cooling our heated skin. I hold her close, her head resting against my chest as she catches her breath.

But when I pull back, I'm not ready to let go of her yet. I trace my thumb along her jawline, feeling the rapid beat of her pulse beneath my touch. "I'm not done with you yet."

"Good." She grins, her cheeks flushed. "Because I want more."

Damn! Will she stop driving me crazy with her boldness?

"Bend over," I order, turning off the shower and pointing at the counter.

Without hesitation, she complies, leaning over the cool tile. I marvel at the sight, getting hard again.

Who would have thought that the woman who never missed a chance to argue with me would one day submit like this?

"Keep your legs apart," I command, and she does so eagerly.

I position myself behind her, keeping my eyes locked on hers through the mirror. The intensity between us blazing like a fire. I lift one of her legs onto the counter, and she gasps softly.

With a firm grip on her hips, I plunge into her again, deeper this time because of the position. She moans a beautiful sound that drives me wild, and I thrust harder and faster, savouring the way her body responds to me.

I look at Stella in the mirror. She looks so damn gorgeous, her cheeks flushed, her hair clinging to her damp skin, her eyes closing with pleasure.

"Look at yourself, Stella." I grip her hair and tilt her head back to force her to meet her own gaze in the mirror. "Look how hot and beautiful you look while you take my cock like a good girl." With every word, I give her a hard and deeper thrust, yanking her hair.

As her leg slips from the counter, I pause, pulling out of her, and she glances back at me with a question in her eyes.

"Did I ask you to put your leg down?" I ask, my fingers pressing into her hips, leaving marks.

She shakes her head, looking at me in the mirror. "No."

"Then keep it up," I command, delivering a sharp slap to her ass.

"Fuck!" She cries out, keeping her leg on the counter quickly.

"Now it shouldn't drop down," I warn before sliding back into her with a swift, hard thrust, causing her to moan my name.

I'm lost in her—the way her body responds, the way she submits to me. There's something intoxicating about controlling her.

I pick up the pace, my thrusts becoming more forceful. "That's right, Stella. Let go and feel every inch of me."

She moans loudly as I maintain the rhythm, pulling her hair. She leans into the mirror, her gaze filled with pleasure and excitement.

"You're mine, and I'll take you however I want," I assert as I thrust deeper, harder.

"Yes, Alex. I'm yours," she gasps.

As I reach the edge once more, I focus on the way her body quivers around me, the way her eyes blaze with passion. "Come all over my cock like a good girl, flower."

With one final, deep thrust, we explode together again.

I fall on her as we catch our breath back.

"Do you want more, flower?" I ask in her ear because I'm not getting enough of her.

"Yes, Alex, give me more." She murmurs, bringing a smile to my face.

It seems like she is also not getting enough of me.

I move away from her and point at the cold floor. "Lie down and spread your legs for me like a good girl."

Although her legs are still shaking, she doesn't take a second before complying.

Fuck!