The dim glow of the refrigerator light illuminated the intruder's face, stirring a sense of familiarity in Alex. His grip on the frying pan loosened as recognition dawned.
"Rose?" he called out, his voice a mix of shock and relief.
"What the hell?!" Rose shrieked, instinctively grabbing a glass of water from the counter and throwing it at him. Before Alex could react, she snatched up a rolling pin, her stance defensive, ready to strike.
"Hey, hey! Rose, it's me! It's me!" Alex raised his hands in surrender, quickly flipping on the kitchen light.
As the brightness filled the room, he watched her chest rise and fall rapidly, her breathing uneven from the fright. Her grip on the rolling pin slackened as realisation hit.
"Oh my God, Alex! You scared the hell out of me!" she exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest.
Alex let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't expect to find anyone else here."
His eyes flickered over her form. She was dressed in a pair of bum shorts and a cropped t-shirt, hastily tied at the side. In the chaos, she had knocked over a carton of milk, the liquid seeping onto her shirt and trickling down her skin. Alex followed the slow descent of a single droplet, tracing its path from her collarbone down to her belly button.
Heat flared in his chest, an echo of the tension he had felt earlier. His jaw tightened as he tore his gaze away, forcing himself to refocus.
"Get a grip, Alex," he muttered under his breath. "This is Diana's younger sister, for Christ's sake."
Alex cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had begun to stretch uncomfortably between them. "So, when did you get in?"
"This afternoon," Rose replied, bending over to rummage through the refrigerator. "I asked after you, but Diana said you were at work."
Alex's gaze inadvertently followed her movements, his eyes lingering on the delicate rose tattoo inked on her right thigh. He quickly looked away, willing himself to focus elsewhere.
"I was about to watch a movie and figured I'd grab a snack," she continued, straightening up. "You know, movies and snacks just go together, right?" She flashed a quick smile before reaching for a broom to sweep up the shattered glass on the floor.
As she moved, her gaze landed on Alex, and realisation struck. "Oh no," she gasped, grabbing a napkin. "I completely forgot—I poured water all over you earlier!"
She rushed towards him but misstepped on the damp floor. Before she could hit the ground, Alex instinctively caught her, his strong arms steadying her against his chest.
"Careful," he murmured, his voice low.
Rose swallowed hard, her breath hitching as she felt the heat of his body against hers. "T-Thank you," she stammered, before quickly regaining her composure. She dabbed the napkin against his damp chest, her fingers briefly grazing the firm ridges of muscle beneath.
For a fleeting second, she was lost in the moment, her hand still pressed against him. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she pulled away and took a step back.
"Well, that's that," she said with a nervous chuckle, quickly turning to sweep up the mess on the floor.
Alex smirked as he watched her put some distance between them. "What kind of movie were you planning on watching?" he asked.
Rose tossed the broken glass into the bin and shrugged. "Umm… horror, I think. I just need something to send a chill down my spine."
He chuckled. "Well, I'll leave you to it, then."
"Alright," she replied with a small smile, watching as he walked away.
As soon as he was out of sight, she let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. The image of his sculpted muscles and the way his strong arms had held her just moments ago lingered in her mind.
She shook her head with a smirk. "Now that could send a chill down my spine," she muttered to herself. "Diana, you lucky dog."
With that, she grabbed her snacks and settled onto the sofa, turning on the TV to start her movie.
Alex stepped into the bedroom, his gaze falling on Diana, fast asleep beneath the soft glow of the bedside lamp. The weight of their earlier conversation still lingered in his mind, an uneasy feeling settling deep in his chest.
He hesitated by the door, torn between two choices—slipping into bed beside his wife or heading back downstairs. The thought of Rose, wide awake and watching a movie alone, crossed his mind. It wasn't just the film that intrigued him—it was the idea of company, of distraction from the storm in his head.
His fingers tapped against the doorframe as he debated, going back and forth in his mind. But after a moment, he exhaled and made his decision.
Rose was completely absorbed in the film, clutching her popcorn bowl as tension mounted on the screen. Her eyes widened as she whispered to herself, "Don't open the door... don't open the door..." The eerie soundtrack built suspense, followed by an unsettling silence.
"Hey," Alex's voice suddenly broke through the quiet.
"Oh my God!" Rose shrieked, the unexpected interruption startling her so much that the popcorn bowl slipped from her hands, sending kernels scattering across the floor. Her heart pounded as she whipped around, only to find Alex standing behind her with an amused smirk.
"Alex, you again?" she huffed, pressing a hand to her chest to steady her breathing.
He chuckled, unfazed. "Got room for one more?"
Rose exhaled sharply, shaking her head with a small smile. "Sure," she said, shifting slightly to make space for him on the sofa.
Alex settled onto the sofa,, his body almost brushing against Rose's. While she remained engrossed in the film, his attention wavered. The scent of her hair filled his senses, intoxicating him more than he cared to admit. His gaze flickered between the screen and the soft glow of her skin, illuminated by the dim light from the television. The way it cast delicate shadows across her body sent an involuntary shiver through him.
Then came the jump scare. Rose let out a sharp gasp, instinctively flinging herself into his arms. The sudden contact sent a jolt through both of them, reigniting the unspoken tension from earlier. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, breathing unevenly, neither daring to move. They both knew this was dangerous—knew they shouldn't even be entertaining the thought—but in that moment, restraint didn't seem to matter.
Alex slowly reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from Rose's face, tucking it gently behind her ear. She closed her eyes, her breath hitching slightly, waiting—hoping—he wouldn't pull away.
And he didn't.
Leaning in, he captured her lips in a soft, lingering kiss, his touch tentative yet deliberate. When he finally pulled back, his eyes searched hers, waiting for a reaction, waiting to see if the line they had just crossed was one they would regret—or one they would cross again.
Rose leaned in, her lips meeting Alex's once more, this time with deeper intent. He responded instantly, his hands sliding around her waist as he pulled her closer. The heat between them intensified as she shifted onto his lap, their faces mere inches apart, breaths mingling.
Her body moved against his in slow, deliberate motions, igniting a fire neither of them was prepared to extinguish. Alex's hands roamed instinctively, fingers pressing into her curves as their kiss deepened. He trailed his lips down the side of her neck, feeling the shiver that ran through her as he did.
In a rush, he lifted her shirt, his mouth finding her eager nipples that seemed to beckon him. The intensity of the moment left them both gasping for air, and then Rose leaned in, whispering softly in his ear, "Take me, Daddy. Claim me as yours."
A noise from behind the couch made Alex turn abruptly, and he found Diana standing behind them.