HEA: A Collection

When people see Ariel and Lance, it’s obvious who wears the pants in the relationship. So when a new coworker of Lance’s begins to pursue him in hopes of “saving” him from a tyrannical woman, it’s expected for Ariel to step up and stake her claim on her man. But Lance isn’t exactly the innocent he seems to be…

The first time Kylie saw them together, she didn’t think much of it. After all, she knew Lance was already in a relationship. Not only did he mention his girlfriend often, but even their coworkers brought up the name Ariel quite a few times. It was well known that Lance’s girlfriend dropped him off at the hospital and picked him up after his shift. He had a driver’s license, so it wasn’t as if he couldn’t drive himself, but it was just a mutual agreement they had.

Admittedly, Ariel was a beautiful woman, but at the same time, someone who Kylie couldn’t see Lance being in a relationship with. As one of the few male nurses throughout the hospital, he captured a lot of attention from the staff. Not just that, but he was kind, gentle, and good at his job. When Kylie imagined his significant other, she pictured someone who would be similar to him: soft, sweet, and deserving to be spoiled by his tender nature.

But Ariel? She was boisterous, flashy, and rough. Yes, there was a mature charisma about her that made her get along with nearly anyone and everyone, but their personalities were total opposites and not complementing of each other. Plus, when Lance was in front of Ariel, he became more quiet, more demure, and not as lively. Their coworkers said it was simply their dynamic—as Ariel seemed the type to wear the pants in the relationship. However, it reminded Kylie of her friends’ past relationships, as well as her own. She had an ex who just drained the energy out of her and made her become more reserved and not like herself. Of course, she eventually broke up with him and returned to her usual self, but the experience helped her recognize when people just didn’t mesh well.

Still, Lance and Ariel were in a stable relationship. Regardless of how much Kylie may have liked Lance from their first meeting, she knew better than to try and pursue a taken man.

That was, until one particular night.

The hospital was especially crowded that day, and everyone was constantly running around like busy bees. As a new nursing assistant, Kylie felt overwhelmed by her first rough shift. However, Lance never once made her feel uncomfortable, and though he was busy himself as one of the few nurses working that night, he did his best to help her where he could.

It made her fall in love with him all over again.

Together, they pushed through the night and finished their shift a little later than usual, exhausted and drained. As their group of coworkers were on their way to the employee parking lot, they recognized someone inside the building with her arms crossed over her chest. Usually she was sitting in her car while she waited.

Ariel. And she didn’t look happy.

Her narrow eyes landed on Lance and a sneer tugged at her lips. “Just look at you. If you’d gone to bed early like I said so, you wouldn’t be this tired.”

The group tried to explain the situation, but Ariel wasn’t having any of it. Her usual casual air was gone, replaced by a stern intensity.

“I appreciate you guys trying to stick up for him, but he’s an adult who should know better. In fact, as a nurse, he should know how important it is to keep your body well-rested in case of days such as these.”

Lance made no reply, which seemed to tick Ariel off even more. Then, she stormed towards him, took hold of his hand, and dragged him away. He was taller and bigger than her, and yet, at that moment, he looked like a small child silenced by guilt.

The others didn’t read too much into it—as they were on friendly terms and familiar with the couple—but Kylie was horrified by the treatment. As his girlfriend, shouldn’t Ariel be more understanding? If it were Kylie, she would’ve done everything in her power to make sure Lance was comfortable after such a long and hard shift. Instead, she’d scolded him in front of his coworkers and dragged him away like he was a dog on a leash—probably to scold him some more without others watching.

It was then that Kylie decided she couldn’t stand to sit back and watch Lance be mistreated.

“She’s doing it again.”

“I can’t believe the patience Lance has.”

“Seriously! I would’ve told her off by now.”

“Unless he likes the attention.”

“No way! Lance is just too nice.”

“It’s because he’s too nice that Kylie is so persistent.”

A group of nurses and nursing assistants gossiped at the sight of Kylie flirting with Lance—invading his space, giggling a little too much, and accompanying him whenever she could. To be fair, that was how she behaved with him the moment they first started working with each other, except her behavior was now a little more amped up than usual.

Kylie was young, pretty, and motivated, but everyone knew her efforts would be fruitless. Not only did Lance show absolutely no romantic interest in her, but it was obvious Ariel wasn’t the type to accept someone trying to snatch her boyfriend away.

Some coworkers were nervous for Kylie’s eventual funeral; others were excited about the upcoming drama. There were even a few people who were benevolent enough to warn the younger girl about her actions leading to dangerous consequences, but she didn’t seem to take their advice to heart.

Regardless, everyone anticipated to see what would happen next.

“I know a bar that’s open really late. Plus the food’s awesome! Let’s go and unwind!” Kylie enthusiastically said.

Lance gently smiled at her. “Sounds nice. We can go with everyone on a night we’re all free.”

Rather than see his words as a way to dodge her invitation, Kylie only saw how kind he was to include their coworkers. “Of course! I’ll go and ask what everyone thinks and we can set a date!”

“Maybe I’ll invite Ariel too.”

At the mention of his girlfriend, Kylie’s smile froze for a split second. “Wouldn’t it be awkward? We’re all coworkers except for her.”

“Everyone knows Ariel. And she never minds being the odd one out.”

At his persistence, Kylie didn’t try to convince him otherwise. Even though the purpose was to let him spend time away from his overbearing girlfriend, it was better than nothing. And so, she didn’t give up hope. Besides, maybe it would be a good chance for Lance to open up his eyes and see Ariel for who she really was.

