Stefan’s POV
Why the hell is she here? I forced a smile, though the muscles in my face felt stiff and fake.
“Daphne will be joining us for lunch today!” Bella’s voice was bright, full of an excitement that made my stomach twist. She stepped closer to me before turning her gaze toward Adrian. “You’re Adrian, right? I never got a real chance to talk to you. I’m Bella, Stefan’s fiancée.” She beamed at him.
“Nice to meet you, Bella. Congratulations on the engagement,” Adrian replied, returning the easy smile.
“Since you’re here, you should join us. A double date!” Bella winked at me. I knew that look; she thought she was being the perfect matchmaker.
Daphne’s voice cut through the air, sharp and cool. “I’m sure Adrian is busy. Don’t you have a movie to shoot or something?”
“My schedule is actually wide open,” Adrian said, leaning back. “I guess I’ll be having lunch with you after all, sweetheart.” Daphne responded with a heavy roll of her eyes.
“It’s settled then. I booked a private room, so you’re safe from the cameras, Adrian,” Bella said.
I stayed silent, my chest tightening. I didn’t want to be in the same building as Daphne, let alone across a table from her. We made it to the restaurant in minutes. Once we were behind the doors of the private suite, Adrian finally pulled off his mask.
“So, Daphne,” Adrian started, picking up his menu. “What are you studying?”
“Psychology,” she said. She popped a piece of meat into her mouth, her eyes locking onto mine. I jerked my gaze away, staring intensely at my water glass.
“Is that why you’re so icy?” Adrian teased.
“Not funny,” she snapped.
Bella leaned forward, trying to keep the conversation going. “Do you have a new movie coming out?”
“Filming starts next month,” Adrian said. He sighed dramatically. “It’s a shame. I won’t be seeing my princess for a while.” Bella giggled, but Daphne’s expression didn't budge.
“I am not your princess,” Daphne muttered.
“I didn’t say you were,” he shot back with a grin.
The air in the room felt like it was thickening, making it hard to breathe. Sitting there between my fiancée and the girl I’d betrayed her with made my skin crawl. A wave of nausea hit me so hard I thought I might actually get sick right on the table. I shoved my chair back and stood up abruptly.
“What’s the matter?” Bella asked, her smile fading into a frown of concern.
“Washroom. I’ll be back,” I managed to say. I forced another hollow smile and walked away before she could ask anything else.
The second the bathroom door swung shut, I let out a jagged breath. My hands were shaking. What am I doing? I raked my fingers through my hair, pulling at the roots. The guilt was a physical weight in my gut—how was I supposed to play the happy fiancé when I’d slept with her sister?
I stepped to the sink and splashed cold water over my face, trying to numb the panic. I looked up at my reflection, droplets dripping into the porcelain. Then, the door clicked.
My heart stopped. In the mirror, Daphne’s reflection appeared behind mine. She had a slow smirk playing on her lips as she reached back and locked the door.
“Why are you here?” I demanded, my voice cracking slightly.
“You seem to ask me that a lot, Stefan. Why are you here, Daphne? What do you want, Daphne? We can’t do this, Daphne.” She mimicked my voice, stepping closer until I could smell her perfume. “Well, I’m always going to be here, Stefan. You know that.” Her tone turned hard, eyes narrowing.
“Whatever you’re thinking, Daphne... stop. Right now,” I said, trying to find my authority.
“What am I thinking?” She bit her lip, her gaze dropping. My heart hammered against my ribs. She took a predatory step forward. I backed up until the cold tiles of the wall pressed against my spine.
“We can’t,” I whispered as she pressed her palm flat against my chest.
“Your heart is racing,” she murmured, a smirk pulling at her mouth.
“This is the men’s room...”
“Trust me, no one is coming.” She leaned in, the air between us thick and heavy. I couldn't stop my eyes from drifting to her lips. “I haven't stopped thinking about what happened. It’s the only thing in my head.” She reached out, gripping my tie and tugging my face down to hers. “We f****d,” she whispered against my ear. A sharp jolt of electricity shot through my entire body. “We can do it again. Right here. Right now.”
My eyes widened. “No. No, this isn’t right.” I managed to shove past her, raking my fingers through my hair. “It was a mistake, Daphne. You know that.”
She let out a dry laugh, her eyes traveling down to my waist. “Your body is a liar, then. Just let it have what it wants. I know I make you feel something... I can see it right through your pants.”
She stared at me with such intensity that the last of my resolve snapped. The tension was suffocating. I lunged forward, grabbing her by the back of the neck and crushing my lips against hers. She met me with equal force, her tongue tangling with mine. The only sound in the room was the heavy rhythm of our breathing and the low moans echoing off the stalls.
“I want you inside me,” she gasped, breaking the kiss just long enough to speak.
“I don’t have a condom,” I groaned, my head spinning in the heat of the moment.
“I don’t care. I want you now.” She began fumbling with my belt, her fingers hurried and desperate. She shoved my pants down and sank to her knees.
The moment her tongue touched me, a whimper escaped my throat. The warmth was driving me out of my mind. I gripped her hair, my hips moving instinctively, lost in the sensation. I was hit with the sudden realization that if I didn't stop, I was going to lose control completely.
She pulled back suddenly, looking up at me. Her expression was dazed, her eyes dark and clouded, looking completely drunk on the moment. Then, slowly, she stood up.
“Please... f**k me now,” she pleaded.
I didn't say a word; I just nodded. I turned her around, my hands trembling as I lifted her gown. I slid her lace underwear to the side and realized she was already soaked. I guided myself in, and she let out a sharp gasp as I filled her. I started with slow, deep thrusts, but the friction was too much—I lost control and picked up the pace, the sound of us hitting the tiled walls echoing in the small space.
“Harder, baby,” she groaned.
I didn't hold back. I went in harder, my vision blurring as the heat built up in my gut. I felt the climax rushing toward me like a wave. Just before I lost it, I pulled out, my legs shaking as I came. I leaned my forehead against the wall, panting for air, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“That was intense,” she said, a satisfied smile blooming on her face.
For a split second, I found myself smiling back, caught in the afterglow. Then reality crashed back down. My smile died instantly.
“I need to clean up,” I said, my voice turning cold and stern again.
“Of course you should,” she teased, stepping aside to let me reach the sink. I grabbed a handful of paper towels, my hands still unsteady.
Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door made my heart stop.
“Stefan? Are you still in there?”
It was Bella’s voice. My eyes went wide, and I froze. My stomach dropped—if she walked in now, it was over.