Mila
I should have gone straight to my room the second I got home.
That was the smart thing to do and more importantly The safe thing to do,The thing I'd been telling myself to do since the moment Noah and I started behaving like we have known each other for years,because that would be the only thing able to justify our recent behavior.
Instead, I stayed like a damn fool.
He was standing too close,close enough that I could feel his warmth,and his breath against my hair,the quiet intensity of him filling the space between us. The apartment was dim, lit only by the kitchen light and the soft glow from the hallway, and suddenly it felt too intimate to close and to real. Like the neighbourhood could hear everything that we said or rather did.
"You don't have to avoid me," he said quietly.
"I'm not," I replied, too quickly.
He tilted his head, studying me,looking for something . "You are."
I exhaled. "I'm trying not to make things complicated."
His mouth twitched. "That ship sailed a long time ago honey."
I laughed softly, then stopped when I realized how close we were standing now and what he just called me,it was the same nickname my dad had for me before he died . I could see the faint scar near his eyebrow. The tension in his jaw like he was holding something back.
"Mila," he said.
The way he said my name made my chest tighten.
"I don't want to mess this up," I said. "Whatever this is."
He stepped closer.
"I don't either."
My heart was pounding now, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it. I should have stepped back. I should have said something rational.i should have done something rational,but I didn't.
Instead, I whispered, "Then why does it feel like we already have?"
His hand lifted slowly, giving me time to stop him.
I didn't.
His fingers brushed my cheek, warm ,careful and deliberate,like he was afraid I might disappear or break down again . My breath stopped for a spilt second,The world narrowed to that single point of contact.
"We shouldn't," he murmured.
"I know," I said,so low under my breath I don't even think he could hear me.
Neither of us moved.
His forehead rested against mine, and for a moment, it felt like the safest place I'd ever been. Like the chaos in my head had finally stopped just for a few seconds.
Then his lips touched mine.
Soft, Hesitant,Like a question waiting to be answered .
And I answered it.
The kiss deepened almost immediately, not rushed but not restrained either. His hand slid down my waist as he touched how wet I was for him already,he kissed me faster and harder and I only got more wet as he started fingering my clit and sliding his other hand to play with my nipples,I let out a moan but he stopped it by kissing me harder.My fingers curled into his shirt without me meaning to, like my body had decided before my brain could object.
This was wrong.
And it felt terrifyingly right.
The door slammed open.
"Oh."
The voice cut through us like ice.
I froze.
Noah pulled back instantly, his hand moving faster than lightning like he'd been burned. My heart was hammering so hard it felt painful.
Leah stood in the doorway with an unreadable expression.
Her eyes flicked between us my flushed face, Noah's stunned expression, the inch of space between us that meant nothing now.
Then she smiled.
"Well," she said lightly. "Guess I don't need an explanation."
Noah stepped forward. "Leah. What are you doing here?"
"I forgot something," she replied, strolling in like she owned the place. "But clearly, I walked in at a bad time."
I couldn't breathe.
"This isn't—" Noah started.
"Don't," she interrupted. "Please don't insult me by lying."
Her gaze slid back to me. Sharp. Assessing.
"So this is her," she said. "Interesting."
I swallowed. "You should leave." With so more confidence than I have ever had in my entire life.
Her eyebrows lifted. "Excuse me?"
"No," Noah said firmly. "She's right. You need to go."
Leah laughed, low and humorless. "Wow. You really went there."
"I told you not to come over unannounced," he said. "My family's in town, things are already tense, and this—" He waved his hands between them. "This isn't helping."
I glanced at him. "Your family?"
He nodded once. "We're not close."
Leah scoffed. "That's rich."
"Enough," he snapped. "Get out."
She stared at him for a long moment, then smiled again slow and deliberate.
"Oh, this is going to be fun," she said. "Enjoy your little moment." Looking more peaceful than I would from someone who just got cheated on
She turned and walked out.
The door slammed.
Silence rushed in like a wave.
My hands were shaking.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I shouldn't have—"
"No," Noah said immediately. "Don't."
He stepped closer again, eyes dark, intense and hungry. "I'm not sorry,I don't regret a thing.@
Before I could respond, his hand caught my wrist gently not trapping, not forcing just stopping me from retreating.
"Mila," he said. "Look at me." With those big brown eyes that I could barely resist
But I did.
"I don't care what she thinks," he said. "And I don't regret that."
My heart clenched. "Noah, this is getting way too messy for me."
"I know," he said. "But I don't want to stop."
He pulled me back to him and kissed me again.
This time, there was no hesitation.
It was deeper. Needier. Like he was trying to say everything he hadn't let himself admit. My mind screamed at me to pull away, to think about consequences, but my body betrayed me completely.
Then fear hit.
Hard.
I pulled back suddenly. "I can't."
He froze. "Mila—"
"I can't do this," I said, breathless. "Not like this.""I'm sorry."
I stepped away before he could stop me, my chest tight, my thoughts spiraling. I turned and rushed down the hallway, locking myself in my room like it was the only thing holding me together. Because it was
I slid down the door, heart racing.
What had I just done?
A soft knock came moments later.
"Mila," Noah said quietly. "Please."
I didn't answer.
"I don't want to push you," he said. "I just when you're ready, we should talk."
Tears burned behind my eyes ready to fall and tear me apart.
After a while, his footsteps faded.
I stayed there on the floor, trying to slow my breathing, trying to convince myself that I hadn't just ruined everything.
Then my phone buzzed.
A notification.
Unknown Contact.
Video Received.
My blood ran cold.
With trembling fingers, I pressed play.
The screen filled with shaky footage.
Noah's hand down my pants and his hands grasping my breast like it's a life source.
My fingers in his shirt.
Our kiss.
Me moaning and practically begging for more.
Clear and Undeniable.
Leah's laugh in the background.
The video ended.
Another message popped up.
Leah:
Thought you should see how this looks.
My hands dropped to my lap.
And in that moment, I realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just messy anymore.
It was about to explode.