LOGINEmily’s POV“Aahhhh… it’s too much, Alex…” I gasped, my voice trembling as pleasure washed over me in waves.The room was dim, lit only by the soft silver glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting long, gentle shadows across the bed. Every breath we took felt heavy and warm, mixing together in the quiet air. Alex pushed deeper, his body moving against mine in a steady, powerful rhythm that made my head spin and every nerve in my body come alive. His hands gripped my hips firmly, pulling me closer until there was barely any space left between us, each thrust driving me higher into a bliss I could never get enough of.“Fuck, Em… you feel so good,” he groaned, his voice low and rough with desire. “So warm and tight around me… I swear I’ll never get enough of this.”My nails dug lightly into the strong muscles of his back, my body arching upward to meet his movements. “Alex… harder… please… don’t hold back,” I begged, my voice thick with need.He obliged instantly, his
Emily’s POVThe soft afternoon light filtered through the large windows of my studio, casting warm golden streaks across the canvas I was working on. The room was quiet except for the gentle scratch of my brush moving over the surface and the faint hum of the air conditioner. I had been completely lost in my work, letting every thought and feeling flow freely into the colors and shapes before me. It was the only place where my mind could truly settle, where everything else seemed to fade into the background.That peace was interrupted when my phone suddenly buzzed loudly on the small table beside me. I set down my brush carefully, wiped my fingers clean on a cloth, and reached for it. When I saw the name on the screen, a small smile touched my lips—it had been far too long since we had properly spoken.“Hey,” I answered warmly.“Hi, Em. Are you busy right now?” Kara’s voice came through, sounding bright but carrying a slight edge of seriousness.“Um, not really,” I replied, glanc
Emily’s POVWill and I settled into a quiet corner of the small café located right next to the gallery. The atmosphere was calm, with soft music playing in the background and the faint clinking of cups and saucers around us, but I couldn’t relax. There was something about this meeting that felt off from the very start—too sudden, too convenient, and far too familiar.He kept his eyes fixed steadily on me, his expression unreadable as he slowly stirred his coffee, the spoon making soft, repetitive sounds against the ceramic cup. Every now and then he would glance away, only to look back again, as if he were studying some kind of puzzle he hadn’t quite figured out yet.I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my patience already beginning to wear thin. There were more important things I could be doing—preparing for new paintings, organizing my thoughts, or simply enjoying the peaceful morning. Instead, here I was, sitting across from someone who was connected to the past I was trying so
Emily’s POV When I woke up that morning, sunlight was streaming softly through the curtains, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel that familiar tight knot of worry in my chest. It really did feel like a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The space beside me was empty—Alex must have gotten up a little earlier—but the sheets still held his warmth, and the whole room felt calm and bright. I sat up slowly, stretching my arms above my head, and spotted Alex’s soft gray shirt draped over the foot of the bed. I pulled it on immediately; it was too big for me, falling to mid‑thigh, and it smelled like him—clean, warm, and familiar. Wrapped in that scent, everything felt perfect, like nothing could go wrong today. I wandered out of the bedroom and toward the kitchen, where I could hear soft music playing and the quiet sizzle of something cooking. Alex was standing at the stove, his back to me, flipping strips of bacon and carefully folding an omel
Emily’s POVAfter we had finished walking through every section of the gallery, stopping to admire each display and lingering longest in front of my own paintings, Mr. Pierre suddenly appeared beside us, looking more animated and excited than I had ever seen him.He carried a small sheet of paper in one hand, and there was a wide, knowing smile on his face as he stepped close enough to speak without drawing too much attention.“Em, Alex—wait just a moment, I have some incredible news for you,” he said, his voice full of surprise.“A buyer has just come forward, and he has made a very unusual request: he wants to purchase all of Emily’s work—every single painting on display here today.”My breath caught in my throat, and I stared at him, certain I must have misheard. Beside me, Alex’s arm tightened around my waist, his eyes widening in equal shock.“All of them?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. “You mean every painting, not just one or two?”Pierre nodded vigorously, his s
Emily’s POV Finally, the day I had been waiting for arrived. After weeks of mixing colors, adjusting brushstrokes, and staying up late to finish every detail, it was time to go to the gallery and see my work properly displayed on the walls. It was also the day when the public would come to view them—and if I was lucky, some might even choose to buy one. Even so, I tried not to let my hopes run too high. This was my first real showing, and I knew better than to expect everything to go perfectly from the start. I stood in front of the full‑length mirror in my bedroom, smoothing the fabric of my dress and adjusting the necklace around my neck. My hands felt a little shaky, and my heart was beating faster than usual. No one from my family knew about this yet—not my parents, and certainly not Julian. Only Kara and Mrs. Anderson, the kind woman who had rented me my first studio space, were aware of what I was doing. Both had sent messages early that morning, full of encouragement and
Emily’s POV I sat in the studio, brush hovering over the canvas, but my mind kept drifting back to that morning call. No voice. Just silence. If it was really Alex, why didn’t he say anything? Why call and then disappear again? The number with the Paris country code kept replaying in my head, ma
Alex’s POV I kept staring at my phone, the screen dark but the weight of it heavy in my hand. Six months in Paris, and I still checked it every day like a fool, hoping for something from Emily. Nothing ever came. Kael walked over and nudged me with his elbow. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, le
Emily’s POVI stared at myself in the mirror and barely recognized the girl looking back.The tight black dress Kara lent me hugged every curve, short enough to make me tug at the hem nervously. My eyes were still puffy from crying, but I’d managed to cover most of the redness with makeup. Lip glo
Emily’s POVMy laughter died the second I pushed open the café door.There he was, Lucas, my boyfriend of thirteen months with another girl on his lap, kissing her like he was starving.His hands gripped her waist exactly the way they used to grip mine. Her long chestnut hair spilled over his shoul







