CHAPTER III - MORNINGS AFTERGLOW

[Alya's POV]

Warmth kissed my cheek.

Not the kind that stings—

but the kind that gently urges you to wake up.

The sun had managed to sneak through the small cracks in the curtains, spilling across the soft sheets like golden ribbons. I blinked slowly, my body sore in places I didn’t even know could be sore.

And then I remembered—

last night.

Her.

Madison.

My breath hitched.

I turned, half expecting it to be a dream. But no—this wasn’t a dream. The room reeked of last night’s passion, the sheets still twisted, and my body… well, it was aching in every delicious, humiliating way.

I’d given her everything—

My first kiss.

My first night.

My whole damn heart, if I wasn’t careful.

(From the bathroom, the sound of water dripping echoed softly, followed by the click of a door.)

I looked up—and there she was.

(Standing in the doorway, hair still damp and curling at the ends, Madison wore nothing but a black silk robe. Her skin glistened slightly, water trailing down her collarbone and disappearing beneath the loosely tied fabric. She looked at Alya with a lazy, satisfied smirk, eyes glowing with mischief.)

“Well, good morning, sweetheart.” Madison’s voice was lower than usual—hoarse from lack of sleep and other...activities.

I felt my face flush instantly.

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. Not even a squeak. All I could do was pull the sheet up over my chest and stare at her like she’d walked out of my wildest fantasies.

Which—technically—she had.

She tilted her head, amused. “Cat got your tongue?”

I tried to sit up but winced. My legs buckled beneath the blanket as I failed, collapsing back onto the pillows.

She laughed—openly this time. Not in a mocking way, but warm, amused, utterly pleased.

“Careful,” she said, walking over to me, crouching beside the bed. “Did I ruin you that badly?”

“I can’t walk…” I muttered, covering my eyes with one hand, absolutely mortified.

(Madison chuckled, pulling the sheet down gently so she could look at Alya’s flushed face.)

“Come on, baby. Let me help you.”

I should’ve said no.

I should’ve insisted I was fine.

But the way her voice softened when she said baby, the way her fingers brushed against my arm with care—it undid me.

(Madison gently helped Alya up, supporting her weight as she limped into the bathroom. She filled the tub with warm water and helped her ease in, stealing a glance but remaining mostly teasing rather than invasive.)

“You’re really going all in with the caretaker thing, huh?” I teased, leaning back in the tub.

“Hey, I broke you. I should be the one to fix you.” she replied with a wink.

(Once Alya was settled, Madison stepped out and returned with a tray: simple breakfast—fruits, toast, a cup of coffee. She helped her eat, even fed her a few strawberries between flirty banter and giggles. After breakfast, she laid Alya back into bed, pulling the blanket over her and brushing the hair from her eyes.)

“Rest a little more. I’ll be back,” she whispered.

“Where are you going?”

“To find the bar’s owner,” she said casually. “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me.”

And then she was gone.

(Madison stepped out of the private lounge, stretching her sore arms. Her muscles ached—not from the fight—but from everything that came after it. She found her way toward the back hallway, knocking on a small office door.)

The door opened, revealing a woman with half-shaved hair, tattooed arms, and a knowing smirk.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the red wolf herself,” the bar owner grinned. “Thought you’d never crawl out.”

“Shut up, Freya,” Madison grumbled, though there was no venom in her tone.

“You’re lucky I recognized you and covered your ass last night,” Freya said, handing her a folded pile of clothes. “You and your girl waltzed into a lounge that was reserved, by the way.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.”

“I almost kicked you both out, but then I saw her.”

(Freya leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a playful glint in her eye.)

“She looked like a damn Virgin Mary in heels. What a gorgeous thing. Is she your soulmate?”

“No.” Madison replied too quickly.

Freya laughed. “You didn’t even blink, Maddie. That means yes.”

“It’s a one-night thing.”

“Is it?”

(Madison didn’t answer. She took the clothes, gave Freya a side-eye, and turned.)

“You know what I saw in her?” Freya called out before she left. “The way she looked at you in the hallway—it wasn’t lust, Maddie. That girl looked like she’d follow you off a cliff.”

“Then she’s an idiot,” Madison muttered, walking away.

But her heart was racing.

(Back in the Room - Alya’s POV)

The door creaked open again.

I sat up, carefully this time.

(Madison entered with a bag and a slight smirk. She placed it down and began tidying up the mess we’d made: the wrinkled clothes, the spilled wine, the faint stains on the sheets that told the story of what we shared. She moved like it was normal—like this wasn’t something that would change us forever.)

“You don’t have to clean all that...” I said softly.

“I want to.” she replied.

(She returned to my side once the space felt cleaner and handed me new clothes.)

“Here. These should fit. Don’t ask how I guessed your size.”

“Are you always this annoyingly perfect?” I teased.

“No. I’m usually worse.”

We both laughed, and it wasn’t awkward—it was warm. Familiar.

“Madison…” I said, hesitating. “Last night wasn’t just... physical for me.”

(She paused. Looked at me seriously.)

“Me neither,” she said. “Which is why this scares the hell out of me.”

(We were quiet for a moment.)

“Let’s see each other again,” I said, surprising even myself.

“You’re not tired of me yet?”

“Not even close.”

“Poolside meetup?” she asked.

“Bring your friends. I’ll bring mine.”

“Deal.”

(We stood close, just holding each other, forehead to forehead. Then—without needing a signal—we hugged. Tighter than necessary. Tighter than a goodbye. It felt like a promise.)

Neither of us wanted to let go.

Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

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