~Joan~“I'm going to miss this place,” Rhoda mourned as we both packed our bags.Even though I would never admit it out loud, I knew I was going to miss it here too. The building and the —memories.Speaking of which, I had quite a handful. Aaron and I… Well, we'd been sneaking around lately to avoid being seen by either Rhoda or his girlfriend.And goodness, the library was my favorite spot.“Are you sure it's the house you're going to miss or your boyfriend? ” I asked and she pouted. Now, here is my answer.“I'm going to miss him. I won't see him for the next two weeks till he visits New York, ” she muttered and I hummed. Just like I'd predicted that night, Lucas had asked Rhoda to be his girlfriend that night and she'd said 'Yes'.Lately, she spends the nights at his house, though Aaron wasn't at all comfortable with the idea at first. He was left with no choice.After all, she had no idea I was banging her big brother. Our relationship would be ruined if she found out, that was o
~Joan~The journey back to New York was one of the most awkward ones I'd ever experienced.Rhoda sat close to me the whole time, glued to her phone. Across from us were Aaron and his girlfriend, and I could feel Aaron’s eyes shooting daggers at both my hair and Rhoda’s.Knowing it annoyed him made me want to keep the new color even more. And yes, I would. The man had no say in my life.For a moment, a small, ridiculous part of me wondered if I should change it back, just to stop his glaring for once. But the louder, stronger part of me? He could screw himself for all I cared.Eventually, I distracted myself with my laptop, my fingers flying across the keyboard as words began spilling out.We arrived in New York late that night. Everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Rhoda and I shared a quick, warm hug before parting. Neither Aaron nor his girlfriend, Angelina, said a word to me, and I didn’t bother saying anything to them either.I had a pretty good idea that Ange
~Joan~Aaron's grip on me was firm, making my struggles useless."Aaron," I hissed, twisting in his hold, but his strength didn't waver."Ten messages, kitten. No reply," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. A shiver rippled through me—not from the cold but something deeper.I rolled my eyes, irritation flaring. Was he serious?"And that justifies breaking into my house at ten at night?" I bit out, acutely aware of his chest pressing against my back."I remember knocking," he said casually, and his nonchalance grated on my nerves. Was he here just to mess with me? For fuck’s sake, I’d been asleep."Why are you here, Thompson? Miss me already?" My voice was filled with sarcasm, though I couldn’t help the twitch of my lips. Fighting against his hold was useless, so I gave up."No. You were being stubborn," he said simply, finally letting go of me. I stumbled forward, then turned to glare at him."Excuse you? You have no say in what I do with my hair. I’m not Rhoda," I snapped, crossin
~Aaron~The next few days at work were hectic. I’d been out of New York for two weeks, and while my manager had done a decent job keeping the company running, there were still matters that demanded my attention. Stacks of paperwork, endless calls, and back-to-back meetings left me no room to breathe.That was one of the reasons I hadn’t reached out to Joan—no texts, no calls, nothing since that night. Not after she’d turned me into a wreck. I’d only just realized the kind of power she had over me, and knowing Joan, she probably didn’t even realize it herself.The intercom buzzed, dragging me out of my thoughts. I glanced up from the file in front of me, already irritated by the interruption.“Sorry to disturb you, sir,” Brooklyn, the intern, said through the speaker. “But there’s a lady here asking to see you.”I frowned. “Does she have an appointment?”“No, sir. But she says she’s someone you’d want to see.”Before I could respond, I heard her voice faintly in the background. “Can I
~Joan~“Jo, here's a cup of coffee and burger. Figured you'd need one,” Matthew said, setting the sealed coffee cup and the burger on the counter with a casual smile.I returned his smile. That was thoughtful of him. After the long, chaotic day I’d had, coffee felt like a lifeline.“Thank you,” I murmured, grabbing both items as I turned to the customer waiting in front of me.The line stretched on, a constant reminder that I’d be staying later than usual tonight. MCCORMICK FRIES wasn’t just a neighborhood joint; it was the spot, and people flocked here from all over. My boss, the good old McCormick himself, had already gone home, leaving the evening shift in the hands of Matthew, Nancy, and me.Matthew opened his mouth, probably to say something else, but a customer cut in.“Can I get a pack of fries and peanuts?” the lady asked, her tone curt. I nodded, offering a brief polite smile before getting to work on her order.As Matthew walked away, I focused on preparing the package, but
~Joan~We arrived at Aaron's house eventually, and he pulled into the driveway. After my outburst in the car, I’d kept silent, and Aaron hadn’t tried starting a conversation either, though I could feel him glancing at me every few seconds.I’d been to Aaron’s house once before and had sworn I’d never step foot in it again. Rhoda and I had crashed his birthday party, and it hadn’t exactly gone well. Yet here I was, eating my own words and stepping out of his car.The weather wasn’t exactly welcoming, and I rubbed my arms as I got out. My phone rang, the sound cutting through the silence. Digging through my bag, I pulled it out. It was Rhoda. I hesitated, my gaze flicking to Aaron, who was only a few steps away with his intense eyes locked on me. His stare was unnerving.I swiped the call just before it disconnected. “Hey, peach,” I said, turning my back on Aaron.“Jo? I’m about to head to your apartment. Are you home yet?” Rhoda asked. I swallowed hard, glancing over my shoulder at
