Elias' POV

I'm laid out across the couch with nothing but basketball shorts on and a thin layer of sweat covering my skin.

Every single window in the house is open, inviting any hint of a breeze, but the air remains stagnant and heavy. This relentless heatwave has been kicking our assess night and day, and it has the entire neighborhood fed up because no one has power.

"This is fucking ridiculous," Perry groans from his place on the floor, his voice as wilted as the plants on the windowsill. "It's been two days since the storm knocked the power out. I thought I read somewhere that they said it'd be back on by now."

"Maybe you should call the electric company again," I suggest wearily, looking at Kahlan. "See if they have an update on when it should come back on."

Releasing a heavy sigh that mirrors all our frustration, Kahlan drags himself to a sitting position and grabs his phone off the coffee table. He makes the call as Perry and I wait in silence, except for the occasional car passing outside, their engines mocking us with the promise of air conditioning we can't have.

"Are you fucking kidding me, lady?" Kahlan snaps at the customer service rep like it's their fault we have no power, but he quickly apologizes afterward, then ends the call a minute later. "They said it'll be a week, at least, before the power is back on. Something about extensive damage to the lines from the storm."

"Well, y'all can have this shit. I'm out!" Perry exclaims, jumping up from the ground. "Can't take this damn heat no more. I'm staying with Tanya until it's fixed."

Kahlan looks at me. "You should do the same, El. Find a place to stay instead of suffering here another night."

"Where are you planning on staying?" I ask.

"My girl's house. I would've been there, but I thought the power would be back on like they said it would."

As they head to their rooms to pack up some clothes, I remain frozen on the couch, contemplating my options.

There are only two: Clark or my parents?

The obvious answer is to ask Clark if I can stay with him temporarily. It's not like he doesn't have the space. But, for obvious reasons, the thought makes my stomach flip with nerves and rowdy butterflies.

The alternative of staying with my parents for a week, however, sounds the opposite of a good time.

Ever since Clark slipped up with my mother about wanting to propose to me, I've been dreading facing more questions from my parents about our fake ass relationship. Staying with them and keeping up the ruse will be mentally exhausting, and I just can't bring myself to lie to their faces any more than I already have.

Seems you already have an answer.

I pull my phone out and send off a few texts.

Elias: Hey! Hope you aren't too busy...

Elias: So that storm from a few days ago knocked out the power and it won't be back on for a week :(

Elias: I know this is a lot to ask on short notice, but can I crash at your place until it's fixed?

My thumb hovers over the send button as I pause with indecision. I feel like I may be overstepping. Maybe I'm assuming too much about his hospitality. We've gotten close, sure, but this is a big ask and an inconvenience. He would have every right to tell me to fuck off.

But he won't, so just hit send, bitch! It's hot as fuck in here...

I take a deep breath and hit the button before I can second-guess myself further.

Conserving my energy, and with literally nothing else to do but be hot and miserable, I remain on the couch.

Half an hour passes with no reply from Clark, which admittedly makes me feel some type of way, but I move on before getting caught up on something I shouldn't. I'm about to activate my backup plan, aka text my parents for help, when Perry opens the door to leave.

He pauses and calls my name instead. "You got a visitor, El."

I groan, not wanting to move. "Who is it?"

"Your white boy."

Oh. Clark. He's the only white boy that I'm seeing, and he left me on read. So what the hell is he doing here?

Confused, I stumble to the door and squint against the bright light outside. Clark exits his car dressed in a casual fit that somehow makes him look more attractive than any tailored suit ever could. My heart skips a beat...or maybe that's just heat exhaustion.

"Hey," I call out to him, meeting him halfway. "What are you doing here?"

"I..." His eyes roam over my shirtless form, and he swallows hard.

On any other day, I would've reacted like a blushing schoolgirl, but today, it's much too hot for me to do anything but keep water in me and try not to pass out.

"I got your text." He clears his throat, refocusing his eyes back on mine. "Sorry I didn't reply. I was in a meeting with Ava. I came straight here afterward to pick you up."

See? He would never leave you hanging.

"You're a lifesaver." I smile. "I'd hug you but..." I wave a hand over my sweaty chest. "I'm gross. Anyway, if you don't mind helping me pack up a few things, follow me."

He nods. "Lead the way."

In passing, Clark greets Kahlan and Perry. They flash me playful looks when he isn't paying attention, but I ignore them.

"This is me." I open the door to my bedroom, allowing Clark to enter first.

"Purple is clearly your favorite color." He chuckles, gesturing toward the light purple walls. I nod while walking toward my closet. "I like it. It's nice in here. Orderly." He walks around to take in the many pictures hanging on the walls. "Shit, you've been skydiving?"

"Yep. For my twenty-first birthday."

"Can't say I'm that adventurous."

I laugh. "You might like it once you try it."

"No, thanks. I prefer doing activities on the ground."

"If we were dating for real, I would've already converted you to an outdoorsman by now." I pull out a suitcase from the closet and start tossing clothes in, not really caring about folding them. "Hey, can you grab my skincare stuff? Second drawer of the dresser," I call out without looking up, too focused on the task at hand.

"Sure."

A couple of minutes pass, and we continue to work in silence until the unexpected sound of Clark's deep chuckle catches my attention.

Glancing over my shoulder, I quirk an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"You." He turns around and I nearly faint. Swinging back and forth in his hand is Pinkie, the first dildo I ever bought. "You never cease to surprise me, Elias."

