Love wasn't part of the plan

sations and clinking glasses washing over her. She had chosen this place on a whim, a spot she'd

But after the long day of chasing leads and

impse, maybe overhear something useful. But plans, as she w

with a jawline that could slice through glass. The photographs hadn't captured the wa

stool from the corner - a seat that offered a fu

man in a suit approached him - older, tense,

and clinking glasses, but she saw the way Kian's jaw tightened. The subtle

even - and that only

er for something stronger. Arya glanced away quickly, un

rink?" he

Only if he's paying," she said lightly

w and cool. His eyes lock

he sai

hat, the ic

*

e. They spoke about the music. About the bar's ridiculous prices. About nothing and eve

e was here. None of it made sense while sitting next to him, his voice low a

turned i

ectedly: "C

eath c

ty. A part of her screamed to walk away - this was too personal, too far -

foll

*

a haze of intoxication and reckless abandon

an himself - black marble, sharp lines, no softness.

rs-unexpected, unp

Hands and mouths. Her mind screamed this

lanned. It was something in b

de her, his breath evening out, Arya

h the man she was su

ad she

*

zz jerked

pho

ietly, heart pounding

padded to the far end of

nd impatient, "where are you? Pl

t.""Well, work faster. This isn't a lifestyle

hun

and saw Kian still asleep, the sheet tang

e man on magazine covers.

her like

had

ece by piece in the dark. Her heart raced with every movement,

oor to leave, she tur

't know

d her way - h

n's eyes fluttered open, the fog of last night still heavy in his mind. He blinked, trying

bed was empty and no s

filled the space w

aze dulled his thoughts, making it impossible

just a dream slippin

who seemed so different from all the others? But all that came

h a stranger but this stra

d to reach out, to hold on to whatever connection the

ion and curiosity tugging at him. W

bed higher, Kian Grey made

-