The first thing I register is warmth. The kind that seeps into my skin, steady and unyielding. Then, the scent—smoke, whiskey, and something uniquely Everest. My fingers twitch against the sheets before I even open my eyes, feeling the weight of his arm draped over my waist, his hand splayed across my stomach like he's afraid I'll slip away.

My head is heavy, my body sore in the best way possible, but it's the tangle of emotions that truly weighs me down. Last night wasn't just a mistake fueled by alcohol or adrenaline. It was something more, something that scared the hell out of me.

Slowly, I blink my eyes open, sunlight creeping through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. Everest is still asleep beside me, his bare chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. I study his face in the quiet morning light—the sharp jawline, the dark stubble shadowing his chin, the way his brows furrow slightly even in sleep, like he's still fighting something in his dreams.

For a moment, I let myself enjoy it. The silence. The safety. The illusion that everything is okay.

But reality is never far behind.

Bree. The Devils Blood. The fact that trusting Everest fully still feels like stepping onto unstable ground.

I shift carefully, trying to slip out from under his arm without waking him, but the moment I move, his grip tightens, and his gravelly morning voice rumbles against my ear.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I freeze, my breath catching as his voice washes over me, rough and drowsy but laced with something deeper. Possessiveness. Like he already knows I'm trying to run—physically or emotionally, maybe both.

"Everest," I sigh, pressing my hands against his chest to push myself up. "I need to get up."

His arm tightens around me, and before I can react, he flips us, pinning me beneath him. His weight is familiar, solid, and his eyes, still hazy with sleep, search mine. "You're thinking too much."

I scoff, trying to ignore the way my heart stutters. "I have a lot to think about."

His fingers trail down my side—slow, deliberate. Even though I hate how easily my body reacts to him, I shiver. He notices, of course he does, and his smirk deepens. "What's there to think about?" he murmurs, lowering his lips to my jaw.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that I have a load of laundry to do and work tomorrow with no clean scrubs," I say dryly, rolling my eyes.

Everest just chuckles, unfazed, and tightens his grip, pulling me deeper into the bed as if that alone will make me stay.

"I don't want you working anymore." His voice is firm, unwavering.

I freeze for a second before pushing his hand away, sitting up to look at him. "I'm going to work, Everest. I'm not solely relying on you," I state, my voice calm but resolute.

Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I grab the basket of laundry and make my way out of the bedroom, refusing to let him rope me into this argument.

"There's too much going on. I told you—"

I cut him off as he follows me, dropping the basket at our feet and pressing my pointer finger to his chest. "I'm going back to work until something happens. I'm going back to work," I repeat, standing my ground, my tone unwavering.

His eyes narrow, watching me, testing me. I can see the muscle in his jaw twitch, irritation flashing across his features, but I refuse to back down. My gaze flickers between his eyes, daring him to push further.

His nostrils flare as he exhales sharply. "I got shit to do today," he mutters before turning on his heel and storming back into the bedroom. Moments later, he emerges fully dressed, grabbing his keys and slamming the front door behind him.

I let out a breath, shaking my head as I bend down to pick up the basket again. So dramatic.

———————————————-

Later That Evening

"So, Austin asked about you last night," I said to Brooke during our FaceTime call. We had been talking for over an hour, and as always, she wanted to hear every detail of what I had been up to, especially when it came to my so-called romantic getaway.

She had already mentioned that Everest called her, awkwardly asking if she could come over to pick out a few clothes for our trip. He had told her that he was planning a much-needed vacation for the two of us.

"Well, are you going to tell me what he asked?" Brooke asked eagerly, her voice full of curiosity.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes as I stood up from the couch. "He just asked if you had sent anything about him, and I told him no." I shrugged my shoulders and poured myself a glass of wine from the fridge.

"Ugh! He's been coming around me more often. I feel like he's up to something," she complained, continuing to snack as she lay in her bed.

"I don't know, girl. Everest doesn't talk about his brother—or anything, for that matter," I replied, sitting down at the table with my basket of laundry.

"Well, we should get together for a drink sometime this week when you're off work. Maybe Everest will finally let you out for once," she joked, and we both laughed.

I smiled, waving at the screen. "Sounds good. I'll talk to you later." We exchanged "I love yous" before I ended the call.

By the time Everest returns, the tension is still thick in the air. I'm in the kitchen, folding laundry at the table, the soft hum of music from my phone breaking the silence. He doesn't say anything at first, just leans against the doorway, watching me.

I pretend not to notice, keeping my focus on the scrubs in my hands. "You gonna stand there all night or actually say something?" I finally ask, not looking up.

He exhales, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward me. "I don't like the idea of you being out there alone."