~Aaron~Dragging her panties down her legs, I dove in, hunger driving me like I’d been deprived of her for far too long. My teeth grazed her skin, my tongue explored her, and I couldn’t get enough. It felt like I’d been parched for days and had finally found the purest, sweetest water. She tasted like heaven—intoxicating, addictive.Her body writhed on the bed, hips bucking wildly, forcing me to place a firm hand on her stomach to hold her still. Her heels pressed into my back, the sharp points biting into my skin, and I knew I’d have marks there tomorrow. A reminder I wouldn’t mind.“You taste like you were made for me,” I murmured against her, my tongue flicking against her swollen clit, teasing her. She moaned, and it sent a shiver down my spine, my cock straining harder against my pants.“Who do you belong to?” I asked, my voice low, rough, as I lifted my head to look at her. I pushed a finger inside her, feeling her warmth and tightness envelop me instantly. Her mouth fell open,
~Joan~I sniffed and burrowed further into the bed. The place smelled like heaven—enticing and intoxicating, like something I could get drunk on. I rolled onto my stomach and peeled my eyes open. My vision was blurry as I stared at the ceiling.Where am I? My apartment doesn’t smell this good, nor does it look this dark. Hell, I sleep with my curtains open so I can catch the first ray of sunshine every morning.I sat up and rubbed my eyes, trying to force some clarity into my brain. Have I been kidnapped? No, the room was far too pretty to be a kidnapper’s lair. Actually, it looked luxurious, like something out of a catalog.A groan escaped me as I slid down the fluffy king-sized bed. I needed coffee to wake up properly and figure out what was going on. My feet moved on autopilot, taking me out of the room. Eventually, I ended up in the sitting room.The fog in my brain started to lift, and I realized where I was: Aaron’s penthouse. Memories stirred sluggishly at the edges of my mind,
~Joan~"Wanna take a shower with me?" I asked Aaron once we got home. He pressed his lips together. "I'll pass. I'm gonna check on the other rooms—I thought I heard something," he said before walking away. Disappointment stirred in my chest. He heard nothing. I knew that. So why was he avoiding being close to me? I understood it hadn’t even been a week since I was discharged, but as long as I took my medications, I'd be fine in no time. I headed to the bedroom, undressing before stepping into the shower. Warm water streamed down my body, washing away the tension but not the thoughts crowding my mind. We’d had fun on the drive home—Aaron even sang with me. But the closer we got, the quieter he became. Was it me? Had something changed? Did he no longer find me attractive? That didn’t seem right. When we kissed, I saw the raw hunger in his eyes. Then what was wrong? A thought struck me, tightening my chest. Had he been with someone else while we were apart? The idea was ridiculous
~Joan~By the time we pulled away, we were both breathless, and I was sure the hunger in Aaron's eyes mirrored mine. It had been too long. His gaze flickered to my chest, and his jaw tightened slightly. "You wanna come with me to the rooftop?" he asked, his voice low. I swallowed, suddenly aware of the people around us. A few were staring, including the woman from earlier. I had completely forgotten about her—that was how much power Aaron had over me. "The movie isn’t over yet," I pointed out, my voice coming out breathy. He raised a brow, and after a brief pause, I nodded. "Fine, let's go." He stood up and offered me his hand. I took it without hesitation, letting him help me up as we made our way out of the theater. "What are we going to do on the rooftop?" I asked as we climbed the stairs, taking two at a time. Aaron kept a firm grip on me, making sure I didn't trip. "You’ll see," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. My stomach flipped. My first thought was sex, and I
JoanI was surprised when Aaron asked me to dress up because we were going out. I tried getting some information, but he was unusually tight-lipped about our destination. He wasn’t one to reveal his plans easily, but still, I had expected at least a hint.I stared out the window as he drove through the city, having absolutely no idea where we were headed. With no direction on what to wear, I’d settled on a casual green dress. He said I looked gorgeous, though, so I figured I’d made a decent choice.After a while, we pulled up in front of a building I immediately recognized—I’d been here before with Rhoda. My brows furrowed as I turned to him. A cinema? Aaron didn’t strike me as the type to sit through a movie, let alone in a crowded theater. He switched off the ignition and unbuckled his seat belt, then reached over to undo mine as well."Did I miss something?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity as he flicked the seat belt open. His fingers brushed against my thigh, light and deli