The day arrived earlier than expected. On a Friday night, those available gathered at the end of their shift to head to the bar. There were also others who didn’t work today’s shift that had free time to join, and they would meet up with the rest at the location. Though Kylie invited Lance to ride with her, he opted to join someone else who had offered to carpool since Ariel would meet them there a little later.

Regardless, Kylie spent that time cozying up to Lance in the bar, happily unaware that her coworkers knew exactly what she was up to. They weren’t there for the socializing, but for the upcoming disaster that was bound to unfold the moment Ariel arrived.

The delicious food was just a bonus.

About thirty minutes later, Ariel stepped foot into the bar. Nearly everyone from the group stared at her reaction when she saw Lance and Kylie sitting together. Nothing showed on her face, and instead, she broke out into a grin and greeted all the familiar faces. Everyone was genuinely happy to see Ariel, but at the same time, surprised she didn’t snap right away as they expected.

Rather than acknowledge her boyfriend and the pretty girl next to him, Ariel sat at the other end of the table, immediately ordering herself a drink and blending in with the active conversation.

“Your energy is insane,” she remarked to the group. “Who finishes a night shift and decides to go to a bar?”

“Us, apparently.”

“Like you’re one to talk, Ariel. Aren’t you here right now with us too?”

She laughed. “I have more free time than every single one of you.”

As a marketing consultant who was self-employed, Ariel determined her own workload and even worked from home mostly. It was how she so often had the time to act as Lance’s ride to and from the hospital.

While the group asked Ariel about how her work was going, Lance couldn’t help but glance at his girlfriend with unreadable eyes. Kylie caught the look and interpreted it as concern about being too closely monitored. And so, she purposely leaned forward, blocking his line of sight.

“Do you want another drink, Lance? I can give you some good recommendations off the menu if you’d like.”

Lance met her gaze and a smile softened his face. “Sure.”

Kylie grinned, glad that she could distract him. Leaning closer—but not touching—she opened the drink menu and pointed at previous drinks she had tried and enjoyed. Those who saw the two of them eyed the opposite end of the table to where Ariel continued to laugh and socialize with charismatic ease. Her bold voice wasn’t too loud, and yet, every single one of her words traveled with clarity through the air.

“I can’t wait to graduate,” a nursing assistant said. “I’m sick of university.”

Ariel replied, “I thought the same. But there’s a few things about university life that I miss.”

“Like what?”

“How simple it was to meet people.”

Lance twitched while older nurses nodded in agreement to Ariel’s words.

“Once you start working full-time, it’s easy to let your career take up most of your life.”

“I haven’t had time to meet up with old friends for years.”

“Same. I can barely make it to family events.”

Murmurs of agreement echoed across the table.

Kylie frowned and turned towards Lance before muttering, “Sounds like a lazy mindset to me. If they’re really important, you should be able to make time.”

He didn’t react to her words. Instead, he simply continued to stare at his girlfriend.

“That’s normal for adults,” Ariel assured those around her. “Even I’m too busy sometimes to reach out to old acquaintances. And I work from home! Don’t take it to heart and just do your best. If they really care for you, they’ll understand.”

Another wave of agreements followed.

“I don’t have many friends in university anyway,” the nursing assistant softly admitted. “The only people I’m really close with are you guys.”

After a pause, she realized she just admitted something quite embarrassing and blushed. The others didn’t care so much about her lack of friendships and were flattered that they were regarded so highly. Ariel chuckled and nudged her shoulder against the younger woman’s in an affectionate touch.

“Aren’t you cute?” Ariel said cheekily. “Don’t worry. There’s so many people out in the world, you’re bound to meet some who you can truly get along with. Even then, you still have us, right?”

The sweet words made the nursing assistant flush even more before she took a swig of her drink, trying to cover up her bashfulness.

Kylie felt a sting of guilt, realizing that she had made too quick of a judgment. However, she was too ashamed to admit it in front of Lance. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to think too negatively of her since he made no comment, and instead, raised a hand to a passing waiter and ordered a few drinks suggested by her.

At the same time, others used the opportunity to order as well. When it was Ariel’s turn, the table next to theirs suddenly burst with laughter, drowning out other noises, causing the waiter to not hear her. She smiled in understanding and crooked a graceful finger, urging the waiter to lean down.

Lance’s fist clenched in his lap when he witnessed Ariel cup her hand between her lips and the waiter’s ear as she repeated her words. For some reason, the waiter twitched and pulled back with a coy smile on his lips. Then, he mirrored her actions, cupping his own hand between his lips and her ear. Afterwards, Ariel gave him an “okay” sign with her hand before the waiter went on his way.

No one seemed to think anything of her actions, but Kylie was offended on Lance’s behalf. Her literal boyfriend was right there, and she was openly flirting with another man!

“Are you okay?” Kylie asked.

A few seconds passed before he realized she was talking to him. Lance snapped out of his daze and nodded, neither smiling or saying more.

Doing her best to be subtle, she asked, “How did you two meet? You and Ariel, I mean.”

“University. A mutual friend introduced us.”

The answer surprised her. “To date?”

A memory seemed to flash in his head. “Yes.”

“What made them introduce you to each other?”

Another memory occupied his mind and he bit his bottom lip. Kylie…didn’t know what to think of the gesture.

Moving on, she questioned, “So you started dating right away?”

“No. Ariel didn’t like me at first.”

Again, another surprise. “Really?!”

There was nothing about Lance that was unlikable. He was good looking, he was kind, and he knew how to make others feel at ease.

“What about you didn’t she like?”

“She called me fake.” For some reason, that finally made him smile.

Kylie was only becoming more and more confused. “How did you two even start dating after a beginning like that?”

Lance’s eyes became hooded, making him look mysterious and sensual. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the expression.

