The first thing Antonella felt when she woke up was the ache deep in her muscles, a soreness that reminded her of every moment from the night before. Her body was warm under the soft sheets, her skin still tingling with the remnants of Jason's touch. Her mind was hazy, caught somewhere between exhaustion and a lingering sense of disbelief.
The room was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the early morning light filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Antonella blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the brightness. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was, the unfamiliar surroundings disorienting her. But then the events of the night came flooding back, and she felt her chest tighten.
She turned her head slightly and saw Jason lying next to her, his face relaxed in sleep, his breathing slow and steady. He looked different like this-calm, peaceful, almost vulnerable in a way that caught her off guard. The contrast to the commanding, powerful presence he had been last night left her feeling even more uncertain.
Her thoughts raced as she stared at him. She hadn't expected any of this. She hadn't expected him to affect her the way he did, hadn't expected to feel so... exposed. Last night had been intense-raw in a way that she had never experienced before. He had stripped away every defense she had, and she had let him.
Now, in the quiet of the morning, the reality of it all was sinking in. She felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her. What did this mean? What did he want from her? And why couldn't she stop thinking about him, about the way he had made her feel?
Antonella carefully shifted in the bed, wincing slightly at the soreness in her limbs. She needed to think, needed a moment to breathe without him overwhelming her senses. She glanced around the room, her eyes searching for her phone. She wasn't even sure where it was-she had barely thought about it after arriving at his place last night.
Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted it on the floor, just out of reach. Slowly, she began to sit up, moving carefully to avoid waking Jason. Her movements were slow and deliberate as she tried to slip out of bed without disturbing him.
But before she could fully get up, she felt a firm grip wrap around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
"Where are you going?"
Jason's voice was low, still thick with sleep, but there was an edge to it that made her freeze. His eyes were half-open, but his grip was strong, pulling her back down toward him. Antonella's heart raced as she turned to look at him, her pulse quickening at the intensity in his gaze, even in this half-asleep state.
"I-" She hesitated, trying to find the words. "I was just looking for my phone."
Jason didn't loosen his grip. Instead, his eyes scanned her face, studying her in that way he always did, like he was looking for something deeper, something she wasn't ready to reveal.
"You don't need to leave," he said quietly, but there was a firmness in his tone that made it clear this wasn't a suggestion.
Antonella swallowed hard, her body tense as she sat back down on the bed. Her mind was racing, a thousand thoughts competing for attention, but the steady weight of Jason's hand on her wrist anchored her in the moment. She felt the pull between them again, the unspoken tension that had been there since the moment they met.
"I wasn't leaving," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. "I just needed a minute."
Jason's grip on her wrist loosened, his fingers trailing lightly over her skin before he finally let go. He sat up slowly, stretching slightly, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I don't like it when people run," he said, his voice calm but laced with meaning.
Antonella felt a chill run down her spine at his words. She wasn't sure if it was a warning or a simple statement of fact, but either way, it sent her heart racing. There was something about Jason-something that made her feel like no matter what she did, he was always two steps ahead, always in control.
