The night refused to end. Aria lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, unmoving… yet restless in every possible way. Sleep wouldn't come.
Not even close. Every time she closed her eyes, It came back.
That moment in the rain, the way his hand had felt against her skin… warm despite the storm.
The way his voice had dropped when he said her name.
And the kiss—
Her breath hitched sharply as she turned to her side, pressing her fingers lightly against her lips as if she could still feel it there.
That heat.
That intensity.
That loss of control.
"No…" she whispered, shaking her head, trying to push it away but her body betrayed her. Her heartbeat picked up again, just from the memory. It wasn't supposed to mean anything. It couldn't mean anything.
"It was just a mistake…" she murmured to herself.
Just a heat of moment.
Just—
Her thoughts stopped. Why did it feel like something had changed?
Why did it feel like something inside her had shifted… permanently?
