DAMIENI storm out of the room, slamming the door harder than I mean to. My heart’s racing, and every step I take feels heavy with anger. The ocean breeze hits me as I walk out onto the balcony, but it does nothing to cool the fire burning in my chest. How could she? How could she stand there, so calm, so innocent, with that guy, and act like I’m the one overreacting?I fish my phone out of my pocket, my hands shaking as I scroll through my contacts. I need to talk to someone. Someone who’ll understand. Evans. He’s always been my sounding board, the one person who’s seen me through everything. I dial his number, pacing the length of the balcony as it rings.“Damien, my man!” Evans’s voice comes through the phone, full of energy as usual. “How’s the Maldives treating you? Are you guys living it up in paradise or what?”I hesitate, staring out at the ocean. The view is breathtaking, the kind of postcard-perfect scene people dream about. But it feels like a lie. “It’s not exactly what I
ANNAI sit on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands, my mind spinning. The argument with Damien earlier today feels like a lifetime ago, but the anger still lingers, heavy and raw. I feel hurt and stupid not just because of what he said, but because of what it all means.The door creaks open, and I glance up to see Damien standing there, his shoulders slumped, his face a mix of exhaustion and something else. Something I haven’t seen in him before—vulnerability. He doesn’t look angry anymore. Just... lost.“Hey,” he says softly, closing the door behind him. His voice is tentative like he’s unsure if I’ll even respond.“Hey,” I reply, just as softly. There’s a long pause as we stare at each other, the silence heavy between us.He steps closer, running a hand through his hair, the familiar gesture calming me somehow. “Can we talk?”I nod, though my stomach knots up at the thought of what’s coming next. We’ve been arguing or fighting, for what feels like forever, but nothing seems to g
DAMIENThe way she kisses me is like nothing I’ve ever felt. It’s intense, desperate like we’re both trying to drown in each other. And I’m drowning. Completely. I pull her closer, my fingers tangled in her hair, and I can’t get enough. Every soft moan from her, every shift of her body against mine—it’s driving me insane. When we finally break apart, I’m panting, struggling to catch my breath, but I don’t let go. My forehead rests against hers, my eyes still half-closed as I try to steady myself. Her lips are swollen, her face flushed, and I can feel her heart racing against my chest. “Anna...” I breathe, my voice raw. “Is this your first kiss?.” She doesn’t say anything. Her fingers curl into my shirt, her grip tightening like she’s holding onto me for dear life. I feel it too—the fear that if we stop now, something will change and break. I tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at me, and the way her eyes meet mine—wide, vulnerable, full of something I don’t even know how to name
NEW EMOTIONSANNAThe morning light filters through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. I wake up slowly, feeling a warmth beside me that’s unfamiliar, but not unwelcome. My heart skips a beat when I realize it’s Damien. His arm is draped over my waist, his body still pressed against mine from the night before. This is the first time we’ve slept together—not just in the same bed, but really slept, side by side, without any of the walls or tension between us since we arrived.I don’t want to move. There’s something about this moment that feels too fragile to break. His breathing is steady and soft, and I can feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. It’s intimate, far more intimate than I ever expected to feel with him, and it sends a confusing wave of emotions through me.I should be happy, right? This is what I wanted. But now that we’re here, lying together like this, it feels different—like something is shifting inside me, something I can’t control.Slow
DAMIENI step onto the balcony, my phone clutched in my hand as I try to steady my racing thoughts. The Maldives are stunning—the perfect paradise. The sun is beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, but I can’t appreciate it. Not now.Vanessa’s name flashes on the screen, and my stomach churns. I know I shouldn’t answer, but I can’t seem to ignore her either. I move farther away from the room, glancing over my shoulder to ensure Anna isn’t nearby. I don’t want her to overhear this. Not now.“Vanessa,” I say, keeping my voice low. “Hey.”“Damien,” she says softly, but her tone has a sharp edge. “It’s been days. You said you’d call. Where are you?”I can feel the pressure building behind my eyes. “I’ve been busy… it’s complicated.”“Busy? You’re on your honeymoon with “her, " right?” Vanessa’s voice breaks, the hurt spilling through, and I immediately regret answering the call. “Why are you even with her, Damien? Why didn’t you just tell me the t
DAMIENThe restaurant is dimly lit, with the soft flicker of candles casting warm shadows across the table. It’s our first real dinner together since the honeymoon began, and something about tonight feels different. As soon as Anna steps out of the hotel room, I feel my breath catch in my throat.She’s wearing a sleek, fitted dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, the fabric shimmering under the restaurant’s lighting. The deep green colour makes her dark skin glow, and her hair is swept to one side, cascading down her shoulders in waves. I’ve never seen her like this—so effortlessly beautiful, so radiant.I feel a strange, undeniable pull toward her for the first time. My chest tightens, and I find myself staring a second too long, my eyes trailing the curve of her waist, the gentle sway of her hips as she walks toward me. The way the dress clings to her body… I can’t help it. Desire creeps into my thoughts, something I haven’t allowed myself to feel for her until now."D
ANNAI wake up feeling the weight of last night pressing down on my chest. The soft light filtering in through the curtains does nothing to soothe the chaos swirling inside me. Damien is still asleep next to me, his breathing steady and calm, but all I can think about is how I let things get so far.How did we end up here?I carefully slip out of bed, making sure not to wake him. My body feels tense, every muscle coiled with anxiety. I need air, space, anything to get my mind off the feeling that I’m spiralling out of control. I grab my phone from the nightstand and tiptoe out onto the balcony, the cool morning breeze hitting my skin like a splash of reality.Once outside, I dial Lola’s number without thinking twice. She picks up on the third ring, her voice groggy but curious. “Anna? What’s up? It’s early. Are you okay?”I don’t know where to start. The words are stuck in my throat, tangled with all the confusion and panic that have been building up inside me. “Lola, I don’t even kn
DAMIENI stand outside the villa, my mind racing with everything that’s happened. The air is thick with tension, and I can feel it pressing down on me like a weight I can’t shake. Anna is inside, and I know I need to talk to her. I need to explain that I’m not playing with her emotions, that everything I’ve begun to feel off late is real and new to me. But after what she said to me this morning, I’m not sure how to approach her without making things worse.My hands tremble slightly as I open the door and step inside. Anna is sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. She doesn’t even look at me when I walk in," Anna," I say softly, trying to break the silence. My voice sounds strained, even to me. "We need to talk."She finally turns her head, her eyes narrowing as she looks at me. There’s a coldness in her gaze that I’ve never seen before, and it sends a chill down my spine."Talk?" she echoes, her tone biting. "What’s there to