I glance up, arching a brow. "I work at a hospital, Everest. Not exactly the most dangerous place."

"That's not the point." He drags a hand through his hair, frustration evident. "If something happens, I need to know I can take care of you. That I am taking care of you."

I sigh, setting down the shirt in my hands. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Sin. I've been taking care of myself for a long time."

He steps closer, his hands finding my waist, his voice softer now. "Yeah, and I hate that you had to."

For a moment, the anger fades. The walls crack just enough for me to see it—the way he's trying, the way he's scared to lose control of something he can't protect.

I swallow, resting my hands over his. "I just need you to trust me on this."

His grip tightens slightly, but after a beat, he nods. "Fine."

I exhale in relief, but just as I think the conversation is over, he leans down, lips grazing my ear.

"But you're still letting me drive you to work."

I roll my eyes, but I can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Of course I am. You're insufferable."

He grins, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "And you love it."

I shake my head, laughing softly, but I don't deny it.

His kisses don't stop at my shoulder as he makes his way back up to my neck. I can feel the tension rising between us, and I know exactly where this is headed.

I lean fully back on the counter, and he effortlessly picks me up, placing me on it as his lips devour mine. My hair runs through his fingers, and I can feel the hardness of his body already as his jeans press against the thin fabric of my leggings. "Mmm," I moan softly.

Without hesitation, he grabs the hem of my leggings, playing with it before ripping them completely. I gasp, looking down at my now torn leggings, leaving me exposed against the cold granite counter.

"Everest!" I smack his shoulder, but he doesn't listen, continuing to pull off my leggings and drag me off the counter.

I whimper as I look at my destroyed leggings lying on the floor. When I look back up at him, he grabs my waist with both hands, turning me around completely and leaning my head down as my cheek presses flat against the counter.

"No underwear? I like that easy access," he says, though it feels more like he's speaking to himself than addressing me, as he continues to unbuckle his jeans, letting them fall completely to the floor, releasing himself from his boxers.

And with one swift motion, he's inside of me . "Ahh Sinnn......" A long moan passes my lips as my ass smacks against his waist as he goes in and out of me

"I could fuck you all day. I would die in this pussy." He moans out, continuing to go faster. I could barely register anything he was saying, as I was completely in a daze, focusing on one thing and one thing.

I feel his hand, sneak around to my front doing what he's good at to help me finally reach my climax so we could come in unison.

"Come on baby, cum for me." he says, and not even three pumps later I could feel myself completely losing control as my arms flail on the counter, completely knocking over everything around me, smashing to the ground.

Both of us breathing heavy, as I just lay there, trying to catch my breath. He steps back, pulling completely out of me. I could feel his cum dripping down the inside of my thigh. I just close my eyes laying there for a second trying to register everything.

I finally manage to stand, still leaning my weight on the counter, taking note of everything I had pushed off in my haste. Now, I would be the one to clean up the mess. I exhale deeply, picking up the remnants of my torn leggings and heading toward the bedroom.

I pull out a pair of shorts, tossing the ruined leggings into the trash, and quickly throw my hair into a messy bun. "Apology accepted?" Everest asks, stepping into the bedroom wearing nothing but his boxers, carrying his clothes before carelessly tossing them on the floor.

I give him a pointed look, standing with an expression that says, Oh, really? "So, this was your way of apologizing?" I ask, following him into the bathroom where he's brushing his teeth.

Leaning against the doorframe, I stare at him, utterly flabbergasted by how unfazed he is. "I'll take that as a yes," I say with a sigh, rolling my eyes before walking out of the bathroom and back to the kitchen to clean up.

As I begin picking up the broken pieces, I glance at the clock—9:30 PM. I had a long shift ahead of me tomorrow, and I couldn't afford to waste any more time.

I finish cleaning up the kitchen, tossing the last of the broken dishes into the trash. The home feels quiet again, the chaos of the evening settling into its usual calm. The clock reads 9:45, and I'm reminded of the long shift I'll be facing tomorrow. There's no time to linger on tonight's mess—there's always more to do. I glance over at the couch where my phone is charging, still buzzing with notifications I haven't bothered to check. The reminder of work and responsibilities pulls me back into reality. It's not like I can afford to dwell on anything else. There's no room for distractions, not tonight.

After tossing on a pair of comfortable shorts and grabbing a quick snack, I head to the bedroom. Everest is already asleep, sprawled out across the bed, the blanket tangled around him like he doesn't have a care in the world. I roll my eyes at his carefree demeanor, but there's no energy left in me to deal with it. I pull the covers over myself, trying to shut out the noise from earlier in the night. The weight of the day is still there, but I can't afford to focus on it.