The air in the room was cold. I almost didnt want to open my eyes.
The sun light shone right through the window, kissing my face.
I opened my eyes and looked around, the interiors around were not the same as my room.
That's when I realized, I woke up in his bed.
Not mine. His.
The sheets were furry and black, warm against my skin, and carried the faint cedar-and-smoke scent that always clung to him. I was wearing one of his white cotton shirts — sleeves rolled past my elbows, hem brushing mid-thigh — and nothing else. My sundress from last night lay crumpled on the sofa beside his jacket, both stained dark red from the wine. My heart lurched.
Astaghfirullah.
I had missed another Fajr.
And Dhuhr ?, it was probably already over.
Panic clawed up my throat. I sat up too fast; the room spun. My body still felt heavy, languid, deliciously tired. Thighs were tender. Core faintly sore. Lips swollen. It felt as if the ghost of his fingers still lingered inside me from few nights ago.
I turned.
Lucifer was already awake.
Propped on one elbow, grey eyes fixed on me, watching me sleep like I was something precious and fragile at the same time.
"Good morning, beautiful," he said, voice low and rough from sleep.
"Good morning," I whispered back, barely audible.
My breath caught.
I was just wearing his shirt, nothing else inside. Him and I slept in the same bed. Fear settled in my stomach anticipating if the worse had already happened last night. I was not prepared for it. I tried to remember what happened, but I was unable to concentrate.
Then he reached out. One large hand curled around my waist and pulled me close — gentle like I weighed nothing,... like I belonged against his chest. I went willingly. My cheek pressed to warm skin.
His heartbeat was steady under my ear. I inhaled — cedar, some musk, and him, his sweat — and heat bloomed low in my chest, sudden and guilty.
I tilted my face up.
Kissed him first.
Soft at the beginning. Tentative.
Then he went deeper.
He groaned quietly into my mouth. His hand slid in the shirt on my bare back, pressing me tighter against him. I shifted — straddled his thigh without thinking. The friction through his boxers and my borrowed shirt was immediate, slick, electric.
I rocked once. Small. Unintentional.
Pleasure sparked.
He broke the kiss just enough to murmur against my lips: "Look at you taking the lead."
I whimpered. Rocked again — deliberate this time. The ridge of him pressed perfectly against my clit through thin layers. Heat coiled fast.
"But," he added, voice wrecked, "I won't go further until WE- are comfortable."
That promise — that restraint — broke something in me.
I realized, So we didn't do anything last night. I was more sad about it than being relieved.
Tears welled. I buried my face in his neck and kept moving, slow, desperate, chasing the edge. His thigh flexed under me, giving me more pressure. His hand gripped my hip, guiding but never forcing.
The friction dragged perfectly against my clit through thin layers. I could feel how wet I was already — soaking his boxers, marking him even through the fabric.
Hye Allah … I should stop. But I didn't.
I came untouched — just from grinding on him, from his low whispers, from the safety of his arms.
It felt like, I was waiting for this to happen again, for soo long. I already miss it and want to feel it again.
Ya Allah.
How far have I fallen that I forgot the difference between Muhabbat and Ayyashi.
A soft, broken cry muffled against his skin. Tears slipped free.
He held me tighter while I shook regardless.
"I don't know how to stop," I whispered, voice cracking.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Then don't."
I pressed myself against him again. Because I felt, He was all i needed to calm down.
***
I tiptoed back to my room twenty minutes later — still in his shirt and a pair of his boxers I'd borrowed, calmer but hair mussed, lips kiss-bruised.
It was already morning, but there were surprisingly less people walking on the corridors.
Halfway down the hall I heard footsteps. Just one person.
It was Lila one of the associates I went out with last night and left them for Lucifer without informing them. She had just tuned the corner
I froze.
She blinked. Squinted.
I ducked behind a potted palm like a teenager. Which I was back then.
Fortunately she didn't see anything. She passed without noticing me.
