VILLA OF THORNS

THE FALL

Yiannis had always prided himself on his self-control. In the boardroom, in business, in life—he was the calm in the chaos, the anchor everyone could rely on.

Until now.

Until her.

Katie stood in front of him, bathed in the soft light of his bedroom, the thin straps of her sundress sliding off her shoulders, the hem dancing around her thighs. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly parted, and her eyes—God, her eyes—were wide and begging, not just with heat, but something deeper. Rawer.

Something that had nothing to do with the aphrodisiac still humming through her veins and everything to do with him.

"I don't want to be alone," she whispered, stepping toward him, the blanket slipping from her shoulders.

Yannis's breath caught. She had fallen asleep for a while but woke up feeling even worse than before. He didn't know how much she had consumed and the only two people he could call for help were too busy enjoying the party.

He had called Adrian and Milly several times but none of them picked up. He knew the music was too loud for any of them to hear their phones ring. The only option was for him to go downstairs and get Milly, but he didn't want to leave her alone in this state.

He could lock her in the room, but he didn't think it was safe either. Now, with the way she was looking at him... the way she was looking.... Pop

He should've stopped this. He meant to stop it.

But when her fingers curled around the front of his shirt—when she looked up at him like he was the only solid thing in her spinning world—something inside him cracked wide open.

"Please..." she whispered, her voice so soft it was barely audible. "Touch me."

He cupped her face before he realized what he was doing, brushing his thumb along her cheekbone. "Katie..." It was a warning, a prayer, a plea.

She pressed into his palm. "I want it to be you."

He kissed her.

And everything fell apart.

⸻

It wasn't gentle at first.

It was hungry. Fierce. Months of repressed tension burst into flame the moment his mouth met hers. She gasped, and he drank it in, his hands sliding into her damp curls, his body aligning with hers like they were made to fit.

Katie melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck, pressing her soft, trembling body into his like she needed to feel every inch of him.

He backed her toward the bed, kissing her like he had been starved. Her hands roamed up his chest, gripping his shirt as though she couldn't get close enough. Her dress slipped further, revealing smooth skin that begged to be touched.

But when she laid back and looked up at him, everything changed.

Her eyes shimmered—not with lust, but emotion.

Vulnerability.

Trust.

"Yannis..." she said, voice shaky. "I've never—"

He froze.

Her fingers brushed his cheek, tentative and brave. "I've never been with anyone before."

And just like that, the fire shifted. Deepened.

This wasn't just a stolen moment.

This was her first.

He stared at her, something powerful and protective rising in his chest. "Are you sure you want to do this... with me?"he asked, his voice a low rasp.

Katie nodded, pulling him down gently. "There's no one else I'd ever want it to be."

⸻

This time, he kissed her slowly.

With reverence.

He explored her inch by inch—hands shaking slightly as he memorized her body, her sighs, the way she arched into him when he touched just right. He whispered her name like a vow, anchoring her to him, grounding them both in something real.

When he entered her, he moved gently, holding her gaze the entire time.

Katie gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders, but she didn't look away.

And neither did he.

By the time they came undone, bodies tangled in sheets and breathless laughter, everything about him had changed.

He held her afterward, her head on his chest, her fingers drawing circles on his skin, and he knew.

He could never go back.

He had made love to Katie.

And he was never going to stop wanting her.

⸻

Sunlight poured through the massive windows, stretching across the bed in golden ribbons. The room was warm and quiet, still scented with the perfume of last night's decisions—skin, sweat, and something Yannis couldn't name but knew he'd never forget.

Katie was curled into his side, her cheek pressed against his bare chest, one arm draped across his stomach. Her breathing was soft, lips slightly parted in sleep. She looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Yannis brushed a strand of hair from her face, his heart still heavy with the weight of what had happened. He didn't regret it—he couldn't. But he knew what came next. The storm they couldn't outrun.

And then it happened.

The bedroom door slammed open.

"Yiannis?"

Milly's voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

Yannis's body went rigid, his hand instinctively pulling the blanket higher over Katie's back.

Katie stirred slightly, blinking slowly in the warm morning light.

"Milly?" she mumbled, disoriented. "What time is it?"

But before Yiannis could react, Milly had crossed the room in a flash. Her eyes, wide and wild, scanned the bed—their bed—and then locked onto the figure tucked into his arms.

Her best friend.

Her sister in everything but blood.

"You," Milly spat, her voice shaking. "You slept with her?!"

Katie blinked, confused, sitting up slightly, the blanket falling from her shoulder. "Wait, what's going on—?"

"You b***h!" Milly screamed, lunging toward the bed, grabbing the blanket and trying to drag Katie off by it.

Katie yelped, instinctively clutching the covers to her chest. "Milly, stop! What are you—?!"

Yiannis was already out of bed, standing between them in a second, blocking Milly with one arm and shielding Katie with his body. His jaw clenched, muscles tense, voice low and commanding.

"Stop it, Milly. That's enough."

Milly shoved at his chest. "Move! Let me at her!"

"She didn't do anything wrong," Yannis growled. "This wasn't her fault."

"She is in your bed, Yannis!" Milly shrieked, voice cracking. "Naked! Wrapped around you like she belongs there!"

"She didn't seduce me." His voice was rough, honest, brutal. "I couldn't stop myself. So be angry at me."

At the door, voices gathered.

Gasps. Whispers. Faces.

Andrea. Louisa. Aria. Alina. Hannah. Wendy.

Every single one of them frozen in the doorway, eyes wide in horror and disbelief, watching the scene unfold.

Katie was trembling behind him, clutching the sheets to her chest, her eyes filling with tears.

"I didn't know," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I didn't mean to..."

Milly's face was flushed red, her eyes swimming with rage and betrayal.

"You ruined everything," she whispered.

"Milly, listen—" Yannis started.

But she shoved him again, harder this time. "Don't. Don't talk. Don't you dare."

Yannis didn't flinch. He stood between them, heart beating , guilt twisting like a knife in his ribs.

But he wasn't moving.

Not an inch. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her, not while he was around. He understood that Milly was upset but if she wanted to crash out she would have to hit him, not Katie.

He turned slightly, looking down at Katie—at her shaking shoulders, at the way she curled into herself, like she was trying to disappear.

He placed a hand on her back.

And then he looked up at Milly, his voice steady despite the wreckage around them.

"I'm not sorry for loving her."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them.

Everyone stilled.

Katie looked up, eyes wide with shock. Her lips parted, breath catching in her throat.

Milly stumbled back, as if he'd physically struck her.

And then, with a strangled sob, she turned and stormed out of the room.

The others scattered with her, a hush falling over the house like a heavy fog.

Leaving Yannis alone.

With Katie.

And the consequences of one night that had changed everything.