Cybernetic Love

Chapter 6: Sabrina

I woke up with a groan, my head pounding like a drum. My body felt heavy, and the soft sheets around me did little to comfort the ache settling behind my eyes. God... what the hell happened last night? I blinked against the morning light streaming through unfamiliar curtains and sat up slowly, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

The bed was massive, far larger than my own, and the room was pristine, modern, and sleek, with sharp lines and metallic accents. Definitely not my place. Panic bloomed in my chest as I looked down at myself. I was wearing an oversized shirt that wasn't mine, the fabric hanging loosely around my thighs.

Fuck.

My heart raced as fragments of last night flickered through my mind. The club. The music. The drug. Axion.

I scrambled out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cool floor. I needed to figure out where I was and what had happened. Before I could even gather my bearings, I rushed out of the room, my hands gripping the hem of the shirt, trying to tug it lower over my thighs.

As soon as I turned the corner, I crashed into a broad, solid chest. A familiar chest. Cool metal and warm skin met my hands, and I stumbled back, my face burning.

"Oh!" I gasped. "Mr. Axion! I'm so sorry-"

He steadied me with a hand on my arm, his expression calm but unreadable. "Sabrina," he said, his voice low and controlled. "I'm glad you're awake."

My heart hammered as I stared up at him. He looked different than he did at the office. His usual suit was gone, replaced by a simple black shirt and dark pants, though his presence was just as commanding. His gaze flicked over me, lingering for a second too long on my bare legs before he quickly looked away.

"I, uh..." I stammered, tugging the shirt down further. "Where... where am I?"

"My penthouse," he said curtly. "You were in no state to be alone last night, so I brought you here. You slept in my guest room."

I nodded slowly, trying to process his words. "Oh... I see. Thank you."

He motioned toward the kitchen. "I made some coffee and grabbed a protein shake, along with some bagels. I wasn't sure what you liked."

My cheeks burned at the unexpected thoughtfulness. "That's... very kind of you. Thank you."

He nodded, his tone businesslike, as if he were giving a meeting summary. "You should eat something. It'll help with the headache."

I followed him toward the kitchen, my legs shaky but functional. The smell of freshly brewed coffee hit me, and I felt a pang of relief. As he set the coffee and food on the counter, he turned to me, his arms crossing over his chest.

"So," he began, his voice sharp but not unkind. "How much of last night do you remember?"

My stomach dropped. My brain scrambled to construct a lie, even as vivid memories flooded back: the music pounding in my ears, the drug pulsing through my veins, my hands on his chest, the kiss...

"I..." I cleared my throat, trying to sound casual. "Not much, honestly. It's all a blur. What, uh... what happened?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, and I knew immediately he didn't believe me. "You got too high," he said flatly. "You took something you shouldn't have. I stepped in when things got out of hand, brought you here, and you slept it off. That's all."

I nodded quickly, grateful he wasn't mentioning the kiss. "I see. Well... thank you for taking care of me."

He studied me for a moment longer, his gaze piercing, before nodding. "I called a car to take you home. It should be downstairs soon."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment. "Thank you," I murmured, grabbing the coffee and taking a cautious sip. The warmth soothed some of the tension in my body, though it didn't do much to calm the nerves twisting in my stomach.

Axion leaned against the counter, his expression unreadable. "You should get cleaned up and ready for work," he said finally. "I'll see you at the office."

His tone was so matter-of-fact, so utterly normal, that it threw me off balance. I nodded again, mumbling a quick thank you before heading to the car waiting downstairs.

---

The ride home was a blur, my mind racing as I replayed every detail I could remember. The club, the drug, the way he'd looked at me, the feel of his hands on my waist, the kiss... My face burned with the memory, my stomach twisting with a mix of shame and something I didn't want to name.

When I got home, I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the lingering haze of the night before. I scrubbed my skin raw, as if I could erase the memory of everything that had happened. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about him-about the way his voice had softened just slightly when he spoke to me this morning, about the tension in his jaw as he'd watched me sip the coffee he'd made.

By the time I arrived at the office, I was a ball of nerves. I smoothed my usual gray skirt over my knees and adjusted my glasses, taking a deep breath before stepping into the building. Everything looked the same, but it felt different, charged with an undercurrent of something I couldn't place.

I made my way to my desk, avoiding Axion's office at all costs. My hands trembled as I booted up my computer, my heart racing with anticipation and dread. I wasn't sure what the day would bring, but one thing was certain: I wasn't going to forget this anytime soon.