ᴇQᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ

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The three girls were asleep on the couch, the TV turned off, their breathing the only sound in the quiet room. A masked man crept into the living room, moving up the stairs as he silently opened the first door he saw. After a quick glance inside, he stepped back out and moved down the hallway, opening the second door.

He entered the room, hearing the soft sound of Desiree's breathing. He stood over her, watching as she slept. One of her feet was exposed to the cool air while the rest of her body was tucked beneath the blanket, her hair covered with a bonnet. Slowly, he traced his hand over her exposed thigh, gently running it toward her inner thigh, stopping just above her pussy.

Desiree moaned softly in her sleep and stirred a little, but she didn't wake.

The man ran his hand over her face, leaning in close to whisper in her ear.

"We'll meet again soon," he murmured before slipping quietly out of the room.

⸻

Desiree POV

Desiree got up from bed, stretching and beginning her morning routine. She removed the flat twists in her hair, using a comb to add volume and make it puffier. After getting dressed and doing her makeup, she went downstairs. She cooked breakfast and then went to wake up Tia and Mauri.

"Wake up, bitches!" she shouted, pulling the blanket off them.

They groaned in protest.

"Breakfast is ready," she added.

They rushed to the bathroom to brush their teeth and wash their faces before heading to the table.

"Do you have class this morning?" Tia asked through a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, I'm supposed to be there by 10 a.m. It's 8 now, so I'm leaving soon to run some errands," Desiree replied, finishing her breakfast.

"Lock up when you guys leave," she said, grabbing her bag as she headed toward the door. As she checked her phone, she smiled at a text from Kai, about to reply when she walked straight into a wall.

"Ow!" she groaned, rubbing her head. Looking up, she came face to face with a very handsome man. He was tall, muscular, and had several tattoos, including a neck tattoo. His piercing dark eyes immediately captivated her.

"Seems like we keep running into each other, huh?" he said with a smirk.

Desiree couldn't help but admire him—his smirk and his accent, a deep French drawl, made her heart skip a beat. She swallowed, then realized he was the man from the night before.

"Are you okay? I didn't damage your brain last night, did I?" he asked, his hand gently brushing her neck in a way that felt almost too intimate.

"I'm fine," Desiree replied, though her pulse quickened.

"Sorry about that," he said with an apologetic smile. "I'm Adonis Miller, your new neighbor."

Desiree smiled. "I'm Desiree Huley."

"Desiree," he murmured, his voice low and smooth. She could feel her legs weaken.

"Sorry about last night again," he said.

"It's okay, my hand doesn't hurt anymore," she replied, still feeling a little shaken.

"Your eyes are really alluring," he whispered.

"Uhm... thank you," she smiled nervously.

"Would you like to come over for some coffee and something to eat?" he asked, pushing his hair back. "Sorry if I'm overstepping neighbor boundaries, but have you eaten already?"

Desiree hesitated. But free food? That was her weakness.

"Uhm, sure, okay. I have a lecture in two hours, so I guess I've got time," she said, slipping her phone into her back pocket.

"Bien," Adonis replied with a smile, leading her inside his apartment.

The space was immaculate and spacious, and Desiree couldn't help but feel a little nervous about being in a stranger's home, but the food was calling her. They made their way to the kitchen, where Adonis had prepared a spread.

"It looks good," Desiree said, sitting down on a stool.

"Come, eat," he said, motioning for her to dig in.

She took a bite, feeling her stomach grumble as she ate. She hadn't eaten much at home, and suddenly, she was starving. The food tasted amazing. Adonis sat across from her, sipping his coffee as they chatted. He asked her questions about herself, and as she checked her phone, she realized it was already 9:30.

"I gotta get to class," she said, standing up. "Thanks for the food, and nice meeting you again."

"Do you want a lift?" he asked, walking her to the door.

"I don't want to bother you," she replied.

"You're not bothering me. Anything you need from now on, just ask," he said, his voice warm.

She nodded, unsure of what to think about his words, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. He took her hand, leading her out the door.

As they reached his Mercedes Benz, Desiree looked over her shoulder, her heart skipping a beat as she saw a tall, familiar-looking man in the distance. He looked like Kaito, but before she could get a good look, he disappeared.

"Everything okay?" Adonis asked, looking at her.

"Yeah," she replied, forcing a smile as she got into the car.