Sunlight filtered through thick curtains, slicing golden lines across the bed.
Alexis stirred first, the soreness between her thighs a hazy echo of the night before.
Then she felt him, Kai, already awake, already watching her, one arm slung low over her hips, fingers resting just above the curve of her ass.
"You don't sleep," she murmured.
"I do," he said, voice rough. "Sometimes. When you're next to me."
She rolled to face him, red hair messy across the pillow, and his gaze dragged over her like silk over bare skin.
"You're staring," she whispered.
"I'm memorizing."
She didn't get the chance to respond, his mouth was already on hers, slower than last night, warmer. Less hunger. More need.
And when he slipped between her legs, it wasn't urgent, it was inevitable.
He kissed her as he slid inside. Deep, slow strokes that pulled soft gasps from her throat.
His hands roamed her body like it was sacred. Her hands tangled in his hair like he was hers.
He whispered things this time.
Not filthy, not just filthy but things like, "I like it when you fall apart under me," and "I want to hear you moan just for me."
And when she came, clenching around him, mouth pressed against his shoulder, he followed with a broken groan, burying himself as deep as she'd let him.
They didn't speak after. Just lay there, skin against skin, breaths heavy.
But it didn't stop there.
In the bathroom, she was brushing her hair, still bare, when he came up behind her, spun her around, lifted her onto the counter, and fucked her so hard the mirror fogged over.
In the hall, she laughed at something he said, a rare, warm laugh and he pinned her against the wall, pulled her leg up, and took her there too.
The living room couch?
Ruinous.
His lips worshipped her stomach.
Her thighs trembled against his shoulders.
And when he was inside her again, grinding deep and slow, she said his name like it meant something.
He kissed her afterward. Tender. Possessive.
He didn't know what he was doing.
He just knew he couldn't stop.
Later, while she napped, naked, limbs tangled in a throw blanket on his oversized velvet couch, Kai stood by the window, shirt half-buttoned, watching the trees sway.
He knew obsession. Knew how it felt.
This wasn't supposed to go past that.
He could walk away. He always did.
He always did.
But when he turned and looked at her, asleep in his house like she belonged there...
He wasn't so sure anymore.
He wanted her again already.
He missed her and she hadn't even left.
Kai clenched his jaw, turned back to the window, and lied to himself:
It's just sex.
It's just a phase.
I'll get over it.
He didn't realize the craving never fades once it sinks into your veins.
Not when it's her.