*ARLENE’s POV*
I wake up in a haze, the room spinning slightly as I sit up, groaning at the unfamiliar weight of a shirt—much too big for me—draped over my body. My head pounds as I try to piece together the fragmented memories of last night, but everything's a blur.
‘Oh no, no, no!’ I frantically scan the bed, my heart racing, looking for any sign—any telltale mark—that could confirm my worst fear. Nothing.
‘But what if it didn’t happen here?’ My mind spirals.
‘The car? The living room? The kitchen?’ I pace around, trying to piece together my night.
I search my body for any pain or discomfort. My legs feel steady, my body normal, but the doubt lingers.
‘Who was I with? What if it was some random guy... or worse, someone old? Ugly? Oh god, what if I’m...’
I stop, clutching my hair in horror. ‘Pregnant? No, it couldn’t be. Could it?’
Suddenly, a name flashes in
*ARLENE’s POV*The elderly care facility loomed ahead, its weathered walls casting long shadows in the fading light. My stomach twisted into knots as I watched Mago park the car. He stepped out, casually grabbing a single grocery bag, leaving the others behind. I hesitated, torn between staying in the car or following him, but before I could decide, I found myself circling the car and stepping out.“I might take a while,” he said, his voice almost too casual. “You should come with me.”The world seemed to stop spinning for a second. ‘Come with him?’ This felt like something more than just an errand. My heart raced, the thought of meeting his father made my hands sweat. I was about to follow him eagerly when he added, “Take the other grocery bags from the trunk.”My excitement deflated as I opened the trunk, staring at the three large grocery bags. ‘Really?&rsquo
I crossed my arms, determined to hide the slight tremor in my fingers. “Go on,” I challenged, narrowing my eyes, daring him to test me. “You set your rules, and I’ll make my own boundaries.”Mago’s lips curled into that maddeningly arrogant smile, the one that made my pulse quicken even when I wished it didn’t. “You’ll move into my place,” he demanded, his voice low and authoritative, as if he’d already won.A sharp laugh escaped me, masking the nervous energy bubbling beneath my skin. He wanted control, but I wasn’t about to hand it over that easily. “That fast, huh?” I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be unfazed. “Fine, I’ll move in. But what happened to your ‘I don’t do virgins’ rule?”His eyes darkened, locking onto mine with an intensity that made the air between us sizzle. “After what you did last night,” he murmured, stepping
*MAGO's POV*This is insane! I can't wrap my head around why I asked her to stay with me. I’ve never asked a woman to live with me before, let alone entertain the thought. But I did. And what’s worse, I agreed to her ridiculous no-sex policy unless one of her friends confesses their love to one of mine. What the hell was I thinking?I need to convince my friends to resist the temptation or I’ll be forced to take desperate measures to get Arlene into my bed. And the more I think about it, the more I realize—I’m bending my own rules for her. Why?There’s something about Arlene. She’s different. But that doesn’t mean I’m falling for her. No, I don’t fall for anyone. Not after what happened before. That’s a line I swore I’d never cross again.Flashback“Wow! What’s all this for?” Kaz’s voice broke
*ARLENE’s POV*I didn’t sleep at all. My mind wouldn’t shut off, spinning in circles, replaying every word of the agreement I made with Mago.‘What the hell were you thinking, Arlene?’ I scolded myself. ‘You agreed to his terms. His terms! Have you lost your mind?’But then, a softer voice crept in. ‘You know why you did it. You want to be a part of his life. You want to break through that wall he hides behind. You want to know him.’‘Yeah, but at what cost?’ I snapped back. ‘This is Mago we’re talking about! He doesn’t care about anyone—he just wants to get you into bed. That’s all he’s ever after.’The thought made my chest tighten. ‘Don’t be stupid, Arlene. You’re just another game to him.’‘But he’s not a heartless jerk,&r
*ARLENE’s POV*I mentally steeled myself as I made my way to Mago’s house, each step quieter than usual, my heart thundering in my chest.‘This is it, I told myself. The day I move in with him. What were you thinking, Arlene?’But no matter how much I tried to calm myself, I couldn’t ignore the fact that Mago was right behind me, just a few steps away.‘Can he see how nervous I am? Is he watching me?’ Every step felt heavy under his gaze, and all I could think about was how I looked.‘Do I look okay? Why am I so damn nervous?’My heart raced faster with each passing second.‘You’re losing it, Arlene. You can’t let him know how much he affects you.’But how could I not? With him so close, the air between us was charged. He made me feel things—dangerous things. Things I knew I
*MAGO’s POV*I needed an excuse. Anything to get out of that room before I lost control completely. Arlene was pushing me to the edge, and the worst part? She wasn’t even trying. That was what made it unbearable. She didn’t need to be seductive—she just was. Every glance, every little move she made was a temptation, a tug-of-war that pulled me deeper into this impossible struggle between wanting her and refusing to surrender.It was a constant battle. My body screamed to just take her, to give in to the desire that had been building since the moment we met. But no. ‘I won’t be the one to break’. She will.Arlene’s so-called principles? Her wall of stubborn self-control? I’ll be the one to tear that down. I don’t need to ask, I don’t need to pressure her—no, she’ll come to me willingly. I’ll make sure of that.‘She&rsquo