“We didn’t, actually. We separated after that, but because we had a lot of mutuals, we eventually met again at a party. It was there that…”

He didn’t finish as the waiter came back with a tray of drinks. As the employee asked who got what and passed them out, the only person whose drink he memorized was Ariel’s. Hers was the last he served, and he placed it in front of her with a flirtatious wink. Ariel smiled and thanked him before taking an immediate sip. Her face scrunched up at the strong taste, but regardless, she seemed to enjoy it.

“It was there that what?” Kylie brought Lance’s attention back to her, eager to hear the rest of the story.

Lance was frowning, but he took his drinks and downed them in two gulps. Kylie gawked, worried about the alcohol content of the beverages and their eventual effect. On the other hand, Lance didn’t seem to care and spoke.

“We had sex.” Kylie was shocked by the confession but before she could make a remark, he continued, “I couldn’t leaver her ever since.”

His words alarmed Kylie, and suddenly, it all made sense. “So she tricked you? Did she force you? Is she holding something against you?”

Lance shot her a glare, and she froze like a deer caught in headlights. Slowly, he leaned closer, and she could smell his scent—a mixture of soap, hand sanitizer, and alcohol.

“Why are you so curious about Ariel?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically low.

Kylie gulped. “I-I can’t be curious?”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you want from her?”

“Nothing! I don’t want anything from her!”

“Which means you want something from me?”

She startled, shocked that he so accurately read her thoughts. His eyes became cold as he looked down at her.

“I’ve been tolerant of your behavior. Because you’re young. Because you’re naive. But there’s a limit.”

Kylie felt goosebumps rise across her skin. “H-huh?”

“I don’t need your attention. You can never satisfy me. Nor can you ever compare to Ariel. So I suggest you stop. Before you get hurt.”

The threat caused her to feel as if she were being deprived of air. Who was this man? This wasn’t the same Lance she’d grown to know within the past month. He was intimidating. He was terrifying. He was dangerous.

She needed to run. But she couldn’t.

His eyes pinned her in place, like a rag doll pierced by needles.

“Ariel is upset because of you. It’s time you stop.”

Kylie glanced at Ariel from the corner of her eye and saw that the woman was still laughing and talking without a care in the world. Where was he getting the notion that his girlfriend was upset? If anything, she couldn’t care any less about him.

“I wouldn’t have to resort to this if you’d just given up on your own. Even with everyone warning you against this path, you still took it.”

He knew that their coworkers were telling her off? Since when? How? And why had he feigned ignorance? Was it really for her sake? Or did he simply not care? What had made him snap? Ariel? Because Kylie made her “upset”?

Those at their end of the table noticed the shift in mood between them. Gone were the social pleasantries, replaced by an icy atmosphere. But from the look on Lance’s dark face, no one was willing to step in. They’d never seen him so irate. In fact, they’d never seen Lance in a bad mood, period. Even during especially stressful shifts, he never showed any negativity.

And yet, it was obvious that Kylie had stepped on a landmine. But again, no one dared to break the tension.

No one except Ariel, of course.

Kylie didn’t know what sort of expression she wore, but it caused the woman to stand and make her way towards them.

“You’re drunk,” Ariel said to Lance.

Suddenly the change in behavior started to make more sense. Yet, at the same time, Kylie doubted the way Lance currently acted was entirely the fault of alcohol. There was something strange about him, and she didn’t have it in her to comprehend exactly what.

“Now you decide to come?” he growled beneath his breath.

His girlfriend wasn’t put off by his tone. “There are some things you have to take care of yourself. We both know you’re capable. It’s just that I’ve spoiled you too much lately.”

“You consider ignoring me as spoiling?”

“Would you rather I watch as another woman is all over you? While you do nothing to stop her?”

“I’ve already resolved it.”

Ariel observed Kylie’s shaking, withdrawn figure. “You could’ve been more gentle.”

A look of disdain crossed his face. “I’ve been gentle. The moment I have to spell it out plainly for her is when my patience is lost.”

Kylie couldn’t keep up with their conversation. Ariel, who she always thought to be brisk and fierce, was now calm and rational. On the other hand, Lance, who she always thought to be kind and tolerant, was now bitter and vicious. And yet, through it all, she came to understand one thing.

It wasn’t Ariel who had a reign on their relationship. It was Lance.

It had always been Lance.

And Kylie had no place in this misunderstanding brought upon by none other than herself.

“I apologize on his behalf,” Ariel said to her. “Lance is more immature than he seems. Add in the fact he’s drunk and he’s practically intolerable at the moment.”

Lance sneered, his jaw clenched so hard that tendons stood out on his neck. Ariel sighed and caressed his temple, pushing his hair away from his face.

“Let’s go?”

Like a viper, his hand shot up and wrapped around her wrist. Then he glared at Kylie from the corner of his eyes. For a moment, she thought he was going to say more, but then a dark look crossed his face, and she realized he could barely bear to even look at her.

And so, without any parting words, he stood from his seat and walked away with Ariel trailing after him. Kylie slumped in her chair, dazed at what just happened. In the fuzzy distance, she heard people from the other end of the table murmuring about how Ariel left too much cash, paying for her tab, Lance’s tab, plus more.

But Kylie was too stunned to care about anything else. She had made a terrible mistake. And from the rage Lance showed, there was nothing she could do to redeem herself.

Lance tried to go towards the driver’s seat, but Ariel led him to the passenger’s and shoved him inside. Him being drunk helped her in man handling him, so she was a little thankful for the girl’s petty games of causing strife between them.

“You can’t drive,” he mumbled when she entered the car.

“My drink was a virgin. Yours…” She looked at his flushed face. “...not so much.”

