Elena’s Point Of View

His words hit me like a slap.

“I won’t fuck you,” he said finally, his voice low but hard as steel, “while you’re still wearing another man’s ring.”

For a second, everything inside me went completely silent. The air between us felt heavy, almost visible, pressing down on my chest until I thought I’d choke on it. My fingers curled into fists on the edge of the vanity, my knuckles pale. He didn’t move away. He didn’t soften. He just stood there, heat ...