Callie's POV 

I jerked upright, lungs heaving, my heart was racing heavy and suffocating. My heart slammed so hard against my ribs it felt like it might crack something open. 

For a moment, I didn't know where I was, only that my body felt overheated, restless, like it had been running from something it hadn't escaped.

I pressed my palm to my chest, breathing through it.

Not again. The dream slipped away the moment I tried to hold it, leaving behind only sensations of heat, closeness, the echo of a voice saying my name like it was something precious.

I squeezed my eyes shut, groaning softly. I hadn't slept until almost dawn. Every time I closed my eyes, my mind dragged me back to the kitchen. The darkness. The broken glass. His hand brushing mine like it wasn't an accident.

"Dominic," I muttered under my breath.

I stared at the ceiling, listening to the quiet hum of the house waking up around me. Doors were opening downstairs. Footsteps echoing around the house. Of course, he was awake.

I lay there longer than necessary, debating whether hunger outweighed the dread that had settled deep in my stomach. 

Just then, my stomach answered for me with an irritated growl.

"Traitor," I muttered, throwing the blanket off.

I showered quickly, avoiding my reflection longer than usual. When I finally caught sight of myself, I barely recognised the girl staring back. 

Tired eyes with slight shadows beneath them. A woman who looked like she'd slept badly and thought too much.

I pulled on jeans and a leather sweater, it was snowing heavily outside. I inhaled slowly, trying to steady my breath, and went downstairs.

The smell of coffee hit me first. Then laughter, with Jenna's loud and unfiltered voice.

"...and then he dared to ask if I was 'emotionally available,'" she was saying. "Sir, you forgot my birthday twice."

I stepped into the kitchen just as Dominic slid a plate onto the counter. My steps faltered. He'd made pancakes. 

He stood at the gas cooker, his sleeves rolled up, and his hair was slightly messy, like he'd run a hand through it too many times. He looked... normal and domestic. 

But my heart flipped, disagreeing. 

"Morning," Jenna chirped when she saw me. "You look like you fought sleep and lost."

"Accurate," I replied, my voice dry. 

Then he turned, his eyes met mine for a fraction of a second too long. And I felt the previously unknown connection pass through both of us. 

His jaw tightened almost unnoticeably before he looked away.

"Good morning, Callie," he greeted, his tone soft and careful.

"Morning," I replied, hoping my voice didn't betray me.

Jenna slid into the seat beside me. "Dad decided to play the domestic hero today. I didn't even know he knew where the flour was."

"I've lived here for years," he said, deadpan.

"Emotionally, though?" she teased.

I snorted before I could stop myself. And both of them looked at me. Heat rushed to my cheeks. 

"Sorry. That just... came out."

Dominic's mouth twitched. Just barely. It was worse than a smile.

Breakfast was surprisingly normal. Jenna talked. A lot about work. About her boyfriend. About how Callie from high school would never believe she voluntarily woke up before ten.

"I blame adulthood," she said, stabbing her pancake. "It's a scam."

Dominic poured coffee into my mug without asking.

Of course, I noticed.

"Thanks," I said softly.

"You're welcome."

Our fingers didn't touch. I was aware of the space between us, as if it were charged.

At some point, Jenna's phone buzzed. 

"Ugh, I have to take this. If it's my boss, I'm quitting."

She hopped up, groaning, and disappeared down the hallway, still muttering.

Silence dropped into the kitchen like a held breath.

But I focused on my plate.

"So," I said, because silence felt heavier. "The power last night..."

"Yes," Dominic replied quickly. "I fixed it. Old wiring. It should be fine now."

"Good," I nodded. "Sorry about the... glass."

"Don't apologise." He paused. "You weren't hurt?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head.

Then there was another pause. 

"Good."

I decided to risk a glance up. And he was watching me now, openly, like he'd decided pretending wasn't working. His expression wasn't soft, but it wasn't cold either. It was something restrained and controlled.

"About last night," he said quietly. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."

