*Jessica's POV*Tears still slipped from my eyes when Parrish tried to kiss me. It didn’t stop the fluttering in my stomach, the firework-like tension crackling between us, even though I pulled away. My gaze locked onto his, questioning, uncertain. The magnetic pull between us felt too strong, undeniable, but still I didn't want to betray Nathan.“I—I’m sorry,” Parrish stammered, his voice unsteady, breaking the silence. “I don’t know what came over me. I thought—” I stepped back, wiping away the stubborn tears that blurred my vision. “You don’t have to apologize,” I croaked, trying to steady my voice.Parrish's jaw tightened. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re vulnerable right now, and I—”“And you just had Celeste strewn across your lap a few hours ago,” I finished for him, my words sharper than I intended. His eyes flickered, a mix of cockiness and regret flashing across his face, and for a brief second, I saw him—saw the man who had once shattered my heart.He ran a hand through
Jessica's POVI rushed home, my heart pounding wildly in my chest, goosebumps still prickling my skin from Parrish’s touch. His words echoed in my head, pulling me into a state I’d promised myself I’d never return to.*“Then don’t.”*Those words played on repeat, looping endlessly.*“You belong to me, Jessica.”*I screamed inwardly, begging his voice to leave my mind and let me breathe. It was so hard—impossibly hard—not with the history between us hanging over my head like a storm cloud. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t. I still wanted him, even though it terrified me. But I had to run. I had to stay far, far away from him. If I didn’t, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, and I couldn’t afford to let him pull me back into his dangerous orbit.*“You belong to me, Jessica.”*No, I don’t! I screamed internally. Parrish Holmes didn’t own me. I had to banish him from my thoughts.When I got home, I found Nathan sitting at his desk, bent over his laptop. He glanced up wh
**Jessica’s POV**The moment I spotted Nathan and Parrish together, my stomach clenched. Nathan’s gaze flicked toward me, sensing my presence, and his expression hardened before he forced a smile. The air was thick with tension as I approached, both of them watching me, and it took every ounce of strength not to let my eyes linger on Parrish. His gaze was magnetic, trying to pull me in, but I resisted. I couldn’t let myself fall into his orbit again—not now, not ever.“I see you’ve met Parrish Holmes—my boss,” I said, my voice shaky as I wiped my sweaty palms on my dress. I tried to sound professional, to keep the mood light, praying Nathan wouldn’t see through my nervousness. Did he know? Could he tell that Parrish was the one who had shattered me before I met him?“Parrish Holmes?” Nathan repeated, his eyes narrowing as they flicked between us. Then his gaze locked on mine. “You didn’t mention your ex is now your boss.”“I—uh—I didn’t think it was relevant,” I stammered, fighting fo
*SOME YEARS AGO*It was only a few days after his dad had walked in on us at the roof top, his sleazy eyes drilling over my bare body even though Parrish had conveniently pushed me behind him while I struggled to put my clothes back on in a hurried frenzy and my eyes still wide from the adrenaline and hard liquour.After that night, I had resolved to see that night as a one night stand even though we never actually stood or better still lay together. I didn’t think I was going to see him again but a few days later, I had just stepped out of my professor’s office after a long day of lectures and assignments and I was prepared to just fall into my bed and sleep when I bumped into someone just on my way out. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. I – ” I stopped when I looked up and saw that it was Parrish.“You – ” I said, surprised to see him.“Me,” he humored me, then he smiled, a sweet smile that went all the way to his cheeks “You didn’t give me your number, so I never thought I’d see you again.”“I
“No fucking way!” Sophie yelled out loud the moment I brought the idea of the double date when I met her for drinks later that week. I had called her to talk things out and also present my request on the table. I never told her about watching Parrish fuck her brains out while I brought myself to a climax. It was the cocky look on Parrish’s face that had angered me even, even though I had every right to be be mad at her about it – so I had to make it my little secret.“Consider it like an atonement for your sins” I said.“You want me to lie to Nathan who’s like the nicest guy on the planet.” Sophie said and I sighed.“He’s suspicious for some reason and – ”“There’s no reason he should be suspicious?” Sophie asked me.“No of course not, but I know Nathan, he’s going to start obsessing and I can’t deal with that right now. I just don’t need that and this double date is the only way to get Nathan to forget about it and know that Parrish is off the market, he needs to see it – to hear it
“No Nathan, wait – just listen to me.” I yelled helplessly, running after him when he turned around swiftly, catching me off guard and nearly tripping me. I could see the anger etched on his face, the look of betrayal tainted his eyes when he looked at me, and it broke my heart to have him look at me like that.“Nathan – ” the desperation in my voice was obvious.“I don’t even know what to say to you anymore,” he yelled, pointing at me.“This – it doesn’t mean anything, Nathan, we were just talking.” I tried to move closer to him, to will him to look at me with softer eyes.“I have done nothing but be a good boyfriend to you, Jessica. I was there when you had no one, when he broke your heart and – ” Nathan was going to say something else but he stopped halfway, like he shared a knowing look with Parrish, but it was only for a brief second before his eyes drifted back to me and he went on, “I have loved you every passing moment, so what now? You want to go back to him?”“No – ” I breat
*Some drunken years ago*The fluttering feeling in my stomach was euphoric as I ran into the water at the beach with Parrish breezing silently behind me. The sand beneath my feet, the gentle sound of waves crashing against the shore, and the cool breeze caressing my skin under the moonlight – all added to the enchantment of the moment.My foot prints disappeared in the soft sand as I sprinted through, and squealing in delight when Parrish swept me off my feet effortlessly with my hands grabbing his hair to support myself even though he had no problem doing that but I always needed a excuse to touch him, to feel his skin next to mine and enjoy the electricity that coursed through my vein at his touch. I wrapped my skinny legs across his torso now, my hands around his neck and our skin damp from the crashing waves. With a simple movement, I moved his hair out of his eyes. His eyes, sparkling like stars held an undeniable magnetism that drew me closer to him. When he looked at me, I fe
*Present*My eyes shot open with Parrish’s last words to me clouding me head, and when I realized the bed was empty and Nathan didn’t come home last night, I began to panic. I sat up suddenly and running my hands through my already messy hair, I picked up my phone from the bed side table and called Nathan countless time but each time it kept going to voicemail.My heart pounded in fear, I didn’t want to lose Nathan, I didn’t want to throw everything we had away, everything we had built so far. “Nathan pick up please.” I cried into the voice but instead the metallic voice of the receiver screamed back at me.I jumped down from the bed and dressed up for work but firstly I had to see Nathan and I knew the only place he’ll be will be by that time in the morning would be at the law firm so I took a quick uber before I went to work. As I stepped into the grand lobby of the law firm, the polished marble floors reflecting the soft glow of chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. The air bu