*Lily*My limbs felt heavy with an unfamiliar soreness when I woke up that morning. I reluctantly opened my eyes to find Adrian lying peacefully beside me, his chest rising and falling slowly.I was instantly burdened with regret. The sheets whispered against my skin as I shifted, the soft morning light casting a halo around his disheveled dark hair, those strands that always seemed to rebel against any attempt at order. I couldn't help but scold myself inwardly, chastising my lack of judgment for succumbing to a one-night stand. And not with just anyone, but with Adrian Sterling. But even as I berated myself, my gaze lingered over his features softened by sleep—so different from the sharp, calculated expressions he wore in the daylight. His beautiful blue eyes were hidden beneath closed lids, granting him an innocence that the waking world would never afford him. And despite the turmoil in my heart, I couldn't deny that he looked even more handsome now, stripped of his usual v

*Adrian*"Hey, man, I'm gonna head out for a snack. You good here?" Kit's voice jolted me back to the present."Sure, take your time," I replied, barely glancing up from the monitor.The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me enveloped in a comfortable silence that settled over the editing room like a familiar blanket. My fingers danced across the keyboard, finalizing the edits on old projects that had been clamoring for completion since the end of the last semester.As the cursor blinked on the screen, awaiting further instruction, my mind began to drift – not to the looming deadline of the National Film Festival Submission but to Lily Everhart. Images of our sex night on Saturday seared through my thoughts, unwanted and unwelcome. The feel of her skin beneath my hands was a tactile sensation that refused to fade, igniting a trail of fire along my nerves. Her breathy moans rang in my ears like an intoxicating melody, and the taste of her still lingered on my tongue.It was an

*Lily*I lingered for a moment longer in the deposit room's semi-darkness, my breath still catching in uneven hitches. The air was thick as I gathered myself—my clothes now righted, but my composure frayed. I felt an odd blend of satisfaction and shame churning within me as I walked out of the room.There weren't any students walking through the hallways, so the coast seemed to be clear. I was grateful because I had no idea how I looked. Judging by the way my legs were still weak beneath me and my cheeks burning with heat, I could guess it would at least catch the attention of some passersby.The walk back to my dorm was a blur. My mind was a battleground where insistent desire clashed with the remnants of rational thought. The diary Jenna had given me now seemed useless and uninteresting. I wasn't in the mood to dig into the story of the Order anymore–not at that moment, not when my body was still feeling Adrian's touch, my senses a complete mess.Once inside my room, I collapse

*Lily*As I straddled Adrian, both my legs trapping him into the lounge chair, his lips claimed mine once more with a fervor that left no more room for doubt—this was where I wanted to be. Where we both wanted to be.Adrian's hands sketched trails of fire across my skin, deftly divesting me of my shirt. The fabric fluttered away, insignificant compared to the heat emanating from us both. His fingers were nimble as they unclasped my bra, and a shiver coursed through me—not from the cold night breeze that brushed against my newly bared flesh, but from the anticipation glittering in his eyes. I could feel the tightening, the pebbling of my nipples under the weight of his stare."Shit, you're so beautiful," he murmured, voice rough like gravel. I barely had time to savor his words before his mouth descended on me.His lips were warm and insistent as they encased one nipple, coaxing it into his mouth. The contrast of hot and cold—the warmth of his tongue, the chill of the air—was

*Lily*Louise was blocking my path, a human barrier between me and my morning lecture."Is there something you need?" I asked, my voice steady despite the confusion and wariness that gnawed at me. Her lips curled into a wry smile, and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, scrutinizing me with an intensity that set my nerves on edge. "I wonder what could've possibly held up the illustrious Lily Everhart.""Nothing that concerns you," I replied bitterly, trying to sidestep her, but she matched my movement with a dancer's grace, maintaining our uncomfortable proximity. Louise leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "Just remember who you are, dear. Don't ever fool yourself by thinking you're more than that."Her words slithered through the air like smoke, too vague to grasp yet suggestive enough to cloud my thoughts with uncertainty. What was she implying? Did she know anything about Adrian and me? The possibility made the blood in my veins freeze, though I coul