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supplies, equipment, and outdated storage containers that would need to be completely reworked. Jalen stepped forward, taking it all in with a professional eye, nodding slightly. Kristen crossed her arms, watching as he moved through the space, his broad shoulders flexing beneath his fitted polo, and his jeans hanging perfectly on his well-built lower frame. She had worked with contractors before, but none of them had looked like Jalen. None of them had made her feel so... distracted.

"How much space are y'all trying to add?" Jalen asked, running a hand along one of the shelves, testing the stability.

Kristen blinked. Right, the project.

"Oh..., uh, we're looking to maximize vertical space while also making room for larger medical devices that we're planning to purchase." She said hastily.

Jalen turned to her, nodding as he listened. Kristen's heart skipped as their eyes met. His dark, focused gaze locked onto hers. "Why does he have to look at me like that?" She thought, exhaling slowly, shifting her stance, feeling suddenly warm despite the cool air conditioning.

"And, um... we also need better climate control in here," she added quickly, looking anywhere but at him.

Jalen didn't seem to notice her flustered state, or at least, if he did, he wasn't letting on. He remained completely professional, taking mental notes, asking all the right questions, nodding in understanding as she walked him through the issues. Kristen tried to mirror his professionalism, but it was getting harder and harder to ignore how drawn she was to him. She found herself watching his hands as he measured out distances, imagining how strong they must be and how they'd feel on her. She caught herself staring at his lips when he spoke, wondering how they would feel against...

"STOP IT, Kristen. You have a FIANCÉ." She thought, swallowing hard, shifting on her heels.

Jalen finished looking around, turning to her with that same calm, unreadable expression. "I've got a good idea of what needs to be done," he said. "I'll put together a proposal and send it over in a few days."

Kristen nodded quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That sounds great! Um... thank you, Jalen. Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with."

She smiled a little too brightly, hoping it masked the fact that she had been anything but focused during this walkthrough.

Jalen smiled slightly but remained all business. "Of course. I'll be in touch."

With that, he turned to leave, leaving Kristen standing in the middle of the storage room flustered, hot, and more confused than ever.

*********************************

Later that day, Kristen returned home from work. She pulled into the driveway of the townhouse she shared with her fiancé, Rob. Her mind still lingered on Jalen Moss as she cut the engine. She had spent the entire drive home trying to shake the feeling that had settled in her chest since leaving the Wellness Georgia office. It wasn't just about how attractive Jalen was, though, God, he was. It was something else. Something about the way he had looked at her when he listened, carried himself with quiet confidence, and how his presence felt strong, steady and... alive. She sighed, running a hand through her dark waves before grabbing her bag and stepping inside.

"Hey," Rob called from the kitchen. "How was your day?"

Kristen set her bag down and kicked off her heels. "Good. You?"

"Same."

That was it. It was the same halfhearted exchange they had every night. Like it was an obligation rather than an actual conversation. Rob was leaning on the counter near the stove, still dressed in his work attire, scrolling through his phone as he stirred something in a pan. Kristen went to freshen up, washing her hands, reapplying her red lipstick out of habit. When she came back, dinner was already plated and waiting at the table. It was simple, practical, and unremarkable. Rob and Kristen had been engaged for over a year, and had been together for four years overall, but they still hadn't set a date for their wedding. They ate in near silence, the occasional clink of utensils against their plates the only real sound between them. Kristen tried to engage.

"So... any update on that project you were excited about?" she asked.

Rob barely looked up from his plate. "Yeah, it's coming along. Probably gonna have to fly out next week for some meetings."

Kristen nodded, taking another bite. "Where to?"

"New York. Maybe L.A. after that." He replied.

Kristen had heard this before. Another trip, another week of him being gone, and another excuse to push back setting a wedding date, but she didn't press him. After dinner, Rob migrated to the living room, turning on the TV, settling into his usual spot on the couch with a beer. Kristen stayed at the table for a while, absently scrolling on her phone, not even sure what she was looking for. Maybe something, anything, that didn't feel so lifeless like her home life felt right now. Her mind kept drifting back to Jalen. She thought about the way he had moved, looked at her, made her feel something real, even if it was fleeting. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away. This was just one of those nights where she had to wonder, is this really it? Kristen wasn't going to sit in silence tonight. She wasn't going to let another evening drift by without feeling something. So, as Rob sat glued to the TV, nursing a beer, she took a deep breath and made a move she hadn't made in a long time.

She walked over to him, climbed into his lap, and straddled him. Rob's body tensed in surprise, his hands instinctively coming up to rest on her hips, but his eyes never left the damn screen. Kristen slowly rolled her hips, her hands sliding up his chest, her lips just inches from his jawline.

"Hey, baby," she whispered, trying to sound sultry, teasing, inviting.

Rob blinked, finally tearing his eyes away from the show. "Whoa, what's this about?" he asked, half-laughing, but not in the way that made her feel desired. More like... confused.

Kristen bit her lip, holding back frustration. "Just thought we could... change up the routine a little."

Rob exhaled through his nose, glancing back at the TV. "Babe, I really wanted to watch this episode," he muttered. "Can we do this later?"

Kristen froze. The rejection hit her like a slap. It wasn't even just about sex. It was about the fact that he barely looked at her anymore and barely ever showed that he wanted her. She had just put herself out there, only to get brushed off for some stupid show on Amazon Prime. Her face burned, not with embarrassment, but with anger. Without another word, she pushed herself off of him and stormed upstairs. Rob didn't call after her or even pause his show. By the time she reached the bedroom, her hands were shaking. She yanked off her blouse, tossing it to the side, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Her heart was pounding, but not in the way she had wanted. She felt rejected, unwanted, and stupid for even trying. Then before she could stop herself, she grabbed her phone and opened Facebook. Her fingers hovered over the search bar.

This was stupid. She shouldn't do this. And yet she typed the name..., Jalen Moss.

The second she typed it in, his profile popped up. His profile picture was a casual shot of him in a black t-shirt, arms crossed, standing in front of a renovation project. He looked strong, confident, and capable. He looked everything Rob wasn't. Kristen bit her lip, her pulse picking up as she scrolled. His photos weren't flashy, mostly work-related with a few candid shots of him with friends, and a couple of old basketball pictures from back in the day. And then she saw one that made her pause. It was him in a fitted white dress shirt, standing at what looked like a formal event, holding a glass of whiskey. He looked damn good. Kristen swallowed hard, her thumb lingering over the picture. Before she even fully registered what she was doing, she clicked on his "Add Friend" button. The second it sent her body filled with the sensation of butterflies.

"What the hell am I doing?" She thought to herself.

She quickly turned off her phone, tossing it onto the nightstand, and laid back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her body was still burning but for an entirely different reason now. Because for the first time, she wasn't just disappointed in Rob, she was actively seeking out someone else.

Kristen lay flat on her back, now just in her purple bra and pencil skirt, her body burned with frustration. Her breath was shallow, her skin still tingling from the rejection downstairs, Rob barely even looking at her, and putting herself out there only to be ignored.

Her fingers tightened in the sheets, and her thighs pressed together, but she didn't want to feel frustrated anymore. She wanted to feel something else. Something deeper, hotter, and real. Her hand slid down her stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of her skirt, finding her vagina, already wet and aching for touch. She exhaled sharply and let her mind wander. Then, in her mind, she saw him. Jalen.

She pictured him standing in front of her, just like he had earlier that day. His broad shoulders stretched against that fitted polo; his strong, calloused hands ran over the shelves in the storage room. She imagined what those hands would feel like on her, gripping her hips, pulling her close, making her feel claimed. Her fingers moved slowly, teasing herself, her lips parting in a soft, desperate sigh. She imagined Jalen's dark eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and commanding in her ear.

"You need me to take care of you, don't you?"

Kristen let out a quiet moan, her back arching slightly, her hips rolling against her own touch. She thought about how his hands would feel, sliding up the inside of her thighs, parting them, his breath warm as he kissed a trail up her stomach...

"You feel so damn good, Kristen."

Her pace quickened, her breaths coming faster, heavier, her body trembling as she imagined Jalen between her legs, his mouth on her, his tongue teasing, stroking, sucking.

Oh God.

Her fingers moved faster, and her vagina was now soaking wet. She thought about how deep he would feel, how he wouldn't hesitate, ignore her, or ask to finish watching some stupid show first. No, Jalen would have dropped everything and taken her right there in the living room. The thought alone sent a surge of pleasure rushing through her, and the explosion inside of her rocked her entire body.

Kristen moaned as she felt her body tensing, tightening, and her toes curling as her climax crashed over her. She bit her lip, muffling her moans, her heart pounding as her body shook beneath her own touch. As the waves of pleasure slowly faded, her chest rising and falling rapidly, reality came creeping back in. Her fiancé was downstairs, clueless and uninterested. Meanwhile, she had just gotten herself off thinking about another man. Kristen stared up at the ceiling, still breathless and dazed. She knew what this meant. This wasn't just frustration anymore. It was a desire for someone who wasn't her fiancé.

*********************************

By Wednesday afternoon, Kristen felt stupid for sending Jalen that damn friend request. She had checked more times than she cared to admit, but there was still no notification that he had accepted it, and with every passing hour, her regret grew stronger. Maybe he had seen it and ignored it. That thought alone made her body go cold with embarrassment. She tried to shake it off, but when Jalen's email came through, all those thoughts were shoved aside by something else entirely. It was his proposal.

Later that day, Kristen and Jim sat together in the conference room, both of them pouring over Jalen's email. The proposal was detailed, precise, and thorough. Jalen had thought of everything: storage optimization, climate control adjustments, maximizing efficiency for medical supply access and more. It was ambitious and modern, and it was clear he had put serious thought into it. Kristen had expected to be impressed, but this was well beyond her wildest expectations. This was someone who actually cared about the work he was doing, and it only made her intrigue and desire for Jalen even more intense if that were possible.

Jim leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "I gotta say, Kristen, this is one of the best proposals we've seen in a long time."

Kristen nodded, still scanning through Jalen's breakdowns. "I agree. It's really well put together. The pricing is a little higher than we expected, but the quality of the vision speaks for itself."

Jim exhaled. "Exactly. I think we need to bring him back in, have him talk us through the details so we fully understand the costs."

Kristen swallowed. She had been both anticipating and dreading seeing Jalen again.

"Thursday?" Jim suggested. "We can do late morning, around eleven?"

Kristen swallowed again, trying to keep her expression neutral. "Yeah, that works," she said smoothly, even though her pulse had just kicked up a notch.

Jim typed out the meeting request and sent Jalen a reply, officially inviting him to come in for a walkthrough of his proposal. Kristen sat back in her chair, tapping her fingers against the table.

Kristen's mind was racing. Tomorrow, she would be face-to-face with Jalen again, and after everything that had happened since meeting him, including that night in bed masturbating to the thought of him and sending that stupid friend request on Facebook, she had no idea how to act around him.

*********************************

The next day, Jalen pulled into the parking lot of Wellness Georgia, shutting off his truck and exhaling slowly. This was just another meeting. A normal walkthrough of his proposal. Then why did something in the air feel... different? Maybe it was because of Kristen. She had been a little flustered the last time they met. She was professional, sure, but Jalen had caught the way she looked at him when she thought he wouldn't notice, and if Jalen had learned anything over the years, it was how to read people.

He stepped inside the office building, and before he could even fully scan the front lobby, a cheerful voice greeted him. "Well, you must be Jalen Moss!"

Jalen turned toward the front desk, where an older white woman with short, curled gray hair and bright eyes was already beaming at him. She had the warm, welcoming presence of someone who had been the heart of an office for years.

Jalen smiled. "That's me."

Betty clapped her hands together, clearly delighted. "Oh, honey, I've heard all about you! Kristen and Jim have been talking nonstop about your proposal."

Jalen chuckled, shaking his head. "Hopefully, they were saying good things.

"Oh, only the best!" Betty assured him.

Then she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if telling him a secret. "And between you and me, I think Kristen was extra excited about you coming in today."

Jalen raised an eyebrow, but before he could even process that, Betty had already grabbed her desk phone. "Let me call her and tell her you're here. Just a moment!"

Kristen had just finished fixing her lipstick when her desk phone rang. She glanced down and saw Betty Clover's name. She swallowed hard. Jalen.

Kristen took a deep breath before picking up. "Hey, Betty."

"Morning, sweetheart! Your contractor is here! And my, oh my, is he handsome!" Kristen closed her eyes for a second, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt.

"Thanks, Betty. I'll be right there." Kristen responded.

