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*"Why MAGO?" Patricia asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she leaned against the dorm room desk.Before I could answer, Janine, lounging on the bed, jumped in. "Patricia, she likes Mago.”"But why not Kaz or Angelo?" Patricia pressed, her voice rising with frustration, “They’re both sweet guys, and nothing like MAGO CONCEPCION.”Janine rolled her eyes, cutting in again, "You can't just force her to like someone else, Pat. It doesn’t work that way. It’s like asking you to stop obsessing over Stuart.”Patricia let out a sigh, throwing her hands up in surrender. “I’m just worried, okay? Arlene is way too innocent for Mago. That guy is a playboy – no, scratch that, he is a manwhore, a monster in bed! He doesn’t date anyone unless he knows it’s going to end in his bed. And Arlene…” Patricia turned to me, her voice softening. “Do you even have any experience… with sex?”Her question made my stomach twist. I shook my head in answer to her question."See?" Patricia said
*ARLENE’s POV*Patricia made sure I arrived safely on the island, her protective instincts kicking into overdrive. She had arranged for a luxurious yacht to transport me to the venue, the sleek vessel cutting through the azure waters like a knife. As I stepped aboard, the salty breeze whipped through my hair, the sun glinting off the waves, amplifying the thrill of anticipation and the flutter of nerves in my stomach.“I’ve already ordered dinner for you,” Patricia announced, her voice brisk yet comforting as we made our way toward the opulent VIP room. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back with Mago soon.”We paused in front of the door, and a heavy sigh escaped Patricia’s lips. “So, this is it.” Her expression shifted from excitement to concern, and she looked me squarely in the eye. “Are you sure you can handle this?”“Hey,” I said, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”“Dating Mago is not a joke, Arlene.” Her tone turned serious, e
*MAGO’s POV*The members of the Adonis band rallied together with a singular purpose: to give Marco a chance to finally meet his mystery girl.“Are we really doing this?” Marco asked, his eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and anxiety. “What if she doesn’t show?”“She’ll be there,” Kaz reassured him, clapping a firm hand on his shoulder. “I tipped off Patricia about our plan. You know she won't pass up a chance to snag a date with Stuart. I told her if she helps make sure your mystery girl partners with you, she can have her shot with him. She couldn’t resist the opportunity.”“Trust me, this will work,” I added, leaning closer. “When you invite her on stage for a weekend island getaway, she won’t be able to resist. It’s the ultimate romantic gesture!”Yet, amidst our excitement, I noticed Stuart, who stood off to the side, anxiety etched on his face. He knew the dancer assigned to him was Patricia—his long-term stalker.“Seriously, man,” I teased, nudging him. “Don’t sweat it! Just go
*ARLENE’s POV* "Behave, Mago. Arlene is nothing like the girls you usually date.” Patricia warned, her voice carrying both concern and authority.I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. Should I be offended? Patricia’s words suggested I wasn’t Mago's usual type, but maybe that was a good thing. After all, Patricia was protective of me—she wouldn’t warn him if she didn’t care.Patricia cleared her throat, her sharp eyes glancing between Mago and me before she continued, “I only rented this room because I wanted this meeting to stay private. You know how people talk.”“I told you, I’ve got this,” Mago replied with a smile that seemed both casual and loaded with charm. He had a way of disarming people with that smile—confident, almost too confident.I wish he'd smile like that at me. Mago and I had known each other since high school, though he probably didn’t remember. Back then, he wasn’t the flirtatious heartthrob he was now. He used to be quiet, reserved, even a little nerd