The Paris contract lay on Aria's kitchen counter like a dare.
She didn't touch it again, not yet Instead, she poured another glass of wine, leaned against the counter in her silk robe, and tried to pretend her heart wasn't ripping in two directions.
Kia didn't text her again after she didn't respond to the previous message.
If anything, the silence felt strategic like he was giving her space to choose him without asking. Which somehow made it harder because Aria didn't want to be chased anymore. She wanted to be seen. She wanted him to say it out loud.
Her phone buzzed.
KAI:
I'm downstairs. If you don't want to see me, say the word.
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Then typed back:
Come up.
She left the door unlocked.
When he stepped inside, the world tilted just slightly.
He looked like he hadn't slept, jacket slung over one shoulder, tie gone, sleeves rolled. His eyes locked on hers and didn't drift.
No small talk.
Just fire.
"I told myself I wouldn't touch you," he said, walking toward her. "But I lied."
Aria didn't move. She wanted him to come closer. She wanted to run. She wanted both things at once.
He stopped in front of her, eyes dark, voice low.
"Paris looks good on you."
"I haven't said yes."
"But you're thinking about it."
She nodded.
Kai reached up and ran a single finger down her arm from shoulder to wrist. Goosebumps rose in its wake.
"What if I asked you to stay?" he said.
"I'd say that's selfish."
"What if I said I'm still in love with you?"
She blinked.
The air went still.
"Then I'd say…" Her throat tightened. "I'd say I wish you had told me that before you left."
He stepped in, slowly undoing the tie of her robe.
"I didn't know it then," he whispered. "But I know it now. Every time I look at you, it's like remembering how to breathe."
Her robe slipped open.
He looked down at the bare skin beneath no lingerie, just her, soft and bare and trembling.
"You're not making this easy," she whispered.
"I'm not trying to."
Then he kissed her.
Hard. Deep. Desperate.
Her body melted against him, fingers digging into his shoulders as his hands slid down her back, gripping her hips like he needed to anchor himself in her.
He backed her up against the wall.
Lifted her.
She gasped as he pressed against her hot, hard, wanting. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his mouth moved down her neck, between her breasts, his breath ragged.
"You're mine," he said, voice broken.
"You left," she whispered.
"I came back."
She kissed him again teeth, tongue, hunger. She didn't want slow. She wanted real.
He carried her to the bedroom, laying her down like something precious, but his hands didn't hesitate.
He kissed her stomach, the inside of her thighs, then pushed her knees apart and dropped to his elbows.
"Don't stop," she breathed.
"I won't," he said, and lowered his mouth to her.
The first stroke of his tongue made her arch, breath catching.
He licked her slowly, thoroughly, like he was relearning her. Like he wanted to taste every second he'd lost.
When she came, it wasn't soft. It was shattering.
She gripped the sheets and cried out, and he didn't stop not until she was gasping, twitching, pleading.
He rose, unbuckling his belt, eyes never leaving hers.
Then he was inside her deep, thick, perfect and her name fell from his lips like a promise.
They moved together, slow at first, then faster, harder. Sweat slicked their bodies. Hands gripped. Teeth grazed. Their moans filled the room.
It was raw.
Beautiful.
Devastating.
When he came, he buried his face in her neck and let himself break.
Later, they lay tangled in silence.
He traced circles on her hip. "Are you going to sign it?"
She stared at the ceiling.
"I don't know."
"If you stay, I won't waste the second chance. I swear it, Aria."
She turned to face him.
"I don't want to be the woman who gives everything up for a man again."
"Then don't," he said gently. "But don't walk away just to prove you can. Stay because you want to."
Her eyes burned.
"What if you hurt me again?"
"I'll spend the rest of my life proving I won't."
She looked at him, and for the first time, it felt real.
No games.
No past.
Just the truth.
The next morning, Kai was gone before she woke. He left a note.
"Whatever you choose, I'll understand. But I'll be hoping it's me."
— Kai
At work, she avoided Brielle. Not out of guilt but because of what now simmered beneath the surface.
Brielle didn't know their past. But she was starting to see something was there.
In the way Aria flinched when Kai's name came up.
In the way Kai looked at her when he thought no one was watching.
Something was brewing and secrets never stayed hidden for long.