Cole sat across from him, his posture relaxed, yet his expression unreadable. He twirled a lighter between his fingers, flicking it open and closed without lighting it. A mistake? He should have just said yes. He should have ended it there. But for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to lie.

“I don’t know,” Cole finally admitted, his voice low but firm. “Does it matter?”

Daniel let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “It shouldn’t. But it does.” His fingers dug into his jeans, his knuckles turning white. “You’re the boss’s son. I’m just a bodyguard. This... whatever this is... it’s not supposed to happen.”

Cole leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And yet, here we are.” His gaze was piercing, challenging. “Do you regret it?”

Daniel hesitated. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to tell Cole that it was a stupid drunken mistake. But the truth was—he didn’t regret it.

“No,” he admitted, almost grudgingly. “But I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do now.”

Cole let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “You think too much.” He leaned back against the couch, watching Daniel closely. “You want to do something about it, or you want to keep running?”

Daniel’s breath hitched. Cole’s words weren’t just a challenge—they were a dare. And Daniel had never been one to back down from a dare.

He moved without thinking, crossing the space between them and grabbing Cole by the collar. Their lips crashed together, and this time—this time, there was no alcohol clouding his mind. No excuses. Just raw, undeniable hunger.

Cole responded instantly, his hands gripping Daniel’s waist, pulling him closer. The kiss was hot, messy, desperate. Daniel wasn’t holding back, and neither was Cole.

Cole pushed Daniel back onto the couch, hovering over him, his fingers sliding beneath his shirt. Daniel shivered at the touch, his breath coming in short gasps.

“Not drunk this time,” Cole murmured, his lips brushing against Daniel’s neck. “No excuses.”

Daniel barely managed a nod before Cole’s hands were on him again, undoing his belt, sliding fabric aside, leaving a trail of heat wherever he touched.

This time, it was different.

This time, Daniel knew exactly what he was doing.