The room was almost silent, except for the soft sound of the curtains billowing in the breeze.

I lie curled up in bed, knees drawn to my chest, clutching the blanket as if it could protect me from the cold air slipping in through the open balcony door.

I should close it, but I'm too exhausted to move. The last rays of the sun cast a dim, golden glow across the floor, quickly fading as the sky turns darker, shadows stretching across the room.

The air is cool and crisp, carrying the scent of rain. It bites at my skin, but I don't care-the chill feels fitting somehow, matching the coldness that's settled deep inside me.

The curtains sway wildly in the wind, and Kain is there, snapping and battling with them, growling in frustration as the fabric slips from his grasp.

I watch him, my tired eyes following his every move, and though I'm too drained I softly laughed at his determination.

The light outside continues to fade, Kain's little growls echo in the otherwise quiet room, a small comfort against the weight of stillness.

I burrow deeper into the blanket, feeling the cold seep through, but I don't move. The fatigue is too heavy, pulling me deeper into the quiet, and I just let it.

I squeezed my eyes shut, determined to block out the chaos in my mind and drift into sleep. But no matter how hard I tried, thoughts kept swirling, pulling me further from the peace I craved.

With a frustrated groan, I tried to push them all away—until one slipped through. One I couldn’t ignore. The memory of him.

The breathtaking stranger. Daylen.

Heat flared within me as the memory of that night flooded back, vivid and unrelenting. I twisted in bed, my skin already tingling as the scene played out behind my closed eyes.

Fuck. I cursed at my myself.

I could still see him standing there, so close, his intense gaze locking onto mine as if the world had stopped around us.

His presence had been magnetic, pulling me in, making my pulse race before he even touched me.

The lightest brush of his fingers against my arm had sent a shiver down my spine.

I shifted again, heat building in my core as the memory took control. His hands had roamed my body with slow, calculated purpose, tracing every inch of me as though he owned me.

I could still feel the way his fingertips had burned into my skin, leaving trails of fire that made my breath hitch. And then his lips—God, his lips.

I bit my lip as my mind started creating scenarios of him pressing hot kisses along my neck, down my collarbone, making me tremble beneath him.

His breath, warm and teasing, had sent shockwaves through me, his lips never giving me enough but making me want so much more.

I wanted to touch myself as my body reacted to the memory, tingling with the same anticipation, the same heat I’d felt that night.

My breath becoming faster, as the intoxicating memory of the stranger's hands, his mouth, and the fire between us invaded my senses all over again.

I shook the thought before forcing my eyes open.

Sitting up, I stared blankly at the wall, trying to push the lingering heat from my body and the memory from my mind.

It clung to me, but I forced myself to move, swinging my legs off the bed.

With a sigh, I stood up, my body heavy with exhaustion. Dragging my feet across the cold floor, I made my way to the open balcony door.

The cool night air brushed against my skin as I slid the door shut, sealing out the chill. Kain  padded quietly behind me, his tail swishing softly against the floor.

I felt like a zombie, moving without thought or energy, my body running on empty.

I made my way down the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last, like I was wading through thick fog.

The house was quiet, the air thick with stillness. It felt like time had slowed—today bleeding into tomorrow without meaning.

In the kitchen, I opened the cabinet and pulled out a box of cereal, pouring it into a bowl with little care, then added milk. The sound of it splashing broke the silence, but it didn’t shake the overwhelming tiredness that clung to me.

I carried the bowl into the living room, Kain still by my side, his paws soft against the floor. The room was dark, save for the soft, silver glow of the moon spilling in through the windows.

It bathed the space in an eerie, quiet light, casting long shadows that danced with the wind.

I sank into the sofa, the cushions cold against my skin, and stared into the quiet darkness.

The moonlight was calming, and as I sat there, spooning cereal into my mouth in slow, absent motions, I felt the weight of the day begin to fade.

As I ate, lost in thought, the sharp sound of the doorbell rang out, startling me.

Kain shot up instantly, his ears perked as he huffed, tilting his head in confusion.

My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly shook off the unease. It was probably just Davina or Freya—maybe one of them had forgotten their key again. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Still, something tugged at the back of my mind. Neither of them were supposed to be home from work yet.

I carefully placed the bowl on the wooden center table, the faint clink of the spoon breaking the silence, and walked toward the door, the ringing continuing in a maddening loop.

My stomach churned as I neared the entryway, and for a moment, I hesitated. For safety, I tiptoed, trying to peer through peep hole to see who was behind it.

