chapter 3

Gage stepped into his apartment; he couldn't shake off the image of Nicole that was etched in his mind. He let out a low whistle, his eyes fixed on the door he'd just closed behind him.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself, "she's so sexy and beautiful too. Just my type. Seems I'm lucky this time."

He walked over to the window and gazed out, his mind still reeling from the encounter. He couldn't believe how stunning Nicole was. Those piercing green eyes, that beautiful brown hair, and that petite, toned body... it was a combination that was impossible to resist.

And yet, it was more than just her physical appearance that had caught his attention. There was something about her, a spark in her eyes, a hint of mischief in her smile, that suggested she was more than just a pretty face.

He looked out the window; he couldn't help but notice how close their apartments were. They were literally right across from each other, with only a small hallway separating them. He smiled to himself, thinking about how convenient that was.

Gage's thoughts turned to the way Nicole had looked at him, her eyes wide with wonder, her mouth hanging open in surprise. He chuckled to himself, remembering the way she'd stumbled over her words,

He couldn't help but feel a pang of excitement at the prospect of getting to know her better. He wondered what she was like when she wasn't caught off guard, what she was like when she was relaxed and being herself.

Gage's eyes narrowed as he thought about the possibilities. He was a man who always got what he wanted, and what he wanted right now was Nicole. He smiled to himself, a plan already forming in his mind.

He walked back to the door and looked out into the hallway, his eyes fixed on Nicole's apartment. He could see her moving around inside, and he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of being so close to her.

This was going to be fun.

****

Nicole's doorbell rang once again, and she made her way to the door, expecting to see Gage standing there, perhaps with another question or request. But to her surprise, it wasn't Gage at all. Instead, her elder sister Ashley was standing at the door, loaded down with her belongings.

"Ashley, you were supposed to come next week!" Nicole exclaimed, taken aback by her sister's sudden arrival.

"Let me in first," Ashley replied, pushing past Nicole and into the apartment.

Nicole followed her sister, curiosity getting the better of her. "Okay, now tell me what's going on. Why are you here early?"

Ashley dropped her bags onto the floor and let out a deep sigh. "Mom found out that I don't have a boyfriend," she explained, looking sheepish.

Nicole's eyes widened in surprise. "But how? You've been keeping that secret for months!"

Ashley scowled. "Thanks to my friend Moon, Mom found out. Moon told her just to get a free cake, and now Mom is furious with me. I had to escape, so I came here."

Nicole burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation. "You're hiding from Mom because of a fake boyfriend?"

Ashley playfully rolled her eyes. "You find it funny, but Mom is going to kill me!"

Just then, the sound of music drifted through the air, and Ashley's ears perked up. "Has someone new moved in next door?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Nicole grinned mischievously. "Actually, yes. A sexy, hot guy, very handsome."

Ashley's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Let's go take a look!"

Nicole hesitated, unsure if she should encourage her sister's nosiness. But Ashley was already dragging her towards the door, and before Nicole could protest, they were both peeking through the open doorway of Gage's apartment.

What they saw took their breath away. Gage was standing in the middle of the room, his body half-naked and glistening with sweat as he worked out. His muscles rippled beneath his skin, and his eyes were fixed intently on some point in front of him.

Both sisters were open-mouthed, their eyes fixed on Gage's chiseled physique. Ashley was the first to break the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's handsome as fuck."

Nicole nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on Gage. "I told you."

Just then, Gage looked up, his eyes scanning the doorway as if sensing their presence. Both sisters quickly hid themselves behind the wall, holding their breath as Gage's gaze swept over the spot where they had been standing.

After a moment, they let out a collective sigh of relief and scurried back to their apartment, their hearts still racing from the excitement of their sneak peek.

Ashley let out a low whistle as she gazed at Nicole. "Awesome, he loves the gym, just like you. Did you see his muscles?"

Nicole smiled knowingly, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "I had already seen them during our first meeting."

Just then, Nicole's mobile phone rang, shrill and insistent. She reached into her pocket to grab it, but in her haste, the phone slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.

As Nicole bent down to pick up the phone, Ashley's gaze drifted over her sister's body, her eyes widening in surprise. Nicole's top was loose and had a deep neck, which meant that when she bent down, her breasts were partially exposed.

Ashley burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Baby, you didn't wear a bra again today, did you?"

Nicole's eyes widened in embarrassment as she straightened up, the phone still clutched in her hand. "You know I don't like wearing a bra at home," she protested, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "My two twins also have the right to live freely."

Ashley's laughter grew louder, her body shaking with merriment. "I'm sure they do, baby. But how do you expect me not to notice when you're wearing a top like that?"

Ashley's grin grew even wider, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Both your twins said hello to me when you bent down. You forgot this top is tight as well as short."

Her eyes widen when she realizes.

****