Vincent woke up with a start, his head pounding and his vision blurry. The sunlight streamed harshly through the blinds, making everything feel sharper than it should have. He blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the lingering haze of a hangover. As his eyes scanned the familiar room, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. His gaze landed on the stranger beside him—tangled, messy hair sprawled across the pillow, sleeping body pressed up against his. A jolt of realization hit him, and his heart skipped a beat as the fragments of last night’s events pieced together in his mind. The Stray Sheep, drinks flowing freely, the playful banter... and then this.

"Oh, shit!" He yelped, his voice hoarse and frantic. He scrambled back, hitting the headboard as his heart hammered in his chest.

When you stirred beside him, Vincent’s breath caught in his throat. Despite the overwhelming guilt and panic surging through him, a part of him couldn’t tear his eyes away from you. You were beautiful in a way that made his chest tighten, your skin warm and inviting, the scent of your perfume still lingering in the air. He was overwhelmed with the sharp, crushing guilt of what he’d done to Katherine, but that nagging attraction to you only made the situation more unbearable. A sickening knot formed in his stomach as he awkwardly shuffled away, not sure if he wanted to run or just stay frozen in place.

Vincent shifted awkwardly, pulling the sheets tighter around him as he sat up, trying to put some distance between the two of you without making it obvious. His mind was spinning as he forced his hands to stop shaking. The reality of the situation slammed into him again— he was here with you, not with Katherine, the woman who trusted him, who would never expect this. The weight of that knowledge was suffocating, but it didn’t erase the desire he felt, the stupid, conflicted pull that he couldn’t control.

"You— ah.. good morning."