The car ride was silent. Usually, Ariel asked Lance about his work day, or on particularly exhausting shifts, she allowed him to doze off. Today, there was electricity sparking in the air, threatening to combust into flames. She could feel his hard gaze digging into her profile as she kept her eyes on the road.

“I would never betray you,” Lance said.

“I know.”

“Then why did you ignore me?”

Ariel recalled the first moment she saw him and the new girl sitting together, as if they were in the most natural position. The spot next to Lance belonged to Ariel, and yet, he’d allowed someone else to occupy that space.

“You looked like you were having fun,” she replied nonchalantly. “I didn’t want to disturb that.”

Lance hissed, “You’ve never had that sort of courtesy.”

When it came to him, she always made it clear that he belonged to her. Whether that was sitting by his side, drawing him into her conversations, or mentioning his name when the time called for it, it was obvious that the two of them were a pair. However, Ariel took one glance at him that night and never took another glance at him again.

Until it was necessary.

She could practically taste his rage radiate throughout the entire bar. The reason wasn’t because she was familiar with the emotion, but because it was such a rare occurrence that she couldn’t help but notice it.

“What did she say that made you so angry?”

“She was asking about you,” he answered, “So I told her about the time we first met. As well as the first time we had sex.”

Ariel wasn’t particularly desperate to be in a relationship, but when a close friend of hers, Stacy, wanted to play matchmaker, she accepted the offer out of curiosity. The guy she wanted to introduce was someone from their same university who ran in the same circle, but Ariel wasn’t familiar with. When asked about what exactly made her think they would make a good pair, Stacy’s answer had been simple.

“You seem like you’d be able to fill each other’s gaps.”

Of course, that only made Ariel more interested.

But upon their first meeting, when Ariel saw Lance’s face, she immediately wanted nothing to do with him.

Stacy was shocked by the immediate rejection and pulled her aside to ask, “Why not?!”

“Why not? Just look at that smile.”

“What?! That’s how he always smiles!”

“Then tell him he needs to mellow out and stop being fake.”

The two of them hadn’t exactly been quiet, so Lance heard everything they said. And yet, he continued to wear that painfully bright smile, his face not cracking once to reveal his inner thoughts. It just proved Ariel’s point.

“Considering this is our first time meeting,” he said, “I don’t understand what it is I’ve done to earn such harsh words.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I simply don’t like people who try to cover things up with a smile. It’s obvious I’m acting like a bitch, but you’re still calm.”

“I’m typically a calm person.”

Ariel snorted. “Doubt it. I’m surprised other people haven’t noticed. Your lips may be smiling, but your eyes are cold.”

Lance’s eyebrows twitched while Stacy stared back and forth between them, nervous yet expectant. But Ariel was done.

“I’ve met enough people like you to know we won’t make a good match. Sorry for wasting your time. Sorry to you too, Stacy.”

Then she turned around and left. Stacy shifted towards Lance’s side as they watched Ariel’s back get further and further away.

“Sorry, Lance.”

His usual smile remained. “It’s fine. You did warn me she wasn’t the type to mince her words.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t expect her to dial it up all the way. She’s never been like that with strangers before.”

Lance didn’t mind too much. Regardless of how others told him he was easy to get along with, there were bound to be people he’d eventually meet who wouldn’t be able to tolerate him. Besides, the campus was big, and the world was even bigger. He doubted they’d see each other again.

And yet, there was something inside of him that screamed to chase after her. Because regardless of how ruthless she seemed to be…she had also been correct.

So Lance wondered…if his eyes were cold…why were hers lit afire?

He didn’t think he would ever get his answer. But as big as the world seemed to be, it was also just as small.

One particular night, there was a party being thrown, and nearly everyone and anyone had been invited. Loud music, dancing crowds, cans of beer, and hook-ups were to be expected, but as the reasonable one, Lance didn’t allow himself to be dragged along with the atmosphere. In fact, when one of his friends came staggering from the kitchen obviously drunk off his mind, Lance knew he would have to be the one to take charge.

And so, he laid his friend down on the couch and kept him company. Soon enough, another friend came stumbling his way, and he treated that one very much the same way, forcing them to share the couch. When a group of familiar faces came by asking if he could take care of their tipsy friend as well, of course he accepted and had her lean against his shoulder while offering her a bottle of water.

Those who knew him called him sweet and reliable. Those who didn’t saw him as a saint. Lance accepted their compliments with his usual smile.

But he nearly cracked when a woman walked in front of him, meaning to pass by, but she stopped when she recognized him. Just as he recognized her.

Ariel.

Even through the thumping music, he felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her. She was wearing a little black shimmering dress that hugged all of her curves and exposed her back, ending just above her round bottom. Part of him thought he had allowed the party to take over his senses, but another part of him knew he was alarmed simply by the sight of her.

While he gaped at Ariel, she glanced at the three people surrounding him and sneered, her upper lip tugging at a twisted angle. Then she walked away. Lance didn’t know what to think of her reaction, but he couldn’t leave the three inebriated people and remained in place, wondering when he’d see—if he’d see—Ariel again.

However, his thoughts were quickly answered when a few moments later, she came back holding a cup of lemonade towards him.

He wanted to accept it, but couldn’t move the arm the girl was leaning on and his other hand was already holding a bottle of water. Just as he was about to put it down, Ariel rolled her eyes and shoved herself in between him and the girl, supporting the stranger while freeing him to move. Her positioning caused their shoulders to lean against each other, and Lance was confused by his sudden nervousness compared to when he was up against the other girl.

Before he could think it over, Ariel leaned towards him, her breath flowing down his neck, shutting down his brain.

“This is why you’re so fake.” Her words confused him, and it must’ve shown on his face. “Are all three of these people your friends?”

“Just the two guys.”

Ariel scoffed. “Even worse.”

