CUBAN HIRE (CARTEL GXG)

MORNING AFTERS

Olivia groaned softly as she stirred awake, her body sinking deeper into the plush linen sheets. Every inch of her skin felt sensitive, her thighs sore from the barely sufficient sleep. As her mind slowly pieced together the fragments of the previous night, a warmth spread across her cheeks. The dull ache between her legs was all the confirmation she needed—it wasn't a dream.

Blinking her eyes open, she stared down at her bare chest, scattered with love marks, tender reminders of Ezmeralda's hands and lips. She bit down on her lip, suppressing the smile threatening to emerge as the memories of last night washed over her.

Shifting her gaze, Olivia found Ezmeralda lying beside her, deeply asleep, her chest rising and falling with each steady breath. Her slightly parted lips were a soft contrast to the usually sharp and guarded demeanor she wore. Ezmeralda's curly hair fanned out on the pillow in wild, untamed waves, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue against her golden skin. For a moment, she looked utterly innocent—disarmingly peaceful, a far cry from the fierce, commanding woman Olivia knew.

Just as she allowed herself to bask in this quiet intimacy, Ezmeralda's eyes fluttered open, catching Olivia mid-stare. A sleepy smile spread across her face.

"Morning, creep," Ezmeralda husked, her voice raspy from sleep as she nestled further beneath the blanket, relishing the coolness of the room's air conditioning.

"Damn, you're a light sleeper," Olivia muttered, caught off guard but trying to play it cool. She rolled onto her back, her gaze shifting up to the ceiling as if it could distract her from the fire lingering in her chest.

Ezmeralda chuckled softly, her tone playful as she stretched lazily. "Reflexes," she whispered with a half-smirk. It was more than a joke—it was who she was, always on edge, always aware.

"Sure," Olivia responded with a knowing smile, though her voice carried a touch of mockery.

The room grew quiet for a moment, the sound of Ezmeralda moving in the sheets the only noise breaking the stillness. She reached over to check the clock on her nightstand: 7:34 AM. A groan of frustration escaped her lips as she sank back into the bed. "Four hours... just great," she muttered, grabbing her phone from the charger.

"It's the weekend. You can always go back to sleep," Olivia remarked, pulling the blanket up to her neck before swinging her legs off the edge of the bed.

Ezmeralda shook her head, already scrolling through her phone. "My work doesn't get days off," she replied, a mix of fatigue and resignation in her voice.

A brief silence lingered between them, the easy conversation fading into something more unspoken. Olivia tugged on her slippers, her back turned to Ezmeralda as she fidgeted nervously. She wasn't sure how to broach the subject of last night—their shared intimacy hung in the air, heavy and unaddressed. Part of her didn't want to talk about it, just in case Ezmeralda regretted it. Ignoring it, pretending it didn't happen, felt safer.

Ezmeralda's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Why are you getting up?" she asked, climbing out of bed herself, her movements fluid despite her exhaustion.

"I want to check out the grocery store nearby. See what they have," Olivia explained, trying to sound casual as she slipped into her robe, preparing to start her day.

Ezmeralda shot her a glance, one eyebrow raised. "You have a strange obsession with supermarkets," she muttered, heading toward the bathroom. Olivia followed her, though she veered off to the adjoining master bathroom on the other side of the room.

Olivia rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "It's not strange! I like to see what kind of fresh produce and nutrients they have. It looked really green and organic," she defended, excitement creeping into her voice.