She hung up, steadied herself, and grabbed her folder. Her heels clicked a little too fast as she made her way toward the lobby floor. She came down the elevator, exited, rounded the corner, and then... there he was. Standing near the reception desk, tall, broad, confident as ever, his dark eyes focused on something Betty was saying to him. Kristen's breath caught in her throat. He looked better than she remembered. His fitted button-up stretched across his muscular chest, tucked into dark slacks that sat just right on his frame. He exuded the kind of quiet confidence that made him even more attractive, calm, in control, and completely unbothered. Meanwhile, Kristen felt like a mess. She smoothed down her blouse, ran a hand through her dark waves, and forced herself to step forward.

Jalen's eyes snapped to hers immediately, and when they locked gazes, she swore she saw something flicker in his expression. Like he could tell she had been thinking about him, dreaming about him, and wanting him.

Kristen forced a smile and approached, her voice steady despite the rapid thudding in her chest. "Jalen. Good to see you again."

Jalen smileed, his handshake firm and warm as his dark eyes held hers just a second longer than necessary. "Good to see you too."

Later, Kristen sat across from Jalen and Jim in the conference room, her back straight, hands neatly folded over the project folder in front of her. She was trying her best to stay focused. Jalen sat calm and composed, exuding his usual quiet confidence as he spoke with ease. Meanwhile, Jim was hanging on to his every word, nodding, asking follow-up questions, and completely absorbed in Jalen's expertise and vision.

Kristen, meanwhile, was barely holding it together. She was stuck staring at Jalen, pretending to take notes and that she was as engaged in the discussion as Jim was. Unfortunately for her, her thoughts were betraying her. Jalen's sleeves were rolled up, exposing his strong forearms, the veins in his hands visible as he gestured. His voice was deep, steady, smooth as silk, and every time he said words like "sturdy foundation" or "reinforced structure," Kristen found her mind going places it definitely shouldn't. She clenched her thighs together beneath the table.

"God, get a grip, Kristen!" She thought to herself.

Jalen, of course, was completely composed. If he noticed how flustered she was, he didn't show it. His focus remained on the proposal, breaking down his pricing, the construction timeline, the efficiency of his designs.

Jim, enthralled, leaned forward. "Jalen, I gotta say, you clearly know your stuff. Everything you're proposing makes a lot of sense. The cost is a little higher than we anticipated, but after hearing your breakdown, I can see why."

Jalen nodded. "I understand the budget concern, but the quality of materials and the additional storage optimization will ensure this space is not only functional but built to last."

Kristen was barely keeping up with the conversation at this point. She had the numbers in front of her. She had gone through them last night. She should be asking questions and be more engaged. Instead, all she could focus on was how effortlessly Jalen commanded the room, and great it would be if he bent her over and rammed her pussy with whatever he was hiding underneath those pants.

Jim, completely oblivious to Kristen's internal struggles, kept talking. "Kristen, what do you think? This all looks solid, right?"

She snapped out of it, forcing herself to sound normal. "Uh, ...yes. Yes, I agree. The layout is excellent, and I like the long-term efficiency considerations."

Jalen smiled just barely as if he could sense the way she was struggling. Kristen crossed her legs beneath the table, gripping her pen a little too tightly as she tried to rein in the storm inside her.

After nearly an hour, Jim finally leaned back, satisfied. "Alright, Jalen. I think this is exactly what we need. Let me run some final budget approvals, and we'll get back to you with an official go-ahead."

Jalen nodded, standing smoothly. "Sounds good. Take your time. Let me know if you need any adjustments."

Jim clapped Jalen on the shoulder. "Kristen, why don't you show Jalen out? I'll get started on finalizing the budget discussion."

Kristen stood as well, feeling lightheaded, relieved that the meeting was over but not relieved at all that she'd have to walk Jalen out.

Kristen forced a tight smile. "Of course."

As they stepped into the hallway, the air felt different. The tension between them felt real now. As they walked toward the entrance, Kristen could feel Jalen watching her. She had made it through the meeting, but now, alone with him, she wasn't sure she'd make it through this short walk without completely losing her composure. As they approached the lobby exit, Kristen thought she was in the clear. The meeting was over. She had survived an hour of barely holding herself together, flustered out of her mind while Jalen remained his cool, confident, completely unshaken self. All she had to do now was walk him to the door, and then she could finally breathe again.

However, just as they neared the exit, Jalen suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Oh! Shoot, I almost forgot!"

Kristen's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him.

Jalen pulled out his phone, casually unlocking it with his thumb. "Let me accept your friend request. My bad," he said smoothly. "I saw the notification, but I always forget to go into Facebook and accept those darn things. I definitely should've accepted yours right away."

Kristen felt her entire body freeze. Her breath caught in her throat. "Oh, God." She thought.

This is happening right now. Her stomach was a knot, and her hands were suddenly clammy as she watched him tap through his phone with ease, completely unaware of the absolute spiral she was going through in real-time. He had seen it. He had seen the friend request, and now he was accepting it right in front of her.

Kristen swallowed hard, trying to sound casual and not look like she wanted to disappear into the floor. "Oh...uh...yeah, no worries. I, um, wasn't sure if you'd seen it."

Jalen glanced up from his phone, smiling slightly. "Of course I saw it. Wouldn't deliberately ignore you, Kristen."

‘Wouldn't ignore you.' Why did that sound so much deeper than it should?

She forced out a small laugh, hoping it didn't sound as nervous as she felt. "Well, uh, thanks for accepting."

"Idiot. Why did you say thanks?" She thought to herself.

Jalen's smile lingered as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Yeah, now I get to see what you're up to outside of work."

Kristen's heart pounded. "Oh, God." She thought again. She didn't even think about that part. He's going to see everything. Not just the professional side of her, but her life. Her old photos, posts, everything. Even her fiancé. The thought hit her like a brick. Her fiancé, Rob. The man who had barely looked at her in weeks, who she hadn't thought about once while pleasuring herself to the thought of Jalen Moss. Now Jalen was about to see into the life she had been desperately trying to ignore since she met him.

Kristen forced a smile, stepping back, needing air. "Well, um...glad we got that settled." She let out a small, awkward laugh. "I'll let you know when Jim finalizes the budget discussion."

Jalen nodded, but his dark eyes lingered on her just a second longer, as if he could sense something shifting in the air. "Sounds good, Kristen."

Then, with one last look, he walked out the door. After he did, Kristen just stood there, gripping the door handle, staring at her own reflection in the glass.

*********************************

Jalen sat in his truck, his hands pressed against his face, his mind racing.

"No. No, this can't be right." He thought.

But he had felt it. That same pull and warm sensation deep in his chest. Just like he did with Sydney. The Beyonder had told him that when he met one of the eight, he would know, and just now when Kristen walked him to the door and their eyes locked for that fleeting moment, he had felt it, but this time it didn't make sense. Kristen Stanley was engaged to a guy named Rob Patton. Jalen had seen it the second he accepted her friend request. Her relationship status was as clear as day.

"Engaged to Rob Patton"

Jalen let out a long breath, staring blankly out the windshield. "What the hell am I supposed to do?" He said to himself.

He wasn't a homewrecker. He wasn't some selfish asshole who went after engaged women and tore apart relationships for his own benefit. This didn't feel right. There had to be some mistake. Maybe the Beyonder got it wrong. Maybe Kristen wasn't supposed to be one of them, or maybe..., maybe she was, but the timing was all wrong. Jalen rubbed his temple, his jaw tight. He had just gotten himself wrapped up in something big with Sydney Swanson. And now this?

He needed to think. He needed to figure out what the hell to do next. If Kristen was truly one of the eight, and fate was going to pull them toward each other anyway, how was this supposed to happen without him destroying her engagement in the process? Jalen exhaled sharply. He didn't have the answers.

*********************************

Jalen spent the entire weekend trying to push Kristen out of his mind, convince himself that this was just business, and that whatever pull he felt toward her was a mistake. He wanted to believe that the Beyonder really had somehow gotten it wrong, because if he didn't believe that, then he had to face something far more dangerous.

So, by Monday morning, Jalen had almost talked himself into walking away from the whole damn project. He'd tell them something came up or that his schedule was too packed or something. He knew that if he stayed in Kristen's orbit and was forced to work closely with her every day, there was a chance that something could happen and pull him into a situation he wasn't ready to handle. That afternoon, however, his phone buzzed with an email notification. He glanced at the screen.

From: Kristen Stanley CC: Jim Harbor Subject: Wellness Georgia Renovation Project - Next Steps

Jalen's pulse picked up as he clicked it open. The email read:

Hi Jalen,

I'm pleased to inform you that after reviewing all the details of your proposal, we are officially moving forward with the renovation project. Jim and I both believe your vision is exactly what we need, and we're ready to sign off and begin.

Please let us know your availability this week to come in and go over final paperwork. We're excited to work with you!

Best,

Kristen Stanley Director of Outreach & Development Wellness Georgia

Jalen exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Shit."

It's about to be official now. He could still back out and make up some bullshit excuse about scheduling conflicts or personal reasons, but the way Kristen had worded the email, professional, polished, nothing personal at all, made him hesitate. She was keeping it all business. Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe the attraction and tension were all in his head. Was he really about to throw away a damn good project over something that didn't even matter? Jalen ran a hand over his shallow beard, debating. He could either walk away now and never find out what fate had in store, or step into the unknown into a situation that could turn into something far more complicated, intense, and inevitable. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, his stomach tight until, finally, ...he started typing his response.

Subject: RE: Wellness Georgia Renovation Project -- Next Steps

Hi Kristen,

I'm happy to hear that you and Jim have decided to move forward with my proposal. I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to bringing the vision to life. I'm available to meet on Wednesday to execute the agreement. I'll also take measurements that same day so I can purchase the necessary materials and plan for construction to begin next Monday.

Let me know what time works best for you and Jim, and I'll be there. Best,

Jalen Moss

Jalen hovered over the send button, still feeling that slight hesitation in his gut. Once he hit send, there was no backing out and no more avoiding Kristen Stanley. With a slow exhale, he clicked send and leaned back in his chair. It was done. Now, he just had to keep things professional. This was a job and nothing more. Kristen's employer was his client, and no matter how attractive she was, no matter how strong the pull toward her felt, he wasn't going to let this turn into something messy and dangerous.

For the next two days, Jalen tried to mentally reinforce the boundaries in his head. It's strictly business. Just keep the conversations professional and no lingering thoughts about Kristen's lips, eyes, or the way she looked at him. Simple and easy, right?

*********************************

By the time Wednesday morning rolled around, Jalen had convinced himself he was ready. He pulled into the Wellness Georgia parking lot right on time, parked, and grabbed his work tablet.

The moment he stepped inside, Betty Clover greeted him with her usual warmth. "Jalen! Good to see you again! They're expecting you. Let me call Kristen."

Jalen nodded, keeping his posture relaxed, his expression neutral.

Kristen had spent the entire morning mentally preparing herself for this. She too had been telling herself over and over to be professional, act normal, not to let him see how nervous she was around him. Yet, as she walked down the hall toward the front desk, her stomach once again felt tied in knots. She hadn't seen Jalen since last Thursday, the moment at the door when he had casually, so effortlessly, accepted her friend request, completely unaware of the absolute panic it had sent her into, and now, he was here again. She took a deep breath before stepping into the lobby. Jalen stood there, talking with Betty Clover, looking just as calm and composed as ever. His button-up shirt fit him perfectly, as usual. His dark jeans hugged his muscular lower frame, and his posture was relaxed yet commanding.

The minute his eyes landed on her; Kristen had to force herself to breathe. "Jalen," she greeted, keeping her voice smooth, professional.

He nodded, flashing that easy, confident smile. "Morning, Kristen."

She turned slightly. "Jim is ready for us. Let's go ahead and get the paperwork signed."

Jalen nodded, falling into step beside her as she led him to Jim's office. Inside Jim's office, the meeting went exactly as expected. Jim reiterated his excitement for the project, Jalen asked a few final questions, and then, the contracts were signed. The project was locked in, and Jalen was now officially fully committed. As Jim shook his hand, Kristen could feel the tension in her own chest tighten. This meant that she and Jalen would be working together closely for the next several weeks, which meant more meetings, one-on-one time, and opportunities for things to spiral into something she wasn't sure she could control. She needed to stay professional and hold it together. Even if every cell in her body was screaming that Jalen Moss was dangerous to her sense of self-control.