The word landed heavier than it should have. Uncomfortable?

"No," I said too fast. Taking a deep breath, I slowed. "I mean, no. It was just... unexpected."

His eyes searched my face like he was trying to study the lines on my face.

"You're okay, right?" He asked. 

The question almost undid me. "I'm fine," I lied.

He nodded once, like he accepted the answer even if he didn't believe it.

Jenna returned moments later, mercifully loud. "False alarm. Crisis postponed."

The rest of the morning passed in fragments. I helped Jenna clear the table. Dominic retreated to his home office. 

Around noon, a soft curse echoed from the hallway.

Jenna poked her head out of the living room. 

"Dad?"

"The hallway light's acting up again," Dominic said. "It's flickering."

"Old house problem," Jenna added, rolling her eyes. She turned to me. "Callie, you good if I disappear for a bit? I'm meeting Sam."

"Yeah, I'll be," I said quickly. "You can go."

She grinned. "Don't miss you too much."

When the door closed behind her, the house felt quieter than before. Dominic stood at the base of the stairs, toolbox in hand. 

"I should fix it before it gets dark."

"I can help," I blurted out, before thinking.

He looked surprised. Then his expression turned thoughtful. "All right," he said. "Hold the light?"

We stood in the narrow hallway, closer than necessary. I held my phone up while he adjusted the switch plate, his arm brushing the wall beside my head.

I could smell him. He smelt of soap, coffee with an edge of woodsy scent.

My pulse skidded.

"Is this okay?" he asked, glancing back. He was talking about the light while I thought he was referring to our closeness. 

"Yeah." 

The light flickered once, then steadied.

"There," he said softly. "That should..." His elbow bumped mine as he stepped back.

My breath stopped. His hand lifted instinctively, hovering near my waist before he stopped himself like he'd hit an invisible wall.

Then he leaned closer. Not too close enough to touch. Just enough that I felt him everywhere.

His warm, undeniable presence filled the space between us.  

I could feel my heartbeat in my throat, my chest, my fingertips. 

Suddenly, the hallway felt too small and quiet, like the world had narrowed down to the inch separating us. My breath hitched.

I didn't know who moved first. Or if anyone did at all. I only knew that it felt inevitable. Like something that had been waiting patiently for years had finally decided to surface.

I tilted my chin up, my lips parted without permission. And then I closed my eyes. For one reckless, hopeful second, I let myself believe he was going to kiss me.

When I opened them, he was staring at me. He wasn't angry or shocked. He was just looking at me. I saw it in his eyes, everything I wasn't supposed to want.

Dominic's POV

I woke up already tired. Not the physical kind. The kind that settled into your bones when sleep refused to come because your mind wouldn't shut up. 

I lay staring at the ceiling, replaying moments I shouldn't have remembered so clearly. The hallway. Her breath hitching. Her eyes had closed like she trusted me with something I had no right to take.

Sitting up, I dragged a hand down my face. Her being here was a mistake. Me letting it happen.

Callie Morgan had walked back into my house like she'd never left, and somehow, the control, discipline and distance I'd spent years rebuilding had started to crack quietly. 

I dressed quickly and went downstairs, then I heard soft, familiar laughter. Slowing to a stop, I paused at the foot of the stairs, unseen, watching her in the kitchen with Jenna. 

Callie had her hair tied loosely, sleeves pushed up as she leaned against the counter, listening in the way she always had. 

My daughter was animated as usual, waving her hands, exaggerating a story, and she was laughing. Unguarded, her head was tilted back slightly, with her shoulders loose. 

Jenna has always been responsible for that laughter. 

"...and then he said, 'Maybe we should take a break,'" Jenna finished, rolling her eyes. "Like he was doing me a favour."

"Brave man." Callie snorted, amidst laughter. 

For a second, I simply watched them. I felt unsettled seeing how natural she looked in my house.

"Dad," Jenna said, spotting me. "You're hovering again."

"I live here," I replied dryly.