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart began to race.

It can’t be.

I blinked, stepping back for a second before looking again, just to be sure.

But there he was—Daylen, standing on my doorstep, his expression tense, like he was trying to work up the courage to ring the bell again.

In his hand, just behind his back, was something that looked like a bouquet. His fingers fidgeted nervously as he reached for the doorbell, ringing it once more.

I froze, my thoughts scrambling. What the hell was Daylen doing here? Of all the people I expected, he was the last one I could have imagined showing up at my door, especially like this.

It was as if he sensed me thinking about him and followed.

I reached for the baseball bat propped against the wall by the door, gripping it tightly behind my back.

How did he find me? I never gave him my address, and I know damn well Fernando would never give anyone my address without my permission. He knows better.

“Kain, quiet,” I whispered, and he instantly stilled, his barking cut off mid-growl.

Slowly, I twisted the door handle, cracking it open just enough to peek outside. My eyes swept the area, searching for any sign of someone else lurking nearby.

Then I saw him. His face lit up the moment our eyes met—radiating happiness and affection, though a flicker of confusion danced in his gaze.

“Not happy to see me?” he teased, a smirk tugging at his lips as he kept his hands hidden behind his back.

Happy to see him? Sure. But was I deeply concerned on how he was able to find my house, that is tucked away in the ass crack of the woods. Absolutely.

"How did you find me?" I asked, ignoring his question.

“I have my ways,” he said, his smirk faltering when he saw the seriousness in my eyes. His playful demeanor shifted, his face falling as though he hesitated to reveal more.

“Fernando and I share our locations for work," he finally admitted. "The other morning, he forgot to turn it off. I overheard you in the background—talking to your dog—so I... traced it.” A sheepish grin crept onto his face.

“I know it’s weird. Creepy, even. But I had to see you. I felt like I was losing my mind. And I knew Fernando would never give me your contact or address.”

"Did you miss me that much?" I asked, arching a brow flirtatiously. Truth be told, I missed him too—his presence, his company. But I'd never go to such extremes.

Well, maybe I would. But this wasn't about me.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," he chuckled, shrugging. "So... can I come in?"

"You could be a serial killer," I replied, giving him a once-over. He was fit, toned... dangerously attractive.

"Elora, seriously? I'm not a serial killer" he scoffed, his expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.

“That’s exactly what a serial killer would say.”

"I promise" He gave me a heart warming smile, showing his cute pearly bunny teeth, that I'm just now noticing.

I hesitated, fingers still gripping the bat behind the door. My heart raced, not from fear but something far more confusing.

Kain, my loyal protector, sat silently at my feet, his eyes trained on our guest.

"Alright... come in," I muttered, pulling the door open just enough for him to slip through.

The second he crossed the threshold, the air in the room shifted. It was heavier, charged with tension I couldn’t deny. His presence filled the small entryway like he belonged here.

"Nice place," he murmured, his eyes scanning the space. He stopped, looking down at Kain. "And quiet now, I see."

I didn’t answer right away, watching him closely. His back was to me, taking everything in, and for a second, I let my eyes wander over him—broad shoulders, the way his shirt clung to his back, every movement deliberate yet unguarded.

It was infuriating how much I’d missed him.

"Why are you here?" I finally asked, setting the bat down by the door and crossing my arms, trying to keep my voice steady.

He turned to face me, that smirk still lingering, but there was something softer beneath it. "I told you. I needed to see you."

He revealed the bouquet of yellow roses he'd been hiding behind his back, and his excitement to give them to me was more tangible than my own excitement to receive them.

"That desperate, huh?" I shot back, but my voice came out more breathless than biting, taking the bouquet from his hand and inhaling the rosy smell, appreciative of his sweet gesture.

"More than you know," he said, his tone low, the playful edge fading. His eyes locked on mine, and suddenly the room felt smaller, warmer, like the distance between us didn’t exist.

There was no denying the pull now. It was there, thick in the air between us, and I hated how badly I wanted to close that gap.

"You can’t just show up like this," I said, though the words lacked conviction. His gaze pinned me in place, and I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.

I placed the flowers in the empty vase that was rested on the small table alongside the wall, watching him as he took a step closer, not touching me, but close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him. "I can’t stop thinking about you, Elora. It’s driving me crazy."

I swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close he was. My pulse quickened, my body betraying me.

I wanted to keep my distance, to keep things controlled, but his scent—something clean and masculine—was intoxicating, clouding my thoughts.

"You didn’t answer my question." My voice was a whisper now.

