Warning: Brief explicit sexual scene

Her suggestion took me off guard, but I'd rather die than let it show. So instead, I down the last of the Scotch before quirking an eyebrow and putting on my signature smirk.

"Are you sure about that? You never know what can happen."

It's definitely not something that I would want to happen, not after meeting her mother. The woman that I've spent years trying to keep out of my thoughts, my life, and my world. Never have I planned on seeing her again, feeling her touch which still sizzles my skin like ice on a hot surface, and hearing that voice. The only woman who has ever been able to make me completely submit to her, and the woman who had turned me into the very same slut that she scorns at me for. And her daughter is standing right in front of me, the complete opposite of her devil of a mother. How could that be, I have no idea.

Unless all that sweetness is just an act and underneath, she's just the same glacier that will make me sink to the bottom with no way to get back to the surface.

Fuck, get it together Natalie. This is not the time to create a pity party for yourself, for these so-called stupid feelings.

Mira bites her bottom lip, nervousness twitching in her cheekbones as she contemplates what she had just said. "It's not like you're a man. I have sleepovers with my girl friends all the time, and we sleep in the same bed. Nothing ever happens."

I scoff, an amused smile hovering on my lips. "Well, I don't know if you have noticed, but I'm not one of your girl friends."

She shifts delicately from one foot to the other. "I know. But we did sleep together last night when you passed out on my bed, so one more night couldn't hurt, right? Besides, I'm pretty sure it's too late to go to a mattress store, especially with the LA evening traffic."

"Oh? I would have thought a helicopter would deliver a goose down mattress on the roof." The image of the helicopter blades slicing through the fabric and sending goose feathers flying around in a tornado comes to my mind, and I force myself not to snort at that out loud.

Instead of a bratty response of annoyance, such as a roll of her eyes or an irritated exhale, her face lights up. "I wish that was possible! Imagine if there could be an emergency mattress delivery like that!"

I groan. She's too cute and sweet for her own good. And possibly mine. "Look, the only way I'm going to sleep with you in your bed is if there's some sort of barrier between us. Do you have any more pillows or something? Preferably not pink?"

Mira's excitement turns into a frown. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to see your face first thing in the morning, nor do I want you to mistake me for one of your stupid plushies."

"Oh..." hurt laces her voice, and maybe a twinge of guilty does seep into my chest. Just a dab. But I don't care. If we are going to live together, she would have to learn boundaries. "Yeah, I have plenty of pillows. That's not a problem."

Tilting my head, I consider the options for a second. It's either I sleep on the floor or endure one night with this annoyingly cute girl. The couch is not an option, because of course a $12,000 doesn't have a pull-out bed. This stupid money wasting shit is designed for people who have actual beds.

Pushing myself off the counter, I walk around and approach Mira, the heels of my shoes sinking in the plush carpeting. It surprised me for a moment that she doesn't seem to care about me walking in them inside her place, but who am I to complain. At least if I were to actually decide to bolt out of here, I can do so without having to spend time putting them on.

Mira doesn't budge when I stop a foot in front of her, her blinking eyes darting across my face in anticipation for my answer. Not in fear, nervousness, or whatever. Maybe I am right. Maybe she really is just as ruthless as her mother, except she does an excellent job at hiding it.

"Fine then, for just one night. But if I feel just an atom of your body touching mine, I will knock you out of the bed. Got it?"

She nods, a relieved smile curling her lips up. "Got it. Oh my god, this is going to be so awesome! We are roommates! And uh... thank you for finally taking my offer. I also hope my mother doesn't seem too-"

"Bitchy?" I ask, ignoring her soft gasp with a smile. "Well, good thing that she's not the one I'm going to be living with for the next couple months, huh?"

Mira awkwardly chuckles. "Uh... yeah, I guess so. Um... okay, so um... I'll go ahead and get the bed done. Do you have any plans tonight?"

With a sigh, I glance toward the window. From here, I can see the sun already setting, painting the sky with its rainbow of colors like an artist splashing them all onto the canvas. Of course Mira has the loft with the best view.

Did I have plans for tonight? Nope. I had canceled them when I decided to take the offer, because I had a feeling that I won't be able to escape for my first night if I really wanted to make sure that I got the roommate position. At least until I have the contract, which should be done tomorrow morning.

Unless that bitch decides to come up with something. Honestly, I know I would if my daughter was going to be roommates with the same woman I had ruined years ago.

