Reese gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, her mind replaying every second of the last two hours like a damning highlight reel. The rhythmic thud of her tires against the asphalt did little to drown out the storm of thoughts hammering in her head. She couldn't believe what had just happened—what she had allowed to happen.
"Stupid," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Her lips still tingled from Christian's kisses, and the memory of his hands moving over her body sent a shiver through her. It had been reckless, dangerous, and undeniably electric.
Her chest ached with conflicting emotions as she pressed harder on the accelerator, the city lights blurring into streaks, fading into the background.A dull heat still lingered under her skin, a reminder of Christian's touch.
Her phone buzzed in the cup holder, the soft vibration pulling her focus. She glanced at the screen but refused to pick it up.
The closer she got to her condo, the louder her heart pounded. Her pulse felt like a drumbeat in her ears, competing with the hammering guilt clawing at her chest. Christian Grey had broken through her walls again, and she hated herself for letting him.
Pulling into the garage, she parked hastily, grabbed her bag, and rushed inside. Her condo greeted her with its familiar stillness, but tonight it felt suffocating. Dropping her things on the entryway table, she moved with purpose to the bathroom.
She needed to wash him off her.
Steam curled around her as the water cascaded down. The scalding heat burned her skin, but it wasn't enough. She scrubbed furiously, her nails digging into her scalp, as if she could erase the memory of his lips tracing her body, his hands gripping her hips, his voice murmuring in her ear.
She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the cool tile, her breaths shallow. But the memories wouldn't stop. They flashed behind her eyelids with maddening clarity: Christian's breath against her neck, the sharp pull of his hands as he drew her closer, the way he'd thrusted deep inside her, completely unraveling her.
Reese bit her lip hard, frustration and regret twisting together like a vice in her chest. After what felt like an eternity, she stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in a towel. The fogged mirror reflected her flushed face, her damp curls clinging to her shoulders. She avoided her own gaze as she made her way to the bedroom, her limbs heavy with exhaustion.
Sinking into her bed, she pulled the plush covers up to her chin, hoping sleep would claim her. But the silence only amplified her racing thoughts. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and this time, she couldn't resist.
9:15 PM 3234933687: Did you make it home safely?
Reese stared at the message, a fresh wave of anger bubbling inside her. How could he text her so casually, as if nothing had happened?
9:17 PM Reese: We shouldn't have done that.
His reply came almost immediately.
9:20 PM 3234933687: Maybe not on the conference table. I'll send a cleaning service tomorrow.
Reese groaned, tossing the phone aside. He was relentless, as always. No remorse, no second-guessing—just him knowing exactly what he wanted and taking it.
The screen lit up again.
9:23 PM 3234933687: I'm glad that you finally stopped denying what your body wants. What we both wanted.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. A part of her wanted to lash out, to tell him exactly how wrong this was, how much they had crossed a line. How she had become the very thing she despised: a cheater.
9:27 PM Reese: This was a mistake.
9:28 PM 3234933687: Then why are you still thinking about it?
She could almost see his smug expression, his infuriating confidence. Anger flared in her chest, and she typed furiously.
9:30 PM Reese: I'm not!
The lie sat heavy in her chest. She held her breath as the three dots appeared, then disappeared.
9:32 PM 3234933687: Meet me tomorrow.
Reese groaned, pressing her palms against her eyes. The audacity. Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again.
9:33 PM Collin: Hey, I'm outside. Been knocking for a while... everything okay?
Her stomach dropped. "Shit." She scrambled out of bed, yanking on a robe and rushing to the door.
Collin stood on the porch, concern etched across his face, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.
"Hey," he said, stepping inside. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me. I called you a few times today."
Reese forced a smile, her heart hammering as she ran a hand through her damp hair. "Sorry, I was in the shower. Long day."
Collin leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The warmth of his affection made her chest ache even more. "I get it. Work's been insane on my end too." He settled onto the couch, patting the spot beside him. "I missed you today."
She hesitated before joining him, curling her legs beneath her. "I missed you too," she said softly, the words tasting bittersweet.
Collin studied her, his brow furrowing slightly. "You sure you're okay? You seem... off."
Reese swallowed hard, twisting the edge of her robe between her fingers. "I'm fine," she said quickly. "Just tired. Naomi dumped some of her workload on me while she's out of town, so it's been a little overwhelming."
Collin nodded, his expression softening. "That makes sense. But don't overdo it, okay?" He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I know you can take on anything but just don't forget to take care of yourself too."
Her chest tightened at his kindness, the weight of her guilt threatening to crush her. "Thanks," she whispered, managing a faint smile.
He leaned back against the cushions, his hand still holding hers. "I also wanted to talk to you about something... the advisory group we're putting together for Christian Grey's expansion. It's a big deal."
Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of Christian's name. She forced her face to remain neutral. "Yeah? What about it?"
Collin's eyes lit up as he spoke, detailing the project's scope, the potential impact on his career, and how much he admired Christian's business acumen. Reese tried to listen, she really did, but her mind kept replaying the events of the day—the feel of Christian's hands, the intensity in his eyes.
"Reese?"
She blinked, realizing she'd been staring at him without hearing a word.
"Sorry," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I'm just... really tired."
Collin frowned, concern flickering in his hazel eyes. "Are you sure? You seem distracted."
"Sorry just thinking about my day tomorrow. I have a couple of showings and—you know what it's nothing," she said shaking her head, "continue,"
Collin leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It's okay. Get some rest, okay? I'll call you tomorrow."
Reese didn't insist further on finishing the conversation and watched him leave, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing through the quiet condo. The moment he was gone, she collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.
10:55 PM 3234933687: 9882 South Santa Monica Boulevard
Reese stared at the message for a long moment before shutting off the screen and tossing the phone aside. She curled up on the couch, her body exhausted but her mind refusing to quiet.