Lance smiled in puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

She frowned. “Why the hell are you taking care of these idiots? They’re all adults. They should know better than to get so drunk they can’t even stand. But because they know they can rely on you, they lose all common sense. Even this girl, her friends probably just dumped her on you, didn’t they?”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t help?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. You’re here. At a party. To have a good time. But instead, you’re stuck in this corner watching over a bunch of drunkards.”

“It’s expected that some people will get drunk at these kinds of parties. I should help when I can.”

Ariel observed him while he continued to wear a tranquil expression.

Suddenly, “Is it some sort of fetish?”

Lance coughed. “Excuse me?”

“You get off on taking care of others or something? Does it boost your ego when people, even strangers, give their lives up to you?”

He was stunned, taking a few seconds to respond. “Of course not.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

It was expected of him. In his group of friends, in his circle, he was known as the most mature one, the one who others could rely on should any trouble arise. That was how it’s always been.

That’s why no one questioned his actions, and why he never questioned them himself.

“People should help when they can, don’t you think?”

Ariel hissed, “Sure, but I’m fucking sick of it.”

Her words sliced into Lance. His heart began thundering, drowning out all other noises—all other noises but her voice.

He swallowed before asking, “Sick of what?”

She glared at him, and he saw the familiar heat in her eyes. The same heat that confused him, that inflamed him.

“Sick of seeing others take advantage of you. And sick of seeing you suck it up instead of snapping like any normal person should. And believe me. You will eventually snap.” Ariel genuinely shook with anger, the tremors transferring to his body through their shoulders. “You’re not a doormat. So quit acting like one!”

At that moment, a group of women walked in front of them, tipsy and giggling. Lance recognized them as the drunk girl’s friends. Ariel recognized them as well.

“Hey!” she shouted sternly.

The group turned to them, taking a few seconds to realize what exactly it was they were looking at.

“Oh, hey, Ariel! You made it to the party!”

Rather than return their cheerful greetings, Ariel said, “Did you forget about Jenny?”

“Jenny?” They glanced among themselves and realized that they were missing someone in their entourage.

As panic began to rise, one of the more sober members saw Jenny leaning against Ariel’s shoulder and pointed. “She’s right there!”

“Oh my God! I forgot we left her here!”

“Me too!”

“Isn’t she supposed to be with Lance?”

“What are you talking about? Lance is right there too! Hi Lance!”

“Oh, you’re right!”

They began giggling and joking around.

Ariel snapped, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

The sharp tone immediately sobered them, and they stared at her with shock and confusion.

“Just because it’s Lance doesn’t mean you can leave your friend with someone else. You guys are responsible for each other. Instead, you forgot about her and were about to leave!”

Her words offended some while others were ridden with guilt.

“We left her because we knew she was with Lance! We wouldn’t have done that if—!”

“Why are you here?” Ariel cut in.

“What?”

“Why are you here? Why are any of you here?”

“It’s a party,” one answered mockingly. “We’re here to have fun.”

“And Lance isn’t?”

Finally, they understood what point she was getting at. Lance remained quiet, unable to tear his gaze away from Ariel.

“What normal person comes to a party to act as a fucking babysitter to full grown adults rather than do what you’re supposed to do at a party?”

Her scolding intimidated them, as well as made them realize their mistake. Still, there were some who continued to argue back.

“If Lance didn’t want to, he could’ve refused!”

Ariel burst with sarcastic laughter and took hold of Lance’s jaw in her hand. The contact jolted him, the heat of her skin spreading all over him like a ripple effect.

“Just look at him. You know how he is. Everyone does! That’s exactly why you abandoned Jenny here. With his nature, how could he ever refuse?! Have some self-awareness! Have some fucking shame!”

The group observed the entire scene before them. Excluding Ariel, Lance was surrounded by three people, all nearly passed out. Should anything happen, how would he be able to take care of all three of them? The simple answer was that he couldn’t. It just wasn’t humanly possible. Not even for a man as capable as Lance.

“Sorry Lance.”

“We’re so sorry.”

“We won’t do it again.”

He didn’t care for their apologies. Something was aching to explode from within him, and he couldn’t focus on anything else but the cause of his emotions rising: Ariel.

Though she was rough with her words, she handled the drunk girl, Jenny, with extreme care. She softly patted the girl’s face and whispered in her ear to wake up and head back with her friends. Jenny, though still inebriated, understood what was being asked of her and stood up. The group took their friend back, following Ariel’s gentle treatment.

Only when they left did Lance speak.

“You’ve been watching me?”

She looked at him, her mood still sour. “Why else would I call you fake on our first meeting? I might be an asshole sometimes, but not to that extent.”

It was breaking.

His own friends had never defended him so vehemently. In fact, never in his whole life had someone seen through him with such clarity. The mold that he’d so elaborately fitted—that he had used to justify himself—was cracking.

Because of her.

“And like I said,” she continued, oblivious to the chaos she had created within him, “That smile of yours is so obvious. At least try to add some light in your eyes if you want to be convincing. The amount of times I’ve seen you and that damn smile when others push their responsibilities onto you is infuriatingly high. Hell, I’d love to see you finally snap one of these days and go on a rampage.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, seeming to relax a bit when she saw that he no longer smiled.

“I understand wanting to help others. There’s nothing wrong with what you’re doing. I’ll even admit, from what I’ve seen, you’re genuinely a good guy. But there’s only so much a sane person can take. And I’m not just talking about yourself. Imagine what it would feel like for someone who genuinely cares for you to see how much you’re taken advantage of.” Ariel sneered, as if the idea personally affected her. “If anything, drop the fucking smile. It’s creepy.”

