Under the Moonlight

Thea met Silvia later that evening in their usual café, her mind still spinning from what she had uncovered. "Steven was defensive," she told Silvia, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. "He knows something."

Silvia sighed. "This just keeps getting deeper. You need to be careful, Thea."

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. A text from Andrew: Checking out the new hotel branch. Won't be back for a few days. Take care.

She smiled slightly, knowing he was focused on his expansion.

That night, on her way home, Thea stopped at a supermarket to pick up a few essentials. As she loaded her bags into the trunk, she groaned at the sight of her deflated tire.

"Great," she muttered, rubbing her temple.

"Need a hand?"

She turned at the familiar voice. Aiden.

She let out a sigh. "You always have a way of showing up at the right—or wrong—moment."

He smirked, stepping closer. "Maybe fate likes playing tricks on you."

After a few minutes of his help—her pride bruised but her car fixed—Aiden leaned against the hood. "You owe me a favor now."

Thea folded her arms. "Oh? And what do you want?"

His expression turned more serious as he studied her. "A drive. Just like old times."

Despite herself, she agreed. As they drove under the moonlit sky, memories flooded her mind. Their late-night drives, their whispered confessions, and the way he used to look at her like she was the only thing in the world.

"You used to love my touch," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was lower, filled with something unreadable. "What happened? Don't you love to be kissed under the moon anymore?"

Her heart clenched. She had once told him those exact words when he had asked her what she loved. Coffee. Books. And being kissed under the moon.

The tension in the car was thick, almost suffocating. She turned away, her fingers gripping the hem of her dress. "Things change."

Aiden chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Do they?"

She remained silent as he pulled the car to a stop in front of her place. Just as she reached for the door handle, he leaned in, his fingers tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The familiar touch sent a jolt through her, one she wasn't prepared for.

He was close—too close. His scent, his warmth, the intensity in his eyes. She could barely breathe as he reached across, his fingers brushing her waist as he fastened her seatbelt.

A shiver ran through her spine.

Aiden's lips hovered near her ear. "Tell me, Thea," he murmured, his voice a low caress. "Do you really not feel anything?"

She turned to him, lips parted, words at the edge of her tongue.

But before she could speak, Aiden closed the distance, his lips capturing hers in a warm, demanding kiss.

Thea's world spun. His lips were firm yet gentle, coaxing a response she didn't want to give but couldn't resist. Heat coiled in her stomach as she felt herself leaning into him, the past and present colliding in a rush of longing.

And then, as if reality struck her like a thunderbolt, she bit his lip. Not too hard, but enough to break the trance.

Aiden pulled back, his tongue darting out to taste the metallic hint of blood. Instead of anger, his eyes darkened with something else entirely. "Still as feisty as ever," he mused, a wicked smirk curling his lips.

Before Thea could say something, Aiden's phone rang.

She used the distraction to escape, her breath unsteady as she stepped out of the car. Without looking back, she hurried inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she leaned against the door, her fingers touched her lips, still tingling from his kiss.

Somewhere deep inside, she knew—this wasn't over