Why am I here?
The room glows softly in gold and shadow—too elegant, too intimate—the kind of place where people come to forget rules. The bed beneath me is warm, untouched, waiting.
And I'm wearing lace.
My breath stutters.
This isn't a dream… or is it?
Footsteps.
Slow. Unhurried.
"Hello?" My voice trembles. "Why is it so dark? I can't see your face."
Silence.
Then he steps forward.
Black shirt. Half-unbuttoned. Skin catching the light like a sin. His presence alone presses the air out of my lungs. He sits on the edge of the bed—too close.
I don't move.
I can't.
His fingers find my hand first. Warm. Certain. Then my shoulder. A deliberate trail. He brushes my hair aside, exposing my skin as he owns it.
"Sweetheart," he murmurs, voice low enough to crawl under my skin.
"Did you forget me already?"
My heart slams.
His thumb grazes my lips—testing, claiming.
I whisper, "I—"
He doesn't let me finish.
His mouth crashes into mine, stealing breath, thought, resistance. The kiss is consuming—too real, too intense. My mind blanks, my body betrays me.
Then—
Cold.
Two hands grip my waist from behind.
I gasp as the kiss breaks.
A second presence. Closer. Colder. Stronger.
A chin settles on my shoulder, lips near my ear.
"Gummy bear," a familiar voice chuckles softly, dangerously.
"You really thought you could have fun without me?"
My entire body freezes.
I'm trapped between them.
The first man lifts my face again, eyes finally visible.
"Don't you recognize me now?"
My breath shatters.
"Aydric…"
Behind me, a laugh.
I turn my head slowly.
Shawn.
"No," I whisper. "This can't be—"
Darkness folds in.
12 Hours Earlier
The café door closed behind him.
My brain shut down.
My heart, however, chose violence.
He walked to the counter as the world adjusted itself for him. I tried not to stare.
Failed.
Looked away.
Looked back.
Failed harder.
"Stop looking," Nina hissed.
"I'm not."
"You blinked in slow motion."
Then, he turned.
Our eyes met.
Once.
His brow lifted, calculating like I was a variable in a problem he already knew how to solve.
I pretended to sip my coffee.
The cup was empty.
I choked on air.
And then—
He left.
With his coffee.
And my sanity.