Chapter 3: Crossing the Line
881 Words
The Point of No Return
Alodia knew she should refuse. She should get out of the car, go home, and forget that Jasper Sinclair had ever looked at her like that.
But she didn’t move.
Jasper’s invitation hung between them, a silent challenge wrapped in temptation. His fingers barely brushed against hers, yet it felt like a brand, burning through her skin.
This is reckless. This is wrong.
But when she finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper.
“…Okay.”
Jasper’s lips twitched—not quite a smile, not quite a smirk. Without another word, he pushed open the car door and stepped out, waiting for her.
Alodia followed.
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Behind Closed Doors
Jasper’s penthouse was quiet, the city lights sprawling beneath the massive windows. The usual chaos of his life—the calls, the interviews, the cameras—was absent.
It was just them.
Alodia stood by the entrance, her heart pounding. Jasper tossed his suit jacket onto the couch, loosened his tie, then turned to her.
A silent question.
She took a shaky breath. “This is a mistake.”
Jasper stepped closer, his voice low. “Probably.”
Alodia swallowed. “Your wife—”
“She’s not here.”
His words were sharp. Final.
She should leave. She should walk out the door.
But then Jasper reached out, tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
And suddenly, she didn’t care anymore.
The moment she leaned in, Jasper closed the distance. His lips crashed into hers, claiming, devouring, stealing the breath from her lungs.
Heat surged between them, years of restraint unraveling in an instant. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her against him as he deepened the kiss.
Alodia’s mind screamed at her to stop.
But her body?
Her body betrayed her completely.
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The Aftermath
Alodia woke to the sound of rain against the windows.
For a moment, she forgot where she was—until she shifted and felt warmth beside her.
Jasper.
Her heart stuttered.
Memories of the night before rushed back—his touch, his lips, the way he made her forget everything except him.
She turned her head. Jasper lay beside her, the sheet draped over his waist, his face relaxed in sleep. In the dim light, he looked almost peaceful.
Almost.
Because Jasper Sinclair was never truly at peace.
And neither was she.
Reality crashed down like a wave. What had she done?
This wasn’t just an affair. This was Jasper Sinclair.
And now, there was no going back.
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A Tangle of Lies
Alodia slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Jasper. As her feet touched the cold floor, the weight of what had happened settled over her like a suffocating blanket.
This wasn’t just one mistake.
This was the beginning of something dangerous.
She moved quietly, gathering her scattered clothes from the floor. The city outside was still asleep, but inside her, a storm raged.
What now?
She needed to leave before Jasper woke up—before he could say something that would make her stay.
But as she reached for her blouse, a deep voice broke the silence.
“You’re leaving already?”
Alodia froze.
Jasper was awake, propped up on one elbow, watching her. His dark eyes, still heavy with sleep, locked onto her like a predator assessing his prey.
She swallowed hard. “I have work in the morning.”
A slow smirk curved his lips. “You work for me, remember?”
Her fingers tightened around the fabric in her hands. This was a mistake. A massive one.
“I should go.” She turned away, but before she could take a step, Jasper’s voice stopped her.
“Are you regretting it?”
She hesitated.
Was she?
Everything inside her screamed that she should. But when she turned to face him, she couldn’t bring herself to lie.
“No.”
Jasper’s gaze darkened, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Satisfaction? Possession? Something more?
“Then don’t run.” His voice was low, coaxing, dangerous.
She took a shaky breath. “Jasper… This can’t happen again.”
His smirk faded. “It will.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I have a family. My children—”
His expression hardened. “And I have a wife.”
The room grew silent.
There it was. The ugly, undeniable truth.
Alodia clenched her fists. “Then why are you doing this?”
Jasper leaned back against the pillows, his gaze never leaving hers.
“Because I don’t want to stop.”
Her heart pounded.
Neither did she.
But what they wanted didn’t matter.
Because one way or another, this would destroy them.
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Unfinished Business
Alodia left before dawn.
By the time she stepped into her apartment, exhaustion clung to her, but sleep was impossible.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Raegan.
Raegan: I need to talk to you. It’s important.
Her stomach twisted. She wasn’t ready for this.
Not after last night.
Not when Jasper Sinclair had already ruined her sense of control.
But she had no choice.
She had to face the man she had left behind.
Because if she wasn’t careful, she wasn’t just going to break Jasper’s marriage.
She was going to destroy her own.
- Writer
