The afternoon sun cast soft shadows across the streets as Sasha walked into the cozy café near Kilimani. The scent of roasted coffee beans and warm pastries greeted her like a familiar hug. She spotted Lex waving from a corner table, already halfway through a milkshake.
"You're late," he smirked.
"I'm stylishly late," Sasha said, sitting across from him.
They exchanged playful banter, laughter easing the tension of the past few weeks. For a moment, it felt like everything in her life wasn't unraveling. She needed this his feeling of normalcy.As they shared stories and inside jokes, a tall shadow appeared beside their table.
"Hope I'm not crashing," Adrian said with his usual charm.
Lex grinned. "Not at all. Pull up a chair."
Sasha's stomach tightened slightly. She wasn't sure whether it was from the drink, the surprise, or the sudden awareness of Adrian's intense gaze.Within minutes, the three of them were laughing, drinking, and ordering more food. Adrian was quick with compliments, Lex with mischief. Alani found herself sandwiched between familiarity and danger.
"Let's take a photo," Lex said. "One for the memory books."He pulled out his phone, and they all leaned in. Sasha was mid-laugh, Adrian had a hand casually resting behind her, and Lex threw up peace signs.
Click.
Lex posted the photo to his WhatsApp status without much thought. "Look at us, adulting," he joked.
Elsewhere, Kian was seated at his desk in his study room at home, pretending to focus on a pile of reports. A buzzing notification lit up his phone. He tapped Lex's status absentmindedly and then froze.
Sasha.
With Adrian.
And Lex.
Smiling. Relaxed. Beautiful.
Something hot twisted in his chest. He wasn't sure what was worse the way Adrian was looking at her or the fact that Sasha looked like she had finally breathed without him.Before he could think too hard about it, Kian grabbed his keys and headed out. He didn't text, didn't call. He just knew he had to see her.It was just past 9:30 p.m. when Sasha pulled up outside her apartment in an Uber. Her heels clicked softly as she stepped out, still flushed from the wine and the joy of being surrounded by people who expected nothing from her.She didn't notice the parked black car a few meters away.The Uber pulled off. Alani walked toward her gate.Then she heard his voice.
"Sasha."
Her breath caught. She turned.
Kian stohe edge of the pavement, eyes dark, jaw clenched, hands shoved in his pockets. He looked like a storm bottled in human form."What are you doing here?" she asked, keeping her voice even.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't. I already warned you, Kian, i'm addictive and you ...you're married ..."
But he was already walking toward her.
She turned to walk into her house, her hand on the doorknob. The door hadn't even closed behind her before Kian pushed it open and stepped inside.
"Kian, you don't get to..."
"Who is he to you?" he asked, voice low but furious.
"Lex? He's my friend. Adrian? I don't know. What does it matter to you?"
"It matters because I saw you smiling. Like that. With them."
"Kian, rumors has it the the three of you are more of brothers than just friends. So how come they give you cold feet?"
"You work for me Sasha."
She laughed bitterly. "So what? You get to watch me like a hawk, give me longing looks, act possessive, and then go back to your perfect wife every night?"
Kian stepped closer. "You think this is perfect? Do you think I'm fine? You drive me insane, Sasha."
"You're married," she reminded him, eyes blazing.
"I know," he whispered.
The air between them became sharp with emotion. Hurt. Lust. Anger.
"Then leave," she whispered.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
He stepped forward again. She didn't step back.
"I can't stop thinking about you."Her lips parted, but no words came. Her chest heaved, heart thudding like a drum. "You're not allowed to say that."
"I don't care."
"Kian..."
And then his mouth was on hers.
It was furious and desperate, a kiss that came from everything unsaid. Sasha clutched his shirt, shoving him back only to pull him closer. Her breath hitched as he pressed her against the wall, the kiss deepening, their hands fumbling in the heat of need.There were no words. No apologies. Just fire and surrender.Clothes were discarded with shaking hands. Every touch felt like a confession. Every gasp like a breaking point.He carried her to the bedroom, neither of them willing to stop, not even for a second. Their bodies spoke the language their mouths had denied for months. Passion blurred into emotion, and the weight of everything came crashing down in their intimacy.
It was messy.
It was raw.
And it was real.
The silence afterward was almost unbearable.
Sasha lay on her side, watching the shadows dance on the ceiling. Kian sat on the edge of the bed, head in his hands, breathing deeply.
She finally whispered, "So what now?"
He didn't answer. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't.
Then he turned, eyes meeting hers-red-rimmed, conflicted.
"I don't know," he said softly. "I just know I can't stay away from you."
She closed her eyes.
Because deep down… she didn't want him to.
But love built in shadows rarely survives the light.
And morning was coming.