Lisa stood outside Oliver's house for almost two full minutes before finally walking in.
Her stomach felt tight.
She hated that she was nervous.
This was just work.
Just another normal day.
That was what she kept telling herself anyway.
The moment she stepped inside, the familiar smell of coffee and expensive cologne hit her instantly. Usually the house felt calm in the mornings.
Today it felt heavy.
Like the walls themselves knew something had changed between them.
Lisa quietly dropped her bag near the kitchen counter and tied her hair up before starting breakfast.
She tried not to think about him.
Tried not to remember his hands on her waist.
His voice in her ear.
The way he looked at her that night like he wanted to lose control.
But her stupid brain kept replaying everything anyway.
"You're late."
Lisa froze.
Oliver.
She slowly turned around.
He stood by the kitchen entrance wearing black sweatpants and a fitted dark shirt. His hair looked messy like he had just woken up.
And somehow he still looked annoyingly attractive.
Lisa quickly looked away.
"It's only five minutes."
"You're still late."
"You've survived worse."
Oliver stared at her quietly.
The tension between them was so thick it almost made it hard to breathe.
Lisa grabbed eggs from the fridge just to keep her hands busy.
"You're quiet today," Oliver said.
"So are you."
"That's because I'm trying not to say something dangerous."
Her hand paused slightly.
She hated the effect his voice had on her.
Lisa forced herself to continue cooking. "Then maybe don't say it."
Oliver walked into the kitchen slowly.
Too slowly.
Every step made her more aware of him.
"You ignored my calls."
"You called too much."
"You ignored my texts too."
"Because you're dramatic."
A small smirk appeared on his face.
"There she is."
Lisa frowned. "Who?"
"The version of you that likes fighting with me."
"I don't like fighting with you."
"You love it."
"No, I don't."
Oliver moved closer.
Lisa instantly became aware of every inch between them.
"You know what your problem is?" he asked quietly.
She swallowed. "What?"
"You act like you hate me, but your body reacts every time I walk near you."
Lisa rolled her eyes quickly even though her heart was beating too fast.
"You think too highly of yourself."
"Am I wrong?"
"Yes."
Oliver looked down slowly.
Straight at her chest.
Lisa immediately crossed her arms.
"Hm," he murmured. "Doesn't look like I'm wrong."
Heat rushed to her face instantly.
"You're unbelievable."
"And you're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
Lisa turned back to the stove quickly before he could see how flustered she actually was.
God.
Oliver leaned against the counter beside her.
"So," he said casually, "you and Evan seem close lately."
Lisa's hand tightened around the spatula.
There it was.
Jealousy.
She glanced at him. "Why do you care?"
"I asked a question."
"And I asked one first."
Oliver's jaw tightened slightly.
Lisa noticed immediately.
That dark look in his eyes returned again.
The same one from the parking lot.
"You kissed him in front of me on purpose."
Lisa laughed softly. "Maybe."
"You enjoyed that?"
"You called me a whore first."
"I was angry."
"You don't get to insult me then act jealous after."
Oliver stepped closer suddenly.
"So what? You kissed him to punish me?"
Lisa looked up at him stubbornly. "Maybe you deserved it."
For a second neither of them spoke.
The air between them became hotter.
Oliver stared at her so intensely it made her chest tighten.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he muttered.
Lisa looked away first.
That line again.
Every time he said things like that, it messed with her head.
"You should calm down," she whispered.
"You should stop driving me insane."
Lisa turned off the stove quickly and tried to walk past him.
Big mistake.
Oliver grabbed her wrist instantly.
Not hard.
But enough to stop her.
Her breath caught.
"Oliver."
"You keep running from me."
"I'm trying to work."
"No," he said quietly. "You're trying not to feel this."
Lisa looked up at him again.
He was too close.
Her heart was beating so hard now she was sure he could hear it.
"You're my boss," she whispered.
"That's your excuse today?"
"It's a good one."
Oliver stared at her lips.
Lisa noticed.
And somehow that made everything worse.
"You should let go of me," she said softly.
"But you don't actually want me to."
The scary part?
Lisa hated how right he was.
Oliver slowly moved closer until her back touched the kitchen counter behind her.
Her breathing became uneven instantly.
"Oliver…"
"What?"
"You're doing too much."
His eyes darkened.
"But you're still standing here."
Lisa tried to answer.
Nothing came out.
Because his hand had just moved to her waist.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like he was testing her.
Giving her a chance to stop him.
But she didn't.
Her body betrayed her every single time.
