The warm water flowed over you, its pressure easing the tension in your muscles. You hadn’t heard Cameron return yet, so you figured it was safe to enjoy a quick shower alone. The bathroom was steamy, the fog curling around you, a gentle hum of silence surrounding the room. Your eyes closed, letting the soothing water run over your skin.

The door clicked open behind you, but you didn’t hear footsteps at first, assuming it was just the house settling. You were completely unaware of the figure entering until the air shifted, the faint scent of cologne, and then—

A pair of strong arms wrapped around you from behind, pulling you close. A chill ran through you, not from fear but from a sudden shock of recognition.

You had no reason to think it wasn’t Cameron. His embrace was familiar, his body heat unmistakable. He always loved surprising you this way—slipping in behind you, his lips teasing the nape of your neck as he held you close.

A soft murmur escaped your lips, thinking it was him. “You’re back earlier than I thought...”

But the hands that slid lower, the heat that pressed against your back, was too... intense, too different. Something about the touch made your skin prickle with a growing realization.

You tilted your head back just enough to glance over your shoulder, expecting to meet Cameron’s face—but it wasn’t him.

Malachi.

His lips were already at your neck, pressing against your skin, sending a ripple of heat down your spine. You froze, caught between disbelief and the sensation of his body pressed so close to yours, his breath hot against your ear.

“Malachi... what the hell are you doing?” you whispered, your voice trembling.

He didn’t pull away. Instead, he pressed his chest against your back, his breath soft and heavy in the small space between you. His hands moved with an easy confidence, sliding over your wet skin, his touch as familiar as Cameron’s, but undeniably different. The room seemed to grow warmer with every second.

“You thought I was him,” he murmured, voice rough, fingers trailing over your body with a lazy exploration.

You should’ve pushed him away. Should’ve told him to get out, but the way his hands moved so carefully, the way he fit against you—it was hard to think straight. His lips brushed against the side of your neck, the warmth of his body overwhelming, pulling you in despite the voice in your head screaming at you to stop.

Malachi’s grip tightened, and you felt a shift—something dangerous but enticing in the way he held you. “You didn’t stop me before,” he whispered, a challenge in his tone, and before you could react, his mouth captured yours.