RING. RING.
The phone cut through the room like a knife.
Both froze.
Rain's forehead dropped to her shoulder, his breath ragged, chest shaking with the effort it took to stop. Daisy clung to him, just as shaken—both of them fighting to pull themselves out of the fire they'd stepped into.
The phone rang again.
Rain pulled away slowly—painfully slow—as if tearing himself free took physical effort. Jaw clenched, he grabbed his phone and answered, his voice low and steady, at least on the surface.
"Yeah… I'm on my way."
A lie so calm it almost insulted how breathless he looked.
The emptiness hit Daisy immediately—a hollow ache where his warmth had been. The absence burned deeper than she expected. She sat upright and adjusted her top.
She checked her phone next—Lara had blown it up with messages.
Where are you?!
People are asking!
Move!
They lowered their phones at the same time.
"We should leave," Rain said.
"Yeah…" Daisy whispered.
They stood. They dressed in silence, but the room was loud with everything unsaid.
Rain fixed his shirt, trying to erase the storm from his expression.
Daisy changed into a high-neck shirt and a long skirt—covering everything he had marked, hiding every trace of what had happened, and what almost had. Still, the urge to peel away the layers and relive every fleeting touch sang in her veins.
When she stepped out of the bedroom, Rain was waiting in the living room.
He looked up.
His eyes traveled over her—not undressing her, but remembering her.
Neither of them said a word.
Daisy swallowed hard and walked past him toward the door. Rain followed, close enough that she could feel his presence at her back.
Before she opened the door, Rain stepped closer and slipped his arms around her from behind—not possessive, but hesitant, as if unsure he even had the right.
"I crossed the line today," he said quietly against her shoulder. "I've been trying not to. I just… hope you don't end up hating me for it."
Moments ago, he claims me with fire and certainty, and now he stands behind me like a boy asking permission—gentle, unsure, wanting me so deeply—and I find myself loving him even more for it.
Daisy closed her eyes for a second, steadying herself.
"No," she said, her voice low but clear. "I don't hate you."
She turned slightly, not looking directly at him, holding herself together by sheer will.
"But when we're on business grounds, or around people… let's keep things professional."
A breath.
"And off the clock… whatever this is… we can figure it out."
Rain nodded once, slow. The tension in his shoulders eased—but didn't disappear.
They stepped out together, the air between them still warm, still dangerous, but finally held in check.