I never thought I’d be homeless in the middle of August.
College had been tough, but I had never imagined I’d be kicked out of my apartment just weeks before classes resumed. My parents lived across the country, my brother had practically moved in with his girlfriend, and I had nowhere to go.
That’s how I ended up standing in front of Alexander Tuanov’s penthouse—my brother’s best friend and the last person I wanted to live with.
Alexander and I had never been close. If anything, he barely acknowledged my existence. But my brother had called in a favor, and now, I was here, suitcase in hand, waiting for him to open the door.
When the lock clicked, and the door swung open, I was met with his sharp blue eyes, filled with the usual indifference he reserved for me.
“You’re late,” he said, stepping aside to let me in.
“Traffic,” I muttered, dragging my suitcase inside. The penthouse was sleek, modern, and ridiculously spacious. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city skyline, and everything smelled like expensive cologne and wealth.
Alexander leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You can stay, but let’s get one thing straight—I’m not your babysitter. Don’t expect me to change my routine just because you’re here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, I have no interest in disrupting your ‘routine.’”
He smirked. “Good.”
And just like that, my new life began.
It didn’t take long for me to realize living with Alexander was going to be… complicated.
For one, he had a habit of walking around shirtless, completely unfazed by my presence. And then there was the way he’d casually lean in when he spoke, his voice dropping just enough to send an unintentional shiver down my spine.
But the worst part? The tension.
I wasn’t sure when it started, but there were moments when the air between us felt thick—charged with something unspoken. I told myself it was nothing. After all, he was my brother’s best friend. Off-limits.
Until that night.
I had just finished unpacking and decided to take a shower to wash away the stress of the day. The hot water was soothing, but my mind wouldn’t stop buzzing with thoughts of how drastically my life had changed in just a few hours.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I barely gave my appearance a second thought. I was wearing my usual silk nightdress—light, comfortable, nothing out of the ordinary for me.
But when I walked into the living room, Alexander’s reaction caught me off guard.
He had been lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone, but the second he saw me, he froze. His fingers stilled, his jaw clenched slightly, and his eyes darkened.
“You can’t seriously plan on sleeping in that,” he said, his voice lower than usual.
I blinked. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”
His gaze flickered over me before he smirked. “Nothing. Just… unexpected.”
I crossed my arms, suddenly very aware of his stare. “Would it be different if someone else were here?”
He let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. “Let’s just say most guys wouldn’t be able to ignore it.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I refused to look away. “And you?” I asked, tilting my head. “Are you ignoring it?”
For a moment, he didn’t respond. He just watched me—studying me like he was seeing me for the first time. Then, as if catching himself, he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
“Get some sleep, troublemaker,” he murmured, standing up and heading toward his room.
But as he walked past me, I heard him mutter under his breath, “This is going to be a problem.”
The next morning, something had changed.
Alexander wasn’t his usual detached self. He was quieter, watching me more than usual, like he was trying to figure something out.
And the problem?
I was starting to notice him too. The way his hair fell over his forehead when he was lost in thought. The way his voice softened when he wasn’t being sarcastic. The way he looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.
I was playing with fire.
And the worst part?
I didn’t want to stop.
Hell no another cliffhanger.
Wishing author will add more parts of it.