Poor Joaquin... still cannot move on from Clarise. Shall Haven help him? ;)
Two days had passed since that night—the night he kissed me, touched me, and then walked away like I was a mistake.Since then, Joaquin and I had slipped into a silent routine, the kind that only cracked open when convenience demanded it.We both worked from home, communicating only when absolutely necessary—when discussing the status of manuscripts or coordinating meetings.Nothing personal. Nothing close.The warmth from before had all but vanished, like a curtain drawn over the sun.It was late in the afternoon when we were seated across each other in his study. Papers scattered between us, a laptop open to a shared document as we read through a final chapter submission from one of our authors. We gave notes. We revised. We edited.Just like normal.“I just flagged a pacing issue in chapter fifteen,” Joaquin said, voice neutral.I nodded, eyes still glued to the screen. “Got it. I’ll adjust the timeline slightly to make the transition smoother.”“Thanks,” he said. “And—right, befor
I changed into my usual sleeping clothes—a plain tank top and soft pajama shorts—and let out a long sigh as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.My cheeks were still flushed from earlier, my lips slightly swollen. I shook my head and groaned quietly, trying to shake off the heat that still lingered on my skin."Ugh," I muttered to myself. "Why did he stop?"I didn’t even know what we were doing—what this was. But it felt real… until he walked away like I was a mistake.Feeling restless, I padded out of the room and headed down to the kitchen. The house was quiet. Jessy and Ethan had left earlier, and Joaquin had already retreated to his room. Probably to nurse both his stab wound and his guilt.I opened the pantry and grabbed a bag of chips, then pulled out a soda from the fridge. I perched on a stool by the island and started munching in silence. Each crunchy bite was supposed to distract me, but nothing could shut up the whirlwind in my head.The soft sound of footsteps pulled me
His lips pressed against mine again, soft but hungry, and this time, I didn’t pull away.I couldn’t.The heat of his body, the way his hand gently cupped my face, the intensity in his eyes—all of it made it impossible to think clearly. I melted into the kiss, my fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring myself to reality.He deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine with a desperation that made my knees weak. I gasped softly, my back arching as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.The silk of the lingerie clung to my skin as his hands trailed down my waist, fingertips leaving trails of fire in their wake.“Joaquin…” I whispered between kisses, barely catching my breath.“Hm?” he replied, lips brushing against my jaw as he moved to kiss the underside of my ear, then lower—my neck, my collarbone, everywhere he could reach.My fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed his way down. My body pressed against his, aching, tense, wanting. His palm slipped u
Once Jessy and Ethan left, I finally excused myself and went to my room, carrying a few of my shopping bags with me. Mark helped unload the rest and left them by the hallway for me to sort later. I gave him a quick thank-you before shutting my door behind me with a sigh.Finally, peace and quiet.I dropped the bags on my bed and started pulling things out one by one, the plastic rustling as I laid the clothes flat across the sheets. There were way more than I expected to get—and way more than I ever thought I’d own.I bit my lower lip as I admired the colorful pieces, a mix of sleek and casual clothes, stylish tops, flared jeans, skirts, and jackets that screamed cool city girl who has her life together.Honestly, I’ve always wanted to dress like this. But between my old budget lifestyle and work stress, there was never a reason—or a means—to splurge on anything remotely fashionable.Now here I was, practically swimming in new clothes thanks to Joaquin.Even if our relationship was roo
After our meal and with shopping bags safely secured in the trunks of our respective cars, Jessy offered me a sly smile as she slipped on her sunglasses. “So… we’re not ending the day here, right?”I hesitated. “I was planning to head back to the pad.”“Then let me come with,” she said, without missing a beat.I blinked. “To Joaquin’s place?”She raised a brow. “Yes? You think I’m gonna let you try on that sexy red dress alone?”I rolled my eyes. “Jess—”She cut me off. “Don’t worry. I signed the NDA, remember? My lips are sealed. Cross my heart.”I gave her a long look. Jessy had been my best friend for years, and although she loved drama and chaos for breakfast, she’d never betrayed me. If anything, she was too loyal for her own good.“Fine,” I sighed. “But behave.”“I always behave,” she grinned. “Just not in ways people expect.”We got into our respective cars—Mark looking more hesitant than ever. Before I climbed into the passenger seat, he pulled me aside.“Ma’am… are you sure ab
After what felt like hours of nonstop walking, trying on outfits, teasing each other, and draining what had to be at least four digits off Joaquin’s black card, Jessy and I finally waved the white flag.“My feet are about to fall off,” Jessy groaned, plopping into a chair at a nearby restaurant’s outdoor seating area. “I need carbs. Like, now.”“Agreed,” I nodded, placing our multiple shopping bags into the car earlier felt like unloading treasure from a heist movie.I glanced at the corner where my designated driver—Mark, was it?—stood dutifully near the parking area, waiting like a loyal sentry. “Hey, should we invite him to eat with us?”Jessy looked over her shoulder and made a face. “He’s been standing around all day like an NPC. Poor guy.”Without hesitation, I waved him over. “Mark! Come join us for lunch. You’ve earned it.”He blinked in surprise, visibly unsure, but walked over anyway with a grateful smile. “Ma’am, it’s alright. I can wait.”“Nope,” Jessy interrupted, scooting