"Mia has been asking after you, I think she misses you"

It was my aunt, she's been the one housing Mia ever since we lost our home, my eyes moistened as I stared at the phone again,

Then another message popped "Have fun girlfriend, you need to ease off, troubles don't last" It was Sara, I'm sure she must have seen us drive off.

 I forced a smile, I instantly needed to drown my feelings in alcohol, I hadn't gotten the job I applied for, something to save up for Mia's surgery. 

I looked up to his face, the smile seemed plastered there forever. I pushed every thought behind me, or at least I tried to.

The car door pulled to a stop in a massive compound that I obviously cared less about.

He didn't speak. Just turned the lock, the small creaking sound sharp in the quiet. Then his eyes found mine, dark, hungry, no more polite distance. 

My back hit the wall before I realized he'd moved. His hands cupped my face, thumbs caressing my cheeks, and his mouth crashed onto mine.

The kiss wasn't gentle. It was weeks of loneliness, months of silence from Marcus, all pouring out at once. I kissed him back just as hard, teeth grazing his lip, fingers twisting in his shirt. 

His face softened like a love-sick child. His tongue slid against mine, slow and filthy, promising everything.

A low growl rumbled in his chest, loud enough to soak my panties. He lifted me easily, hands sliding under my thighs, pressing my curves against him. 

 My legs wrapped around his waist, my dress bunched at my hips, and felt his hard cock pressing against me. My pussy clenched, opened, and clenched again. My eyes soft, locked with his.

He moved us to the couch, with my body clung to his, laid me down like I was something precious and breakable, then I felt his hands over me like he'd been starving for years, his eyes never leaving mine, his fingers dug into my soft skin.

His mouth kissed all the way down my neck, teeth scraping the spot below my ear causing my body to quiver. Air left my lungs,  my nipples hardened under my dress. 

He shoved my dress straps off my shoulders, my breasts bounced out. nipples swollen,  dark and hard, then his hot mouth closed over one nipple.

Oh God. I whimpered.

He licked slow circles, tongue flat and wet, then sucked hard enough that my hips jerked. His hand cupped the other breast, thumb rolled the peak until it ached. 

Every pull of his mouth sent a fire straight to my clit. I pushed my fingers against his dark hair, holding him there, begging without words.

He moved lower, kissing a path down my stomach, pushing my dress up around my waist, holding my hips closer to his face. 

His fingers found my lace thong and dragged them down my legs, tossing them aside. I was completely open to him now, thighs trembling, his face in between.

Alex looked up, eyes almost black. "You're soaked Lena," he murmured, voice rough. "Been thinking about tasting you since I saw you dancing."

I couldn't answer. I didn't have to, I just needed to enjoy it. Perhaps this would take Marcus out of my mind forever. He lowered his head into my pussy.

The first slow lick from entrance to clit made me cry out. He groaned against me, the vibration brandishing fire up my spine. His tongue was relentless... long, flat strokes, then quick flicks over my swollen clit, then dipping inside me like he couldn't get enough. 

I shook under him, fingers grabbing the couch cushions. "Alex- please..."

He sucked my clit gently, steadily, fingers pumping faster. Pleasure coiled tight and hot. I came hard, thighs vibrating around his head, moaning loud and broken.

He didn't stop until I was shaking, and begging for breath.

Then he stood, stripping off his shirt in one pull. His chest was broad, muscles flexing as he unbuckled his belt. I sat up, hands greedy, helping him shove jeans and boxers down. His cock sprang free; thick, heavy, tip already soaked. My mouth watered.

He grabbed a pack of condoms from his pocket, tore it open and slid one on.

I grabbed his arms, his hard nipple staring at me. Skin on skin. Sweat streaming down his abs.

He settled between my thighs, nudging my entrance. "Look at me," he whispered.

I did.

He pushed in slowly, burying his cock inside of me, a thick slide that stretched me perfectly. My breath caught at how full I felt. He stilled, forehead against mine, breathing hard, then a soft kiss on my lips.

"So tight, My Sunita," he groaned. "So fucking perfect."

Then he started moving.

Slow, deep strokes at first. Every thrust deliberate, dragging over every sensitive spot inside me.

 His hands cupped my face again, thumbs stroking my cheeks like I was something sacred. He kissed me softly even as his hips rolled harder, deeper.

"You feel so good around me," he whispered against my lips. "Love how you take every inch."

The words melted me. I wrapped my legs higher around his waist, heels digging into his back, urging him on.

His rhythm changed. Hips snapping faster, harder. The gentle sweetness turned raw and desperate. He gripped my hips, angling me so he hit even deeper. 

The sound of skin slapping skin filled the room, mixed with my moans and his low growls.

