Chapter 1:
The rain hadn't stopped for three days.
Elena Voss dragged her heavy suitcase up the narrow wooden stairs, the wheels bumping loudly against each step. Her hoodie was completely soaked, and wet strands of auburn hair clung to her cheeks. The housing office had sounded apologetic over the phone — "major flood damage in the dorms, only one emergency apartment available." They forgot to mention one important detail.
She reached the door marked 4B, took a deep breath, and turned the key.
The moment she stepped inside, the warm smell of fresh coffee and something woody hit her. The living room light was on. And standing right in the middle of it was Damon Hale.
Shirtless.
Gray sweatpants hung low on his hips, showing the sharp lines of his body and the edge of a small tattoo along his ribs. His dark hair was still damp from the shower, and those sharp gray eyes lifted from his phone to meet hers.
Elena froze.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," she muttered, letting the suitcase drop with a heavy thud.
Damon's lips curved into that annoying smirk she remembered too well — the same one he had worn when he publicly destroyed her presentation in their shared class last semester. "Evening, Voss. Nice weather we're having."
She shut the door harder than necessary. "Explain. Right now."
He shrugged casually, his muscles shifting under his skin. "Plumbing burst in my building. Housing moved me here as a temporary fix. Looks like they did the same for you." His eyes moved slowly down her wet hoodie and jeans, then back up to her face. "Didn't expect company this… wet."
Elena felt her cheeks heat up. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "This is not happening. I'm calling the housing office right now and demanding another room."
"Already tried," Damon said, taking one slow step toward her. "They said everything else is full or still flooded. We're stuck together for at least the next three weeks." His voice dropped a little. "Try not to kill me in my sleep, princess."
"Don't call me that," she snapped. "And stay on your side of the apartment. I don't want to see you, hear you, or smell your cologne more than I have to."
Damon let out a low chuckle. "My cologne bothers you? That's interesting."
Elena ignored him and pulled her suitcase toward the smaller bedroom on the left. She slammed the door behind her a little too hard. Leaning against it, her heart pounded. Of all the people in the entire university, why did it have to be him? The guy who had made her feel small and stupid in front of the whole class. The guy whose presence always seemed to take up too much space.
She quickly changed out of her wet clothes into an oversized t-shirt and shorts, then tried to focus on unpacking. But the walls were thin. She could hear every sound from the living room — the clink of a mug, the low murmur of the television, the creak of the couch when he moved.
An hour later, the power flickered once… twice… then went out completely. The storm outside suddenly sounded louder in the darkness.
"Perfect," Elena whispered to herself. She grabbed her phone and turned on the flashlight.
She just needed a glass of water. Nothing else.
She opened her bedroom door and stepped into the dark hallway. Her shoulder bumped straight into a solid, warm chest.
Damon.
His hand automatically caught her waist to steady her. His palm was hot, even through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. For a few seconds, neither of them moved. The only sounds were the heavy rain and their breathing.
"Careful," he said, his voice low and rough in the darkness. His fingers stayed on her waist a moment longer than necessary.
Elena's heart slammed against her ribs. She could feel the heat coming off his bare skin and smell the clean scent of his soap mixed with something deeper. "Let go."
His grip loosened, but he didn't step back. "You always this jumpy, Voss?"
"Only when I'm forced to live with an asshole," she replied, but her voice came out softer than she wanted.
Damon leaned in slightly. She felt his breath brush against her temple. "You act like you hate me, but your body is trembling right now."
"It's cold," she lied quickly.
"Liar." The word was quiet, almost amused. His thumb moved once in a small stroke against her side before he finally dropped his hand. "Go get your water, princess. Try not to trip over me again."
Elena pushed past him, her cheeks burning. In the kitchen she filled a glass with shaking hands, drank it too fast, and stood there in the dark for a long minute, trying to slow her racing heart.
When she walked back to her room, Damon was still standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall like he belonged to the shadows. His gray eyes followed her until she closed the door.
She climbed into bed, pulled the blanket up high, and stared at the ceiling.
This was going to be a very long three weeks.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, heavy and endless, as if it knew something she didn't.
---
**End of Chapter 1**