ng down. Their marriages, their reputations. One tap

everyone ignored. I saw Jovi at eighteen, squeezing my hand and telling me I

They were also piec

h myself. I had the perfect revenge in my hands, and I couldn't do it. I was

at a bar I'd never seen before, i

ght. The bartender d

fter texts made my phone shoo

as a MISTAKE. A moment

re are you? I'm freaki

and ordered another drink. I

hands f

irl. Come have

. Cheap cologne. A hand on my w

head tilted,

" His smirk visible

Stronger. I pushed, but my body wasn't

my voi

said

. Flat. Not loud, but it cut through

, I felt a slight tremble from them before t

mily. His rich and cold aura ha

s winter. The same man who'd nodded at me this morning.

edding day. Seven years ago, he saw me standing beside Jovi in an ugly bridesmaid dress, watching him

otten un

noticed he had a husky deep v

d but failed. T

round me and half-carried me out into the cold air. His

. Solid. Smelled like expensive wo

Just took me to a hotel, he got us a room, dum

o leave when I g

n't

aid it. Didn't care.

... don't lea

eadable, but something in his eyes shifted-that same

t g

s spilled out, ugly and broken. I comp

bed? Wasn't taking him enough

is mouth with mine. And co

ation and salt. I was trying to feel something, anything..

stunned by the sheer audacity I had. Kiss

he kissed

His hand cupped my face, his thumb pressed against m

kiss. The need to claim each other. J

c back, he shoved himse

is mouth with the back of his hand quickly. Brutal.

bled himself before my eyes. The mask of

e said. Vo

taking a second glance.

r click

iling and didn't m

*

a hangover. Brut

regained consciousness and learnt where I was right now. I checked o

round my body, a collision between two mouth. I faintly smell

asp

e robe, hair wet, face already composed. Looked at me

tared on me just before I pull

him. Anyon

nd calm expression as he was

sed me back with the same d

ed Vance Blackw

isted, I felt

band at the same night I discovered

could feel the heat raised to my cheek, not en

rned compl

ight calling

toward me. But towards the table side where he took

wer. You have a 9:30 meeting. Lydia said you ha

alcy of it stu

sked him in

is watch. As though last night belonged to someone else. As t

..

im why he hadn't pushed me away. Why he'd kissed me bac

me like I was a part of some probl

derst

ing my eyes from his gaz

that it would wash away the memory of the kiss

l they stung. But the k

. The hallway carpet was too thick. Ou

corner toward

ere th

arm around her. She leaned into him.

as they sense

's damp hair to the space between us. His face cru

arted from me to him and back. Shock, the

ne s

Low. Clean. Carryi

vie

her

one step

e you

minutes wondering if I'd be

aw them