Chapter Four – Only One Bed
1115 Words
The rain poured in sheets outside the Tokyo hotel, washing the skyline in silver streaks as Talia Navarro dragged her suitcase down the narrow hallway of the executive floor. Her heels clicked with every step, but her heart thundered louder.
This was supposed to be a simple overnight trip. A corporate summit. A few presentations. Nothing remotely intimate.
Until she opened the door.
Her suitcase hit the ground with a thud.
One suite.
One bed.
She blinked, then stepped in again like the furniture would magically rearrange itself if she squinted hard enough. But no — there it was. A massive king-size bed in the center of the room. No couch. No second cot. Just... one damn bed.
“Perfect,” she muttered under her breath.
Then the door behind her clicked open.
Shin Akiyama walked in, soaked to the bone, blazer slung over one shoulder, shirt clinging to every line of his body. His jaw was sharp with tension, his hair damp and messy, and his eyes — those obsidian eyes — swept over her like a slow burn.
He paused. Took in the room. Took in the bed.
And smirked.
“Problem?” he asked, voice low and lazy.
Talia turned away. “They must’ve messed up the booking.”
Shin dropped his bag beside hers. “Or maybe fate’s just not done screwing with us.”
She shot him a glare. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“You won’t,” he replied simply, stepping closer. “You have scoliosis.”
She stiffened. “You remember that?”
“I remember everything.”
God help her, that stupid little flutter in her chest returned. She spun to face the window instead.
He moved to the closet, grabbing a towel and pulling off his shirt without hesitation. She caught the motion in the glass reflection — hard abs, lean muscle, scars from years of training and late-night fights with his father’s expectations.
She hated that her mouth went dry.
“I’ll call the front desk,” she said quickly, fumbling for her phone.
“No point,” Shin said behind her. “The storm knocked out half the network. They told me when I checked in.”
Talia turned. “You knew?!”
He shrugged, unapologetic. “Didn’t think you’d run again.”
“I’m not running.”
“Good.” His voice dropped a note lower. “Because this time, I wouldn’t let you.”
Silence crackled between them. Heavy. Hot. Dangerous.
She moved to the other side of the room, unzipping her suitcase. “Let’s just survive the night without killing each other.”
“Or without doing something worse,” he murmured behind her.
Talia froze. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled out her pajamas — the least revealing pair she could find. But when she came out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, face clean and hair tied up, Shin was already lying on one side of the bed, scrolling through his phone like he owned the place.
He looked up — and his gaze stalled.
She wasn’t wearing anything provocative. Just a fitted tank top and cotton shorts. But his eyes darkened all the same.
“You sure that’s what you want to wear?” he asked, voice rough.
“I’m not here to impress you,” she snapped, slipping into the other side of the bed, pointedly facing away.
A long beat passed. The room went still except for the rain hammering the window.
“Then don’t wear that expression,” he said quietly.
“What expression?”
“The one that tells me you still want me.”
Her breath caught.
She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Every nerve in her body was aware of how close he was, how warm the sheets suddenly felt, how his scent wrapped around her like some cruel memory.
And then — the mattress shifted.
Shin rolled toward her, one arm sliding around her waist before she could react. His body pressed against hers, firm and unyielding.
“Shin—” she warned.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Lying in a bed with me again.”
Her skin erupted in goosebumps.
She turned to face him, heart pounding. “This isn’t smart.”
“Neither was falling in love with you,” he murmured. “Didn’t stop me then.”
Their faces were inches apart. His hand moved to her cheek, thumb grazing her jaw. His eyes searched hers, hungry and raw, but holding back — just barely.
Talia’s lips parted. “If we cross this line...”
“I won’t stop,” he growled. “Not again.”
Then he kissed her.
Not soft. Not slow.
It was bruising. Desperate. Three years of pain and longing poured into every clash of lips, every tangled breath. She grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. He pinned her beneath him, bodies aligning like they never forgot how.
But just as his hand slid beneath her tank top—
Knock-knock.
They froze.
Another knock.
Shin growled something in Japanese and rolled off her, stalking to the door like a predator interrupted mid-hunt.
“Room service,” a voice called.
Shin yanked the door open, murder in his eyes. “We didn’t order anything.”
“Oh, apologies—wait… Navarro-san?”
Talia recognized the voice. Daniel, the new guy from marketing. Twenty-two, cocky, and entirely too flirty. He held a tray and grinned wide when he saw her.
“Didn’t know you were staying here too,” Daniel said, gaze raking over her. “Looking good, Navarro.”
Before Talia could respond, Shin stepped between them, chest heaving, fists clenched.
“Back away,” Shin warned.
Daniel laughed nervously. “I was just—”
Shin punched him.
No warning. No hesitation.
One swift right hook and Daniel crumpled to the floor, dazed and moaning.
“Shin!” Talia cried, jumping out of bed. “What the hell?!”
“He looked at you like you were his to touch,” Shin snapped, knuckles bruised. “You’re not.”
“You can’t just go around punching people—”
“He’s lucky I didn’t break his jaw.”
Talia gaped at him, torn between fury and a wild rush of adrenaline.
“Why do you care?” she demanded.
He stepped close again, cupping her face with his injured hand. “Because I still love you, damn it. And I’m not letting anyone else touch what’s mine.”
Her breath hitched.
And for the first time since that kiss in the bar... she didn’t pull away.
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- Writer