I slipped into my room, heart hammering, and texted him immediately.
Made it safely.
Three dots appeared almost instantly.
Good. Keep the shirt. Looks better on you anyway.
I chuckled— soft, breathless — and pressed the phone to my chest.
The cold air inside my room felt more lonely to my skin. But i was swinging inside, it felt like the first time I won the Olympiad in my school.
I was already eager to meet him again.
To meet Marie.
I wanted to share this with her. More discreetly.
I texted her.
Hi Marie
How are you?
I'm coming back to Vegas.
She didn't respond to my message soon, like she used to do. But after some time I did get her reply.
Hiii Jaannn
Not Good !!
I've been kept awake because of a new issue.
I'm pretty sure you will be kept awake as well.
Enjoy the time back as well, Ya will need it.
I wondered for a while what could possibly keep the super lazy Marie awake at night. I typed back.
Tell me what is it ? I may be able to help.
Since we two have been handling all the difficult situations together. I thought she would wait for me to come back this time.
No! You may not like to work on this one. I'll try to complete this now.
If I cant, You'll know about it anyway.
And yes, Please bring me some Miccosukee works on the way.
I felt i should let her have this since she feels so motivated.
I replied to her with an Okay.
I started packing my suitcase, ready for the return trip.
***
The airport was chaos.
The girls whined the entire check-in line.
"We didn't even get to the beach!"
"I wanted one sunset photo!"
"Miami betrayed us."
The men just shrugged — they planned the logistics.
I didn't complain.
I was happy.
I felt… claimed 🖤.
Completely.
Like I'd finally marked him as mine in every way that mattered.
On the jet, Lucifer sat up front with Marcus, whoes head was bent over tablets.
I joined the girls at the back.
They were finally chilling — shoes off, blankets out, passing snacks.
We talked about everything and nothing.
They did complain about me leaving them hanging in the store.
But they did take it light heartedly when i said i got a work message. They are good people.
I laughed louder than I had just in these few weeks, that I wanted to go out with them again.
We switched places regularly for everyone to get a chance with the window seat.
I sat beside Lila, after a few laughs. She whispers to me.
"I saw you.."
My heart dropped under my chest.
She was looking at me with suspicious eyes, with a smile.
I was worried if she saw me with Lucifer. Since it would affect his image within the firm.
She whispers to me again.
"Don' worry, I won't tell the girls that you chose a man over us."
I instinctively said "Thank You."
"No Problem, Just tell me who the lucky guy is?
The shirt was twice your size. Was it Hulk ?"
It made me laugh a little, I never imagined Lucifer to be called Hulk. And the way I was imagining him, He did fit the role of Hulk. That made me laugh more.
I said grinning "I can't tell you yet. But I can promise that it was not Hulk."
We continued to laugh the whole time when we were in the flight.
***
When we landed back in Vegas, the sun was already setting.
Marcus was waiting at the private terminal.
I decided to travel back with the girls in the bus.
Lucifer had said he needed to speak to Marcus more about attracting investors, so it made sense as well.
We reached the building sooner than expected.
The rest of the employees were still leaving work.
I was hoping that Marie would still be there when I reached the c-suite floor.
I found her on the ground floor.
I ran to hug her.
"I have so much to tell you—"
She gave me a hug back. And then tapped twice on my shoulder.
I pulled myself back, something felt wrong with the hug.
"I couldn't resolve it, Ji-Ah is back."
My stomach dropped again.
"And this time," Marie continued, voice low, "she brought her father. They have a new proposal for Lucifer. A big one. And we don't have enough clearance to stop it."
I stared at her.
The air suddenly felt thinner.
Ji-Ah.
Again.
And now her father.
Whatever was coming… I hoped it was just business.
But something inside me knew it wasn't just that.
It was a threat.
To everything I'd just started to believe was mine.
Unanswered questions hung heavy in my heart.
There was still a long day ahead for me.