Katubari

* At night
He was rugged and untamed. That one steamy night left Grace utterly captivated. She coyly stretched out her dainty, snow-white feet, hooking them around his waist as she softly laid down her terms:
For the first time, no staying overnight.
The second time, the moment he got himself a significant other, she'd vanish from his side.
Later on, their liaison would remain strictly on a physical level.
No strings of money attached, no emotional fetters, just the most primal and unadulterated desires that flared up when night fell, entwining them like a web spun by countless spiders.
And once the moment had passed, she'd straighten her skirt and turn her back on him, cold as ice.
*During daytime
He was the heir to a vast business empire, now impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, exuding an air of aristocratic reserve. He extended his hand to her with a polite smile, 
“Hello, Grace.”
Grace gritted her teeth in secret dismay. She hastened to call off whatever was brewing between them, only to find herself cornered against the dressing room by the man, with no way out.
In that cramped space, he was a relentless predator, and she, his irresistible quarry. His firmness pressed against her soft curves, setting every inch ablaze.
Outside the door, her female colleagues were swooning over his chiseled abs.
Just a thin partition away, he locked his arm around her willowy waist, seized her delicate hand, and guided it to rest on his taut abdomen, his voice dripping with a sultry allure, “Thought you could slip away? It's far too late for that.”

Dangerous: Don't cross the line!

The man stood at the junction of light and shadow, wearing a baseball cap that cast a shadow over his face, revealing only his chiseled chin. He was bare-chested, his muscular frame accentuated by black casual pants. Even without seeing his full front, Grace could sense his overwhelming presence, especially accentuated by a scar on his chest that added a wild allure to him.

It took Alexander a while to find his voice. "Who—who is he?"

Grace silently criticized this peacock for his need to show off. Keeping her expression neutral, she walked towards John Amster, positioning herself in front of him to shield his identity from Alex. Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around John's neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

As she leaned in, John Amster bent down, enveloping her in his arms with a forceful, possessive grip.

Alex stood frozen, his brain momentarily shutting down at the sight before him. The woman who had never allowed him to touch her was now clinging to another man like a delicate flower.

Grace's bathrobe slipped to reveal half her shoulder, and her damp hair cascaded around her waist. The scene was electric, intoxicatingly ambiguous.

Initially intending to offer a mere perfunctory kiss to deter Alex, Grace found herself caught off guard by John's passionate response. His kiss was tender yet fervent, pulling her deeper into a whirlwind of desire. The shame of being observed heightened her discomfort.

Alex's voice broke the moment, filled with rage. "Grace, who is this wild man?!"

Grace pushed John away and turned to face Alex, but John leaned down, resting his chin on her shoulder and playfully biting her earlobe.

His arm remained possessively around her waist as he murmured, "Baby, tell your ex-boyfriend who I am."

Alex's heart ached at the intimate picture in front of him. Desperately seeking an explanation, he glared at Grace.

With a smirk, Grace replied, "Isn't it obvious? Mr. Hoffman, are you sure you want me to say it out?"

"Say it!" Alex demanded, gritting his teeth.

Grace transformed from her usual cold demeanor, her lips glistening with a seductive sheen. "Obviously, he's my man."

Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. "Grace Quinn, you're lying!"

Not wanting to engage further, Grace leaned into John's chest, lazily stroking his Adam's apple. "Mr. Hoffman, are you still lingering here? Do you want to stay and watch a live show? Because I don't have that kind of fetish."

This enchanting version of Grace was irresistible. Alex's gaze fell on the muscular arms around her, highlighting the contrast between strength and her delicate frame. It was a scene that should have been his, now unfolding before another man.

Fueled by anger and alcohol, Alex nearly lunged at John, but the man effortlessly pushed him back, shutting him out. Just then, his fiancée called, urging him to come over for a family matter.

Before leaving, he spat, "Grace, I won't let you two off."

With a deafening bang, he slammed the door behind him. As Grace exhaled a sigh of relief, John's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against him.

He lifted her chin, his gaze turning dangerously intense. "Miss Quinn, you plan to discard me after using me?"

His hand on her back felt like a threat, and she met his gaze firmly. "Thank you for tonight."

John raised an eyebrow, silently urging her for more. Grace took a deep breath, her lips glistening as she spoke slowly, "I'll stay with you for one night. Let's call it even."

This was her way of drawing a line while also ensuring she owed him nothing. She had ended things abruptly before, and now she offered him a semblance of closure.

Leaning closer, she whispered enticingly in his ear, "Next time, I'll play with you however you want. I'll make sure Mr. Amster has a great time."

The two men