"Fuck, you're dripping down my cock," he rasped. "Love how wet you get for me."

I clenched around him at the filthy words, grabbed my bare breasts with one hand while pushing his hips deeper inside me with the other.

He reached between us, thumb finding my clit, rubbing tight circles. "Come for me again. Want to feel you milk me."

I shattered, harder than the first time, vision whiting out, crying his name, burying my head deeper into the sheets.

He thrust through it, pace turning wild, almost frantic. "Lena, fuck..." He buried himself deep, body shuddering as he came, groaning into my neck.

We stayed locked together, sweat-slick and panting. He kissed my navel, my cheek, my lips... soft, reverent kisses that made my chest ache in a whole new way. 

Eventually he carried me upstairs, laid me in his big bed, curled around me from behind. His hand curled possessively over my stomach, lips brushing my shoulder.

I fell asleep to the steady thump of his heart against my back.

Morning light crept through the blinds. I woke up first.

Alex slept beside me, arm still draped over my waist, face relaxed in sleep. He looked too good, dark stubble, lips swollen from kissing, hair messy from my fingers.

My throat tightened, dry and needing some water

Last night was everything. Mind-blowing. Sweet. Dirty. Perfect. But morning brought the truth slamming back.

Marcus's silence still echoed in my head. The promises that turned into nothing. The way I'd waited for texts that never came. I wanted closure more than anything.

I couldn't do this again. Couldn't wake up to another man and risk him vanishing. I needed to pull my life back on track. I looked at his face, so innocent and cute, something about him reminds me of Marcus, I couldn't place it.

I slid out from under his arm, careful not to wake him. He murmured something, shifted, but stayed asleep.

I gathered my clothes from downstairs; dress heaped somewhere, panties somewhere lost. Slipped everything on quietly. Found my purse. My heels.

One last look at the stairs. He hadn't moved.

I opened the front door, stepped into the crisp morning air, and pulled it shut behind me with a soft click. 

The taxi was already waiting,  I'd already buried the night deep.

Just one reckless mistake.

No names. No numbers. No tomorrow.

I got in the car and didn't look back. Time to face life and done crying over men and their inactions.

I pushed the door open with my hip. Praying Sara should be at work already, Sara is such a gist-hungry animal. She wouldn't allow me air until she's heard everything. 

I walked on my toes, the place was small, cluttered, but it smelled like home, the best place I could lay my head. 

I kicked the door shut behind me, flung my purse onto the couch, and let myself fall backward onto Sara's spare bed. The mattress bounced once. I stared up at the cracked ceiling, chest rising and falling fast.

For a second, Marcus flashed back to my mind. His smile. His promises. The way he used to kiss my forehead and say he'd call every night. Three months of nothing. Ghosted. Gone.

I shut my eyes tight, bit down on my lower lip to chase him away, he's the last thing I want on my mind at the moment. Sara was right, I need to let go and nurse my shattered heart.

And then, oh God!

A tiny sting bloomed where my teeth pressed. A small, sweet pain  from last night. 

Alex's mouth had been there, possessive and soft at the same time, sucking gently until I'd kissed him back, hungrily.

The memory hit me like a wave.

Heat rushed straight between my legs.

I could feel his hands grabbing my hips again, warm palms sliding up my thighs, gripping my hips like he couldn't get close enough, like he hadn't been surviving without me.

His warm breath on my neck, my breasts, lower... that wicked tongue licking slow and filthy until I was shaking. 

The way he'd groaned against me, taking me in like air. My breath caught. 

I wrapped both arms around myself tight, arms crossing over my chest, fingers touching the exact spot his fingers had dug into.

 My nipples were hardening again, just like when he teased them, remembering how he'd sucked them until they ached.

My pussy clenched at the thought of him, like she had known him a little over one night.

A deep growl left my throat, alone in the quiet room. Why was this happening to me? When the only right thing would be to forget that anything happened.

His voice echoed in my head, rough and low.

"So wet for me."

"Love how you take me."

"Fuck, you feel perfect."

Every dirty-sweet word had made me drip even more. 

I squeezed my thighs together now, chasing the ache, face burning.

 A helpless smile spread across my lips. Marcus? Gone. Erased.

I was still smiling, lost in the heat, when the door creaked open.

Sara burst in, her eyes bright as always, lips grinning. "You better start talking now.. Every little thing that happened." As she shoved a few strands of her face.

Her foot against the door, it glided softly, jumped onto the bed beside me, making the mattress bounce again.

I squeaked, arms flying to cover my flushed face.

She poked my side. "Too late, I saw that smile!"  "You went home with him, didn't you? The hot guy from the bar! Spill everything. How was he? Scale of one to ten? Be honest.. was he huge? Did he know what he was doing?"

