Chapter One: The Morning After

The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft, golden rays across the room. Alex Sheridan slowly stirred from his sleep, his eyelids heavy as he tried to pull himself from the haze of unconsciousness. The bed beneath him was far too comfortable, too soft. Definitely not his usual bunk at the Seekers' headquarters.

As his senses began to sharpen, he realized something was… off. The air smelled like lavender, and there was a faint warmth on his chest. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes flickered open—and he saw Sophie Casterwill lying on top of him, her soft, golden hair spilling across his shirt.

Wait… Sophie?

Alex's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't remember how he ended up in her bedroom—or how she ended up on him. His mind raced, a mix of confusion and panic flooding his thoughts. This couldn't be happening.

He shifted beneath her, trying to get up without disturbing her, but the moment he moved, Sophie stirred. Her blue eyes flickered open, locking with his in an instant. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she propped herself up on her elbows, her face hovering just inches above his.

"Morning, Alex," she said, her voice a mix of playfulness and something more... daring.

Alex blinked rapidly, his mind scrambling. "Sophie, w-what...?" He felt his pulse quicken. "How did we—how did this happen?"

Sophie's smile only widened, and she shifted slightly, her body pressing against his in a way that made Alex's heart race even faster.

"Relax, Sheridan," she teased, her voice teasing but also oddly soft. "You don't remember?"

"Remember?" Alex echoed, his face turning crimson. Of course I don't remember! What is happening right now?

Sophie chuckled, her laugh light and airy. "It's okay. You don't have to remember everything." Her eyes glinted, and for a brief moment, Alex saw a flicker of something more in her gaze. She placed a hand gently on his chest, as though grounding herself.

Alex's mind was still spinning, but his instincts kicked in, and he started to move again, trying to sit up. But before he could get far, Sophie's hand pressed more firmly against him, keeping him down. Her expression shifted, her eyes darkening with an intensity he hadn't expected.

"You're not going anywhere, Alex," she murmured, the playful tone replaced with something more serious, more insistent.

"Sophie, I—"

Before he could protest further, Sophie leaned down. Her lips found his, and for a moment, Alex's world seemed to dissolve around him. There was no more confusion, no more questions—just the feeling of her lips, warm and soft, pressing gently against his.

He froze, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. His heart raced in his chest, his breath hitching as the kiss deepened, soft and gentle but full of meaning. His thoughts scattered, like leaves in a storm, and for a moment, he forgot where he was, who he was, even what had happened before. All that existed in that moment was Sophie—and the overwhelming warmth between them.

When she finally pulled away, Alex was left gasping for air. His mind was a blur. He didn't know whether to be angry, confused, or... something else entirely.

Sophie pulled herself up, sitting beside him on the bed. She smiled, a satisfied gleam in her eyes. "There. Was that so hard?"

Alex's mouth went dry as he tried to collect his thoughts, but it was no use. He could barely remember the last few hours, let alone how they ended up like this. The only thing he knew for certain was that his life was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

And maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as ready for this as he thought.

"I—" Alex began, his voice rough, but Sophie stopped him with a gentle touch to his arm.

"You don't need to say anything, Alex," she said, her voice softer now, but still carrying a trace of mischief. "Just let it be."

Alex opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. The confusion, the feelings, the weight of the kiss—it was all too much to process. So, instead of fighting it, he lay back down, his gaze meeting Sophie's once more.

It was going to be a long day