Callie turned toward me, and I noticed her expression turn tight. The soft smile on her face had vanished. Our eyes met. I could have sworn I saw her eyes flicker with disappointment but they blinked and were replaced with her usual gaze.

"Morning." She greeted me. I replied with a nod. 

Then I broke eye contact first. For some unknown reason, I couldn't talk to her. The disappointed look was stuck in my head. And I went about my day wondering why. 

Not too long after, Jenna stepped out of her room, her phone in hand, keys already jingling.

"I'm meeting Sam," she announced. "I'll be back later."

My eyebrows met, she's been going out a lot lately. 

"You've been going out a lot."

"Dad," she whined, grabbing my arm. "It's just growth and independence. Besides, my love life isn't as boring as Callie's." 

Callie, who had just stepped out of her room, gave a playful gasp and they laughed. 

"Text me when you arrive."

"I will," she said, already halfway out the door. "Try not to bore Callie with your boring talks while I'm gone." Then the door shut behind her.

Thick silence settled in. I turned toward Callie. She was standing by the window now, watching the snow drift down, arms folded loosely around herself.

Then her eyes moved toward me, darting around but hesitant. 

"I want to grab a box in the storage room behind the house, and I need help with it." She paused, finally focusing her gaze on me. 

"I'm not quite tall, your height is just what I need to grab the box." She added.

I felt my lips twitch in a small smirk. All the long talk for just asking for a little help. Hmm, she's still too polite. 

"If that's all, then lead the way," I replied to her.

The walk to the back of the house had passed in a haze because I was lost in my thoughts. Callie's voice brought me back to reality. 

"Here we are," she said, her tone sounding unsure. 

The cold Christmas air bit into my skin as I walked ahead of her into the storage room. I noticed the cold bumps covering her skin as she shivered. 

"Cold?" I asked. 

"A little," she said in a low tone. "I guess I had no idea how cold it was out here." She wrapped her arms around herself. 

Her top was thin and the fabric hugged her when she moved. My gaze dropped before I could stop it. The cold had made her nipples visibly hard beneath the light material. 

Her cleavage was fair and full. And her breasts were bigger than before she left. I looked away immediately wondering why I hadn't noticed it since she arrived. 

Because she's always in sweaters. 

"There," she said, pointing to the dusty shelves. "Third shelf."

I reached over her shoulder, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her back through my shirt.  That was when her scent hit me then. It was clean, soft, with a floral fragrance underneath.

I inhaled sharply while I grabbed the box. But then I almost stumbled and she turned sharply and shifted back.  So I bumped into her and her back hit the shelf. 

I could feel her soft breasts pressing hard on my almost bare chest. The warmth from her spread quickly through my skin and I felt an energy move between us.  

She looked up at me with her hazel eyes. Neither of us moved away. My eyes left hers and slowly trailed down to her lips. 

And they were nothing but seductive. At that moment, all the restraints I've ever built vanished into the snow outside. 

Lowering my head, I placed my lips on hers softly. Kissing her before my conscience tugged at me. 

Gosh, her lips are still soft and full. Just like the first time I'd placed my lips on hers. 

She parted her lips and a quiet moan escaped her and went straight through me. Immediately, I pulled back before the kiss could deepen. 

She looked at me with longing and confusion. 

"It was a mistake," I said, but my voice sounded like I had lied. 

I stepped back, creating space between us. "I shouldn't have done that." 

My eyes landed on her seductive lips that were parted to say something. I quickly handed her the box and turned away before I kissed her again. 

As I sat on my bed, the kiss replayed in my head. The way she'd kissed me back without hesitation. How my body had responded despite every rule I'd set for myself. 

Staring down, I looked at the huge bulge that had formed between my legs. It was hard from one kiss. I got up, pacing around the room, my heart racing faster than before. 

I was frustrated and angry at myself for wanting her. Grabbing my phone, I typed the message before I could think too hard.

'Are you free this afternoon?' 

I set back my phone when the message was sent.