I laughed, couldn't help it. She laughed too, shoving a pillow against her stomach, chin in her hands like a story-hungry child. Eyes piercing into the side of my face.

"He was..." I bit my lip again, tasting that same sweet sting. My voice dropped. "He was simply.. incredible."

Sara squealed, kicking her feet. "Details, Samantha! I need details!"

 "He carried me like I weighed nothing. Kissed me like he'd been waiting years." I turned onto my side to face her, my cheeks pink.

"And when he.." I stopped, shook my head, grinning. "Let's just say I forgot my own name for a while."

 "Yes! Birthday sex wins! So when are you seeing him again?" Sara screamed into the little pillow in her hands.

My smile faded a little. "I'm not, Sara"

She sat up fast. "What? Why not? I think you both have some connection,"

"Because I'm done with men, remember? Marcus wrecked me. I can't go through that again. One night was perfect. That's all it can be. I'm not ready, not pushing."

Sara gave me that look, the one that said she knew I was full of crap but still understood me.

"You're right, Sam," she said softly. "But I see it in your eyes. You're glowing. That man did something to you."

My mouth opened, I needed to defend myself, but deep down I knew she was right. Thinking about Alex made my whole body hum. Took away the hard lump I've had for months. But I couldn't admit that. Not yet.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand to change the subject. The screen lit up with notifications. One email sat at the top, a reminder from last night.

My heart stopped.

I sat up straight, tapping it open fast.

Subject: Welcome Aboard – Report to Victoria Langford Residence

Miss. Samantha Harper,

This is to confirm your position as Personal Assistant to Ms. Victoria Langford, effective immediately. Please report to the address below by noon today. Live-in accommodation is provided as discussed. Salary and benefits will begin upon arrival.

We are pleased to have you on the team.

"Oh my goodness!" I muttered, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

I read it twice. Then a third time.

"Sara," I whispered, her mouth hadn't stopped running, trying to convince me on keeping Alex

She leaned over my shoulder. "What? What is it?"

I turned the phone so she could see.

Her eyes went huge. She read it fast, then screamed, her high-pitched voice deafening me, then she threw both arms around my shoulders.

Our bodies hit the bed in a tangle of arms and legs, tears hung in our eyes.

Sara's voice the loudest. "You got it! You actually got it!"

"I got it!" I yelled back, my eyes moistened, my heart leaping inside of me, Mia had held my finger the last time I visited, her eyes so pale and white, my heart had fallen into my stomach that day.

This job was everything. Good pay. A real roof over my head. And most importantly, enough money could be saved fast to finally pay for Mia's surgery. 

My little sister's life. There was finally somewhere to start from, I didn't have to continue looking for an apartment or bother about the rent anymore.

Sara rolled off me, both of us staring at the ceiling now, breathing hard from laughing.

"This is more than a dream come true," I said, voice shaky with happy tears.

 "This is... everything." She grabbed my hand and squeezed. "You deserve it, Sam. All of it. New job, new place, new start."

I nodded, wiping my eyes. New job? Yes. New start with Alex? No!

But I know better than to want to argue with Sara on that, she would list a thousand and one reasons on why it's the best thing for me to do.

Well... maybe one tiny secret memory of a stranger named Alex to keep me warm at night. But that was it. Just a sweet memory to hold onto

I sat up, suddenly full of energy. "I have to pack. Like, now. I have just a few hours to be there." I glanced quickly at the tiny clock with broken ears by the bedside.

"I'm helping. And we're celebrating properly tonight, after you wow your new boss." Sara jumped to her feet too.

Our laughter filled the room again, loud and unstoppable, eyelids heavy with tears.

The Google map showed a few minutes before we arrived at the Langfords'.

I sat in the back seat, my old suitcase stood beside me, a smaller one on my lap. For once, the noise in my head felt quiet, the Job had brought in so much peace.

I stared out the window and let a small smile creep onto my face. The kind I hadn't felt in months.

This was it.. a new job. Good money. A proper place to live in.  And most importantly, hope for Mia.

I'd called Aunt Linda this morning before leaving Sara's apartment. Her voice had cracked when I told her the news.

"You got it? Really, Sammy?"

"Yes, Auntie. Live-in position. Full salary from day one. I'll send money as soon as I get paid."

 "Mia's gonna be well again. She's gonna be okay." She'd started crying then, soft happy tears. Aunt Linda is one happy and strong woman I know, the only family Mia and I have.

I could still hear Mia's weak little voice from last week's video call. "Sammy, I want to run again?" Eight years old and fighting harder than anyone I knew.

I had to make them proud. I had to keep her alive, my parents won't be happy if I don't fight, or so I told myself.

