Chapter 4
1498words
ZANE’S POV The moment we stepped into my condo unit, I didn’t waste time. I carried her inside carefully, like something fragile and precious. She felt incredibly light in my arms, and I couldn’t help but smile quietly to myself.
'How could someone seem so strong, yet feel so breakable?'
Under the soft lighting, her face looked different. Innocent, almost peaceful. The confidence she had shown earlier faded into something softer… gentler.
She was still the same woman, but now I was seeing her without the armor. I lowered her gently onto the bed. For a moment, I just stood there watching her. Then I leaned in, kissed her lightly, a kiss meant to ask, Are you okay with this? She didn’t pull away. Instead, she looked up at me with that small smirk again, though her eyes said more than her mouth did. There was hesitation there, maybe nerves. I smiled to reassure her.
“First time, huh?” I asked quietly, more as a guess than a question.
“Maybe,” she whispered back.
I kissed her again. Slower. Deeper. More certain. We didn’t rush. It wasn’t just heat, it was connection. Something unspoken passing between us.
Between the laughter, the teasing, and the silence, we ended up lying close, her body tucked against mine.
“Are you sure about this?” I murmured against her temple, my hand gently brushing her hair away.
She chuckled softly. “We're already here. Are you seriously backing out now?”
“I'm not backing out, baby” I said more seriously. “I need to know.” I continued
"Okay. Just tell me if you don't want it so I can look for another ma--" I didn't let her finished her sentence.
I kissed her again, it was my way of silencing her with something that wasn’t just hunger it was something deeper. The night unfolded between us not in haste, but in quiet unraveling, soft touches, lingering kisses, and silent promises spoken only through proximity.
We didn’t need to name what we were doing. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t scripted. But it was real.
'I'm happy'
Later, we lay in the dim light, wrapped in silence and the warmth of what had just happened. I held her close, her back pressed against my chest. I didn’t want to let go.
“It’s my first time too,” I admitted quietly, almost surprised by my own voice.
She didn’t say anything but I heard her little laughters as her shoulder is shaking.
“Hey,” I said with mock offense, nudging her gently. “Don’t laugh at me.”
“I’m not,” she replied between soft giggles.
I smiled in spite of myself, brushing my lips across the back of her shoulder.
“What’s your name?” I asked after a long pause. She turned slightly, her voice playful again.
“Baby.” I laughed. “Nice name. Do everybody calls you that?” I asked her.
“Nope. It's for you alone.” she answered teasingly.
Something about the way she said that made my chest tighten a little. She traced small patterns on my skin with her fingers. I mirrored her touch, brushing mine gently along her hand.
That’s when I noticed the faint scars on her wrist. I paused for a second. I wanted to ask, but I might offend her or make her uncomfortable. Just as I thought, she flinched slightly, pulling her hand away before curling back into herself. Her silence said more than words ever could. She suddenly broke the silence.
"Aren’t you going to shower?" she asked obviously changing the atmosphere.
"Of course," I answered. "But you can go first." I said but she shook her head.
"Okay, I'll go first" I said. I slipped out of bed, grabbed a towel, and headed into the bathroom.
The steam helped clear my head, but my thoughts remained full of her, the way she smiled, the quiet sadness in her eyes, and the weight she seemed to carry without saying a word.
When I returned, towel around my waist, I called out, “Your turn--” But she was gone.
No note. No sound. Just the faint scent of her still clinging to my pillow. I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space.
“You’re more interesting than I thought,” I murmured, reaching for my phone.
Avaleigh’s POV
I could still feel the soreness between my thighs as I stepped out of the elevator. Each movement made me wince just a little, but I forced myself to walk straight, unbothered. I had just lost my virginity, to a stranger, on the day of my cousin’s wedding.
Irony at its finest. And strangely enough, I wasn’t regretting it. I felt satisfied. Today turned out to be far from what I expected.
But so far? Surprisingly lucky. I was satisfied with the way my paintings turned out, and now, satisfied in a way I’d never experienced before.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll feel satisfied again tonight, I thought with a sly smile as I suddenly remembered the painting I left behind that room.
I just hope Ana’s husband understands those paintings exactly how I wanted him to. If not? Well, they really are the perfect pair, in stupidity. I walked out of the elevator gracefully, as if nothing happened, keeping my chin up despite the faint ache I still carried.
“Ava!” I turned my head toward the familiar voice.
'There she is, Selene Marquez, my only friend.'
“Selene,” I greeted with a faint smile.
She rushed toward me, her heels clicking quickly against the marble floor, her arms outstretched. The second she reached me, she pulled me into a warm hug and then pulled back to examine my face.
“Hey… are you okay?” she asked, her eyes scanning me like a worried mother hen.
She noticed the slight limp in my walk. I straightened my back and tried not to wince.
'What do I even tell her? That I gave myself to a complete stranger last night? That I don’t even know his name, but somehow, deep down, I have this weird confidence that we’ll see each other again?'
I had no idea where that certainty came from. It was ridiculous.
“I’m fine,” I said simply, brushing it off like I always do.
She frowned even harder, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“Did your cousin do something to you again?” she asked me with annoyance.
Of course that would be her first assumption. After all, how many times had she seen me show up with bruises, cuts, or excuses I could barely remember? Honestly, I couldn’t blame her. But right now… I didn’t have the energy to explain anything.
“As always” I said with a soft chuckle, smiling like it didn’t matter. Like I was used to it.
She sighed. Not in frustration, but something more like tired acceptance. Like she knew I wouldn’t talk, and pushing would only make me retreat further.
“Come on.” she said, looping her arm through mine and leaning on me like a protective big sister.
We walked together to her car, sliding into the back seat as she instructed her driver, “Erick, to the Montenegro mansion please.”
But before Erick could start driving, I placed my hand over hers, stopping her.
She looked at me with confusion but I know she'll understand. “What? You don’t want to go back there yet? Tell me, where do you want to go?” she asked immediately.
“I want strawberry ice cream,” I said in a small voice, almost like a little kid asking for a reward.
Her eyes lit up. “Okay!” she said excitedly.
“Erick, you know where,” she said, giving the driver a playful wink. Erick just chuckled before starting the engine.
We drove around a little first, letting the city lights and breeze calm me. It was late already, and I know I need to go back to that house already even if I felt the opposite of it, but I knew I had to.
Otherwise, they’d take it out on Selene and her family again. Especially her parents’ company, which they’d threatened before when I once tried to run away, and Selene had helped me without hesitation.
But when I found out what my uncle was planning to do to her family if I didn’t return… I had no choice but to go back. I cancelled my own escape. And locked the door on my own freedom.
“We’re here,” Selene said in a quiet voice, the heaviness in her tone obvious same as always whenever she had to bring me back here. Her reactions mirrored mine, only mine were twice as strong inside. But neither of us said it aloud.
“Thank you, Selene,” I said as I reached for the door.
“See you next time?” she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
We both hated this part. Because we never really knew when ‘next time’ would be. I just gave her fainted smile as I step out to her car.