I had crossed a line. And I wasn't sure which part of me was more afraid. The one who wanted to take it back

or the one that didn't.

Callie's POV

The movie continued to play, but I wasn't watching it anymore.

Snow fell softly on my laptop screen, the characters wrapped in scarves and happy endings, cups of cocoa held between smiling hands. 

I'd seen The Holiday more times than I could count. I knew every line. Every predictable beat. That was why I'd chosen it. It required nothing from me.

And yet my chest felt tight.

My knees were pulled up against my chest on the bed, laptop balanced carelessly on my thighs. I'd been staring at the screen for minutes without blinking, my mind drifting back to the storage room. To the way Dominic had leaned in. To the way my body had betrayed me so easily.

God, I'd closed my eyes.

The realization still made heat creep up my neck in a slow, humiliating burn.

I hugged my arms tighter around myself, trying to shake the feeling. Trying to convince myself it hadn't meant anything. That I'd imagined the tension between us. That the look in his eyes hadn't been real.

But my body hadn't imagined it. I had seen it with my own eyes. Dropping my laptop, I let my head fall back against the pillow.

"What are you doing to yourself?" I whispered.

I stared at the ceiling, replaying the moment again and again until it felt distorted, like a memory worn thin from overuse.

Eventually, exhaustion won. I didn't remember falling asleep. Only the heaviness pulled me under.

I woke to a dull ache in my lower stomach that was insistent and grounding. The room was dark now, curtains barely glowing with the faint spill of streetlight outside. 

My laptop sat abandoned beside me, the movie long finished. I checked the time on my phone. It was not too late.

I slipped out of bed quietly, tugging my hoodie tighter around myself. The hallway was dim as I padded toward the kitchen, my bare feet cool against the floor.

Halfway down the stairs, I heard a soft, breathy sound. It was a muffled moan that barely passed through the door. 

At first, I frowned. 

Jenna, I thought absently. 

Then I felt heat crawl up my cheeks at the assumption. Of course, she'd have someone over. I almost laughed under my breath, shaking my head at myself for being startled. 

I continued down a few steps, then stopped. The sound didn't come from her room. I knew the house too well. 

The sound came again, this time lower, but steady.

Realisation hit me immediately, sharp and painful, my chest tightening. The sound was coming from the opposite end of the corridor. From Dominic's room. 

And my heart stuttered. I didn't breathe. I didn't move. I just stood there, frozen, as reality sank in. So this is what that was.

I felt stupid, small and naive for ever thinking... I swallowed hard and forced myself to keep walking. 

The kitchen light was too bright when I flicked it on. I grabbed a plate, with my hands shaking as I pulled leftovers from the fridge.

The sound still echoed in my head. I took one bite and nearly gagged.

"Couldn't sleep either?"

I jumped, spinning around too fast. I saw Jenna standing in the doorway, yawning, her hair pulled into a messy bun.

"Oh..." I swallowed. "Yeah. I was just... hungry."

She wandered in, opened a cupboard and pulled out a snack.

"Same."

I nodded, focusing on pouring myself a glass of water. My hands shook slightly. And I hoped she didn't notice it.

She leaned against the counter, glancing toward the hallway. "She's loud, huh?"

The word hit me like a slap. "She?"

"My dad's girlfriend," Jenna said casually, popping a piece of chocolate into her mouth. 

"Mara. She's been staying over more lately."

Girlfriend.

I kept my eyes on the water as it filled the glass. "How long...?"

Jenna shrugged. "A year? Maybe two. I don't know. They're not exactly the PDA type, but when she's in a mood..." She grimaced. 

"Soundproofing would be nice."

At that moment something sharp twisted inside me.  It felt humiliating. I nodded, stilling my expression like the information didn't matter to me.

"Oh," I said. "I didn't know."

"Yeah. She's... intense." Jenna stopped and studied my face for a moment. "You okay?"

"Fine," I lied, too quickly. I took a sip of water that did nothing to soothe the dryness in my throat. "Just tired."

