Katrina opened her eyes, her mind still numb, her head heavy.
A strange warmth passed through her—soft, familiar...and terribly uncomfortable.
She blinked a few times, trying to figure out why she felt so...stuck.
Then, slowly, she looked down.
His heart stopped abruptly.
- Oh no... no no no... she whispered, her voice trembling.
Beneath her, Klaus slept peacefully, shirtless, his face relaxed. His arms rested nonchalantly around her, as if unconsciously refusing to let her go.
The sheet slipped a little, revealing just enough to remind Katrina of everything that had happened the day before.
She put a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide, horrified.
"Lord… what have I done? she whispered, scarlet. I… I slept with a boy who is my daughter's age…
Her heart was beating so hard she was afraid she would wake him. Slowly, very slowly, she freed herself from his arms, almost tripping over the edge of the bed.
She looked for her clothes scattered on the floor, picked up her shirt, her skirt, her stockings, and put them on hastily. Every rustle of fabric sounded like a crime.
Before leaving, she took one last look at the sleeping young man.
His face… so calm, so peaceful. Too peaceful for such a demon.
"Forget it, Katrina. Forget… everything, she muttered to herself before carefully closing the door.
A gentle silence fell in the room.
Then, on the bed, Klaus half-opened one eye.
A slow, almost feline smile stretched his lips.
"See you soon… Madame Katrina," he whispered in a low voice full of sensuality.
Asher's.
Asher sat up abruptly, breathing short and head heavy.
— Ugh... my head... he moaned. What...what happened?
He grabbed his phone.
The screen said Tuesday.
He remained frozen.
- Tuesday ?! But… the last thing I remember was Sunday evening!
He rubbed his forehead, panicked.
Two days erased. A total black hole.
Trying to calm down, he decided to go downstairs.
The smell of coffee wafted from the kitchen. There, he saw Miria, Alix and Kira, ready to leave, their bags on their backs.
— Hello girls! he said, trying to sound natural.
Miria froze, then quickly answered, without looking at him:
— Hello, Asher. We... we have to go, we're late.
Before he could respond, she grabbed her bag and almost ran out the door.
Asher, surprised, followed her with his gaze.
— What's wrong with her?
Alix and Kira exchanged an embarrassed look.
Then Alix, closing her bag, replied with a nervous smile:
— Oh, nothing, just... we're late.
"Very late," Kira confirmed, pulling Alix towards the exit.
The two followed Miria, leaving him alone in the living room.
Asher blinked, confused.
— Is it me or... are they avoiding me?
He sat down, perplexed, and that's when he noticed a broken vase on the ground.
He crouched down, touched a shard... and immediately, visions crossed his mind: Miria, her warmth, her lips close to his... Blurry, sensual images, between dream and reality.
Asher jerked his hand away, panting.
"What… was that?"
On the way, the three girls walked side by side.
Alix had this little mocking smile that always announced a tease.
— Hey, Miria... are you going to explain to us why you were red to your ears this morning?
"Yeah," Kira added, a little too innocently. Is it because of the "potion" or the "Asher treatment"?
Miria clenched her fists.
— Can you please avoid reminding me of this shame?!
— Oh, come on! Alix protested. It was still cute, the way you moaned "A-Asher stop…" with your trembling voice!
— I wasn't moaning! Miria shouted, scarlet.
Kira burst out laughing.
— Yes, yes, completely! Honestly, we almost felt sorry for you.
Miria quickened her pace, furious.
— You are impossible!
But little by little, the tone calmed down.
A slightly heavier silence settled in. Miria finally whispers:
—I'm breaking up with Ray.
The other two stopped abruptly.
- What ? said Alix. But… are you serious?
"Yes," Miria replied, without looking at them. I can't keep lying to him. I…
She hesitated, then whispered:
—I like Asher.
Kira looked at her gently.
—Are you sure of yourself? Because that… that's going to change a lot of things.
- I know. But I can't stand lying to myself anymore. I love him, with all my heart.
A silence, then Alix smiles gently.
"Well… in that case, we'll be here for you, okay?" Even if you chose a guy who drives you crazy.
"Literally crazy," Kira added, laughing.
Miria smiled, despite her red cheeks.
—Thank you, girls.
They resumed their walk, while the sun rose slowly behind them.