I stepped out of the bathroom, the warm steam still clinging to the air around me. The towels wrapped around my body felt oddly comforting, yet utterly exposed. I had barely noticed the way my skin tingled, still sensitive from the hot water, until I caught the reflection of Tristan in the mirror. He was sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to me, his gaze thick with something I couldn’t quite read.
For a split second, I froze, locking eyes with him in the mirror. But I quickly looked away, grabbing the towel to dry my hair. I wasn’t going to let him see how much his stare affected me. He didn’t deserve that satisfaction.
“Didn’t you learn your lesson the first time?” I said, trying to mask the way my pulse quickened.
“I’m not staring,” he answered, his voice low, almost amused. I could hear the inflection in his words, and I hated how it made me feel like I was on the edge of something, something I couldn’t control.
I didn’t answer him. Instead, I focused on drying my hair, trying to keep my composure. I was done letting him get under my skin. But somehow, the way he was looking at me made it harder to breathe, to think clearly.
I glanced at the clock and asked, “What time do we need to gather together?”
“Eleven,” he answered, a casual tone masking the undercurrent of something darker. I could tell he was still watching me, but I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of seeing me squirm.
Two hours. Two hours until I would be forced to be in his company again. It felt like both an eternity and no time at all. My mind wandered, and I knew I was trying to avoid the reality of what was happening between us, this tension, this unbearable attraction. It wasn’t just that he made me angry. He made me feel things I couldn’t ignore.
I finished towel-drying my hair, moving to grab the hairdryer when suddenly, I noticed the shift in the room. Tristan stood up from the sofa, his movements deliberate, like he had made up his mind about something. Before I could react, I saw him in the reflection, walking toward me.
My heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, I froze. I could feel the energy in the room change, his presence now so close behind me that I could hear his breathing. I hadn’t expected him to come so close, not now. Not when I was vulnerable, not when my body was wrapped in nothing but a towel, exposed in a way I couldn’t control.
And then his hand—his hand—landed on my shoulder, the warmth of his skin sending a jolt of electricity through my entire body. I sucked in a sharp breath, my pulse quickening as his fingers curled slightly, the sensation of his touch burning me.
I didn’t dare turn around, but I could feel him, feel his heat, like it was wrapping around me, pressing into me. His hand, warm and heavy, felt too intimate, too deliberate. He didn’t move it. He just let it rest there, like he was marking his territory, reminding me that he could touch me whenever he wanted.
I felt something wild stir inside me, something that both terrified and excited me. What the hell was he doing? What was he thinking?
He leaned closer, his breath warm against the side of my neck, and I froze. Please don’t kiss me. Please don’t do this.
“Don’t forget the key,” Tristan’s voice came softly, but with a quiet, commanding tone. It sent a chill down my spine. “When you’re done... bring it to me.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too busy fighting the surge of heat building between us. My body was betraying me, reacting to him in ways I hated. I could feel my skin flush, my heart racing, and the pulse between my legs growing more insistent.
But as quickly as it happened, he pulled back. His touch left me, and the moment was gone, leaving me standing there, breathless and confused. My mind screamed at me to stay in control, to push him away. But my body was a different story.
I stood still, trying to regain my composure. I cursed under my breath. This is insane.
After getting ready and taking my time going to the seminars, I dragged myself and sat on the back. As much as I’m enjoying the environment, I hate seminars, so I decided to just be there.
The day passed in a blur of seminars and lectures. My mind couldn’t focus on anything except Tristan and the way he looked at me, the way his touch still burned on my skin. I hated how much it affected me. How much he affected me. But I couldn’t push it away. It lingered, hanging in the air like an unsaid truth.
By the time the seminars finished, I was ready to lose myself in the chaos of the party. I needed to forget. I needed to drown out all the feelings that were starting to suffocate me. I could almost feel the walls closing in as I walked to the area where everyone was gathering. The drinks were flowing, and the noise of people laughing and shouting filled the room. It should’ve been a relief, but it didn’t help.
A drinking game had already begun. I joined in, not because I was particularly excited, but because it was a distraction. The rounds got more daring as the night wore on, and it was only a matter of time before someone dared me to kiss the person I trusted most.
My mind immediately went to Lucas. He was a good guy, kind, reliable, easy to talk to. He was safe. I wasn’t sure why I even hesitated for a second, but before I could take a step toward him, I felt Tristan’s presence like a shadow falling over me.
“You’re too predictable, Mia,” Tristan said, his voice cool but with an edge I couldn’t ignore. “Choosing Lucas? Safe. You’re such a pussy for going with the obvious choice.”
I could feel my frustration bubbling up. “Shut up, Tristan. You don’t know anything about me.” I looked around and everyone looked fixated with the drama.
His eyes flicked over to me, a small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “Really? You don’t think I’ve figured you out by now?”
My heart was hammering in my chest, but I wasn’t going to let him win. “I’m not playing your game, Tristan.”
He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “Then why don’t you prove it?” My gaze turned to all the spectators who were waiting with anticipation.
I was standing there, facing him, knowing I had two choices: to go the safe route and kiss Lucas, or to take a risk. My body felt like it was betraying me, but I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to make him understand.
I walked toward Tristan, every step filled with defiance. His eyes were on me, piercing through me, as I closed the gap between us. The room seemed to shrink, and the noise faded. All I could hear was my own heartbeat, pounding in my ears.
Before I could stop myself, I crashed my lips to his. The kiss was immediate, urgent, and raw. It wasn’t a gentle thing. There was no softness. It was all teeth and tongues, and as soon as our lips met, everything inside me exploded. It was everything I had been holding back, everything I had been trying to fight. Tristan’s mouth moved against mine with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down my spine. His hands found their way to my waist, pulling me closer, as if he wanted to devour me. And I let him.
The kiss deepened, turning from something frantic into something demanding. He was in control, but for the first time, I didn’t want to fight it. I wanted to feel everything he had been hiding, everything I had been hiding.
When we finally pulled away, both of us breathless and stunned, I looked into his eyes—those dark, unreadable eyes, and I saw it. That same fire. That same hunger.
Neither of us said anything. We didn’t have to.
The game had changed. And neither of us was ready for what came next.