*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
*ARLENE’s POV*“Do you want something to drink?” Mago’s voice pulled me back to the present.“Uh, yeah,” I answered, my voice barely above a whisper.“Timid, huh?” he smiled, handing me a bottle of beer. “Why don’t you drink some of this for confidence.”I accepted the bottle, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze. “Thanks.”“You know,” he said, his tone dropping to something more serious, “I find women who don’t say much sexy.”I blushed furiously and took a gulp of the beer, the cool liquid doing nothing to calm the heat rising to my face. Mago shifted closer, his hand resting on my shoulder, fingers brushing lightly down my arm. His touch sent shivers through me, but I fought to keep my composure.“So, how did you and Patricia meet?” he asked casually, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin.I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the way his closeness made it harder to breathe. “We’re in the same department.”“Really? Hotel and Restaurant Management?” He raised an eyebrow. “That m
*MAGO’s POV*Of all the girls I’ve dated, this one had to be the most boring. I couldn’t help but wonder how she and Patricia were even friends. Every time I tried to start a conversation, she’d shut it down with a one-word answer, her disinterest as clear as day. I liked women, but I didn’t want to chase them. Hard-to-get girls? They were the ones I hated the most.But there was something about her—the way she was dressed, her makeup, the way she carried herself. It screamed player. Her sexy dress clung to her body like a second skin, hinting at experience, confidence. She was the kind of girl who played innocent, all coy glances and soft shrugs, but I knew better. I’d seen it all before—girls like her only wanted to prove they could make men like me crawl.“I like music,” she finally offered, her voice so flat it could’ve been a statement about the weather.“Music? Well, that makes us the same. What kind of music do you like?” I asked, trying to reel her in, hoping to find some comm
*ARLENE’s POV*We walked across the wooden bridge that stretched over the water, leading us to the secluded bungalow. Each creak of the wood beneath my feet seemed to echo in the stillness, heightening my unease. My knees trembled, and I couldn't tell if it was from the cool breeze coming off the water or the proximity of Mago walking beside me. His presence made my heart race, and I struggled to steady my breathing.Mago broke the silence. “I bet you belong to an organization at the university,” he said, glancing at me. “Which one?”“Music,” I replied, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. Why was I suddenly tongue-tied around him?He nodded, his lips curving into a smile. “What do you do there?”“I play stringed instruments,” I explained, my gaze flicking between him and the path ahead. “The guitar is my favorite.”“That’s perfect. We’ll get along just fine then,” he said, flashing that heart-stopping smile.His words made me blush, and I bit my lip, trying to hide it. The trut