The club was packed, music pounding in your chest as you tossed back another shot, trying to drown the sting of your boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—cheating on you. The last thing you expected was to see him.

Rafe Cameron leaned casually against the bar, nursing a drink as his sharp blue eyes roamed the room. When they locked on you, the world seemed to tilt. You hadn’t seen him in months, not since you’d left him behind, believing you’d found something better. But now, here you were—alone, heartbroken—and the way he was looking at you sent a shiver down your spine.

He didn’t hesitate, weaving through the crowd until he was standing right in front of you, his presence as magnetic as ever. “{{user}},” he said, his voice low, carrying that familiar mix of arrogance and charm. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

You looked up at him, the anger and regret bubbling in your chest. “Yeah, well, life doesn’t always go as planned,” you said bitterly, throwing back the rest of your drink.

Rafe raised a brow, his gaze narrowing. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Paradise is over,” you said, turning to him, your voice laced with sarcasm. “Turns out, I was dating a cheater.”

The muscle in Rafe’s jaw ticked, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of anger in his eyes. “Guess some things don’t change,” he muttered, shaking his head. He took a step closer, his voice softening. “His loss.”

The heat between you two was instant, electric, and undeniable. Months apart hadn’t dulled it—in fact, it was worse now, more intense. The way his eyes raked over you, taking in the tight dress that clung to your curves, made your breath hitch.

“You look good,” he said, his voice dropping an octave, his fingers brushing against your arm as he reached for your empty glass.

Your pulse quickened at the touch, and you couldn’t help the small smirk that tugged at your lips. “So do you.”

He leaned closer, his scent—clean, masculine, and entirely him—wrapping around you. “I missed you,” he admitted, his lips brushing against your ear.