AaronI moved slowly to the rhythm of the soft music playing as I stirred the sauce, swaying just a little. I had left Joan in bed so I could make breakfast before she woke up. Since I hadn't been able to get much sleep anyway, I figured I might as well make myself useful.Joan had made it a habit to glue herself to my side, draping her legs over me and tucking her hands into my shorts. I’d just stared at the ceiling in resignation, willing myself to stay still. I had a feeling she knew exactly what she was doing while pretending to be asleep. And even though my mind knew she wasn’t ready for anything yet, my body had an entirely different opinion."What are you doing?" Her voice came from behind me, and I froze for a moment before glancing over my shoulder. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, green eyes sparkling with amusement.I shrugged, masking the flicker of embarrassment creeping up my spine. "Cooking," I said, keeping my tone neutral.She hummed, stepping closer un
~Joan~"No, I'm good. Do I really have to stay here? I could always rent another apartment, you know," I muttered as Aaron helped me into his penthouse, carrying my bags. He didn’t respond, and I knew that was a definite no.I had just been discharged from the hospital after the doctor confirmed I was okay to go home.He insisted I avoid anything too exhausting, and then Aaron decided—without asking—that I’d stay with him. In his words, "for the time being."But I knew Aaron. He wouldn’t let me leave, even if I fully recovered. Not that I minded. I liked his apartment. It held memories, just like the other house.I glanced around, searching for something to distract myself."Nothing's really changed around here," I murmured. Aaron hummed in response, dragging my bags along. I stood in the middle of the living room, watching his back."Are we sharing a room?" I asked, because I really wanted to know. My relationship with Aaron was undefined, and I had no idea what we were—friends? A co
~Joan~Alessia chuckled awkwardly. “What?” She stared at me like I'd lost my mind. My jaw tightened as my eyes drifted to Luna, who stood next to her daughter.Bitterness bubbled inside me, thick and impossible to ignore.Why didn’t she love me enough to take me with her to Spain? She got a new family, a fresh start, and I was left behind, struggling to fit in, struggling to push past my abandonment issues. Even now, after all these years, it still wasn’t easy.And now she walked in here smiling, like everything was perfect, like nothing had ever been broken.Fucking Aaron.I glanced at him as he made his way beside me, looking like he wanted to say something.“Can you ask her to leave, please?” I muttered, keeping my voice low. “I’d like to talk to Alessia alone without her in the picture.”Luna’s brows drew together, her expression matching Rhoda’s confusion.“There must be a misunderstanding. We’ve met before, haven’t we?” Luna asked, and I gritted my teeth.“Jo, what’s going on?”
~Aaron~The next morning, Rhoda arrived, and since Joan was still sound asleep, I left her in Rhoda’s care.At home, I took a quick shower, changed into fresh clothes, and placed a call to one of my employees at DomisAd.“Sir?” Her Spanish accent was rich, unmistakable.Alessia had gotten my number from Noah, wanting to inform me that one of our staff had been in an accident and to ask if I wanted to visit. I told her I was already at the hospital and invited her to stop by.“How many of you are coming?” I asked. A brief silence followed.“We’re three. We share an office, so yeah,” she said. I pursed my lips.“Remember what I told you yesterday?”“Yes, sir, but—”“Just do it,” I cut in, not giving her a chance to argue. This was the time to fix everything. I just wanted to give Joan a chance at happiness—real happiness.I ended the call, grabbed my keys, and headed to one of the nearby restaurants. Safe to say I bought everything remotely edible—except steak. Joan didn’t like steak. S
~Joan~I felt someone walk into the room, and I turned. His dark eyes met mine as he closed the door quietly behind him, his movements careful, almost hesitant.He gave me a small smile, and my heart flipped again. I pressed my lips together, trying to steady the tremble I felt creeping in.He came closer, settling into the seat beside my bed before taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding. He sighed, running his fingers gently through my hair, the motion soothing my scalp.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice softer than usual. I nodded.“Great. Since you're here now,” I muttered, watching as he gave another small smile before lowering his gaze to my fingers. He didn’t seem to understand just yet.I lifted my IV-connected hand and ruffled his hair, feeling the soft strands slip through my fingers. His head tilted slightly as he looked up, both amused and mildly curious.“What was that for?” he asked, raising a brow.“Your hair looked inviting. I couldn’t resist,” I
~Aaron~I left the hospital once Joan had fallen asleep. There weren’t enough words to describe how I felt when I walked into that room and those green eyes turned to me. I wanted to fall to my knees, but the mild confusion in them kept me standing. The last thing I wanted was to startle her.I headed down to the basement, Louis and another guy trailing behind me. The air was thick with the damp, metallic scent of the underground space. I barely spared a glance at the figure tied to the chair—blindfolded, gagged, and completely helpless."I want to believe none of you touched her," I said, my voice even but laced with a warning. They both gave a curt nod. I was in for a lot of things, but rape wasn’t one of them. Women were a rarity here, and I had made it clear—no one was to lay a finger on them. I gave the orders, and that was one line I refused to let anyone cross.She jerked against the restraints, wrists rubbing raw against the coarse rope. I watched the skin turn red where it bi