"I didn’t think I needed to," he murmured, his eyes flicking down to my lips, and I felt the tension coil tighter between us. "You know why I’m here."

The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words, with want. I hated how much I was leaning into it, how much I needed this. Him.

Before I could second-guess myself, I took a step closer, closing the space between us. The tips of our toes brushed, and I could feel the electricity sparking in the air.

"Then do something about it," I whispered, breath catching.

In a heartbeat, his hands found my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I couldn’t hold back the sharp intake of breath.

His lips were on mine, firm yet cautious at first, as though he wasn’t sure how far he could go.

But that hesitation only lasted a second before the kiss deepened, a mix of pent-up longing and something softer, sweeter.

I melted into him, the warmth of his body pressing into mine, and for the first time in a long while, I let myself forget everything else—forget the danger, the questions, the complications.

All that mattered in that moment was him, and the way his hands roamed my back, pulling me closer as though he couldn’t bear the space between us any longer.

The kiss broke, leaving us both breathless, foreheads resting against each other. I could feel his heart racing as fast as mine.

"This is crazy," I whispered, still trying to catch my breath.

"Maybe," he replied, voice low and husky. "But I’m not going anywhere."

Before I could process what had just happened, his lips were on mine again. This time, there was no hesitation, no caution.

His hands slid up my sides, rough palms against the thin fabric of my shirt, and I leaned into him, heat flooding my body.

The kiss was hungry, intense and consuming, making me forget everything except the way he felt pressed against me.

We moved together without thinking, instinct pulling us toward the kitchen. I barely registered where we were until he lifted me effortlessly, sitting me on the cold marble counter.

My legs wrapped around his waist as he stepped between them, his hands gripping my thighs, pulling me closer.

"God, I’ve missed this," he muttered against my lips, his breath hot against my skin.

His fingers traced the outline of my hips, making my pulse race faster with every second.

I tugged at his shirt, wanting more, needing more, the feel of his body against mine lighting a fire.

I leaned my head back, his lips trailing down my neck, sending shivers up my spine. My hands tangled in his hair, tugging slightly, making him groan against my skin.

"You have no idea how much I’ve missed you," I whispered, my voice breathless.

But before we could go any further, the shrill sound of his phone cut through the moment like a sharp knife.

He cursed under his breath, his forehead resting against my shoulder as the phone continued to ring.

"Ignore it," I whispered, trying to pull him back to me, but I could feel his body tense as the phone rang insistently, not giving up.

"I can’t," he muttered, frustration evident in his voice. He pulled away slightly, reaching into his pocket, still standing between my legs as he glanced at the screen. I watched as his jaw clenched, the tension rolling off him in waves.

"Fucking hell" he growled, hanging his head for a second before looking at me, regret flashing in his eyes. "I have to take this."

I didn’t bother hiding my disappointment. "Seriously?"

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I’m sorry, Elora. I have to go." His voice was strained, and I could see the frustration mirrored in his eyes.

He didn’t want to leave, but whatever the call was, it had pulled him away.

I slid off the counter, trying to ignore the pang of frustration and disappointment swirling inside me. I crossed my arms as I leaned back against the counter.

He exhaled heavily, stepping back, his hand lingering on my waist for a second longer than necessary. "I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

"You’d better," I muttered, still frustrated but unable to stay mad with him standing so close, looking like he regretted every second of having to leave.

He gave me a half-smile, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Trust me, I’ll be back before you know it."

But as he stepped away, answering the call and heading for the door, I couldn’t help but feel the bitter sting of his absence already settling in.

As soon as Daylen stepped out and the door clicked shut behind him, I locked it, leaning against the cool wood for a moment.

My mind was still racing, my body still humming from the heat of the moment. I let out a deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration.

When I finally turned around, I saw Kain sitting in the middle of the room, his head tilted to the side, watching me with those big, curious eyes. He let out a soft whine, as if he was judging me.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "What? Don’t look at me like that," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

Kain huffed and tilted his head even further, like he was expecting an explanation.

I threw my hands up. "Don’t act like you wouldn’t have done the same thing if you were me."

He let out another small whine, and I rolled my eyes, a laugh escaping my lips despite myself. "Unbelievable. You’re supposed to be on my side."

With that, Kain trotted over, wagging his tail, apparently satisfied with my answer—or maybe just giving up on trying to understand human nonsense.

I tried to find my original version of this chapter in my notes but couldn't 😭

Hope you enjoyed<3

Any thoughts?