𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝐼𝑉

My body was drained, yet I felt more alive than ever, riding a high that only Janet could create. She was built like a goddess, her toned arms, legs, and back, sculpted to perfection. I couldn't help but marvel at her chiseled abs, counting them one by one as I traced each ridge. "One, two, three, four, five, six," I whispered, poking them lightly as I went. Janet gave me a playful smile, glancing up at me as she lay on her back, her fingers gently running through my hair. Her touch was soothing, her fingertips brushing against my scalp in a way that made me want to melt into her.

"This is just between me, and you," she said, repeating the words as she narrowed her eyes, her tone firm. "And you."

It wasn't a suggestion it was an unspoken rule, one she was molding into my mind. What happened that night was something I could never share with anyone, not a single soul.

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "I understand," I replied, my smile fading as the reality set in. The magic of the moment would soon be just a memory, locked away in my mind as I returned to my normal life. But for now, I was still in her world, and I wanted to savor every last second.

As I lay on top of her, lost in my thoughts about how much I would miss this night, she watched me intently. Sensing the shift in my mood, she tried to bring me back. "We had a good time, right?" Her voice was gentle, an attempt to keep things light.

"Yeah," I replied, meeting her gaze with a soft smile. Her eyes, so angelic, felt like they could see through every layer of me.

"Okay," she said, her voice growing softer. "I'm tired. In the morning, Joey will bring you home." With that, she laid her head down onto the pillow, closing her eyes as if the night was winding down for her.

I blinked, feeling a pang of disappointment at her words. "Joey will bring me home? What about you?" I asked, unsure of what I had expected.

Her eyes shot open, and she sat up abruptly. "We will leave in separate cars," she said, her voice calm but firm. Before I could process her response, she leaned in and kissed me, reassuring and calming, like everything was just as it should be.

Her hand rubbed soothing circles on my back, her kiss lingering as if to say it would be alright. She was too smooth, too effortless in the way she could make everything feel okay again. After that, she laid back down, closing her eyes once more, as if nothing had happened, slipping back into her own world, leaving me to contemplate how this would all fade into memory by morning.

Soaking in the last moments with her, I nestled beside her, savoring every second that remained. Her body was warm against mine, her breath slow and steady as she slept peacefully. I could feel the rise and fall of her chest beneath me, each breath a subtle reminder of her presence, grounding me in the moment.

I watched her, tracing the delicate lines of her face with my eyes, committing everything to memory, the softness of her expression, the way her lips barely parted as she breathed. As the night grew quieter, my own eyelids began to grow heavy. I fought to keep them open, not wanting to let go of this feeling, this moment. But eventually, the weight of sleep took over, and I had no choice but to let my eyes close, drifting into a peaceful slumber beside her.

With my eyes still shut, I was lost in the darkness, my mind slowly waking up as memories of the night before flooded back. In a rush of panic, I opened my eyes and sat up quickly, hoping it hadn't all been a dream. But there she was, still beside me, lying on her side with her back facing me. Relief washed over me, but then reality hit when I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand: 10:59. My heart dropped, I was so late for work.

I scrambled out of bed, still groggy, and didn't catch my balance, stumbling to the floor. Glancing up, I saw that Janet was still asleep, undisturbed. Moving as quietly as possible, I rushed to the bathroom, splashing water on my face and handling the necessities before darting back out.

In my haste, I bumped right into her. She was already awake, standing there in front of me, and pulled me close. We stood body to body, her warmth instantly reminding me of everything that happened last night.

"Good morning," she said with a soft smile, her eyes flickering between my own and my lips.

"Good morning, Janet. I—I have work, and I'm so late—"

She cut me off with a calm, knowing smile. "You said you had nothing to do in the morning."

"I lied," I admitted sheepishly, feeling the weight of my words.

"Okay, then," she replied smoothly. "I'll call the driver." She moved effortlessly to make the call as I quickly got dressed, trying not to let the panic of the moment overshadow the surreal experience of being with her.

The morning flew by, far too quickly for me to fully savor each final moment with her. Janet moved with graceful efficiency, she showered, fixed her hair, and emerged in a completely new outfit, looking as flawless as ever. Before I knew it, she was walking me to the door, where Joey stood waiting, stoic as always. His presence made the reality of the moment sink in, this was where Janet and I would part ways.

She turned to me, grabbing both of my hands gently. Her touch was warm, and her gaze soft as she leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. "Be good, Mariah," she whispered, her voice low and soothing, before bringing her hand up to caress my cheek. Her fingers lingered for just a second, and then she was gone, walking away with another tall, imposing bodyguard by her side.

I stood there, watching her disappear, feeling a bittersweet ache settle in. Joey's voice broke the silence. "This way, Mariah," he said, his tone professional but not unkind.

I nodded and followed him to a sleek, blacked-out Cadillac. The driver inside turned to me, asking where to go. I quietly gave him the directions to my apartment, the reality of my everyday life slowly creeping back in as the car pulled away.

As soon as I walked through my apartment door, I collapsed onto the floor, my back against the cool surface. A wave of emotion hit me, regret, sadness, maybe even longing. It wasn't fair. I knew I'd probably never see her again. She was the best I'd ever had, and the thought of her slipping away into the unreachable corners of fame and mystery left a hollow feeling in my chest. But I didn't have time to wallow. I pulled myself together, quickly throwing on my business attire and heading out the door.

I got into my Toyota, gripping the steering wheel with a mix of frustration and nostalgia, and drove to work. When I arrived, I rushed into the building, my heels clacking against the floor, my mind still partly stuck in that luxury suite. I reached the fourth floor, stepping out of the elevator and opening the glass door to the office. The usual scene greeted me, desks filled with coworkers typing away, the low hum of workday chatter filling the room.

Trying to act casual, I made my way to my desk, forcing myself to blend into the normalcy. I sat down, finally exhaling a deep breath, I could smell Janet's flavor on my breath, as if I'd been holding it in all morning.