*ARLENE’s POV*Everything happened so fast. One minute, we were parking, and the next, we were walking toward the room he’d rented. My mind was racing, desperately trying to figure out what to do. As soon as we stepped inside, I bolted for the bathroom, locking the door behind me. My heart pounded as I dialed Patricia."Okay," I whispered when she picked up. "What do I do now?"Patricia’s voice was calm, almost too calm. "Here’s what you’re going to do: send your clothes to be laundered. Then lie next to him. Naked."I almost dropped the phone. "What? Are you out of your mind? He’ll—he’ll—""Relax," Patricia interrupted, her tone practical. "Remember when you were drunk and nothing happened? He won’t touch you unless you want him to.""But that was different!" I protested, gripping the phone tighter. "I was drunk then. Now I’m fully aware. Every nerve in my bo
*MAGO's POV*I thought I had everything perfectly planned. I saw the storm coming long before it hit, and I knew exactly how to use it to my advantage. Bring her to a place where we’d inevitably get soaked, then casually find ourselves needing a place to stay. As a businessman, I’m always ahead of the curve. Checking the latest news, anticipating what’s coming—whether it’s for business or something more personal, like this. The moment I saw the weather forecast, the strategy fell into place. It was all too easy.Though we were drenched from the rain, I didn’t feel cold. How could I, with the thought of being alone with her in this tiny, private room? It was one thing having her in my house earlier, but this? A secluded motel room with no distractions? It was a temptation even I was finding hard to resist. Sure, I’d always said I didn’t do virgins, but in this situation, with her so close, I wasn’t m
*Mago’s POV*The bar was packed, the air electric with anticipation as the first-ever gender battle began. The crowd buzzed with excitement, their cheers and whistles echoing against the walls. Arlene and I stood on opposite sides of the stage, both ready, both determined. I could see the fire in her eyes—a challenge, a promise that she wasn’t going down without a fight.I signaled to Dessa to start the music. As the first beats of the energetic track boomed through the speakers, I began my flairing routine. Bottles twirled and spun in my hands, catching the lights in dazzling flashes. The crowd roared with approval, egging me on as I tossed the shaker high into the air, caught it behind my back, and poured a perfect shot. I finished my first round with a dramatic slam of the shaker onto the bar, my signature smirk firmly in place.Then it was Arlene’s turn.She stepped forward with a coy smile, her moves smooth, c
Mago’s POVFor three days, I went to work and came home alone. Arlene had been busy redesigning the house, pouring her heart and soul into it. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. She was so into it, and honestly, I didn’t mind. It was our house. She was my wife. And I loved the idea of her leaving her touch everywhere—it made the house feel alive, like a home.But tonight was different. It was past midnight when I got home, and the house was dark and eerily quiet. I didn’t bother turning on the lights in the living room as I made my way upstairs. Passing by Arlene’s room, I paused for a second. The door was closed, but I could feel her presence behind it. I’d been fighting the urge to touch her for nights now, and the battle was getting harder. I knew I still loved her. But that love wasn’t strong enough to erase the pain her father had caused me.Shaking my head, I pushed o
*Arlene’s POV*Mago sat behind his desk, massaging his temple as he read through the financial report I handed him. The tightness in his jaw told me all I needed to know before he even spoke. The numbers were bad, worse than I expected. The newly opened bar across town had stolen not only our regulars but also our spotlight.“Our regulars are barely showing up,” I said, trying to gauge his mood. “And when they do, it’s just for a quick drink before hopping over to the new place.”Mago leaned back, letting out a frustrated sigh. “We need something more interesting than just serving drinks,” he muttered, his voice carrying the weight of his thoughts.“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” I said, trying to keep my tone professional despite the nerves twisting in my stomach. I had been preparing for this moment, waiting for him to ask for my input. “And it’s not jus
*Mago’s POV*I didn’t expect her to get up on that stage.Arlene—the woman I told myself I no longer cared about, the woman I convinced myself was nothing more than a tool for revenge—was up there, singing her heart out. She wasn’t the same sweet, innocent girl I’d known before. No, this version of Arlene was bold, confident, and utterly captivating.And I hated it.I hated the way the spotlight caught her, the way her voice softened the crowd, the way her movements seemed so effortless. But most of all, I hated that I noticed it.When the drunk fool climbed onto the stage and started dancing with her, my chest tightened with something I refused to name. I wanted to rip him off that stage, throw him out of my bar, and make it clear to everyone who she really belonged to. But I didn’t.Why would I?She clearly liked the attention. She smiled, played along—flirting effortlessly, like she was just another woman who wante