Lance found himself blurting, “I enjoy taking care of others. To an extent. That’s why I’m majoring in nursing.”

Ariel froze and he could see the gears turning in her head. Her face scrunched up—in embarrassment?—before she turned away.

“So my outburst was unwarranted?”

He didn’t answer. Her ears slowly turned red.

“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath.

Then she stood, but he immediately latched a hand around her wrist before she could walk away. Ariel was startled by the touch and looked down at him with wide eyes.

“Lance?”

His name coming from her lips made him shiver.

“Don’t go,” he breathed. “Ariel, don’t leave me.”

The request surprised her, but miraculously, she wasn’t disturbed by his words. In fact, showing his vulnerable side seemed to be exactly what was needed to make her soften towards him, to let her walls down, to let him see into her.

A smirk of exasperation curled her lips. “I guess someone has to help you take care of these idiots.”

Lance didn’t want her to underestimate his resolve, so he tugged, forcing her to stumble towards him. He caught her in his arms as she stood between his open legs. Once again, her eyes widened, shocked by his actions. He leaned his head against her abdomen, reveling in her softness, in her warmth. If only he could melt into her.

Contrary to his prediction, Ariel did not push him away. Though she was stiff at first, she eventually wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her hands caressed his hair.

It was soothing. It was rousing.

“See?” she gently whispered, “Doesn’t it feel better to not hold back?”

He nodded, his hands seeking more of her warmth, roaming across her back. Because of the design of her dress, his palms met with scalding skin. Ariel gasped from the contact, the delicious note causing Lance’s breaths to become heavier.

He wanted…needed…more. More. More.

“Lance?”

They turned to the new arrivals and saw that it was his friends. Considering Lance wasn’t the type at all to hook up with someone at parties, the sight before them was probably the most shocking thing about the night.

“And is that…Ariel?”

Even more confusing was the woman with him. The two couldn’t be further opposites when it came to their personalities. But for some reason, they looked so natural together.

Before Ariel could offer them a greeting, Lance stood with his hand clasped in hers.

“Take care of these two. And Matt. Find another room for tonight.”

“Huh?!” Matt, his roommate, gawked at his demand as well as its implication.

But Lance had nothing more to say to them, and he left the party with Ariel trailing behind. His dorm building was a few blocks away, and they passed by other university students who were stumbling back home as well. But of everyone, they were the quickest and quietest, not saying a word until they made it to his room.

When the door slammed shut, he pushed her against the wall, both of them gasping for air.

“Are you drunk?” she asked.

He inhaled her scent and shakily exhaled. “You’ve been watching me for God knows how long. Tell me. Do I ever drink at those parties?”

“No.”

“I’m not drunk,” he confirmed, pressing his chest firmly to hers. The softness of her breasts nearly made him groan. “Are you?”

“I was actually about to grab a drink before I ran into you.”

“Then you should be aware of why I brought you here.”

“Yes.”

He took another whiff of her, feeling dizzy off her citrusy scent. “If you don’t want it, then stop me now.”

“You don’t think I could’ve shaken off your grip the entire trek here?”

His teeth grazed the curve of her ear, and she twitched in response. “You don’t know about the things I want to do to you.”

Ariel narrowed her eyes and placed her lips right next to his ear. “Try me.”

The challenge in her tone undid him. Lance wrapped his hands around her throat, gripped the neckline of her dress, and shredded it apart. Ariel’s jaw dropped as she stared down at her exposed breasts.

One of her hands slowly rose and settled near her collarbone, feeling the remnants of his large hands entirely enveloping her airways for a split second.

Lance’s chest rose and fell with each and every breath. He wondered if he scared her. He wondered if he should’ve given her time to adjust to his desires. He wondered—

But his thoughts were interrupted.

“Oh,” Ariel breathed and clenched her thighs. “I’m wet.”

He groaned, feeling his cock fill with blood before he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and forced a kiss onto her lips. She moaned in response, embracing him, welcoming him with open arms.

And Lance knew he would never be able to escape that warmth for the rest of his life.

Ariel was shocked and asked, “How much did you tell her?”

“I didn’t go into detail.” Lance paused. “Perhaps I should’ve. To prove that no one can take me away from you.”

Her mask started to slip, and he could detect the faintest blush color her cheeks. They couldn’t be home fast enough.

“If she knew how kinky you are, she’d probably think twice about seducing you.”

Lance ran a hand down her thigh, eager to strip her bare and bask in the softness skin-to-skin. “Only with you can I show my true self to.”

“I’m driving,” she growled in warning. “Plus you’re drunk. It’s best if we head to bed after this.”

“I don’t work tomorrow.”

“But I do.”

His fingers traced up her inner thigh. “You tell me to not hold back. Then you deny me this?”

Ariel didn’t fall for it and held her chin up. “Considering how you allowed another woman to get so close to you, it’s safe to say I haven’t been denying you enough.”

Lance tilted his head, getting a better look at her face, as well as showing her puppy-dog eyes. “Are you jealous?” When she didn’t reply, he mumbled, “I like it when you’re jealous.” Still, she remained silent. “No one is as possessive of me as you are, Ariel. I don’t want to belong to anyone else. Don’t you feel the same? Don’t you feel the same fury as I do when someone dares to come in between us?”

“You’re drunk off your rockers. Once you get some rest, you’ll calm down.”

Suddenly, Ariel was nipped on the earlobe followed by a wet lick of Lance’s hot tongue. “Calm? You want me calm? We both know you hate it when I hold myself back. Fine. Punish me for letting another woman close. But do not deny you want me to hold you down as I beg for forgiveness.”

A shudder shook her, imagining his large immovable body pinning her to their bed. Even as she cried from exhaustion, he wouldn’t show an ounce of mercy while ravaging her, making up for his wrongdoings in the best way he knew how.