After the meeting, Kristen led Jalen down the hall toward the storage space. Her heels clicked against the floor; her palms slightly sweaty as she struggled to act like this was just another routine workday. Jalen, as usual, seemed calm, unbothered, and effortlessly in control. Once inside the storage room, he got to work, pulling out his measuring tape and jotting down notes on his work tablet. Kristen stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching him with a practiced, professional neutral expression, or at least she tried to, but her eyes betrayed her. She couldn't help but notice the way his forearms flexed every time he stretched the measuring tape, how his dark eyes flickered with sharp focus, completely locked into what he was doing, or how, damn it, he just smelled good.

She cleared her throat. "So... did you have a good weekend?"

It was small talk. Safe and normal.

Jalen glanced up briefly, giving her a small smile. "Yeah, it was straight. Got some work done, watched the Falcons game."

Kristen nodded, desperate to keep the conversation light. "Ah and let me guess. You're one of those fans who refuse to give up on them?"

Jalen chuckled, his voice deep and warm. "I'll ‘Rise Up' until the day I die. Gotta stay loyal to the Dirty Birds, even when they break my heart."

Kristen laughed softly, grateful for the ease of the moment.

Jalen continued his measurements, but then he suddenly asked, "What about you? Good weekend?"

Kristen's stomach clenched again. The truth was that her weekend had been spent overanalyzing everything, such as the friend request, why he hadn't accepted it sooner, if he even thought about her at all, and why she cared so much.

She kept her smile in place, tilting her head slightly. "Oh, you know, the usual. Spent time with Rob, ran some errands, caught up on some shows."

She had thrown Rob's name in there on purpose to remind herself and Jalen that he existed. It was a way to purposely create distance. Jalen didn't react much though.

He simply nodded, scribbling something onto his tablet before casually responding, "Sounds nice."

The air between them shifted slightly though. Enough for Kristen to feel it deep in her chest like she had just touched a live wire and said something wrong; or maybe she had just confirmed something he already knew. The rest of the measurement process continued smoothly, but the underlying tension never disappeared. They both kept trying to act normal and professional, but every time their eyes met, exchanged a casual remark, the tension just kept elevating. The air in the storage room had already been thick. Kristen had been struggling all morning to keep things professional, light, and normal, and for the most part, she had held it together...until she didn't.

Jalen was on one knee, stretching his measuring tape along the lower wall, his broad shoulders flexing, his fingers effortlessly handling the tool with practiced precision. Kristen watched him, even though she was trying not to. She tried to make small talk, anything to fill the silence, but then, something she never meant to say slipped out.

"You look good doing that."

Jalen froze mid-measurement. Kristen's blood went cold. "Oh my God. Did I just... did I really just say that?" She thought to herself mortified.

She felt the words hanging in the air, irreversible, undeniable, too damn obvious. Jalen slowly lifted his gaze to her, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes locked onto hers. Kristen's face burned hot. Backpedal. Now.

She let out a nervous laugh, waving a hand quickly. "I... I mean, uh, you're just really good at what you do. Like, it's impressive. Professionally. As a contractor."

Jalen raised an eyebrow, still watching her. A slow smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Oh, he heard exactly what I said." Kristen thought to herself.

Kristen looked away, her heart hammering, pretending to examine a completely random shelf like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Jalen didn't say anything at first. He just went back to his work, but she could feel that small, almost imperceptible shift in the air and unspoken acknowledgment that something had just changed. Kristen wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Jalen, still kneeling, finished his measurement and jotted something onto his tablet, but his mind wasn't on the numbers anymore. Kristen had been acting normal all morning. Too normal, like she was trying too hard to pretend there wasn't something between them, but now, she had slipped and let something true slip out. Even though she had backpedaled immediately and laughed it off, Jalen heard it and felt that small, momentary crack in her composure, and it told him everything.

Jalen didn't press the moment by calling her out on it. He didn't tease her... yet. Instead, he finished his measurements, stood up, and gave her a casual nod. "Appreciate that, Kristen."

Kristen swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of a nearby shelf, avoiding his eyes.

"Yeah. Sure. No problem." She sounded breathless. Jalen just smiled to himself.

Later on, Kristen was a mess. She barely made it through the rest of the afternoon, her mind completely stuck on that comment she had made about him ‘looking good doing that'. The moment kept replaying in her head on a loop, each time worse than before. How could she have let that slip? How could she have been so obvious? Maybe she could pretend it didn't happen.

Of course, Jalen didn't let her off that easily. Once the measurements were finished, Kristen had walked Jalen back toward the entrance, trying to keep it together. She had been so close to making it out of there without further embarrassment. Jalen had stopped at the door, slipping his tablet into his bag before turning toward her.

"Appreciate you showing me around today," he said smoothly.

Kristen nodded quickly, eager to wrap this up before she accidentally made another career-ending slip-up. "Of course. Looking forward to seeing everything come together."

She went to open the door for him, but then... Jalen smiled with that slow, knowing, almost-too-amused smile, and then, in his deep, teasing voice, he added, "And hey... glad you like watching me work."

Kristen's entire body went hot. She froze mid-step, her eyes snapping up to him in pure panic. "Oh my God. He did not just say that." She had thought.

Jalen just flashed her that damn smile again, giving her a casual nod before stepping outside, and Kristen had just stood there, completely flustered, speechless, and on the verge of a full-blown breakdown. He knew exactly what he was doing, and now, she was never going to live this down.

*********************************

Later, at home, Kristen had spent the rest of the evening replaying the moment over and over, cringing every time. She had tried to distract herself by watching a tv show with Rob, pretending to be interested in whatever was happening on screen, but it wasn't working. Her mind was still on Jalen and his voice, smile, confidence, and how he had teased her like it was nothing, while she was barely holding herself together. She needed to clear her head, so she did what any rational, completely-not-spiraling person would do. She opened Facebook and scrolled through her notifications. Then her breath hitched. Right there, under the "Recent Activity" section, it read:

"Jalen Moss liked your photo."

Kristen's heart stopped, and her eyes widened as she clicked it, already feeling her pulse race. The picture he had liked wasn't new. It was from three months ago. It was a candid shot of her at an outdoor brunch spot, wearing a summer dress, sunglasses perched on top of her head, lips painted a soft red. It wasn't a work photo or a recent post. He had gone back and scrolled. Kristen's pulse continued to race. This wasn't random or an accident. This meant something, and for the first time, she realized that she wasn't the only one feeling something between them. Jalen must be thinking about her too.

*********************************

By 11 PM, Kristen was deep in the rabbit hole. She had gone through pretty much all of Jalen's photos. And the worst part was every single one made her want him even more. It was so dangerous for her the way he carried himself, and how his eyes always looked so steady and in control. It was the kind of attraction that went beyond physical, though, let's be honest, the physical part was damn near overwhelming. She had debated for way too long whether she should like one of his pictures back. Something subtle and not too obvious, but every time she hovered over the like button, she hesitated. It did feel too obvious, thirsty, and too much like admitting the truth, and she wasn't ready to admit anything. So, with a frustrated sigh, she locked her phone, placed it face-down on the nightstand, and forced herself to sleep.

She didn't know how it started. All she knew was that she was back in the storage room, but it wasn't like before. The lights were dimmer, the air warmer, the atmosphere charged with an unspoken promise. Jalen was there and he was standing close; closer than he ever had. Kristen's back was against the shelves, her breath caught in her throat as his dark eyes bore into hers.

"You look nervous," he murmured, his voice a deep, teasing whisper.

Kristen swallowed, but she couldn't move, couldn't breathe. She wasn't nervous. She was burning with desire. Jalen's hands came to rest on her hips, his grip firm, steady, like he already owned her body. Her pulse pounded as he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin.

"I told you," He whispered, his lips just inches from hers, "I like knowing you watch me."

Kristen shivered, her lips parting, but she couldn't respond because Jalen's mouth was coming closer, closer and closer..., and just as his lips were about to claim hers...

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Kristen jerked awake, her body on fire and her breath ragged and uneven. Her alarm was blaring, but she barely even registered it. She was too busy processing what the hell just happened in her dream. Her hands gripped the sheets, her skin still tingling from the phantom sensation of his touch. It felt so real. Too real, and now, there was no denying anymore that she didn't just want him. She craved him.

**********************************

The following Monday, Jalen was scheduled to begin construction. Kristen had been both dreading and aching for this day. Ever since that dream, she had been completely on edge. She had tried to shake it off and pretend that it was just a dream and manifestation of stress or curiosity or anything but what it actually was. She knew better though.

Today, she would have to spend time around him all over again because, as fate would have it, Jim had assigned her the task of overseeing the renovation process, which meant she had to check in on Jalen.

Kristen arrived at Wellness Georgia a little before 9 AM, and the second she stepped inside, she could already hear the faint sounds of construction, such as drills, movement, and the deep murmur of Jalen at work. She told herself to calm down, but it was useless. She went downstairs and walked toward the storage room, forcing herself to breathe normally. Then she saw him, standing in the middle of the room with his fitted black t-shirt clinging to his broad chest, and his muscular arms flexing as he lifted a heavy wooden beam into place. His gray work pants hung low on his hips, his tool belt snug around his waist, emphasizing just how strong and built he was. He looked like something out of a damn fantasy. Hell, fot Kristen, it was a fantasy, and one she had already indulged in way too many times in her head. Her breath hitched, but she quickly pulled herself together.

"Professional. Stay professional." She thought.

She cleared her throat and stepped inside. Jalen turned, and the second his dark eyes met hers, her pulse skyrocketed again.

"Morning, Kristen," Jalen greeted smoothly, his voice deep and calm, as if he wasn't even affected.

Kristen forced a smile, hoping he didn't notice the way her knees nearly buckled. "Morning. Just checking in to see how everything's going."

Jalen wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his strong arms flexing with the motion. "Everything's on schedule so far. We're just reinforcing this side before moving to the back wall."

Kristen nodded, pretending like she actually absorbed any of those words. In reality, all she could focus on was the way he was watching her. The thing was, a part of her wanted him to see just how badly she wanted him to wreck her, but she couldn't and wouldn't. She was engaged, and she was here to do a job. She was not here to fantasize about Jalen bending her over one of those workbenches and making her scream his name. Kristen swallowed hard, clearing her throat again.

"Good. That's...that's good. Keep up the great work," she said, a little too quickly, turning on her heel before she did something stupid, but as she walked away, she heard that same deep, amused chuckle. She didn't have to turn around to know Jalen was smiling like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

**********************************

Over the course of the week Kristen tried to avoid checking in too much. She had told herself that she was going to keep her distance. She wasn't going to let herself get caught up in whatever was happening between her and Jalen. She was engaged and she'd always been a professional. She was just here to oversee the project, and that was it. That was the plan, and by the end of Monday, she had already failed miserably.

By Tuesday morning, Kristen decided she was only going to check in once. A quick visit for five minutes and that's it. Unfortunately, she lasted until 10 AM before she found herself hovering outside the storage room, just "checking in". She walked inside, expecting a brief update, but instead, she was met with Jalen, standing in front of the back wall, clipboard in hand, focused, confident, and once again looking ridiculously good in his work gear.

"You need something, Kristen?" he asked smoothly, glancing up.

Kristen flushed, realizing she had been staring. "Uh, yeah. Just...I just wanted to see how things are coming along."

Jalen smiled, tilting his head slightly. "Still on schedule. Same as when you checked in two hours ago."

Kristen's face burned. Damn it. He noticed. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to act normal. "Right. Of course. Just, uh... making sure."

And then, like a total coward, she turned and left before she made it worse.

By midweek, she had fully lost control. She had told herself to limit check-ins to just once per day. That rule lasted until lunch. By 2 PM, she was walking toward the storage room again. She had convinced herself that she had a real reason this time.

She entered the room with forced confidence. "Hey, Jalen, I just wanted to go over..."

She froze. Jalen was standing near the supply table, his shirt off, sweat glistening on his chest, his muscles tight from lifting materials. Kristen's brain short-circuited.

"Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God." Her mind said panicking.

Jalen turned, grabbing a rag to wipe his face, completely unbothered. "You wanted to go over what?" he asked casually, his deep voice too smooth, too knowing.

Kristen had no idea what she had come in here for anymore. Her eyes darted to the clipboard in her hand, as if it might remind her of a legitimate reason for being here. She had nothing. No excuse or plan just a full-body meltdown. She forced herself to look at literally anything but him.

"Never mind," she blurted, spinning on her heel and rushing out before she embarrassed herself further.

Kristen rushed to her office on the third floor and shut the door. She couldn't take it. Not after what she just saw. She sat in her desk chair, leaned back, closed her eyes, and reached down slipping her hand underneath her skirt. She moved her panties aside with her fingers and began to massage her clit. The image of Jalen shirtless and sweaty was plastered in her mind and her pussy had become a waterfall as soon as she laid eyes on him just now. It was too much heat and tension, and she just had to get it out.