"Same." Jenna grabbed a plate, piling food onto it. "You should eat."

I forced myself to dish out some food, though my appetite had vanished completely. I took a few bites, but each one was tasteless. My stomach turned with every muffled sound that drifted faintly from upstairs.

After a minute, I set the fork down. "I think I'm going to head back to bed."

"You barely ate." Jenna stared at me, her face twisted in a light frown.

"I'll try again tomorrow."

She nodded, her face relaxing. "Night, Cal." She didn't push.

"Night, Enna," I replied quickly and hurried to my room. 

Back in my room, I crawled under the covers and stared at the ceiling. Sleep didn't come easily. When it did, it was shallow and restless, filled with fragmented images of his hands, his lips and his voice saying my name like a holy curse.

I woke up feeling worse. My eyes burned, my head throbbed, and my reflection in the mirror made my stomach sink. Shadows clung stubbornly beneath my eyes, and my skin was dull and tired.

I stared at myself for a long moment. Get it together.

I took my time with my skincare, like the routine itself might steady me. Moisturiser. Eye cream. 

A touch of concealer to hide what the night had taken. The makeup was light, just enough to look like I'd slept.

When I went downstairs, the house was quiet again.

I poured cereal into a bowl, Golden Morn, the familiar comfort of it almost making me smile, and then I sat at the dining table alone. The spoon clinked softly against the bowl. I focused on my laptop's screen. I'm watching another Christmas movie. 

I sensed him before I saw him. I felt a close presence behind me. Turning, Dominic stood there, dressed neatly in joggers and a sweatshirt. His expression was unreadable and colder than before. It felt more distant.

"Good morning," I said, automatically.

"Morning," he replied, his tone formal.

Silence stretched between us, awkward and fragile. I turned back to my bowl, suddenly hyper-aware of every movement.

Minutes later, footsteps echoed on the stairs. Then she appeared. Tall, composed, with her hair perfectly styled. Mara. She was beautiful in an effortless, polished way, at least ten years older than me, with confidence written into the way she carried herself.

Her eyes landed on me, sharp and assessing.

"You must be Callie," she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

"Yes," I replied, still sitting. "Nice to meet you."

She glanced at Dominic, then back at me. "Likewise."

Dominic cleared his throat. "I have to step out for a run."

"I'll be here," Mara said lightly, kissing him on his lips.

His gaze flicked to me for half a second, too quick to read. Then he was gone. The front door closed after him.

"You're pretty." 

I heard Mara say immediately that the door closed. I looked at her. Mara's smile had faded. She looked at me fully now, head tilting slightly. 

"You're younger than I expected."

I stiffened, but didn't reply to her. Has she heard about me before now? 

"Mmm." She glanced around. "You seem... comfortable."

I still didn't respond. I knew what she was doing. 

Her eyes flicked to the laptop on the counter. "Accidents happen," she said. "Though it's interesting how often people trip over boundaries."

"I think I should go," I said calmly. She was in for trouble, but I wasn't.

She stepped closer. "Running away already?"

"I don't want any trouble."

She laughed softly. "Funny. You seem to have caused it and now you no longer want what you caused."

Her hand moved suddenly, shoving my laptop off the counter. It hit the floor with a sharp crack, the screen shattering completely.

Jenna's door opened upstairs. "What's going on...?"

Then I heard her hurried steps down the stairs. Jenna's eyes widened in shock, then anger when she saw my laptop on the floor. 

"What did you just do?" She asked Mara, her voice rising and her eyes flaring with anger. 

Mara, ignoring her, stepped closer to me and shoved me hard. I stumbled back, barely keeping my balance.

"Don't touch me," I said, my voice was loud but it trembled slightly.

She lifted her hand and I knew she wanted to slap me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jenna hurrying toward me. 

"Step away from her." A cold and controlled voice spoke in a flat tone. 

Everyone froze. I didn't need to turn. I already knew that voice.