By consuming all of her senses until she was a sopping mess.

“That makes it sound as if I’m the one being punished rather than you.”

“What do you mean?” he murmured, his hot breath melting her resistance. “You like it when you’re punished.”

To emphasize his point, his hand clenched around her thigh, and she squeezed her legs together, feeling a wet heat drip down to her desirous loins.

“Hurry, Ariel,” Lance panted, lust rising from his voice like smoke. Ariel found her breaths matching his, panting with the same primal lust. “Hurry and let me punish you.”

The moment they stepped foot into their apartment, Lance pushed Ariel against the wall, pulled down her pants, and shoved his swollen cock inside of her. She was soaking wet and ready for him, welcoming his invasion with eager warmth, causing a guttural groan to rise from his throat. As for Ariel, she threw her head back and cried at the way he filled her so swiftly, so fully.

Lance swallowed at the sight of the expanse of her neck and buried his face there, inhaling her scent as well as smothering her with kisses and licks. Every thrust of his hips caused the wall to shake and bang, taking upon the force of his love making.

“Ariel,” he whispered, “Ariel, Ariel, Ariel. Take in all of me. That’s it. More.”

Inch by inch, he pushed into her. Her walls widened to accommodate his size, yet simultaneously enwrapped him with a hold so tight, he could feel her pulsing against his throbbing cock. Everything about her was delicious, both loving him and torturing him. The small mewls that sounded from her chimed like bells in the wind, so melodic, so mesmerizing.

“Lance,” she moaned.

It was a noise he was familiar with. She wanted more. She needed more.

And so he latched his mouth to her nipple, licking and sucking and biting. Ariel held his head, encouraging the pleasure as much as the pain. When his teeth sank into the softness, the walls of her pussy squeezed in delight and she orgasmed with abandon.

Lance was near his first climax as well. He held her head between his hands and kissed her as if he were consuming her, as if he wanted to swallow her whole. Ariel’s tongue tangled with his, and she wrapped her hands to his back, her nails clawing into his skin through his shirt, holding on for dear life.

The sensation was just what he needed to spill within her, marking her, filling her. A tremble shook her body as she accepted every drop of him while swallowing his groans of release. She peppered kisses down his jaw, scraping her teeth against his skin as he rode out the orgasm.

But they were far from done.

Slipping out of her for a brief moment, Lance turned her around and grabbed her by her hips before penetrating her again. The palms of Ariel’s hands splayed against the wall, holding her up as best they could as his thrusts started anew. Sweat glistened across her back, and he wished he could lick up every drop, but he settled by running his tongue up her spine and kissing the nape of her neck. Ariel trembled, arching her back from the wet graze, and her hands clenched into shaky fists.

“La-ance!” she cried, her voice vibrating from his thrusts. “I c-ca-an’t!”

One of her arms fell, swinging with each of his thrusts, while the other did its best to support the weight of her body. The image of her flopping to the whim of his hips made Lance rougher, faster. Ariel moaned loudly, her voice bouncing and drawling as another orgasm approached.

When she no longer had the strength, she tipped over. If he hadn’t wrapped a hand around her waist, she would’ve banged her head on the wall. Instead, she gripped his arm, using it as the anchor she needed from the euphoria that took her higher and higher and higher.

“Who do I belong to?” he growled in her ear.

“Me,” she whimpered.

His hips slapped against her ass, bouncing the soft fat. “Louder.”

“Me! You’re mine, Lance!”

He gripped her jaw, forcing her head to the side so he could lick her lips. “Desire me, Ariel. Yearn for me. Crave for me. Just as much as I do for you.”

Suddenly, her hand gripped his hair, yanking his face close until their lips pressed in a fevered kiss. The pain mixed with the pleasure drove Lance to lose his breath. By the time she finished ravaging his lips, he was lightheaded and drowsy.

“I’m going to lock you in this room…” she whispered, “...and use you so thoroughly…you’ll be begging me for mercy.”

A shudder clawed up his spine, sparking the darkest and most heavenly images. Though Lance may be the one to take initiative when it came to their love-making, Ariel was always in control. She chose when he could let himself go, just as she chose when it was time for him to kneel and wait. No other woman could tame him. No other woman could free him.

“Yes,” he panted, “Use me…to your heart’s content.”

Ariel woke up to the sun shining through the gap of her curtains. Right away, she felt the man laying in bed beside her, his face buried in her breasts and his legs tangled with hers. Though her body ached from the aftermath of last night, she couldn’t help but embrace Lance. He stirred for a moment before snuggling closer, a sigh passing through his nose.

“Damn,” she muttered beneath her breath.

It was a good thing Lance didn’t work today. The last time she allowed him to run wild, they lost track of time and he had only gotten three hours of sleep before heading to work. Unfortunately, that shift happened to be one of the roughest he had experienced as of late. Ariel had a bad feeling when he didn’t come out at his usual time, so she’d gone inside the building to wait for him and found him barely able to stand on his feet. The only reason his mask was so well put together was because he couldn’t make his coworkers feel bad. No doubt he had taken it upon himself to be their support during the shift.

Ariel had let her emotions get the best of her, and she had berated him in front of his coworkers—to which she apologized for when they got home—and she swore to hold him back, no matter how much he tempted her.

Well…that didn’t happen last night.

But maybe it was partly her fault. Lance didn’t seek help or affection from others. She learned that ever since he was young, he’d burden himself with responsibilities that left him overwhelmed, but because of his character, he never showed it outwardly.

That was, until Ariel came to be the first to see through his cracks. And it was history from there. She was the only person Lance relied on. As the one who held his heart within her hands, how could she not spoil him with all of her affection?