She silently prayed that no one would come knocking while she took care of herself. She steadily rubbed faster and faster. As she did, her thoughts evolved into sweaty, shirtless Jalen walking over to her, grabbing her ass, lifting her up and sticking his tongue down her throat before setting her on a nearby counter. Soft moans we're escaping her now. I'm her mind, Jalen ripped her blouse clean off as they continued their wet messy tongue kisses. Kristen began unbuckling his belt. The longer this movie in her head continued, the more real it felt. She could almost hear the clinking of his belt as she desperately undid it. Kristen's climax was swelling like a volcano on the verge of eruption. In her mind, Kristen had successfully undone his pants. He unclipped his tool belt and finally pulled down his boxers. Her mind pictured the perfect, long, hard thick brown dick all just for her. Kristen was so close to her climax. She was rubbing herself like crazy now, her eyes still closed, and her mouth now open as more soft moans escaped her. Back in her mind, Jalen lifted up her skirt so that it bunched at her waist and then pulled her light blue laced panties off before discarding them onto the ground. His cock was throbbing, ready to destroy her in the best way possible. Kristen reached for it impatiently and placed it at the entrance of her soaking wet vagina. She and Jalen looked at each other, and then finally, Jalen pushed in. That's when she exploded. Kristen quickly covered her mouth to stifle her loud intense screams. The orgasm ripped through her and rocked her to her core.

**************************

As the week continued, it was official. Kristen had no self-control. She was pretty much done pretending. She kept finding reasons to stop by because that god of a man in that storage room is everything she wants right now.

One time it was: "I just wanted to check if you need anything." Which was ridiculous because he was fully stocked.

Another time it was: "Oh, I forgot to ask about the timeline again." This was a lie since she had the full schedule in her email.

And another time it was: "Jim wanted me to follow up." This was a half-truth. Jim had mentioned it, but he never told her to do it immediately.

By now, Jalen had to know, and Kristen figured that he had to be enjoying it. She could see it in his smile every time she walked in and hear it in his voice when he said things like, "Didn't expect to see you again so soon, Kristen." Or "You check on all your contractors this much?"

She hated his confidence, and it only made her want him more desperately. The worst part was that Kristen didn't know who much longer she could go before she snapped.

That Friday, by 5:15 PM, the office was nearly empty. Most of the staff had already left, eager to start their weekend, and Kristen assumed Jalen had gone for the day too. She had been trying to keep her distance, to limit her check-ins, to act like nothing was happening, but she knew she was failing miserably. So, when she walked past the storage area one last time before heading out, she was genuinely surprised to see Jalen still there. He was wrapping up for the day, moving some tools aside, double-checking his plans on his tablet. Kristen hesitated in the doorway, unsure if she should say something, or if she should just keep walking. Before she could decide, Jalen glanced up and noticed her.

He gave her that easy, effortless smile, his deep voice warm. "Didn't realize I was keeping you waiting. My bad."

Kristen blinked, thrown off. "Oh... I wasn't waiting on you."

Jalen smiled slightly, his eyes too knowing. "You sure?"

Kristen flushed, immediately defensive. "Yes, I'm sure. I was just... heading out."

Jalen nodded, leaning casually against the workbench, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Long week?" he asked.

Kristen exhaled, relaxing just a little. "Yeah."

She glanced around the half-finished storage room, then back at him. "You've been working hard too, though."

Jalen shrugged. "Comes with the job."

Kristen studied him for a moment, then made a split-second decision. Instead of leaving, she stepped further inside. "Do you ever get tired of it?"

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Of what?"

"Your work. Construction. Renovations. Dealing with demanding clients like me- I mean us." Kristen replied.

Jalen let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Nah, I love what I do. Always have. It's one of the few things in life that makes sense to me."

Kristen tilted her head, intrigued. "How'd you get into it?"

Jalen set down his tablet, surprised by her interest. "My dad was in the trade. Used to take me along when I was a kid, let me help out here and there. He passed when I was ten, but I guess I just... kept going with it. It felt right. Like something I was supposed to do."

Kristen's heart softened. She had never heard him talk about his father before. Something about the way he said it, matter of fact, but with a quiet weight beneath it, made her chest tighten. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

Jalen shrugged; his expression unreadable. "It was a long time ago."

Kristen hesitated, then said, "My dad wasn't around much either. Not because he passed, but because he was always working. Climbing the corporate ladder. I grew up knowing that 'success' meant long hours and sacrifices. And I guess... I kind of followed that path too."

Jalen studied her, his dark eyes sharp. "And do you like it?"

Kristen paused. No one had ever really asked her that before. She was good at what she did, that much she knew, but did she actually love it and wake up excited for the work she did every day? She swallowed. "I don't know."

Jalen nodded, as if he already expected that answer. There was a long silence. For the first time, their usual teasing and tension was replaced by something else. Kristen's chest continued to feel tighter than usual. It wasn't just about physical attraction anymore. She was starting to really care about Jalen.

"Do you want to grab a bite or something? Or do you have to get home?" Jalen asks.

Kristen's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected that. She and Jalen had been talking on a deeper level for the first time. There was no teasing or tension-laced games, but just an honest conversation about their lives. Now Jalen had just asked her to dinner. She forced herself to think rationally. Maybe it wasn't a big deal. Maybe he was just being polite and just offered a meal because they had been working late, and it was almost 6 PM. He probably hadn't eaten all day, but it was the way he had said it that made it sound like it was more than that.

Kristen wanted to say yes so badly, but she was engaged. She had a fiancé waiting at home and had a life that wasn't supposed to include Jalen Moss.

Kristen swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "I...um..."

Jalen watched her with his calm and unreadable demeanor.

Kristen wet her lips, her pulse hammering. She knew what she should say, but instead..., "Yeah. Sure. I could eat."

She heard herself say it before she even fully processed what she was doing. Jalen raised an eyebrow slightly, like he was surprised she actually agreed, but he didn't question it.

Instead, he just gave a slow nod. "Cool. I know a spot."

Kristen swallowed hard. "Cool," she echoed, pretending like this was normal and like this wasn't the most dangerous thing she could possibly be doing right now.

Chapter 4

Jalen took Kristen to a bar and grill with a mix of booths and high-top tables, warm lighting, and a casual crowd. It wasn't fancy or romantic, but somehow, that almost made it worse. it wasn't the place that mattered. It was him.

Kristen told herself this was just dinner. Nothing more than two colleagues grabbing a meal after a long week.

"So," she started, clearing her throat, "how do you usually spend your weekends when you're not working?" She asked.

Jalen leaned back slightly, his dark eyes flicking over her before he answered. "Nothing too crazy. I usually catch a game, maybe shoot some hoops, hang out with the boys. Occasionally we'll go out to a bar or club but not as often as we used to. What about you?"

Kristen hesitated. What could she say? Should she tell him the truth? That most of her weekends consisted of boring, routine dinners with Rob followed by them sitting in the same room, barely talking, watching separate screens?

She went for a half-truth instead. "I don't know. I feel like most weekends just... blend together."

Jalen gave her a look like he knew exactly what she meant. "Yeah?" he mused, his tone just a little too knowing.

Kristen shrugged, staring at her water glass. "Yeah."

And then he asked the question she had been dreading. "So, what's the deal with you and Rob?"

Kristen's stomach lurched. She looked up, and Jalen was watching her closely now.

Kristen swallowed, forcing a small smile. "What do you mean?"

Jalen leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "I mean... how come you never talk about him? 'Cause I've been around you all week, and his name barely comes up."

Kristen's throat went dry. She hadn't even realized it until now. She had barely mentioned Rob at all.

Kristen licked her lips, shifting in her seat. "We've just been busy. He travels a lot for work. It's fine."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Is it?"

Kristen's stomach lurched again. She knew what he was doing. He was giving her a chance to be honest.

Kristen exhaled sharply, looking away. "It's... complicated."

Jalen didn't push. But his silence said everything.

Later in the conversation Jalen was sharing his thoughts on relationships, making Kristen question her own even more. She sat perfectly still, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her water glass, trying not to let Jalen's words sink in too deeply, but it was impossible because every single thing he was saying was hitting home in a way she wasn't ready for. He was relaxed but intentional.

"I just think..." Jalen started, swirling the ice in his drink before glancing back at her. "A relationship shouldn't feel like a job. It shouldn't feel like you're constantly convincing yourself you're happy when you're really not."

Kristen's stomach tightened. Jalen leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.

"I believe that if you're with someone, you should feel loved. Completely. And if you ever stop feeling that way, you should be able to talk about it. If the other person isn't willing to hear you out or give you what you need..." He shook his head, "...then they don't deserve you."

Kristen swallowed hard, looking away. The words felt like they were tailored for her like he had been watching her and Rob at home all week. She had spent so much time convincing herself that her relationship with Rob was fine, that the distance was just a phase, and the lack of passion was normal after being together for a few years. She thought about how they'd go days, sometimes weeks, without having a real conversation. Now sitting here, listening to Jalen say it so plainly and confidently made her feel like she had been lying to herself for a long time.

She forced a small smile, trying to deflect. "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

Jalen gave a low chuckle. "Not at all, but I know what I want, and I know what I won't settle for."

Kristen bit the inside of her cheek, her heart pounding. If Jalen believed that and refused to settle for anything less than real love, real effort, real passion then what the hell was she doing? She glanced down at her phone, still in her lap, the screen dark. There were no texts or missed calls. Rob hadn't even seemed to notice that she wasn't home at the usual time. Jalen noticed her though. He saw her and he listened. Kristen inhaled sharply, blinking a few times to shake the weight of her thoughts.

"I should probably get going soon," she said quickly, feeling like she needed to run before she let this get any deeper.

Jalen didn't argue. He just nodded slowly, his eyes still watching her closely. "Alright."

There was something in his tone though, as if he knew this conversation wasn't over.

*****************************

Kristen went home. She walked into the house; her mind still tangled in the conversation she'd just had with Jalen. Her entire drive home, she had told herself that this wasn't about Jalen. This was about her relationship and figuring out if she and Rob were even on the same page anymore. She had to talk to him. She had been putting it off for too long, and after hearing Jalen say, so clearly, that a relationship should be about feeling loved, that partners should be able to communicate when they don't feel that way, Kristen knew she had to say something. Her biggest fear right now was that Jalen may be right. Maybe Rob really didn't deserve her.

Kristen found Rob in the living room, unsurprisingly, sitting on the couch, laptop open, barely acknowledging her when she walked in. She set her purse down and took a deep breath. "Hey, can we talk?"

Rob barely looked up, still typing something. "Yeah, give me a second, just finishing this email."

Kristen swallowed down her frustration, waiting until he finally shut his laptop and turned to her.

"What's up?" he asked, as if this was just a normal night, and she hadn't been sitting on something that had been eating away at her for months.

She crossed her arms, choosing her words carefully. "I just... I feel like we don't really talk anymore. We don't spend time together like we used to."

Rob sighed, already looking exhausted by the conversation before it even started. "Kristen, we've been over this. You know I've been busy with work."

Kristen's chest tightened. She wasn't going to let him brush her off this time. "I know you're busy, Rob. But I'm telling you that I feel like our relationship isn't getting the attention it needs, and if we don't put in the effort, it's going to--"

"Kristen, this is a crucial time in my career," he cut in, rubbing his temples like he was already tired of this. "I need to be hyper-focused right now because this could eventually set me up for a cushy position in the future."

Kristen stared at him. That's what this was about? He wanted her to just wait it out until he got some easier job in the future? "Rob, I get that your job is important. But our relationship needs attention too, or it can die."

Rob shook his head, clearly not seeing it the same way. "No, what I need is for you to be more supportive during this time," he argued. "This isn't forever, Kristen. I just need you to hang on until I get to a better position."

Kristen felt a sharp pang in her chest. That was it? That was his solution? For her to just wait and deal with the loneliness, the lack of connection, the emotional distance until some undefined point in the future when he finally decided to make her a priority?

Her fingers tightened into fists at her sides. "And what if I don't want to wait, Rob?" she asked quietly.

Rob finally looked at her, really looked at her, and for a split second, she saw the realization that maybe, just maybe, he was losing her, but instead of trying to fix it, instead of meeting her halfway, he just exhaled sharply. "Kristen, I don't have time for this conversation right now."

