Chapter 3 SAMANTHA'S POV

I pushed the door open with my hip. Praying Sara should be at work already, Sara is such a gist-hungry animal. She wouldn't allow me air until she's heard everything.

I walked on my toes, the place was small, cluttered, but it smelled like home, the best place I could lay my head.

I kicked the door shut behind me, flung my purse onto the couch, and let myself fall backward onto Sara's spare bed. The mattress bounced once. I stared up at the cracked ceiling, chest rising and falling fast.

For a second, Marcus flashed back to my mind. His smile. His promises. The way he used to kiss my forehead and say he'd call every night. Three months of nothing. Ghosted. Gone.

I shut my eyes tight, bit down on my lower lip to chase him away, he's the last thing I want on my mind at the moment. Sara was right, I need to let go and nurse my shattered heart.

And then, oh God!

A tiny sting bloomed where my teeth pressed. A small, sweet pain from last night.

Alex's mouth had been there, possessive and soft at the same time, sucking gently until I'd kissed him back, hungrily.

The memory hit me like a wave.

Heat rushed straight between my legs.

I could feel his hands grabbing my hips again, warm palms sliding up my thighs, gripping my hips like he couldn't get close enough, like he hadn't been surviving without me.

His warm breath on my neck, my breasts, lower... that wicked tongue licking slow and filthy until I was shaking.

The way he'd groaned against me, taking me in like air. My breath caught.

I wrapped both arms around myself tight, arms crossing over my chest, fingers touching the exact spot his fingers had dug into.

My nipples were hardening again, just like when he teased them, remembering how he'd sucked them until they ached.

My pussy clenched at the thought of him, like she had known him a little over one night.

A deep growl left my throat, alone in the quiet room. Why was this happening to me? When the only right thing would be to forget that anything happened.

His voice echoed in my head, rough and low.

"So wet for me."

"Love how you take me."

"Fuck, you feel perfect."

Every dirty-sweet word had made me drip even more.

I squeezed my thighs together now, chasing the ache, face burning.

A helpless smile spread across my lips. Marcus? Gone. Erased.

I was still smiling, lost in the heat, when the door creaked open.

Sara burst in, her eyes bright as always, lips grinning. "You better start talking now.. Every little thing that happened." As she shoved a few strands of her face.

Her foot against the door, it glided softly, jumped onto the bed beside me, making the mattress bounce again.

I squeaked, arms flying to cover my flushed face.

She poked my side. "Too late, I saw that smile!" "You went home with him, didn't you? The hot guy from the bar! Spill everything. How was he? Scale of one to ten? Be honest.. was he huge? Did he know what he was doing?"

I laughed, couldn't help it. She laughed too, shoving a pillow against her stomach, chin in her hands like a story-hungry child. Eyes piercing into the side of my face.

"He was..." I bit my lip again, tasting that same sweet sting. My voice dropped. "He was simply.. incredible."

Sara squealed, kicking her feet. "Details, Samantha! I need details!"

"He carried me like I weighed nothing. Kissed me like he'd been waiting years." I turned onto my side to face her, my cheeks pink.

"And when he.." I stopped, shook my head, grinning. "Let's just say I forgot my own name for a while."

"Yes! Birthday sex wins! So when are you seeing him again?" Sara screamed into the little pillow in her hands.

My smile faded a little. "I'm not, Sara"

She sat up fast. "What? Why not? I think you both have some connection,"

"Because I'm done with men, remember? Marcus wrecked me. I can't go through that again. One night was perfect. That's all it can be. I'm not ready, not pushing."

Sara gave me that look, the one that said she knew I was full of crap but still understood me.

"You're right, Sam," she said softly. "But I see it in your eyes. You're glowing. That man did something to you."

My mouth opened, I needed to defend myself, but deep down I knew she was right. Thinking about Alex made my whole body hum. Took away the hard lump I've had for months. But I couldn't admit that. Not yet.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand to change the subject. The screen lit up with notifications. One email sat at the top, a reminder from last night.

My heart stopped.

I sat up straight, tapping it open fast.

Subject: Welcome Aboard – Report to Victoria Langford Residence

Miss. Samantha Harper,

This is to confirm your position as Personal Assistant to Ms. Victoria Langford, effective immediately. Please report to the address below by noon today. Live-in accommodation is provided as discussed. Salary and benefits will begin upon arrival.

We are pleased to have you on the team.

"Oh my goodness!" I muttered, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

I read it twice. Then a third time.

"Sara," I whispered, her mouth hadn't stopped running, trying to convince me on keeping Alex

She leaned over my shoulder. "What? What is it?"

I turned the phone so she could see.

Her eyes went huge. She read it fast, then screamed, her high-pitched voice deafening me, then she threw both arms around my shoulders.

Our bodies hit the bed in a tangle of arms and legs, tears hung in our eyes.

Sara's voice the loudest. "You got it! You actually got it!"

"I got it!" I yelled back, my eyes moistened, my heart leaping inside of me, Mia had held my finger the last time I visited, her eyes so pale and white, my heart had fallen into my stomach that day.

This job was everything. Good pay. A real roof over my head. And most importantly, enough money could be saved fast to finally pay for Mia's surgery.

My little sister's life. There was finally somewhere to start from, I didn't have to continue looking for an apartment or bother about the rent anymore.

Sara rolled off me, both of us staring at the ceiling now, breathing hard from laughing.

"This is more than a dream come true," I said, voice shaky with happy tears.

"This is... everything." She grabbed my hand and squeezed. "You deserve it, Sam. All of it. New job, new place, new start."

I nodded, wiping my eyes. New job? Yes. New start with Alex? No!

But I know better than to want to argue with Sara on that, she would list a thousand and one reasons on why it's the best thing for me to do.

Well... maybe one tiny secret memory of a stranger named Alex to keep me warm at night. But that was it. Just a sweet memory to hold onto

I sat up, suddenly full of energy. "I have to pack. Like, now. I have just a few hours to be there." I glanced quickly at the tiny clock with broken ears by the bedside.

"I'm helping. And we're celebrating properly tonight, after you wow your new boss." Sara jumped to her feet too.

Our laughter filled the room again, loud and unstoppable, eyelids heavy with tears.