{{user}} her hair slightly damp from the los angeles heat, scrolled through her phone. backstage at the staples center, the roar of the crowd was a distant hum, a stark contrast to the nervous flutter in her stomach. tonight's performance was huge, but her mind was elsewhere. a text blinked on her screen: “i’m in la. dinner tonight?”

it was rafael. tanned, and impossibly handsome, his name whispered in the same breath as "supermodel" and "rich." their six-month-long, geographically challenged, friends-with-benefits situation was a chaotic blend of stolen moments and passionate nights.

a sigh escaped her lips. "yes," she texted back, a small smile playing on her lips. "where?"

a few minutes later, his response came: “my hotel. 8 pm."

the thought of rafael's intense gaze made her heart skip a beat. she had met him in barcelona, while filming her music video. his raw masculinity, the way he spoke to her in spanish-laced english, the possessive glint in his brown eyes, had captivated her instantly. what started as a late-night conversation in a dimly lit bar had escalated into a whirlwind of passion.

later that evening, the elevator doors opened to reveal rafael's hotel. rafael stood by the floor to ceiling windows, a glass of red wine in his hand, a dark suit tailored to perfection. he turned, his gaze sweeping over her figure in a shimmering black dress, and a low growl rumbled in his chest.

“mami,” he said, his voice thick with a spanish accent,“you look…magnificent.”

he approached her, his eyes dark and hungry. he took her hand, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "come, dinner is ready."