And with that, he grabbed his laptop, stood up, and walked toward the stairs to their bedroom leaving her standing there alone, again. Just like always. Kristen felt frozen in place, her mind spinning, her chest tight. He didn't get it. He wasn't even trying to get it, and maybe that was the real problem. She had been fooling herself for months, pretending that things would get better, that this was just a rough patch, but what if it wasn't? What if this was just who Rob was? Someone who would always put work first, and expect her to just wait around, hoping for scraps of his attention. She had been waiting for a sign, and now, she had it. Jalen's words echoed in her head.

"If the other person isn't willing to hear you out or give you what you need... then they don't deserve you."

Kristen blinked, her throat tight, her mind made up. She wasn't going to wait forever. She wasn't going to let herself disappear in this relationship because she deserved more. She deserved to be loved, and if Rob couldn't see that then maybe it was time to stop pretending this was something it wasn't.

Kristen hadn't even thought to check her phone while arguing with Rob. She had been too caught up, frustrated, and disappointed to even glance at it, but now that she was alone, sitting on the couch in the dimly lit living room. She finally picked up her phone and unlocked it. That's when she saw the message from Jalen. On Facebook Messenger it read:

"Hey, thanks for having dinner with me. I know your schedule is busy. I hope your fiancé knows how amazing you are."

Kristen stared at the words, her breath catching in her throat. It wasn't flirtatious or even inappropriate, but somehow, it still felt heavier than it should. Jalen had just done something Rob hadn't done in a long time. He had acknowledged her and had even shown appreciation to her. The worst part was that she didn't even have an answer to the unspoken question in his message. Did Rob know how amazing she was? After the conversation she'd just had with him, the answer felt painfully clear. No, he didn't. Not in the way Jalen already seemed to.

Kristen's fingers hovered over the keyboard. She wanted to respond, but what? What was there to say? She couldn't tell him about the argument she'd just had with Rob, how much his words had made her feel seen in a way she hadn't felt in so long, or that she was laying here, heart pounding, knowing damn well that she was on the edge of something she wouldn't be able to come back from. So instead, she did nothing. She locked her phone and set it face-down on the couch, as if that would stop her from thinking about him, as if she didn't already know, deep down, that her life was on the verge of changing.

A few hours later, Kristen laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a war zone. Her body was exhausted, but her brain wouldn't shut off, not after that conversation with Rob and Jalen's message. The words from the message were still there in the forefront of her mind, playing over and over again in her head like a song she couldn't turn off.

"Hey, thanks for having dinner with me. I know your schedule is busy. I hope your fiancé knows how awesome you are."

Kristen rolled onto her side, her fingers itching to pick up her phone again. She wanted to respond. She wanted to type something, anything, just to keep the conversation going, but she didn't trust herself. Not when her emotions were too raw and tangled up in everything that had just happened. She needed to be careful. One wrong move, and she was crossing a line that she wasn't sure she'd be able to come back from. She stared at her phone, debating. She could say something polite and neutral.

"Thanks, Jalen. Dinner was nice."

Safe but that felt too impersonal, like she was ignoring what he had really said.

She could be honest.

"Rob doesn't see me the way you do."

Kristen's heart skipped a beat just thinking about typing that because if she said it out loud, then she couldn't keep pretending anymore, and she would have to face the truth that there was something real between them, and if she admitted that then what would that mean for everything else?

*********************************

On Monday, Kristen hung back at the end of the day to talk to Jalen again. She had been telling herself all day that she wasn't going to do this, but here she was. It was 5:20, and most of the staff had left, leaving the building quiet. Jalen was still wrapping up in the storage room, looking over his notes, packing up his tools. Kristen was standing in the doorway not even remembering how she got here, but the moment Jalen looked up and saw her standing there, she remembered immediately.

Jalen smiled lightly, tossing his gloves into his bag. "You checking on me again?"

Kristen tried to play it cool, crossing her arms. "Someone's gotta make sure you're actually working."

Jalen let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You really don't trust me, huh?"

Kristen hated how easily he could disarm her, and how comfortable this felt, like they were already more than they should be.

She exhaled, stepping further into the room. "I just... wanted to talk."

Jalen nodded slowly, leaning against the workbench, watching her. Before she knew it, they were talking again, but really talking. They talked about work, life, and even things they hadn't told anyone else. Eventually, the conversation landed on Rob. Kristen felt that uncomfortable feeling in her chest again, but for some reason, it didn't feel as scary as it had before. Jalen wasn't asking her anything or prying. He was just relating. She told him how she and Rob didn't feel close anymore and how their last conversation went the previous night and how Rob said she needed to "hold on".

"I get it," Jalen said, exhaling. "I mean, it's not the same, but me and my brother? We haven't been that close lately."

Kristen looked at him, surprised. "Really? What happened?"

Jalen hesitated, running a hand over his jaw. "It's not one big thing. Just... life. We grew up together, we were close, but after high school, we started going in different directions. And now?" He exhaled sharply. "Feels like we don't even talk anymore. And when we do, it's short. Surface-level. Like we're just going through the motions."

That sounded so familiar to Kristen. It was like he was describing her relationship with Rob. The slow disconnect and the feeling of being around someone, but still feeling alone.

"That must be hard," she murmured.

Jalen gave a small, tired shrug. "Yeah. It is, but I've realized something."

Kristen tilted her head. "What's that?"

Jalen's dark eyes met hers. "Some things you can fix. Some things you can't, but either way, you gotta be real with yourself about which one it is."

Kristen swallowed hard, her heart pounding. The moment he said that she felt an even worse feeling in her chest. She already knew the answer when it came to Rob. She knew she had been lying to herself for too long, and Jalen could see it in her eyes.

Kristen hadn't meant to say it. Before she could stop herself, she said, "Rob and I... we haven't had a real date in almost eight months."

Jalen's eyebrows lifted slightly, but he didn't interrupt, instead just letting her talk. Kristen let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair.

"I can't even remember the last time I had a fun night out with him. Not one that didn't feel forced, where I wasn't just... just waiting for him to stop checking his damn phone or thinking about work."

Jalen leaned against the workbench, arms crossed over his chest, watching her closely, and then... he smiled.

"Then maybe it's time you have one."

Kristen blinked. "What?"

Jalen shrugged casually, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"I was already planning to hit up Dave & Buster's tonight. Figured I'd unwind with some arcade games and wings. If you're free, you should come with me."

Kristen's stomach dropped. That was so, so dangerous. She hesitated. "Jalen, I...", then she remembered that Rob wasn't even in town. She didn't have an excuse, except for the one that really mattered. That this was a bad idea and that she already wanted to say yes too much. Jalen must have seen the hesitation on her face, because he began chuckling.

"Relax, Kristen. It's just games, bar food, drinks, and a good time. No pressure."

‘No pressure.' That was where he was wrong because every time, she was around him, it felt like the air was thick with pressure. Still... she craved a night where she could just be herself and wasn't waiting for someone to pay attention to her. Also, she wanted to see what it would feel like to be out with Jalen. Just once. Kristen took a breath.

Then, before she could talk herself out of it... "Okay. I'll go."

Jalen's smile widened, slow and knowing. "Good choice."

*********************************

Kristen had spent the entire drive in her car to Dave & Buster's giving herself a pep talk. "This isn't a date. This isn't a date. This isn't a date."

She changed into more comfortable clothes. She changed out of her blouse, skirt, and heels, and put on a grey tank top with a dark green jacket, black leggings, and New Balance sneakers. It was just a casual night out, a friendship thing. This was something normal and harmless.

The moment she walked into the bar area and saw Jalen standing there waiting for her, however, her stomach did somersaults. He looked good. Too good. He wasn't in his usual work clothes. There was no worn-out T-shirt or tool belt. Instead, he was wearing a fitted black polo that clung to his broad chest and shoulders, paired with clean dark blue fitted jeans and fresh Nike sneakers. He looked effortlessly casual, but still ridiculously attractive. When he saw her, she felt completely exposed like he already knew this wasn't just casual for her, no matter how much she tried to pretend. God, what was she doing here?

They started with drinks at the bar, something light to ease into the night. Kristen again kept telling herself that this was just hanging out, and for a while, it worked. They talked, laughed, and the drinks flowed.

Then they started playing the games, and that's when it really started to feel like something else.

Kristen hadn't been to Dave & Buster's in years, but Jalen moved through the place like it was his second home. Skee-ball, basketball hoops, racing games, he was good at all of it. He played so relaxed, confident, and so effortlessly fun. Kristen suddenly realized that she hadn't felt this alive in a long time. She wasn't thinking about work, checking her phone, or wondering if Rob was going to call. She was just in the moment, and with every game, playful challenge, and little bit of teasing and laughter between them, she could feel that undeniable pull. Her body instinctively gravitated toward his. Her pulse jumped every time he leaned in close or when his hand brushed against hers. At one point, they were at a basketball shooting game, and Jalen stood behind her, watching her take a shot. It felt so good feeling him stand right up on her.

"You got the form down, but your release is too slow," he murmured.

Kristen rolled her eyes, lightly smiling. "Oh, so now you're a coach?"

Jalen chuckled. "I'm just saying, I could help." Then before she could say anything else, he stepped even closer behind her so that now his crotch was touching her butt, and his hands lightly resting on her waist as he adjusted her posture.

Kristen's breath hitched because suddenly, she wasn't thinking about the game anymore. She was thinking about how close he was, how warm his hands felt and how every inch of her body was hyper-aware of his presence.

"Try now," he said, his voice close to her ear. Kristen tried and she missed.

Jalen laughed. "Yeah, no, that was worse."

Kristen turned, smacking him lightly on the chest. "You're terrible at this!"

Jalen grinned. "Or maybe you're just distracted."

The way he said it, low, teasing, a little too knowing, once again made her feel completely exposed.

It wasn't until later in the night, when they were sitting at a high-top table, sharing a plate of wings and another round of drinks, that it really hit her. This wasn't just casual and fun. This was a date, and the worst part about it was that it was the best date she'd had in years. She wasn't pretending to have fun, waiting for Rob to engage, or feeling like an afterthought. She was just enjoying herself and enjoying Jalen.

Then... Jalen said something that changed everything in an instant.

"I didn't expect to like you as much as I do."

And just like that, the ground beneath Kristen shifted. Her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers tightened around her glass, not taking a sip. Jalen wasn't smiling or teasing anymore. He was just looking at her, calm and sure, like he had nothing to hide.

Kristen swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She should have shut this down, laughed it off, pretended like she didn't feel the exact same thing, but she couldn't. Because, obviously, she liked him too. A lot more than she ever expected to.

Kristen finally found her voice, but it was softer than she meant it to be. "Jalen..."

He tilted his head slightly, watching her closely. "What?"

Kristen inhaled sharply, trying to pull herself together. "We...this-" she hesitated, shaking her head. "This isn't supposed to happen."

Jalen didn't flinch. "Yeah.... but it is."

His confidence rattled her. Like he wasn't confused about this at all. Kristen exhaled, finally tearing her eyes away from him.

"I have a fiancé," she murmured, as if she needed to remind herself.

Jalen let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah, Kristen. I know."

The way he said it, like it didn't mean what she wanted it to mean, and didn't change what was happening between them, it sent a sharp, heated jolt through her chest.

The moment hung in the air. Kristen's pulse felt like it was going a thousand miles an hour. Her body was too warm, her mind was spinning, and she knew... she had to go. Now, before she said something she couldn't take back.

She pushed back from the table, trying to keep her voice steady. "I...I have to go."

Jalen's expression shifted. For the first time tonight, he looked... disappointed. Not angry or frustrated, just... sad. As if he had been expecting this to happen but had hoped, even just a little, that she might stay. Kristen grabbed her purse, avoiding his gaze.

"Thanks for tonight," she said quickly, already turning away.

She walked fast to her car. This was a retreat, a desperate attempt to get away from a feeling that was already sinking too deep. Jalen just sat there, watching her go, his fingers drumming lightly against the table. She could feel his eyes on her as she hurriedly walked away. The worst part about all this was that she didn't even want to leave, but she had to because if she stayed, she knew exactly what would happen. Kristen sat in her car, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the glowing city lights through her windshield. Her chest was tight, her thoughts racing. What the hell was she doing? What was she feeling? Why did leaving Jalen feel like she had just made the biggest mistake of her life? She had done the right thing. She had stopped this before it could go too far. So why did she feel like she had just lost something?

She thought about his face and that moment of visible sadness. He hadn't even tried to stop her. Kristen exhaled sharply, pressing her forehead against the steering wheel. The truth was she didn't know what she needed anymore, but one thing was becoming painfully clear. She had never felt this way about Rob.

