Chapter 304
Lillian’s POV
I tossed my phone aside with a guilty smile after sending Aria that last goodnight text. Truth was, I hadn’t been busy with work at all these past few days. I’d been busy with… something else. Or rather, someone else.
Ryan.
God, what a mess. The first time with him had been an alcohol-fueled mistake – at least that’s what I told myself. But today? Today we were both stone-cold sober when he showed up at my apartment door last night.
I stared at the ceiling, replaying it all in my head. I hadn’t said a word when I saw him standing there. Just unlocked my door and let him follow me inside. And then… well, one minute we were standing in my living room, the next we were tangled in my sheets.
The way he’d pushed me against the wall, his mouth hot and demanding on mine – it was like we’d been starving for each other. I’d yanked his shirt over his head, my nails dragging down his back as he lifted me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. We barely made it to the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind us.
“I can’t stand how smug you are,” I’d whispered against his mouth, even as I arched into his touch when his hands slid under my shirt.
“And I hate how stubborn you are,” he’d growled back, his teeth grazing my neck in a way that made me gasp. “Always have to have the last word p>
Yet for all our mutual irritation, our bodies moved together in perfect sync. It was infuriating how well he read my reactions, how easily he could make me come undone with just the right pressure, the perfect rhythm. And the way he looked at me when I took control, pushing him onto his back and straddling him – like he both hated and worshipped me.
We hadn’t left my apartment all day. Not once.
When I’d replied to Aria’s restaurant photo, Ryan had been right beside me, watching me type with those intense eyes of his. The guilt and confusion must have shown on my face. I’d poked him in the ribs and asked, “What exactly is this thing between us p>
Ryan had just looked at me, his expression unreadable. “What do you think it is p>
I’d considered it for a moment. “A one-night stand?” Though technically it was more like a one-day-and-night stand at this point, with multiple rounds that left us both breathless and temporarily satisfied before the tension built again.
He’d actually looked surprised. “Are you serious p>
“Well it’s not like we’re in love or something,” I’d shot back, even as I felt the ghost of his touch still burning on my skin. “Unless you’re planning to be my boyfriend p>
He’d paused for what felt like forever, his fingers absently tracing patterns on my bare shoulder. “Fine. One-night stand it is p>
I could tell he was as confused as I was about what was happening between us. How two people who could barely stand each other’s personalities could be so perfectly compatible in bed.
Aria’s POV
I stepped out of the shower, reaching for my phone on instinct. Usually by now, Lillian and I would be deep into our nightly gossip session. But the past few days, my messages had gone unanswered.
I opened WeChat and stared at Lillian’s profile picture, my finger hovering over it. After a moment’s hesitation, I backed out. She must be really busy – no need to bother her.
Instead, I opened Weibo to check the trending topics. Right at the top was Julian’s name. Wait, Julian was dating someone?
Without thinking, I took a screenshot and sent it to Lillian: “OMG Lill, looks like Julian really is in a relationship p>
Lillian was Julian’s biggest fan – she’d be shocked to see this news.
To my surprise, she responded immediately.
While I waited for her next reply, I wondered what had just happened on her end.
I was surprised when Lillian responded to my message so quickly. “Lill! Are you done with work p>
Her reply came fast: “Yep p>
That seemed odd – she’d been unreachable for days. “Do you have a new project keeping you busy p>
“Yeah, something like that,” she answered.
I had no reason to doubt her, but something felt off about her responses. Before I could think more about it, she changed the subject:
About Julian’s news I dont think
that’s actually his girlfriend p>
I raised an eyebrow, looking back at the photos. “Really? They’re holding hands and looking pretty intimate p>
Just thinking about hand-holding made my mind drift to Aiden. Every time he took my hand, my heart fluttered stupidly.
I bit my lip before adding: “Can people who aren’t dating even hold hands like that p>
Lillian’s response came lightning-fast: “Please, people who aren’t dating do way more than hold hands p>
Her response was classic Lillian: “Want me to send you some p>
My face burned even hotter. “No thank you! I’m going to bed! Goodnight p>
I could practically hear her laughing through her simple “Goodnight” reply.
As I set my phone down, I wondered what Aiden was doing right now. And if he was thinking about me too.
Lillian’s POV
“I’m leaving,” Ryan said, leaning down to kiss me. I dodged him instinctively, focused on replying to Aria’s message.
I kept typing as I answered him: “One-night stands don’t get goodbye kisses p>
He just stood there, clearly at a loss for words. Finally, he let out a cold laugh before heading for the door.
“Don’t forget to take the trash out by the door, thanks!” I called after him.
Ryan paused at the doorway, staring
at the two garbage bags. For a
moment, I thought he was going to leave them there. But after a few
seconds of internal struggle, he grabbed them both
Not because he cared, I figured, but probably because those bags
contained evidence of our p>
activities. The last thing either of us needed was someone digging through them.