Stacy hooking them up together was strangely accurate. Lance needed someone who wouldn’t add more burdens to him as a partner, and Ariel needed someone who could calmly influence her temper. Plus, as a close girl friend, Stacy knew about Ariel’s bedroom particulars, and she somehow also knew Lance was the type to…let loose, to put it lightly.

So initially, they were meant to hook up for their physical compatibility. In the end, their emotions got the better of them.

Their relationship was in the stable stages, so though Lance wasn’t the type to toy with her emotions or test her loyalty, she also knew he secretly liked it when she showed her jealousy. Of course, he had ex-girlfriends who became clingy and bitter when he interacted with other girls, but never to the extent that Ariel did.

In her case, she never blew up or made a scene. After all, it was normal for him to mingle with other women in his life, especially with a profession as a registered nurse. But whenever someone made it obvious they were flirting with him or hoping to get something more out of him than friendship, Ariel made it no secret he belonged to her.

She remembered a particular day at the beach that involved a persistent couple of blondes, a hastily made hickey by none other than herself, and an aroused and utterly infatuated Lance. When the women stomped off huffing with their noses in the air, Lance had dragged her back to their hotel and left her unable to walk normally for the rest of their vacation.

So Ariel was no stranger to staking her claim. However, last night had been…different. Usually Lance didn’t give a woman who was pursuing him any time of day, but he had purposely sat next to the girl—and made sure Ariel saw it.

“Lance,” she said, shaking him awake.

His eyes cracked open into thin slits, but when he realized that he was still firmly pressed against her in their bed, he smiled and drowsily murmured, “Hmm?”

“Do you have something to tell me?”

After a second, his brows furrowed in confusion. “Hm?”

To prove her point, she said, “Nevermind. It’s time for me to get up. I have a call with Henry soon.”

At the sound of another man’s name, his embrace tightened.

Ariel could barely resist the smile aching to stretch her lips.

So obvious.

“Lance,” she chided.

“No,” he grumbled.

“What do you mean no? It’s my job.”

“Don’t go.”

Her heart melted, remembering those very same words long ago. “So this is what it’s all about?” Though she had him all figured out, Lance refused to acknowledge her. “Henry’s just a client who trusts me enough to confide in me often. There’s nothing going on between us.”

“Your conversations don’t strictly stick to business. I hear you laughing and joking in the mornings when you think I’m still asleep.”

“What can I say? He’s a funny guy.” Lance lifted his head and glared at her, looking awfully cute in her eyes. “But you’re funnier. Don’t be jealous. I love you.”

He continued to pout. “I love you too. But he thinks you’re single.”

Admittedly, there were a few times when Henry seemed to be flirting with her, but because that was part of his personality, she never took it to heart. However…

“If it bothers you so much, then do something about it,” she challenged.

Ariel never shied away from being possessive of Lance. So now, it was his turn.

“Good morning, Henry.”

“Morning Ariel! No bed head today, I see.”

The man who grinned at her through her laptop screen was attractive with a boyish charm. They got to know each other through an acquaintance of his who recommended her services. Though her business calls usually involved just that—business—a familiarity had formed between the two of them due to their bantering personalities.

“Not today,” she played along with his joke. “I had an early morning.”

“That’s new. What could’ve possibly made you get out of bed earlier than me?”

Right on cue, Lance walked into her background, shirtless and holding a mug of steaming coffee.

“Thanks, baby,” Ariel cooed, turning to accept the cup.

Lance leaned down, and she expected a peck on the forehead. Instead, she received a full-blown open-mouthed kiss, tongues and all, right in front of Henry. She got distracted by the way Lance’s slick tongue knew where to lick to make her weak, and from the corner of her vision, she realized he was glaring into the camera, making sure their solo audience member saw and comprehended just what he was trying to portray.

After one final bite and tug of her bottom lip, Lance left.

Wordless the entire time.

Ariel swallowed, her face aflame. It even took her a few seconds to recover and form words.

“Ex-excuse me,” she stuttered.

Henry smiled, the corners of his lips a little tight. “No problem. Was…that…the cause for your early rise?”

She peeked at Lance over the edge of her laptop screen and saw him leaning his hip against the kitchen counter, leering at her over his own cup of coffee. A shiver couldn’t help but shake her from the core at the dark and desirous look. Usually it was Ariel who relayed her jealousy openly. This was the first time Lance made his possessive emotions obvious to another.

“Yes,” she answered breathlessly, still distracted by the man who looked hungry for more, and in turn, whetting her own appetite.

Honestly, it was unprofessional of her to be so distracted, but how could she not be? The sight of her lover seducing her with such obvious disdain of the man she was supposed to be speaking to opened new doors for Ariel, making her want to explore the depths and unleash Lance’s self-control.

Right now.

“Henry,” she said, never breaking her gaze from Lance’s. “Is it possible to reschedule our meeting to a later time?”

Her boyfriend’s brows twitched and he began walking towards her, the chords of his muscles stretching to his strut.

“Conveniently, something has come up on my end as well. How does thirty minutes sound?” Whether Henry was telling the truth or not, it didn’t matter.

Lance had made it back to her, leaning his body over her desk and cupping her jaw in his palm.

“Plenty,” he growled in response.

Then, he slammed the laptop screen down, ending the call, and leaving Henry with the last sight of her being pulled into a fierce kiss.

But Ariel didn’t care. Such were the perks of being self-employed.

“Naughty, naughty,” she tsked.

“You’re mine.”

A smirk curled her lips. “I am.”

Picking her up into his arms and dashing them back onto their bed, he proved just that, leaving no doubt that their bodies, and their hearts, belonged to no one else but each other.