********************************

Kristen did exactly what she thought she needed to do. She stayed away. No check-ins, lingering conversations, casual "just passing by" excuses to see him. Nothing. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Three whole days of forcing herself to focus on just work, to pretend that nothing had happened, and act normal. Yet... it didn't feel normal. The second she started avoiding Jalen, it was like she had switched off a light inside herself. What made it worse is that she knew Jalen noticed. The absence of their usual banter, the way he didn't so much as glance in her direction when she passed by, the way he didn't reach out or didn't text, didn't even try to get her attention, it was like he was giving her exactly what she wanted. At least, what she thought she wanted.

She sat in her office late Thursday afternoon, staring blankly at her computer screen, realizing that she had barely gotten anything done. Her mind kept wandering back to Friday night at Dave & Buster's. She had laughed so freely, smiled so effortlessly, and felt so seen. She thought about how Jalen had looked at her when he said: "I didn't expect to like you as much as I do."

Kristen swallowed hard, shutting her eyes. She had been running all week. She had been trying to pretend like she wasn't feeling something, but now, she had to ask herself if she really wanted him to stop trying. If she kept this up, eventually, he was going to believe that she didn't want him.

On Thursday night, Kristen was in the kitchen at her house, sipping a glass of white wine when she heard the front door open at 7:45 pm. She turned, watching as Rob dropped his bags by the entrance, loosened his tie, and let out a long sigh. He saw her, but he didn't smile or rush over to kiss her. He didn't even seem happy to be home.

"Hey," he muttered, rubbing his neck. "Long week."

Kristen set her glass down. "Yeah, I bet. How was the trip?"

Rob shrugged. "Fine. Tiring."

Kristen waited for him to ask how she was doing, show some interest, or at least pretend that he cared about being back home with her. Instead, he just exhaled, grabbed the remote, sat down on the couch and turned on the TV like she wasn't even there.

Kristen felt a tightness in her chest, but she gave him one more chance. "Do you wanna sit and talk for a bit? Catch up?"

Rob didn't even look away from the screen. "Not really. I just wanna watch this and head to bed soon."

That was it. That was the final straw. Kristen stared at him, something inside her snapping. She had enough. She had spent so much time trying to make this work and convince herself that Rob would come around. and start seeing her again. But this wasn't love. This was a one-sided relationship where she was just supposed to sit and wait for permission to matter, and she was done waiting. She was going to choose herself.

Kristen picked up her phone, heart pounding. She didn't even hesitate. She pulled up Jalen's name in her messages. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for half a second. Then she typed: "Are you free?"

Then hit Send.

*********************************

Jalen and Kristen met at the office even though it's 8:30 pm. Kristen unlocked the door and waited for Jalen to arrive. Jalen pulled up in his truck about five minutes later, and she let him inside the office building. They simply said, "Hey" to each other, before Kristen led him downstairs to the storage room, her red-bottom 10-cm Pigalle high-heeled pumps clicking as she walked. She flicked on the light and went inside with Jalen following her and then turned to face him.

"I really appreciate you coming," she said in a low voice, "I...I really needed to see you."

"Kristen..." Jalen's voice was low, cautious. "What's going on?"

She inhaled shakily, trying to find the words.

Before she could, Jalen took a step closer. "Why did you bail on me Friday?" he added, his tone shifting slightly. "Why have you been avoiding me all week?"

Kristen's chest tightened. She knew this was coming. She knew she had hurt him, whether he wanted to admit it or not. For Kristen, it was time to stop running.

She lifted her gaze to meet his. "Because I was scared."

Jalen's jaw tightened, his eyes searching hers. "Scared of what?"

Kristen let out a slow, shaky breath. "Scared of what I was feeling. Scared of what I almost did that night at Dave & Buster's. Scared of how much I wanted you."

Jalen exhaled sharply, running a hand over his beard. "Damn, Kristen..."

She shook her head, pressing forward. "I didn't expect any of this. I didn't expect to meet you and feel... this. I didn't expect to have fun with you. I didn't expect to want more. And I definitely didn't expect to realize just how empty my relationship with Rob is." Jalen's eyes darkened, his posture stiffening.

"You really about to say this to me right now?" he murmured, his voice unreadable.

Kristen swallowed hard, nodding. "I am. Because I'm done pretending." She stepped closer, closing the space between them. "Rob came back tonight," she admitted, voice shaking. "He walked through the door after four days away, and you know what he did? He sat on the couch, turned on the TV, and said he didn't want to talk. He didn't even care that he hadn't seen me since Sunday."

Jalen's eyes flashed, but he didn't say anything.

Kristen let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "And that was it for me. That was my breaking point because no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was fine, that I should just keep waiting for things to get better... I realized something tonight." She met his gaze, heart racing. "I don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to settle. I don't want to feel invisible. And I don't want him."

A heavy silence settled between them. Jalen exhaled slowly, his eyes searching hers.

"So, what do you want?" he asked, voice low, measured.

Kristen's throat tightened. Because she already knew the answer. She had known for weeks. She had just been too scared to say it, but now, she felt that she had nothing left to lose.

"You," she whispered. "I want you."

Jalen stared at her, his jaw tight, his body tense. He had been waiting to hear something like this from her all week, but now that she was saying it, it felt too real. He let out a slow breath, shaking his head.

"I don't want to wreck anyone's relationship, Kristen."

His voice was low, firm, but there was something else there too. Something that betrayed how much he was fighting this. Kristen stepped closer. Until there was barely any space between them, and she could feel his breath on her lips.

"My relationship is already dead," she whispered.

Jalen swallowed, his fists clenching at his sides, but he didn't pull away.

Kristen raised a hand, resting it lightly on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "And now I see that it was dead before you even came along." She finished.

Jalen exhaled, his hand coming up, hesitating, like he wasn't sure if he should touch her.

Kristen's fingers curled against his shirt. "This isn't about Rob." She said, her voice was barely above a whisper, but she saw the way Jalen's gaze darkened. She felt the way his body tensed under her touch. "This is about me," she continued. "And what I want."

Jalen's jaw clenched, his breath coming a little heavier, and then, slowly, he lifted his hand. It came up to the side of her face, his fingertips barely grazing her cheek. Kristen leaned into it; her eyes fluttering shut for a second. This was the first time in so long that someone had actually made her feel wanted. The air between them was thick, electric, and dangerous. Jalen was still fighting it, but Kristen wasn't. Not anymore.

Her lips were so close he could feel the warmth of her breath, see the anticipation in her eyes. Then she tilted her chin up, closing the distance, and that was it. Jalen finally gave in, his lips crashing onto hers in a deep, consuming kiss, releasing every ounce of tension they had been holding in for weeks. Kristen melted into him, her fingers curling against his shirt, clutching him like she had been waiting for this moment just as badly. Hell, she had been waiting for this moment. Jalen's hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him, his grip firm and unyielding. Kristen let out a soft whimper, and that only made him hungrier. His lips moved roughly against hers, devouring her, finally allowing himself to feel everything he had been holding back. Kristen responded with just as much desperation, pressing herself even closer, as if trying to mold herself into him. Their mouths opened, allowing their tongues to meet and dance together. Kristen moaned when her tongue met his. Jalen's hands slid down to her hips, gripping them possessively, feeling the way her body fit so perfectly against his. The kiss grew hotter and hungrier. Kristen's fingers tangled into his short hair.

Kristen felt like she was on fire in the best way. The kiss was the most intoxicating, electrifying thing she had ever felt. His hands gripped her tighter, his lips traveling from her mouth to her jaw, then to her neck. Kristen let out a soft, breathless moan, her head tilting back as his lips brushed against her skin.

"Jalen..." she whispered, her voice shaky.

Jalen exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against hers. His breathing was heavy, just like hers. Their bodies were still pressed together, their hands still clutching at each other. Jalen's breath hitched as he felt Kristen's hands move down to his belt, her fingers expertly working the buckle. She wasn't hesitating. She was actively choosing this.

Kristen pulled the belt free, letting it fall to the floor with a soft clink. Jalen exhaled sharply, his hands sliding lower to her butt where his hands firmly grabbed her butt cheeks. His self-control was now completely gone. Jalen leaned his head in for another hungry, searing kiss. Kristen moaned against his mouth, her body pressing against him with no hesitation, no fear. Her fingers were now reaching for the button of his jeans. He pushed her to the back of the room to the back wall. Kristen gasped as her back hit the wall, but she didn't stop him. If anything, she only pulled him closer. Jalen's lips moved from her mouth back to her neck, sucking and teasing the sensitive skin. Kristen's fingers tangled into his hair, tugging slightly, which sent a sharp pulse of pure heat through him. Her lipstick was already smudged and left traces on his mouth. She was so damn beautiful. She pulled his shirt up and lifted it over his head. Jalen then tossed it aside. She ran her fingers along his chiseled abs, the warmth of his skin sending a shiver through her. Jalen let her take control, his eyes locked onto hers, dark with hunger.

Kristen unzipped her grey skirt and pulled it off, followed by her white panties, which she gracefully stepped out of as they hit the floor. She kept her blouse, bra, and black patent leather high-heeled pumps, but her lower half (besides her heels) was completely nude and now accessible. Jalen unbuttoned a few of Kristen's buttons on her blouse revealing her white bra underneath, and he smiled. He then pulled his boxers down and kicked them and his shoes and socks off so that he was completely nude now. Kristen looked down and saw that his cock was now reviewed.

"Jesus Christ, Jalen," Kristen said as she looked at it for the first time.

It was like a brown pipe swinging back and forth and was quickly hardening. Kristen instinctively wrapped both of her hands around it and began to stroke. Jalen closed his eyes and leaned his head back, allowing himself to get lost in the sensation. Kristen had never seen a cock this big before, but it didn't deter her from what she wanted right then, which was to have Jalen absolutely fuck the shit out of her and claim her as his.

Jalen became fully hard in Kristen's hands. She shifted the two of them over slightly so that some shelving was behind Jalen. Jalen then lifted Kristen up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, and placed her heels onto the shelving behind Jalen locking herself in place. She knew that if she anchored her high heels on the shelf behind him, she could push up into him just as hard as he was thrusting into her. It would give her leverage, control, and allow her to meet every deep, relentless stroke with equal force.

Kristen's breath hitched as Jalen's hands explored her curves, gripping her in ways that made her feel cherished and devoured all at once. His mouth trailed lower, teasing her, tasting her, making her whimper in ways she never had before.

"Jalen..." she gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair on the back of his head, urging him on.

He took his time, making sure she felt every kiss and flick of his tongue. Jalen was now positioned between her legs and his cock was brushing against the entrance of her vagina. Kristen was aching for him now and she was so wet it was crazy. Both of them were only thinking of one thing now and nothing was going to stop this from happening.

"I want it," she whispered desperately.

Jalen smiled and then finally began to push inside her, stretching her, and filling her completely. Kristen let out a loud shaky, broken moan that filled the entire room, her body arching into him. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Jalen's dick, slowly, inch by inch, push further inside of her, spreading the lips of her wet pussy. His ridged cock head was now inside her. Kristen didn't want him to stop. She wanted it all no matter what. Jalen paused just for a second as if to check and make sure he hadn't broken her. Then a second later, he continued to slowly push deeper. He was stretching her apart, and for Kristen, it hurt, but even the pain was incredibly arousing. Somehow the fact that his dick was big enough to make it hurt like this only made her want his full cock in her even more.

"FUCK!" Kristen yelled.

His cock went in further while his hands grasped her bare ass cheeks. Kristen wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, and she shut her eyes even tighter. Shit. What if he tore her apart?

"Good." She thought.

Kristen focused on her breathing as Jalen's massive force continued its track deeper into her. Her walls somehow continued to find room to accommodate him. Despite the pain and intensity, it was all exhilarating to Kristen. Her pussy had never been pushed to its limits like this before. Limits she didn't even know she had.

From Jalen's perspective, Kristen's vagina felt so good as it wrapped his dick perfectly. She had the perfect amount of tightness around him. Jalen already knew that it wouldn't take very long for him to cum if he wasn't careful, so if he wanted to last longer, he'd have to fight off the climax for as long as possible.

Once his cock had almost entirely made its way inside her, Jalen started to move back and forth, starting slow and deep, making sure she felt every inch of him. Kristen's nails dug into his back, pulling him closer so he was better able to give her everything. The sensation was overwhelming, and Kristen wasn't sure he wouldn't break her, but that was a risk she was willing to take. His cock moved back and forth inside of her at a steady pace.

"God, you're so deep," she said, her voice breathless.

