"Well, this is me," Reese said as Christian's sleek SUV rolled to a stop at the private entrance gate of her luxury condo community. The soft hum of the engine lingered in the cool evening air.
Christian turned toward her, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I had an interesting time," he said, his voice low and inviting.
"Yeah...me too." Reese chuckled nervously, glancing down at her hands. "Sorry again for spitting on you," she added, her laugh shaky. "You just caught me off guard." She pushed open the car door, the weight of his gaze heavy on her back.
"Ms. Sutherlin," he called, his hand reaching out to gently grasp her arm, stopping her mid-step. "Think about what I said."
Reese hesitated, feeling the warmth of his touch seep through her skin, stirring something deep within her. She looked back at him, her expression firm. "And you think about what I said. You still belong to someone else," she replied, her voice steady but her heart racing. She pulled her arm away and stepped out of the car, closing the door behind her with a sense of finality.
As Christian's SUV reversed down the one-way road, Reese walked briskly toward her condo, the cool night air nipping at her exposed skin. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, Christian's words echoing in her mind. When she reached her wrought iron double doors, she noticed a small package on her doormat. No return address, just her name scrawled across the middle in bold letters.
She unlocked the door and entered her home, the warmth enveloping her immediately. Tossing her keys onto the kitchen countertop, she tore open the package. Inside, two tickets to next month's jazz festival stared back at her.
"Christian," she muttered under her breath, a mix of annoyance and amusement in her voice. She reached for her phone, her fingers typing a message before she could overthink it.
9:07 PM Reese: Not sure how you got my address, but thanks for the tickets.*
Moments later, her phone buzzed.
9:08 PM 3234933687: I can Google you too. You're welcome.
Reese smiled despite herself, holding the tickets close to her chest. The jazz fest in the fall was one of her favorite pastimes, a tradition she cherished. She plopped down on her plush couch, the soft cushions enveloping her as she cuddled with Loki. His purring was a soothing backdrop to her swirling thoughts, and soon, she drifted off into a light sleep.
MMMzzz! MMMzzz!
Her phone buzzed loudly against the coffee table, jolting her awake. Reese rubbed her eyes and glanced at the screen through sleepy eyes.
1:33 AM Josh: U up?
She hesitated, hearing Naomi's voice in her head: *Ignore Josh. He's not worth it.* But despite her better judgment, she replied.
1:45 AM Reese: Yes.
1:47 AM Josh: Would you like some company, babe?
Reese jumped up from the couch, her sleepiness evaporating. She rushed to her bathroom to freshen up, peeling off her clothes and pulling her chocolate curls from the now messy bun atop her head. They cascaded down, framing her face and falling just below her perfectly shaped breasts. Her long, slender olive-tone torso glowed under the vanity lights. She rummaged through the drawers for a comfortable negligee, something that would make her feel desirable yet effortless.
She turned on the shower, and thousands of tiny lukewarm droplets sprayed out, filling the room with steam. She stepped in, letting the water cascade over her, closing her eyes as the warmth enveloped her. She tried to drown out her thoughts about Christian—the way his eyes bore into hers, as if he could see right through her defenses. There was something about him, a mix of arrogance and vulnerability that pulled her in, despite herself.
She found herself thinking about their dance earlier that evening. How his arms felt wrapped around her, firm yet gentle, his touch electrifying. She could still feel the warmth of his body, the electric charge that passed between them whenever they were close. She smiled softly, catching herself in the moment, before turning off the shower.
MMMzzz! MMMzzz!
Reese stepped out, flinching at the chill of the tiled floor, and wrapped herself in a towel. She inhaled deeply, savoring the lingering warmth and steam in the air. She wiped the fog from the mirror, staring at her reflection. She ran her fingers through her curls, the cool air brushing against her damp skin.
Her phone buzzed again.
1:57 AM Josh: Babe?
2:01 AM Josh: I guess you fell asleep.
Reese chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh Josh, so impatient," she muttered.
2:27 AM Reese: Sorry. I was showering. Of course I want you to come over, babe.
2:27 AM Reese: My pussy's throbbing just thinking about you. Don't take too long.
She hit send without thinking twice, her body still buzzing from the warmth of the shower and the lingering thoughts of Christian. She laid back on her bed, fighting sleep, waiting for a response. Her thoughts floated aimlessly, but Christian's face kept surfacing, his smile, his intense gaze. Maybe Josh would help get him out of her head.
MMMzzz! MMMzzz!
Her phone buzzed again. She grabbed it quickly, expecting Josh.
2:40 AM 3234933687: Ms. Sutherlin, I'm flattered.
Reese froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Christian. Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake. She had sent the explicit text to Christian, not Josh. Her mind raced, panic flooding her senses. She needed to fix this—quickly.
2:41 AM 3234933687: I'm sure that wasn't meant for me, but I can be there in 20 minutes if you like.
2:41 AM 3234933687: Say yes.
Reese stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keys. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, her emotions tangled. Could she actually say yes? She hesitated, biting her lip.
2:42 AM Reese: ...
2:42 AM 3234933687: Is that a yes?
2:43 AM Reese: Christian...
2:43 AM 3234933687:Ms. Sutherlin...
2:44 AM Reese: It was an accident. I didn't mean to text you.
2:44 AM 3234933687:Yet here we are...
Reese closed her eyes, exhaling sharply. Why was he so persistent? And why did part of her want to see him, to explore whatever this was?
2:45 AM Reese: Goodnight, Mr. Grey.
She put her phone down, her heart still racing. She knew she needed to keep her distance, to avoid getting caught up in whatever game Christian was playing.