The villa was silent except for the distant crash of waves and the soft hum of the ceiling fan in the hallway. Lily had gone to bed shortly after they returned from the beach bar, still chatting excitedly about the fire dancers and the dolphins they had seen earlier. The jealousy from Sophia’s flirtations still burned in Mia’s chest like a live coal.
She waited.
An hour passed. Then another.
Finally, at 1:37 a.m., Mia slipped out of her bed wearing nothing but a thin black silk slip that barely reached mid-thigh. No panties. No bra. Her long wavy dark hair was loose and wild. She moved silently down the short hallway, heart hammering against her ribs.
She paused outside Alexander’s door, listening. No sound. She turned the handle slowly. It was unlocked.
The room was dimly lit by a si
