Rebirth: Love me Again

[

WARNING

!

SMUT

content ahead!🤍]

Your journey continues on empire

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[EVE]

My classmates were probably kicking back this weekend, sipping hot cocoa and binge-watching shows, but not me. Nope. No rest for the hospital escapee.

Since getting discharged, my schedule had been jam-packed with three main activities: avoiding Cole like my life depended on it, cramming for exams like I was running for office, and then tackling the entire five-day exam syllabus in just one Saturday and Sunday. Because, of course, that's how my life works now.

And that wasn't even all of it. Oh no. I still had a laundry list of businesses to keep an eye on.

Fortunately, Michael, Clair, and the rest of my management team had stepped in like superhero accountants to handle the chaos.

Honestly, bless those people. I might have hired them for their competence, but they were earning sainthood at this point.

While I spent my time dodging Cole and panicking over history essays, they kept my businesses afloat. Most of my job boiled down to giving signatures anyway, so as long as my pen was working, the whole operation could function without me.

Efficiency, baby!

Finally—

finally

—I finished my exams. Walking out of that test room felt like surviving a week-long wilderness expedition.

My brain was mush, my eyes were glazed, and my hand was practically locked in a writing claw from scribbling answers nonstop.

Instead of celebrating, I went straight to my condo. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a long sigh. This was it. My sanctuary. My fortress of solitude. My sacred space where Cole, exams, and barking traitor dogs couldn't find me.

I flopped onto the bed like a sack of potatoes, marveling at the silence. No Sinclair smirking in the corner. No Victor's over the top concern. No Cole looming like a six-foot-something reminder of

the cave incident

. Just me, the couch, and the sweet, sweet sound of absolutely nothing.

"For once," I muttered to myself, closing my eyes, "I deserve this. Peace and quiet. Just me."

And then my phone buzzed.

I groaned, cracking one eye open to glare at the offending device. "No. Absolutely not. I've done my time. I'm off the grid. Leave me alone!"

The phone buzzed again.

With the dramatic flair of someone starring in their own soap opera, I grabbed a pillow and buried my face in it.

Peace and quiet . . .

Within seconds, I was out cold, lost to the exhaustion. I had no idea how long I'd been asleep when I felt . . .

something

.

I groaned, half-aware of something wet brushing against my neck. "Sebastian, cut it out . . . ," I mumbled, sinking back into sleep.

But then, reality came crashing down. My eyes flew open as a gasp tore from my lips.

Sebastian isn't here!

The sight before me froze the breath in my lungs. Cole was leaning over me, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my neck. His tongue tracing slow, deliberate patterns on my collarbone that made my pulse race.

My instinct kicked in, and I shoved him away—well,

tried

to shove him away. My strength barely moved him, and I scrambled back, pressing myself against the headboard, my heart hammering wildly.

"Y-you!" I stammered, my voice trembling between outrage and something I couldn't name. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

Cole didn't flinch. Instead, he smirk—his signature, devil-may-care smirk. But this time, there was an edge to it, something that made my stomach flip and my knees weaken.

"What do you think I'm doing?" he drawled, his voice dripping with huskiness. "I'm here to pick up where we left off."

"What are you—" My words caught in my throat as he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off in one smooth motion.

Time seemed to slow as his toned chest came into view, every muscle defined, every scar adding to the allure. My eyes betrayed me, traveling down to the taut lines of his abdomen and lower to the sharp V of his hips.

Heat rushed to my face, spreading through my entire body.

Curse these stupid hormones!

"You've completely lost your mind!" I managed to choke out, snapping my gaze back to his face. "

That

. . . what

happened

was nothing. It was just the situation!"

"Nothing, huh?" His grin widened, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he leaned closer. My breath hitched as he placed his hands on either side of my head, trapping me. His face was so close I could feel his warm, breath against my skin.

"Then why," he murmured, his voice dropping to a low rumble, "does it feel like you're just as affected by this as I am?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I—I am not!" I shot back, pushing at his chest with trembling hands. But Cole barely budged, his strength effortless against my feeble attempts.

He caught my wrists, holding them gently but firmly, and lifted them to his lips. The light press of his mouth against my skin sent a jolt through me, my heart pounding harder than I thought possible.

"Eve," he said, his tone serious now, his gaze locking onto mine. "Are you really going to pretend that what happened between us meant nothing?"

I tore my eyes away, my throat tightening. "We both know it didn't mean anything," I muttered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "It was the situation! I thought you were dying, and I just . . ."

"And what?"

I pressed my lips together, unable to say it. That I had surrendered everything to him in that moment—not out of desperation, but because, deep down, I still loved him.

But admitting that would undo everything I had worked so hard to move on.

"I've already said it was a mistake," I finally whispered, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

His hand came up to cup my cheek, tilting my face toward him. The warmth of his touch made my resolve waver.

"Eve . . ."

The way he said my name—it was like he was laying his soul bare, his voice carrying an emotion so raw it made my chest ache.

And then he said it.

"I love you."