"Give me that!" Heat floods my face as mortification and a dash of amusement battle within me. I rush over and snatch the toy from him, shoving it back into the right place. "I meant the third drawer," I mumble.

He smirks. "You told me the second."

I shove him, playfully. "The heat is messing with my head! Forget you saw anything."

"I'm not sure that's possible."

"Make it possible."

I finish packing and Clark helps me carry my bags out to his car. The ride to his place is awkward, mainly on my part. Occasionally, I'll feel his eyes burning into the side of my face, but I keep mine glued out the window.

"Elias," he says casually as we stop at a red light. "We're both adults. It's not a big deal that you have—"

"Do not say it."

"—sex toys."

"I hate you." I cover my face with my hands and groan while he laughs. "I'm aware it's not a big deal. Still doesn't mean I wanted you, or anyone, to see it."

"If it makes you feel any better, I own a few toys, too."

Shock slices through my embarrassment, and my head whips around to stare at him. "Wait, really? What kind?"

His eyes darken with something heated as a slow, sexy smile spreads across his lips. "Snoop hard enough and maybe you'll find out."

The implication sends a shiver down my spine. I can't help but play into the flirting. "Is this you giving me permission?"

Clark chuckles low in his throat, and it's a new sound that does unholy things to my pulse. The light changes to green and he speeds forward, cranking up the music. Purposefully ignoring me and my question.

I roll my eyes, smiling, but let him be.

***

When we finally pull into Clark's driveway, I place a hand on his arm before he can get out of the car.

"Wait."

"What's up?"

"We need to talk about how things are going to be with us living together for a week."

He shifts in his seat to face me, one arm slung casually over the steering wheel. "I don't understand."

"Well, we weren't exactly on our best behavior when we were alone in my bedroom back at my parent's house..."

"We don't have to make this deep, Elias."

"I'm not trying to! I'm just speaking facts here. Bad things happen when we're alone together."

And by bad, I mean super hot things that usually lead to us almost fucking.

"I'll be at work most of the time, and so will you. We'll barely be around each other," he says.

"Clark..."

"The only thing that's changing between us is where you'll be laying your head at night. That's it."

I want to argue that it's so much more than that.

But exhaustion and the relentless heat have taken my will to fight. All I want right now is to shower and get some AC, not sit out here and go back and forth with him about how we keep messing up when it comes to not crossing personal lines with each other.

"Okay, fine. You're right." I give up and exit the car with more attitude than necessary.

I grab my bags out the back, Clark helping too, and we make our way toward the front door. But I quickly get distracted after hearing soft meows inch closer.

I glance over to my right to see the stray black cat approach.

"Hey, Little Miss. Did you miss me?" I bend down to scratch under her chin, smiling as she arches into my touch and purrs. "I'll take that as a yes."

"She's definitely been coming around more since you've been here," Clark says, voice soft.

"Is that right? Well, I'm back now. She gets to see my ugly mug all week."

He chuckles. "Your face is a lot of things, but ugly isn't one of them."

My breath hitches at the compliment. Rather than acknowledging it, I say my goodbyes to Little Miss and continue walking forward.

This isn't your first time around him. Be fucking cool.

Despite knowing the way, Clark guides me to the guest bedroom upstairs, which is where I stayed the last time I was here. He leaves me to unpack. I make quick work of it while trying not to dwell on the fact that Clark's bedroom is just a few feet away.

The things we did in there...

"Nope. Don't even go there," I mutter to myself. "It's in the past. Today is a new day. Act like it."

After I finish with my things, I grab my body wash and head to the bathroom down the hall to shower. I take a long one, too. Clark can afford it. It's a relief to feel clean again, but as I lather up for the last time, my traitorous brain kicks into overdrive.

I can't stop picturing Clark barging in here to pin me against the shower wall. His pretty mouth on mine, tongues dancing, his hands skimming over my wet skin, trailing lower and lower until...

Stop touching yourself!

I groan and shut off the spray with more force than necessary. Goddamn overactive imagination.

Wrapping a fluffy towel around my waist, I rush out into the hallway—and nearly collide with the man I'd been close to jacking off to.

"Easy there," he chuckles, catching me by the shoulders to steady me. His palms are warm, and his touch sends sparks skittering across my sensitive skin.

"I was..." My voice cracks, embarrassingly. I clear my throat and try again. "I was heading back to my room to get dressed. Sorry for almost knocking you over."

Something flashes in Clark's eyes, there and gone, too quick to decipher.

"Right. Yeah, of course," he says, sounding a bit dazed. He blinks and steps back, running a hand through his hair. "I was on my way to see if you were hungry. I made sandwiches. Something quick and simple."

I offer him a genuine smile. "Yeah, thanks. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be right down."

"Take your time." He turns and heads for the stairs, the muscles of his back rippling enticingly.

Hurrying into my room, I shut the door and lean back against it, squeezing my eyes shut while cursing under my breath. This was a huge mistake. There's no way I'm going to survive living under the same roof as Clark for a week, not when he looks at me like he'll snap at any moment and fuck me into my next life. God knows I definitely want to do that to him.

"Damn it," I whisper, pressing the heels of my palms against my closed eyelids until I see stars.

Yet again, I'm in way over my head here. And the truly terrifying part?

I'm starting not to care anymore.