Sinacore POV

The night dragged on longer than it should have, stretching the minutes into agonizing hours. I wasn’t used to this—to sharing my space with someone, least of all a woman. The silence in the house felt unnatural, weighed down by the knowledge that she was here, occupying a room not far from mine.

It was like a persistent itch at the back of my mind, one I couldn't scratch away.

On the court, I was known for my precision and my cold, ruthless style ...