My fingers found the gold engagement ring on my right hand. I had slid it back on when I picked it from one of my bags earlier today.. Marcus's ring. 

The only expensive thing I owned. Diamonds glinted around the band, catching every light. I had made up my mind to sell it off, for Mia's surgery.

I twisted it slowly, remembering the night he slid it on my finger. 

One day before he left for his "business trip." He had dragged me to the rooftop, a candlelit dinner waited, my lips parted in shock.  He'd gotten down on one knee, eyes shining.

"Marry me when I get back, Sam. This ring is my promise. I'll always come back to you." His green eyes firm with so much conviction.

I'd cried. Believed every word.

Then the calls got shorter. His voice grew colder. Irritated sighs when I asked simple questions. Until one day, nothing. Three months of silence.

Enough. My throat tightened. I swallowed a hard lump.

I tapped on my phone, opened the gallery, and started deleting. 

Every picture of us, the one we took at the beach, the Christmas we spent at his mom's, his arm around my waist at parties. Gone. Deleted from Instagram. Deleted from Facebook. Deleted from everywhere.

One by one, they vanished.

I paused on the last photo.  Mia and I last summer, arms tight around each other, both laughing at the camera. 

Her little face pressed to mine, eyes bright even though she was already getting sick then. I kept that one.

The taxi slowed. "We're here, miss."

I looked up and my breath caught.

The Langford penthouse stood before me, daring. It was a palace. I felt tiny standing around it.

I squished some notes into the driver's hand, grabbed my bags, and moved past the low iron gate that also formed a fence around the entire building.

 My suitcase wheels, the only available sound to my ears. Relief washed over me. This was safety. I get to live in a clean environment, an environment that feels alive. The environment already whispered peace to my ears.

I stopped at the massive wooden door.

 Dark oak, carved with fancy patterns, and pressed the doorbell. A deep chime echoed inside, my eyes still darting around the entire space, it was much for just a glance after all. 

I smoothed my hair, straightened my simple blouse, and waited. Heart beating a little fast, but excited fast.

The door swung open. And my world stopped.

Marcus stood there. In my face!

Bare chest. Low-slung gray boxers hugging his hips. The clear outline of his cock pressed against the fabric, like it would tear it any moment.

 Beads of water still clung to his shoulders like he'd just stepped out of the shower. His dark hair was messy, damp. That same lazy smile started to form on his lips.

Then his eyes met mine. The smile vanished like he had seen a ghost.

My stomach dropped to the ground. I blinked hard. Rubbed my eyes with two fingers. Looked again. Still him. Still Marcus.

Here. In my new boss's house! 

Half-naked, I had never seen him in such a brief, not this tight, this one carved out the tip of his dick, the type that's meant for gigolos.

"S-Sam?" His voice low, shock all over his face.

My mouth opened. I wanted to scream out his name. I wanted to ask if we were in Texas. But nothing came out.

That confirmed it was actually him, 

My veins thumping against my skin. My suitcase handle slipped from my fingers.

Every promise. Every tear. Every night I waited for a call that never came. It all slammed back into me at once.

"What... what are you doing here?" He stretched his arm like he wanted to touch my arm, then stopped himself.

I found my voice. It came out small and sharp.

"I work here." I found my voice. It came out small and sharp, my eyes fixed on him, at his bare body.

His eyes grew darker. Real panic flashed across his face.

"No. That's not-you can't-"

"I'm Victoria Langford's new personal assistant." My words shook, but I forced them out. "Live-in. Starting today."

He went pale. I was the last person he expected to see around, I didn't belong in that vicinity after all.

I could hear soft footsteps gliding on marble floors. A woman's voice called from inside, light and cheerful.

"Babe? Who's at the door?"

Marcus flinched like he'd been slapped. I stared at him, chest heaving, his nipples still hard like I last remembered, but that doesn't matter right now.

He was here. With her. Living here.

My boss's boyfriend! A live-in boyfriend!

The man who'd promised to marry me, who said he was embarking on a business trip?

The man who'd ghosted me.

The man whose ring I was about to sell to save my sister's life.

Everything I'd deleted a few minutes ago came rushing back. Only now it felt like a cruel joke.

Marcus stepped forward, voice low and urgent. "Sam, listen-this isn't what-"

"Don't." I cut him off, voice hard now. "Don't you dare."

My hands clenched into fists.

The footsteps got closer, Victoria Langford stood before me, her skin shone enough to blind me. She threw a hand over his shoulders.

Over my man's shoulder! No, over my ex's shoulder!

I swallowed a lump, then spread my lips in a convincing smile.

I grabbed my suitcase handle again, knuckles white around it.

Whatever came next, I wasn't running. I just have to choose between my man and this Job!