"Nah." I shrug. "I'm gonna have a quick shower, then I'll go to sleep. I suppose it's your curfew anyway, isn't it?"

As expected, Mira huffs. "I don't have a curfew, okay? I can go to bed anytime I want to."

"Alright." I raise both my hands in surrender. "Don't be tempted to follow me into the bathroom."

Confusion clouds her face. "Why would I be tempted-" Her face turns beet-red. "Oh... no, I would never-"

"Relax," I chuckle. "See you in bed." With a wink, I walk away into the bathroom. As soon as the door closes, it hits me. I didn't bring any clothes to sleep in, and this bra is fucking killing me. There's no way I'm climbing into that bed in my panties and bra.

Glancing around the luxury bathroom, with its onyx blue tiles, huge oval mirror with an engraved golden frame that hangs above a deep sink, and the jacuzzi standing next to the shower, a pair of white shorts and what seems to be a baggy white T-shirt draped over the shiny white edge catch my eye. Snatching them, I press them against my body for measurement. The shirt is oversized and the shorts seem a little too tight, but that has never been a problem for me. Even though they aren't what I had in mind to sleep in tonight, they're better than being naked.

Not that I wouldn't mind being naked in bed. I've done that so many times, but with Mira? That is the last thing I'd ever want to happen.

Taking off all my clothes and sighing in relief at my breasts being freed from their restraints, I throw them in a pile before carefully unwrapping the thin bandage on my hand. It has already stopped hurting at this point, but I still wince at the slight stab of pain when the gauze peels off a small blister. Tossing the bandage into a metallic garbage bin nearby, I flex my fingers and watch the red spots roll like waves on my skin. This will definitely take a while to heal, and it renews the pissed off feeling, but I shake it away.

Achieving my dream dance studio is my number one priority, and I can for sure handle whatever life throws at me, including a naive, but cute rich girl who apparently has a habit of burning people at the first meeting.

With an exasperated sigh, I gingerly step inside the shower cubicle, the soles of my bare feet touching the slippery ice-cold tiles. Turning the showerhead on, the near-hot water dissipates the cold feel as it falls on my bare skin and swirls at my feet in small whirlpools. I hiss at the first drops on my burned skin, but it quickly turns into the satisfaction I've been anticipating. Shivers of pleasure course their way through my body as I tilt my head backwards and indulge in the feeling.

Thoughts of Evelyn creep their way into my mind like venom, and no matter how hard I try to resist them, they poison my mind. Or maybe I want them to. It doesn't matter as the burning water continues to pour over my skin. Every single spot. Closing my eyes, her face appears. Her lips, those rough yet soft pillows meeting mine as her tongue explores my mouth. Her hands tracing every inch of my body, each brush of her fingers leaving behind an unforgettable sizzling path. Leaning against the shower wall and holding out a hand against it for support, my other hand travels down to my pussy, circling around my clit before slipping one finger inside.

Then two. Deep. And deeper. One, two, three. Fuuuuck.

A soft moan escapes me as her sultry voice whispers into my ear. "That's my good girl. You're so wet for me, aren't you?" The wall becomes her body, her perfect, powerful energy surging through my skin and melting into pools of lava inside of me. Her hand gliding up my neck, her whispers and hot breath in my ear as my own breaths turn into shuddering gasps. My fingers work their way inside of me, each thrust sending tingles of pleasure. I bite my lip from moaning out loud. A little too hard, as the taste of iron coats the tip of my tongue while my teeth sink into my own flesh.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful when you moan for me, baby."

Faster, harder, deeper, until my vision explodes and I collapse onto the floor, the hard surface and the cool temperature of the water snapping me back to reality. Opening my eyes, I realize that I'm all alone. She was never here.

They were just memories.

Reaching out a shaky hand, I turn off the water and remain sitting there. Silence consumes the small space, except for my pounding heart, each beat a thundering thump in my ears. My body shivers even in the heavily condensed shower cubicle. Not from the cold, but from the tears which threaten to spill out like waterfalls. Yet one tear slides down my face as I throw my head back with my eyes closed and exhale a shaky breath. After all these years of keeping her out of my head, she returns after just one small encounter like poison for which there's no antidote.

Because unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, it seems impossible to discard the memory of the first woman I've fucked.

And fallen in love with.