Jalen thrusted into her harder, deeper, filling the storage room with the sound of their bodies smacking against each other. Kristen's moans were now louder, unfiltered, raw, and full of pleasure that she had never felt on this level before. Kristen used the leverage from the shelving behind Jalen where her heels were placed to thrust back up into him, which then allowed him to go even deeper and pound her cervix.

Kristen let out a yell, as the initial pain and sensation from reaching that deep hit her hard, but her pussy soon adapted turning the sensation into mostly pleasure.

Rob had never touched her like this and never made her feel this alive. She met every thrust, her body moving with Jalen's like they were made for each other. Jalen grunted against her skin, gripping her even tighter, kissing her even deeper. This was primal, months of tension finally unleashed. Kristen's and Jalen's lips crashed together again in a messy hungry tongue kiss as they continued to thrust into each other. Kristen wasn't thinking about anything else except how much she wanted to be thoroughly fucked by Jalen. As of right now, her vagina belonged to him.

Before long, Kristen realized that her pussy had grown more and more accustomed to his size and now his cock was sliding more smoothly back and forth in her. He knew how to work it and was hitting it perfectly. His dick was rubbing her G-spot just right, partly thanks to his size but mainly from Jalen's sexual skill. Kristen had never cum from just raw penetration before, but she could feel it building. The heat coiled in her stomach, growing stronger, hotter, and uncontrollable.

"Jalen, Fuck! Don't stop! I'm so close!" she said against his lips.

Jalen thrusted as hard and as deep as he possibly could making sure his dick rubbed just the right spots of her entrance and that was all it took.

"OOOOHHHH FUCK!!!! SHIIIIIIITTTTT, JALEN!!!!!" Kristen screamed. Her nails grasped and dug into the back of his head and the others into his shoulder as her entire body tensed. She let go completely, her body clenching around him, pulling him deeper into her pleasure. After about eight seconds, she came down from the high and continued to clutch Jalen breathing hard, burying her head into his chest. A few moments later, she finally looked up, smiled, and then started laughing.

"I've never cum that hard before," she said breathlessly, barely able to form words.

"Well maybe it's about time that someone allowed you to feel what you deserve to feel," Jalen calmly responded, smiling softly now.

Kristen gave him a mischievous grin. She knew Jalen hadn't cum yet, and she was not about to stop until he did. A condom or any form of birth control were the furthest thing from her mind. She wanted Jalen's cum in her vagina. Kristen pulled him into another messy tongue kiss and began to thrust up into him again, and Jalen followed suit. They continued with their kisses as Jalen thrusted deep inside of her. Kristen moaned through her kisses. She didn't even notice the pain anymore, only the complete unadulterated pleasure from Jalen's cock moving inside of her. She had never thought she'd ever have this much dick inside of her. Pretty soon, both of her hands were clutching Jalen's face as she continued to moan against his lips.

"Cum for me," She whispered against his lips.

Not that Jalen needed any more motivation, but this catalyzed him to continue to maximize his movements hard and even more deliberately so that he was smacking her pelvis with each thrust and rubbing the sweet spot of his cock to get the sensation he needed to trigger his release. Kristen was now bouncing on his cock like a ball on a paddle. About a minute later, with a deep, guttural groan, Jalen gave one final thrust, his whole body clenched and jerked with stiff movements that matched the rhythm of his ejaculating cock. His cum spilled inside of Kristen filling her up quickly. Jalen's tip pulsated stream after stream of cum until he finally fizzled out. Kristen felt so satisfied knowing that her pussy could unravel him like that, and she had never felt sexier and more desired than she did right then. This gorgeous god of man just came inside of her, and not because he wanted to get off, but because he wanted her and chose her. Kristen Stanley. Jalen Moss wanted her and was showing his willingness to put her first and cherish her as a person, which was something Rob had just shown he was unwilling or incapable of doing. It felt like an honor to have Jalen's cum inside of her and dripping from her wet pussy onto the floor.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Their breathing was heavy, bodies still tangled together, and skin damp with sweat. Jalen rested his forehead against hers, his fingers still grasping her ass cheeks. The only sound in the storage room was their breathing, heavy and unsteady. Kristen's body was still tingling from the intensity of what they had just done, and for the first time in a long time, she felt satisfied, wanted, and alive. She closed her eyes, burying her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent, which was warm, masculine, and intoxicating. Jalen exhaled, his arms tightening around her like he could read her mind.

Jalen finally shifted beneath her, his fingers brushing through her hair, his voice a deep murmur against her temple. "You okay?"

That was a loaded question. Kristen swallowed, opening her eyes but not lifting her head. "Yeah," she whispered, pressing her lips against his skin in the softest, almost accidental kiss.

Jalen hummed, his hands still moving slowly over her bare back. "You sure?"

Kristen nodded against him. "Yeah..., I don't regret this."

Jalen let out a slow breath, like he had been waiting to hear that. "Good," he murmured. "Me neither."

She finally pulled back just enough to look at him. Their eyes met, and for the first time all night, she allowed herself to fully take him in. Jalen Moss. The man who had unraveled her in the span of weeks. The man who had just completely wrecked her in the best way possible, and she knew that this wasn't going to be the last time.

*********************************

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, Jalen continued to make great progress on the storage room. During the day, he was the picture of professionalism. Focused, diligent, and making steady progress on the renovation. Jim Harbor had even stopped by, admiring his work, complimenting the attention to detail and efficiency. Jalen nodded, thanked him, and kept everything strictly business. During the day, he and Kristen were just two professionals working together, but once 5:30 PM hit, that's when everything changed.

Jalen would be wrapping up for the day, organizing his tools, making mental notes of what still needed to be done. Then, without fail, he'd hear it. That familiar Click. Click. Click. Kristen's signature high-heeled pumps echoing down the hall. His pulse always jumped the second he heard it, because he already knew what was coming. Kristen never said anything when she entered the storage room, and she didn't have to. She'd just turn around and shut the doors behind her, even though they both knew the entire office had already emptied out. Then she'd walk straight to him, straight to his lips, and then devour him. She'd kiss him like she had been starving for him all day. Her hands were always frantic and fierce, going straight to his belt, then his zipper, freeing him with desperate urgency. Jalen would match her energy, just as desperate, ripping her panties off and getting her into a position to be thoroughly fucked.

On the seventh day or so of these encounters, Kristen surprised Jalen by switching it up. She stepped inside the storage room around 5:20 pm, locking the door behind her with a soft click. Her heels echoed softly on the floor as she walked toward him, deliberate and slow. Her work blouse was unbuttoned just enough to tease. She started off as she normally did by closing the distance and assaulting Jalen's mouth with wet hungry kisses. As usual, she immediately went to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants, but this time, she kneeled down in front of him. Jalen's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything, instead allowing Kristen to do what she apparently felt emboldened to do. Kristen fully undid Jalen's pants and pulled them and his boxers down in one tug and his hardening cock sprang out.

Kristen's breath was shaky, her body humming with heat as her fingers started to stroke over him. She wasn't exactly thinking when she kneeled down in front of Jalen. Something just came over her and she did it instinctively. Now she was wondering what she had just gotten herself into as she stared at his bulging cock right in front of her face, with the head of it just staring at her as if to say, "I'm here. What are you going to do?"

Kristen hadn't given head in years and had only done it a few times with Rob, which was when they were in the early stages of dating, and Rob's dick was half the size of Jalen's. Before that, she'd done it a few times with various guys from her college years to her mid-twenties, but she wouldn't call her performances exactly stellar in those instances. Despite all that, now that Kristen was down here knelt in front of Jalen, she refused to back out. She was ready to taste the cock that had wrecked her pussy many times already.

She mustered all of her...audacity and leaned forward, slowly, deliberately, parting her lips as she hovered just over the thick, swollen head of his cock. She let her breath fan over him first, teasing, testing, and then she felt it. She felt the smallest twitch of his cock in her hand. It sent a thrill through her, her thighs squeezing together at the realization. It told her that even Jalen wasn't completely immune to feeling vulnerable.

Finally, she let her tongue flick out, just barely tasting him. She gave a slow, wet stroke across the sensitive tip. It was salty, warm, and fuck, she liked it. She did it again, her lips brushing against him this time, letting the heat of her mouth tease him. She was pretty much winging it now, but Jalen seemed to like it, so she trusted her gut. He hadn't said a word. He just stood there, completely still, letting her do as she pleased, but she could feel the tightness in his muscles and the tension coiling beneath his skin. His breathing had shifted just slightly. It was deeper now and more controlled. Kristen smiled against him, her confidence building as she let her tongue swirl over him again, this time letting her lips wrap around just the tip.

She gave a slow, wet pull into her mouth, and that was when she finally heard it. The slightest groan, low and deep slipped past Jalen's lips before he caught it, and that sound went straight between her legs. Now she wanted to hear more, and she knew exactly how to get it. Kristen's smile deepened around him as she felt that small, restrained groan slip from Jalen's lips. She had him now, and she wanted more. Without hesitation, she took him deeper, her lips wrapping around his length as her tongue glided over the thick ridge of his tip. He was hot, heavy, throbbing against her tongue. He tasted so good. Her fingers tightened around his base, pumping slowly as she worked him deeper into her mouth, her lips stretching around his sheer size. She heard another low, rumbling from his chest, barely restrained. Kristen's thighs clenched together, her own arousal growing unbearable. She wanted to see how far she could push him. She pulled back agonizingly slow, letting her tongue swirl over the tip, sucking just enough to make him throb in her hand.

And then she did it again and again. It was a slow, torturous rhythm, dragging her lips along his cock, letting the warmth of her mouth tease him just enough to drive him insane. Jalen's fingers twitched against the table he was leaning on, his breathing heavier now, deeper, but he said nothing. Kristen hollowed her cheeks, taking him even deeper, her lips pressing dangerously close to the base, her throat stretching as she pushed herself to take as much of him as she could. A sharp inhale escaped from Jalen, and she only grew more determined hearing it. Her pace quickened, her tongue swirled, and her lips tightened as she sucked harder, chasing that next sound, that next reaction. She wanted him undone.

Kristen became relentless. She had felt the subtle twitches in his body, heard the small, restrained sounds, but it wasn't enough. She wanted to hear him fully unravel and feel him explode in her mouth. She wanted to break that silence. Her lips moved faster, her grip tightening around the base of his cock as she took him deep again, and this time, she didn't hold back. She hollowed her cheeks again, sucking harder, dragging her lips along his length, stroking with just enough pressure to make his breathing shift into something heavier and rougher. She could feel the tension in his muscles and the way his thighs flexed beneath her touch. She was pushing him right to the edge. She moaned around him, the vibration sending a sharp twitch through his cock, and then finally...she heard it.

A deep, low groan ripped from Jalen's throat, loud, unrestrained, completely raw. Her body throbbed at the sound. Her own arousal was unbearable now, with the heat pooling between her legs as she felt the way his cock pulsed against her tongue. He was so close. She could feel his body tightening, his breathing ragged, his control slipping completely. Kristen didn't stop or slow. Her lips stayed tight, her strokes becoming faster, wetter, more demanding, and her tongue working him as she felt his entire body coil with need.

Jalen's hands suddenly grabbed the back of her head, his fingers digging into her hair, his breath sharper, faster until... his abs tensed violently. His cock jerked against her tongue, and then his entire body tensed. His breath was sharper now, and his control slipped completely as Kristen continued to work him with unrelenting precision. His cock throbbed, pulsing hard against her tongue. Jalen let out another deep, guttural groan, his body jerking beneath her as he finally let go. His cock pulsed, spilling hot, thick streams of semen into her mouth, flooding her tongue as his pleasure crashed over him. Kristen didn't stop. She kept sucking as her lips stayed firm, her strokes slowing but deepening, milking every last drop out of him. Jalen shuddered as his abs contracted sharply, another low groan slipping past his lips as she dragged out his release, making him feel everything. His breathing was ragged, his fingers gripping her hair, like he was trying to stay grounded.

Kristen loved the way she had made him completely unravel. She swallowed, her tongue sweeping over him again, cleaning him up as she finally, slowly pulled back. Jalen stood there, his chest rising and falling heavily, his head tilted back, his eyes still closed. He looked absolutely wrecked, and she had done that. Kristen wiped the corner of her lips, smiling slightly as she sat back waiting to see what he would do next. Jalen's eyes finally opened, locking onto Kristen with a look that was heavy, dark, and completely unreadable.

"God damn..." Jalen barely managed to say. "Fuck you emptied me."

Kristen bit her lip smiling, before saying, "You taste really good." Her lipstick was completely gone from her lips now. She had left it all on the shaft. She could see the mixture of red and brown colors on Jalen's dick, and it only made her feel more proud. Kristen knew that his dick needed time to recover, but she also was ready for her pussy to be fed now that her mouth had been.

