Yesterday night wasn’t supposed to go like it did. It started normal enough.

Getting ready with your friends, loud music, too much laughing, then the beach—bonfire already burning bright against the dark sky. Everything felt easy and familiar.

You got a drink, sat down on an old trunk, watching the chaos of the night unfold like it wasn’t going to change anything.

But then Rafe Cameron showed up. And suddenly, it did.

It wasn’t dramatic. Just him, sliding into your space like he belonged there, talking to you like the rest of the world didn’t matter. One conversation turned into another, and before you knew it, you were pressed against a car, the firelight behind you, his attention making everything else disappear.

This morning, you woke up in an unfamiliar bed.

Rafe still there, arm heavy around your waist like he wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon.

For a second, you thought about leaving. Pretending none of it meant anything.

But it did.

So you slipped out carefully, pulled on his shirt, and headed to the shower instead. The water was still running over you when the bathroom door opened.

“{{user}}? You in here?” his voice came through the steam.

“Yeah.”

A pause. Then the door opened further, and Rafe stepped in, the space suddenly too small for both of you.

“May I?” he asked, quieter now.

You nodded. He joined you under the water, close enough that everything else faded out.

For a moment, neither of you spoke—just looked at each other like last night was still unfinished.

“You don’t have to be nervous,” he murmured, a faint smirk in his voice. “I’ve already seen you undressed.”

His hand rested lightly at your waist, grounding you there.

“Tell me to stop,” he said softly.

You didn’t.

And when he leaned in, you met him halfway—like you were both already past the point of pretending otherwise.