Oliver noticed it too.
His thumb brushed lightly against her waist under her shirt and Lisa sucked in a sharp breath.
"There," he whispered. "That sound again."
Lisa glared at him weakly. "You're so annoying."
"And you still want me."
Her stomach flipped hard.
"You're arrogant."
"You kissed me back."
Lisa opened her mouth.
Closed it again.
Oliver smirked slightly.
"Exactly."
God she wanted to slap him.
And kiss him.
Both at the same time.
"You think every girl wants you," she muttered.
"No." He leaned closer. "Just you."
That one hit her hard.
Lisa's breathing slowed for a second.
Something shifted in his face then.
The teasing disappeared.
Now he just looked at her.
Like he was trying to hold himself back.
"I meant what I said," he said quietly.
Lisa frowned slightly. "About what?"
"Not being able to watch you with him."
Her chest tightened instantly.
"You don't own me."
"I know."
"But you act like you do."
Oliver's hand tightened slightly on her waist.
"Because every time I see another man touch you, I lose my mind."
The honesty in his voice made her heart stumble.
Lisa looked away quickly.
This was getting dangerous again.
Too dangerous.
"You should stop talking."
"Why?"
"Because you say crazy things."
"You make me crazy."
She laughed nervously. "That line is terrible."
"But it worked."
Lisa hated that she smiled a little.
Oliver noticed immediately.
"There she is."
"Shut up."
"Make me."
Her smile disappeared instantly.
The air changed again.
Hotter now.
Heavy.
Lisa's pulse jumped when Oliver stepped even closer until there was almost no space left between them.
"You keep daring me," he said quietly.
"And you keep acting like you have self-control."
"I did," he murmured. "Before you."
Lisa's breath caught again.
God.
Why did he always know exactly what to say?
Oliver's fingers slowly tilted her chin upward.
"You should move," she whispered weakly.
"You first."
Neither moved.
Neither breathed properly.
Then Lisa made the mistake of glancing at his lips.
Oliver noticed instantly.
And that was the end of whatever control he had left.
He kissed her suddenly.
Hard.
Lisa gasped softly against his mouth as his hand slid behind her neck.
The kiss felt angry.
Hungry.
Like he had been thinking about this for days.
Maybe weeks.
Lisa grabbed his shirt instinctively as he pulled her closer against him.
Every thought disappeared from her head immediately.
Oliver kissed her deeper and Lisa melted before she could stop herself.
God.
This man kissed like he wanted to ruin her.
Her fingers tightened against his shirt while his hand moved lower against her waist.
"Oliver…" she breathed against his lips.
"Hm?"
"We shouldn't…"
But even she didn't sound convincing.
Oliver kissed her again before she could finish.
Lisa's legs nearly gave out.
The tension between them exploded completely now.
Everything they had been holding back came out at once.
The jealousy.
The anger.
The wanting.
Oliver backed her harder against the counter and Lisa let out a shaky breath when his mouth moved down her jaw slowly.
"You drive me insane," he muttered against her skin.
Lisa's eyes closed tightly.
"You already said that."
"Because it's true."
His hand slid slowly up her thigh and Lisa grabbed his arm immediately.
Not to stop him.
Just to hold onto something.
"Oliver…"
"You still thinking about him?" he asked darkly.
Lisa frowned slightly. "Who?"
"Evan."
The jealousy in his voice was obvious now.
Lisa looked at him stubbornly. "Maybe."
Oliver's eyes darkened instantly.
Then he kissed her again even rougher than before.
Like he was trying to erase every thought of Evan from her head.
And honestly?
It was working.
Lisa's fingers slid into his hair while his breathing became heavier against her mouth.
The kitchen suddenly felt too hot.
Too small.
Everything between them was seconds away from completely losing control
Then suddenly
"Well damn."
Both of them froze instantly.
Lisa's eyes widened.
Oliver cursed under his breath.
Evan stood near the kitchen entrance staring directly at them.
At Lisa pressed against the counter.
At Oliver standing between her legs.
At the way both of them looked completely breathless.
Silence filled the kitchen.
Heavy silence.
Then Evan laughed once.
But it didn't sound amused.
It sounded hurt.
"Well," he muttered slowly, "this explains a lot."
Lisa immediately stepped away from Oliver.
Her face burned with panic.
"Evan"
"Nah," he cut her off quietly, though his eyes stayed on Oliver. "I think I get it now."
Oliver's jaw tightened.
And suddenly the tension in the room became even worse than before.