Kristen stood up and wrapped her arms around Jalen and began to tongue kiss him. Jalen could taste himself a little on her mouth but that didn't bother him. Kristen knew what she was doing. Jalen was still standing there with his jeans and boxers down around his ankles, tongue kissing Kristen. Kristen began to play with his cock as she continued to kiss him, desperate to revitalize it.

"You know you can't rush him, right?" Jalen said, chuckling against her lips.

"The hell I can't." She responded between kisses. She continued to put sloppy tongue kisses on Jalen while simultaneously massaging his cock, and eventually after a few more minutes... her efforts proved fruitful. Kristen felt his cock harden in her hands and she smiled on Jalen's lips. Once he was fully erect, she pulled back. Kristen then turned around without saying a word and leaned against a nearby counter, planting both hands flat on it, her back arched, her skirt riding high up her thighs. She looked over her shoulder, green eyes dark with need. Jalen stepped behind her, pushing her skirt up to her waist. He paused for a second, just taking her in. The way her lace thong clung to her curves, the way her heels made her legs stretch long and smooth, and the way she was presenting herself to him without a trace of shame was such a pleasure to see. He bent slightly, kissing her lower back, then dragging his lips up to the nape of her neck. Kristen shivered.

"You drive me crazy," he muttered.

His hands slid down to her thighs, fingers curling under the waistband of her thong. He pulled it down slowly, watching it slide over her skin and fall to the floor. Jalen positioned himself behind her. Kristen moaned softly when she felt the heat of him pressed between her ass cheeks, teasing her, dragging slowly along her slick entrance. Her hands gripped the edge of the table tighter.

"Please, Jalen..."

He pushed in slowly, inch by inch, letting her feel every bit of him stretching her. Kristen gasped, her head dropping between her shoulders. "God..."

Jalen groaned, his hands gripping her hips as he slid all the way inside. She was hot, wet, and tight as usual. It felt amazing every time. Every time he moved, she clenched harder around him like her body didn't want to let him go.

He started with slow, deep thrusts, each one measured, dragging pleasure through both of them. Kristen pushed back against him, her breathing ragged, her heels slipping slightly against the floor.

"Harder," she said, voice strained. "Don't hold back."

Jalen didn't. His grip on her hips tightened, and he drove into her harder and faster. The sounds of skin meeting skin echoed off the storage room walls. Kristen's soft moans turned into helpless cries as the table rattled beneath her.

"Fuck, Kristen," he groaned, thrusting deep again.

Her eyes rolled back. "Yes... just like that... don't stop..."

Jalen leaned over her, his chest pressing to her back, one hand reaching up to wrap around her throat, not squeezing, just holding and owning. Kristen gasped at the feeling, her body trembling beneath him.

He growled low in her ear. "You wanted this?"

"Yes," she whimpered.

"Then take it."

He slammed into her harder, relentless now, chasing her moans, her heat, her trembling legs. Kristen screamed. She was falling apart, completely, gloriously demolished. Somehow, yet again, his dick was rubbing her spot perfectly enough to trigger her orgasm.

She came a moment later, and her entire body shook. Her cry filled the room, hands scrambling across the table as the orgasm ripped through her. Jalen kept moving, dragging it out, riding it with her, groaning at how tightly she gripped him.

When she finally sagged against the table, breathless and spent, Jalen pulled her back upright, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. "You good?"

Kristen nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Fuck yeah."

He was still hard, still inside her.

"Are you going to finish?" Kristen asked not even looking back at him.

Jalen grinned and resumed his thrusts. He quickly picked up his pace, penetrating to the very depths of her pussy. While Kristen had become somewhat used to his size, it was still overwhelming to be pounded like this by him. The room filled with the sound of clapping cheeks as Jalen's pelvis repeatedly slammed into her ass. Kristen moaned loudly from the intensity of Jalen's rapid fire deep penetration. It was a good thing no one was around because Kristen's moans could probably be heard from the second floor.

Jalen lost himself completely, gripping her thighs tighter and thrusting deeper, harder, until she was clutching the sides of the counter. Jalen's peak pleasure came up on him rapidly and before he knew it, he felt it. He let out several low growls and let go, emptying himself deep inside of her. Kristen moaned in satisfaction as she felt his tip spray its load, coating her walls with his glorious semen. This was their new reality. This was their routine every evening, after everyone else had gone home. Perhaps they should have felt guilty and stopped, thinking about the consequences, but they hadn't.

A few minutes later, Kristen's back rested against the storage room wall, her legs still tingling from the aftermath of what had just happened. Again.

Jalen was pulling up his pants, still smiling, that post-sex glow all over him.

"So... what are we?" He said jokingly.

The words were casual, tossed out like an obvious joke, but Kristen froze. It wasn't a joke, not really. Jalen wasn't pressing her or demanding answers, but the fact that he had even asked meant that he was thinking about it. That sent a jolt of panic straight through her chest.

Kristen exhaled, running a hand through her tousled hair, trying to buy herself a moment. The truth was she had no idea what they were. All she knew was what this was right now. This was an addictive, secret, desperate thing between them, but what about the rest? What about Rob? Was she going to try again to save their relationship? Would she finally pack her things and leave? Would she tell Rob about Jalen? What happened if she did leave, and what if, after all this, Jalen didn't actually want anything serious with her? What if she walked away from her entire life, only to find out that this wasn't meant to last?

Kristen let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "I... don't know."

Jalen lifted an eyebrow, his smile fading just a little. "Fair enough," he muttered, buttoning his pants, watching her carefully.

Kristen bit her lip, suddenly feeling frustrated with herself. She wasn't blind. She could tell Jalen was waiting for her to figure it out and stop playing this game where she ran to him every evening, but still went home to another man. The worst part was she knew she was being selfish and keeping them both in limbo.

Kristen inhaled deeply, finally looking at Jalen. "I just... I need to figure some things out."

Jalen studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, but this time, there was no smile.

Just a simple, serious acceptance. And for the first time since this started, Kristen felt scared. What if, while she was trying to figure things out, Jalen decided he was done waiting?

**************************************

The next day, Friday, was Jalen's last day at Georgia Wellness. The storage room was complete. Jalen wiped the sweat from his forehead, standing back to admire the finished storage room. Everything was organized, upgraded, and ready for Georgia Wellness to roll out their expanded health initiatives. Jim Harbor had already come by earlier, praising his work, talking about how much of a difference this was going to make for their outreach programs.

"Hell of a job, Jalen," Jim had said, shaking his hand. "You ever need a reference; you call me first."

Jalen had smiled, thanked him, and promised to keep in touch. Now, all that was left to do was pack up the last of his tools and leave. He hadn't seen Kristen all day.

Kristen had been avoiding him. She wasn't proud of it, but she also wasn't ready because the second she saw him, she was going to have to face reality. The reality that, after tonight, he wouldn't be around anymore, and she wasn't ready to let him go. It was almost 5:45 PM when Kristen finally worked up the courage to go to the storage room. When she walked in, Jalen was zipping up his tool bag, looking up as she entered. And the second their eyes met, Kristen's chest tightened painfully. He was really leaving. Jalen smiled lightly, but there was something softer in his eyes.

"Figured you were gonna avoid me all day," he said casually.

Kristen swallowed hard, crossing her arms. "I wasn't avoiding you."

Jalen lifted an eyebrow, amused. "You sure?"

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Okay. Maybe a little."

Jalen's expression shifted, turning serious. "You good?"

Kristen bit her lip, suddenly overwhelmed with everything she wanted to say, but none of the words came out. Instead, she just whispered, "I don't want this to be over."

Jalen's jaw tensed, his hands still gripping the handle of his tool bag as Kristen's words hung in the air.

"I can't date you right now, Jalen, but I also really want you to remain in my life." She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "God, hearing it out loud, I sound selfish as hell."

Jalen exhaled slowly, rolling his lips together like he was choosing his words carefully, because he couldn't lie. He liked her. More than he ever meant to, but this wasn't fair to either of them.

He sighed, finally setting his tool bag down. "Kristen... what exactly are you asking me for?"

Kristen swallowed, her eyes pleading. "I don't know."

That was the problem. Jalen ran a hand over his beard, shaking his head. "Look... I get it. You need time to figure things out. But I can't just... sit around waiting for you to decide what you want."

Kristen's stomach tightened. "I'm not asking you to wait."

Jalen gave her a look. "Aren't you?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Deep down, maybe she was. Maybe she wanted him to stay close enough that he'd still be an option when she finally got her life together, but she knew that wouldn't be fair to him.

"I just don't want to lose you," she admitted, voice almost breaking.

Jalen let out a slow breath, stepping closer, tilting her chin up so she had to look at him. "You have me, Kristen. You know that."

She felt her heart squeeze. "But I also need to protect myself," he added.

That made her stomach drop because she knew exactly what he meant. He wasn't going to chase her nor was he going to wait in the wings while she figured out her situation with Rob. He had given her all the time and space she needed, but at some point, she had to make a real decision. Kristen blinked up at him, emotions swirling in her chest.

"Hey." Jalen says breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" Kristen responds looking up.

"One more time?" Jalen says smiling.

Kristen's breath hitched. She had been so caught up in her emotions, in the weight of what they were saying, she hadn't expected that. Her eyes searched Jalen's, trying to figure out what he was thinking. Was he saying this because he wanted closure, because he couldn't walk away just yet, or was he saying it because he knew neither of them were ready to stop? Kristen's heartbeat pounded in her ears. She should have said no. She should have been thinking clearly and responsibly, but instead, she whispered, "Yes."

Kristen barely had time to react before Jalen closed the distance and his mouth crashed onto hers, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her against him. This wasn't gentle or soft. This was desperate because they both knew that this could be the last time. Their hands were everywhere, frantic, like they were trying to commit every touch, every sensation to memory. Jalen lifted her onto the storage counter, stepping between her thighs, his fingers digging into her skin. Kristen moaned, her nails raking down his back, already needing more. Clothes disappeared in record time. Familiar movements, but this time was different. This time, there was something heavier in the air. Something dangerous and something that said, "this isn't really goodbye, is it?" Jalen pressed inside her slow and deep, making Kristen's head fall back, her lips parting in a breathless moan.

"Damn..." Jalen muttered, his forehead dropping to hers, breathing just as ragged.

Kristen clutched at his shoulders, pulling him even closer, needing to feel all of him. He entered inside of her, and again Kristen relished how much he stretched her out and how deep inside her he reached. Their bodies moved together, their rhythm familiar but urgent, like neither of them wanted to let go. In that moment all that mattered was each other.

Before long, Jalem tensed up and his tip pulsated shooting streams of cum deep inside her. They stayed embraced. Kristen curled into Jalen's chest, her breathing still uneven, her mind spinning. Jalen's hand traced slow circles against her bare back, his head resting against hers. Neither of them spoke. What was there to say? She had told him she wasn't ready to date him. She had told him that she needed to figure things out, and yet here she was, still wrapped around him, still craving his touch, and still feeling like he was the only thing that made sense. Kristen squeezed her eyes shut. Now she had to ask herself.... was she really going to walk away from this, or had she just made her choice without realizing it?

Kristen's body shuddered, still wrapped around Jalen, her breath uneven, her skin glistening with sweat from the intensity of what they had just done. She could still feel him inside her, his warmth, his weight, the undeniable reality of what they had just shared.

And then... he said, "You can call me anytime. I'll always be there for you."

Kristen's stomach tightened. She hadn't expected that. Not after everything she had just said, and yet, here he was, still inside her, holding onto her, and offering her something real, even when she didn't know if she deserved it. Kristen swallowed hard, her fingers still clutching at his shoulders. Jalen's voice had been calm, steady, but there was something else in it. Something that told her he wasn't saying this lightly. This wasn't just a casual goodbye. This was a promise. Kristen exhaled slowly, pressing her forehead against his, still feeling the weight of him, the heat of him.

"Jalen..." she whispered; her voice barely audible.

He didn't move or pull away, and he didn't say anything else. He was letting her process it. For the last week, Kristen had convinced herself that this was temporary, and that once he was gone, it would be easier to let go. Now, he was telling her that it didn't have to end, and that no matter what she decided, he would still be there for her.

Kristen closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of Jalen's breath against her skin. What if she never left? What if she never went back to Rob? What if she just... chose this? Right here. Right now. The thought sent a sharp, terrifying thrill through her chest. Because for the first time, she realized she didn't just want Jalen in secret. She wanted him in her life completely.

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