I started moving to the rhythm, letting the beat take me. I moved in sync with the drunk man, encouraging him, letting him believe I was into it. He spun around, laughing, and his hands reached for mine. At first, it felt like a harmless game. I was in control. Or so I thought.The crowd cheered, egging us on, and I felt my confidence rising. But then, the man’s grip tightened. His hands started moving in places I hadn’t invited him to, his touch no longer playful, but aggressive. His body pressed too close to mine, and for a moment, I felt trapped.Panic creeped up my spine. I glanced at Mago again, hoping—no, needing—him to step in. But he was still caught up in his own world, his attention divided between the women and his drink.The customer’s hands were all over me now, his breath hot on my neck as he leaned in closer, too close. I jerked away, but he only followed, grinning like he’d just won some sort of prize. I could feel the heat of his body pressing in, his hands now danger
*Arlene's POV*It was only 11 PM, but the bar was already a chaotic mess. The students, high on the thrill of a long weekend and the relief of finishing their exams, were letting loose, their laughter and cheers mixing with the pulsing bass of the music. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol, sweat, and the sharp tang of spilled beer.Quinn darted from one table to another, his tray barely staying balanced as he delivered drink orders. Dessa hustled behind the bar, her brow furrowed as she juggled glass after glass. But me? I was standing near the entrance, trying to ignore the sharp pang of frustration gnawing at me.Mago—my husband, though it felt more like he was a stranger—was surrounded by a small group of women, laughing too loudly, tossing their hair, and touching his arm like they were already in some private world. He didn’t notice me watching. He never did.I clenched my jaw, watching him flirt effortlessly while I held everything together. ‘It’s just a job. Just a job
*Mago’s POV*Dessa met us at the entrance of the bar, her expression more tense than usual. “Boss Mago, I heard there’s a new bar opening nearby,” she said, her voice laced with concern. “It could be trouble for us. If it’s anything like the rumors, they’ll be taking our regulars.”Arlene frowned, glancing over at me. “When’s the opening?”“This Saturday,” Dessa replied, shaking her head. “I’m worried that the competition will pull people away from our place. It’s a risk—if we don’t do something, we might lose our crowd.”I felt the weight of her words, and Arlene’s expression mirrored the same tension. This wasn’t just a friendly opening—it was a direct challenge.“In that case, we need to make this weekend count,” I said, my voice steady but sharp with intent. “We’ll need to create an event that not only keeps our regulars coming back but also draws new faces to our bar.”Dessa looked at me, her gaze still uneasy but trusting. “What do you have in mind?”“We’ll need to make our drink
*Arlene's POV*“Where are you going?” Mago’s voice broke the silence as he saw me standing on the sidewalk, waiting for a taxi.“I’m meeting Janine and Patricia at Blue Plate,” I replied, glancing at him before adding with a casual shrug, “You can go ahead. I’ll follow you to the bar.”Mago frowned, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he responded, “Get in the car. I’ll take you to Blue Plate.”His tone was firm, but there was something different—an unease, like he didn’t quite like the idea of me going somewhere alone.I raised an eyebrow, “You’re acting like I can’t go on my own. It’s just some girl talk, Mago. Janine and Patricia probably wouldn’t appreciate having you around for that anyway.”“Who said I was coming with you?” Mago’s eyes sparkled with a playful glint, though his tone was defensive. “I need to see Stuart at his office. Since it’s on the same street, I thought I’d drop you off first.”A slight blush crept up my neck, realizing I had misread the situation. W
*Mago’s POV*I’ve been trying—really trying—to keep myself together. But Arlene? She makes it damn near impossible. She moves through life with this unintentional grace, doing the most mundane things in a way that somehow feels provocative. It’s maddening. It’s infuriating. And it’s everything I try not to think about.Take this moment, for instance. She stood by the table, running her fingers lightly along its edge. A simple action, completely innocent—at least in her mind. But in my eyes, it was something else entirely. Her fingers moved with a lazy, unhurried rhythm, tracing the grain of the wood as if she were memorizing its texture. The way her nails lightly grazed the surface made my imagination spiral into places it shouldn’t go.And then there was her face. Her head tilted slightly, lips softly parted as she inspected the table, utterly unaware of the chaos she was causing. She didn’t even realize she was biting her bottom lip, just a little. It was enough to send a fresh wave