~Elena's~
Elena lay in bed, her thoughts racing. She couldn't get Jay out of her mind—his dark gaze, the heat of his body against hers, the kiss that had almost undone her.
Damn him.
She fluffed her pillow, trying to shift into a comfortable position, but all she could see was his face—his lips, his strong arms around her, his low voice whispering things she was too afraid to fully hear. Her heart pounded in her chest. It wasn't just physical; it was emotional too. The way he made her feel… like she was on the edge of something dangerous, something thrilling.
But she wasn't ready for this. She couldn't just fall into it. No way. She couldn't let him have that much control. She was too smart for that. Too careful.
Her thoughts spiraled further. His hands, his touch, that kiss… No. She groaned and slammed her pillow back down. She had to stop thinking about it. Just stop.
But she couldn't.
The heat was still there, burning beneath her skin. Elena squeezed her eyes shut and reached for her phone, as if the distraction of some meaningless scrolling would clear her mind. But even as she did, her body betrayed her. She couldn't forget the way his lips had felt, the warmth of his body pressed against hers. The desire that had been so real, so raw.
God, he's going to be the death of me.
She tossed the phone aside in frustration. She needed to get rid of this burning need, and quickly. Her thoughts turned to the shower. Maybe, just maybe, the cool water would calm her down.
~Jay's ~
Jay lay in his own bed, staring up at the ceiling, his hand absently brushing against his stomach as he tried to ignore the tension that had settled into his muscles. The desire to see Elena again, to touch her, to have her, was still there, gnawing at him.
He'd never been so consumed by someone in his life. He'd tried to do what he always did—focus on work, stay busy, distract himself—but nothing was working. His mind kept circling back to her.
That night. Her lips on his. The way she pulled away at the last second. The sound of her voice as she whispered that she wasn't ready.
But he could see the longing in her eyes. She wasn't as immune to him as she tried to pretend.
Damn it.
Jay reached down to adjust himself, trying to ignore the ache in his lower body, the way his body wanted something—someone—he couldn't have, not yet. He grabbed his phone, hoping the distraction would help.
It didn't.
The images of her, her smile, her body, the way she'd looked at him with so much uncertainty—it wouldn't leave him. His erection was painfully hard, and he cursed under his breath.
I should just call someone. Anyone.
He reached out for his phone again, his finger hovering over the number for one of the women he'd been seeing casually. Just get some release. It'll help. It'll make this go away.
But as he tried to think about the other woman, all he could picture was Elena—her body, her eyes, the heat between them. His pulse quickened.
Fuck.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't get her out of his head. He was hard as hell, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't finish. Not with someone else. Not when his mind was filled with thoughts of her. It was maddening.
Jay slammed his fist against the mattress in frustration. "Why the hell can't I just forget about her?" he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes. But deep down, he knew why. He didn't want to forget about her. Not now.
~Elena's ~
The water cascaded down over Elena's body, cold enough to shock her senses, yet not enough to extinguish the fire that was still burning inside her. She let out a frustrated breath, the droplets of water mixing with the tension in her chest. She leaned against the shower wall, her fingers running through her hair as she closed her eyes and imagined a moment of relief.
But all she could think about was Jay.
Damn him. Damn his mouth. Damn his touch.
She shifted under the spray, her hands moving over her body, trying to cool the heat, to focus on something else. But every movement felt like a reminder of him. His touch, his words, his damn smirk that had driven her crazy all week.
Why does he have to be so irresistible?
She tried to focus, but every time she closed her eyes, there was his face. The way he'd kissed her, his body so close, his scent overwhelming. The pull between them, so powerful it almost felt like a drug. She cursed under her breath, frustrated with herself.
"Fucking Jay," she muttered, her voice breathy as she let her hands wander lower, as if trying to relieve the ache in her body. She didn't want to think about him, but her body wouldn't listen. It wanted him. She wanted him.
Her fingers slid over her skin, moving in slow, deliberate strokes as she bit her lip, trying to stifle the moans that threatened to escape her. The ache between her legs was almost unbearable. Just get it over with, she thought. Just do it. Relieve yourself, and maybe you'll stop thinking about him.
Her mind flashed back to the way he had looked at her, the way he had held her, the intensity of his touch. The frustration and longing had taken over, and before she realized it, she was giving in—her hands moving faster, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The tension in her body grew, and for a brief, beautiful moment, she forgot everything except the way her body was responding.
It wasn't enough. It wasn't him. But for a split second, it was the closest she could get.
~Jay's ~
Jay lay there, still unsatisfied, his hand gripping the sheets as he tried—unsuccessfully—to focus on something, anything, that wasn't Elena. But it didn't work. His mind kept drifting back to her, to that kiss, to the way her body had fit perfectly against his. No matter how much he tried, nothing compared.
Frustrated, he reached over and grabbed his phone. He texted the woman he'd been seeing.
Jay: "Come over. Now."
But even as he sent the message, his mind was still on Elena. The thought of being with someone else, anyone else, seemed so meaningless. The woman wouldn't fix what was broken inside him.
He slammed his phone back onto the nightstand, his body still aching for Elena, his thoughts spinning out of control.
Why can't I just forget about her?
It was clear now—he wasn't going to stop thinking about her. He wasn't going to stop wanting her.