A Night of Recklessness

The moment the word left Emma's lips, she regretted it.

"Stay."

She didn't know what possessed her to say it.

Maybe it was the exhaustion.

Maybe it was the tension that had been building between them for weeks.

Or maybe—

Maybe she was just tired of pretending.

Alexander stilled in the doorway.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

His usual smirk was gone.

His eyes were dark, unreadable.

Then—he stepped inside.

Emma's pulse raced.

She should tell him to stop.

She should take it back.

But she didn't.

Instead, she watched as Alexander closed the door behind him, shutting them off from the rest of the world.

—

Crossing the Line

Silence stretched between them.

Heavy. Electric.

Emma swallowed hard. "I—"

Alexander moved before she could finish.

One moment, he was standing by the door.

The next—he was right in front of her.

His scent—clean, crisp, with a hint of something dark—wrapped around her.

Emma's breath hitched.

"Say it again," he murmured.

Her heart pounded. "What?"

"Tell me to stay."

Emma's lips parted.

She should push him away.

She should remind him that this was just an act.

But the words wouldn't come.

Because the truth was—

She wanted him to stay.

Alexander's fingers brushed lightly against her wrist.

A small touch.

But it sent a shockwave through her entire body.

"Emma," he said softly.

She had never heard him say her name like that before.

Like a warning.

Like a plea.

Like he was just as lost as she was.

Emma's chest rose and fell too fast.

Her body felt like it wasn't her own.

She had spent so long fighting this.

But now—

She wasn't sure she wanted to fight anymore.

So she did something reckless.

She closed the distance between them.

And kissed him.

—

A Dangerous Mistake

The second their lips met, Alexander froze.

For half a second, Emma thought he might pull away.

That he might tell her this was wrong.

But then—

His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer.

And everything exploded.

Emma barely had time to breathe before Alexander's mouth crashed into hers.

The kiss was rough. Desperate.

As if he had been holding back for too long—

And now, he couldn't stop.

Emma's fingers fisted his shirt, pulling him even closer.

She had kissed men before.

But nothing—nothing—had ever felt like this.

Like fire licking at her skin.

Like she was losing herself completely.

Alexander's hands slid up her back, tilting her chin to deepen the kiss.

Emma shivered.

This was a mistake.

A huge mistake.

But for once in her life—

She didn't care.

—

Reality Hits

The knock on the door was sharp.

Emma jerked away, breathing hard.

Alexander's grip tightened on her waist—as if he wasn't ready to let go.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then—

Another knock.

"Emma?" a voice called.

Emma's stomach dropped.

Victoria.

She stepped back so fast, she nearly tripped.

Alexander cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

The air between them was charged, but there was no time to process it.

Because Victoria knocked again.

"Emma, I know you're in there."

Emma sucked in a breath, forcing her voice to stay steady.

"What do you want, Victoria?"

A pause. Then—

"To talk."

Emma glanced at Alexander.

His jaw was tight. His eyes—stormy.

But he gave a small nod.

"Go," he murmured.

Emma hesitated.

For some reason, she didn't want to leave him.

But she had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the door and opened it—

Only to find Victoria smirking at her.

This was going to be bad.

—

A Warning Given

Victoria strolled inside, looking around as if inspecting the place.

Her sharp eyes flicked to the unmade bed.

Emma's stomach clenched.

Victoria's smirk widened. "Did I interrupt something?"

Emma crossed her arms. "What do you want, Victoria?"

Victoria sighed, tilting her head.

"You know, Emma, I've been thinking."

"That must be exhausting," Emma muttered.

Victoria laughed.

"You're cute. Really, you are," she said. "But you're playing a game you don't understand."

Emma stiffened.

Victoria stepped closer.

"Alexander Westwood doesn't keep women," she whispered. "He uses them. And when he's done, he throws them away."

Emma's hands curled into fists.

"Is that what happened to you?" she shot back.

Victoria's smile faltered—just for a second.

Then she laughed again.

"You think this is about me?" she said. "Oh, sweetheart. I'm trying to help you."

Emma doubted that.

"Stay out of my way, Victoria," she said, voice firm.

Victoria studied her.

Then, after a long pause—

She smiled.

"Alright, darling," she murmured. "Have it your way."

And with that—she turned and walked away.

But somehow—Emma didn't feel like she had won.

—

Aftermath

That night, Emma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her lips still tingled from the kiss.

Her body still remembered Alexander's touch.

But more than that—

Her heart felt restless.

Victoria's words echoed in her head.

"He doesn't keep women."

"He throws them away."

Emma swallowed.

She had told herself she wouldn't fall for him.

But tonight—

She had crossed a line.

And now, she wasn't sure there was any way back.