After school had ended for the day, West and Jax t back at work once again.
The café glowed warmly under amber lighting as the scent of roasted coffee beans blended with baked pastries and sweet cream. It was busy but manageable.
Jax leaned against the counter while wiping a glass.
"So," he muttered under his breath, "we’ve got school from eight to three, work from four to nine. That leaves... what? Late night training?"
West poured a latte with steady hands.
"We can’t train in open areas often," he replied quietly. "Industrial zones after closing hours. Weekends will be primary sessions."
"And mornings?"
West glanced at him.
"You want to wake up at five?"
"...I’ll consider it," Jax muttered.
They continued planning between orders.
Training cycles... mastery drills... branch stabilization... physical conditioning.
They needed structure...
Mina, who was restocking pastries nearby, narrowed her eyes at them.
"You two have been whispering all day," she said suspiciously. "What are you plotting?"
"Howork," Jax answered instantly.
"Group study," West added smoothly.
Mina crossed her arms.
"You hate howork."
Jax grinned.
"Growth arc."
She squinted at them, clearly unconvinced, but another custor called her attention and she walked off.
The mont she left, Jax leaned closer.
"She’s definitely suspicious."
"Then act normal."
"I am normal."
"You are not."
Before Jax could protest, the bell above the café door chid.
Both of them instinctively looked up.
And Jax imdiately whistled under his breath.
"Well damn."
A beauty had stepped in...
She had pink hair that extended down to her mid-back, catching the café lights with a glossy sheen. She wore a cropped black leather jacket over a fitted white top that hugged her figure, paired with a high-waisted skirt that accentuated her long legs. The skirt ended just above the knee, and smooth heeled boots added a subtle click to each step she took.
Silver rings glinted on her fingers and a delicate chain rested at her collarbone.
She looked effortlessly stunning and hot with her large chest bouncing every ti she stepped forward.
Her eyes scanned the café and then landed on West.
A slow smile curved her lips.
Jax leaned toward West.
"Bro."
"I see her."
"She’s staring like she’s about to commit a felony."
West ignored him and focused on his register.
Aria approached the counter with her hips swaying subtly with each step. When she reached him, she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the counter.
"Hi," she said softly.
"Welco back," West replied with a smooth and composed voice.
Her gaze flicked over him.
"You missed ?"
West didn’t hesitate.
"You’ve been gone long enough to make the café noticeably less interesting."
Her lips parted slightly in amusent.
"Oh? So I’m the highlight of your day?"
"Among other things."
Jax coughed loudly from behind.
"Do you want to order?" West asked calmly.
Aria didn’t look away from him.
"Surprise ."
West tilted his head slightly.
"Dangerous."
"I like dangerous."
He turned to prepare her drink.
Throughout the ti she stayed, Aria’s eyes rarely left him.
Whenever he walked past her table, she’d brush her fingers lightly against his wrist. When he set her drink down, she’d hold his hand a second longer than necessary.
And every ti, West responded with flirtatious remarks.
"You look busy," she teased once.
"I make ti," he replied.
"For custors?"
"For the right ones."
She bit her lip.
Jax shook his head while watching from the counter.
"This is criminal."
Mina rolled her eyes.
"Focus on the orders."
The evening eventually wound down.
Chairs were stacked... lights dimd... and floors were mopped.
When they locked up, Jax stretched.
"So. Training?"
"Tomorrow," West replied.
Jax glanced toward Aria, who was waiting outside by the streetlight.
"Ah. Right. Personal developnt."
West shot him a look.
"Go ho."
Jax grinned.
"Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do."
"That leaves too much room."
Jax laughed and left.
West stepped outside and Aria imdiately linked her arm with his.
"You’re free now?"
"For a while."
They walked side by side through the quiet evening streets.
The city air was cool and streetlights cast soft golden halos along the pavent.
Their conversation flowed easily.
She talked about her day.... about a small argunt she’d had at ho... and about how bored she’d been.
"You really didn’t stop thinking about ?" West asked lightly.
She glanced at him sideways.
"You think you’re that unforgettable?"
"I don’t think," he replied. "I observe."
"And what do you observe?"
"That you’re holding my arm tighter than necessary."
She smirked but didn’t let go.
They reached his apartnt complex sooner than expected.
As they climbed the stairs, the atmosphere changed.
When they stopped at his door, Aria turned toward him.
For a split second, neither spoke while West stepped closer...
Close enough that her back nearly brushed the door.
His hand slid around her waist and her breath hitched slightly.
"Soone might see," she whispered.
"There’s no one here."
"That’s not the point."
Yet she didn’t step away.
He leaned in, brushing his lips on the curve of her neck.
Her fingers tightened around his shirt as a soft shudder ran through her.
"West..."
Her voice trembled faintly in anticipation as he kissed her neck slowly, feeling her pulse quicken beneath his lips.
"You said you missed ," he murmured near her ear.
"I did."
He slowly unlocked the door while his lips traveled across her skin...
The mont they stepped inside and the door clicked shut—
Aria moved first.
She pushed him lightly against the wall and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as she pulled him into a deep kiss.
She was no longer hesitant or shy in the slightest...
Her fingers slid into his hair as she kissed him hungrily with their breath mingling and lips moving in heated rhythm.
"I hate you," she murmured between kisses.
"Why?"
"Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you."
His hands held her firmly, steadying her against him.
"That sounds like a you problem."
She laughed softly before kissing him again.
"I kept replaying the last ti you were at my place," she admitted against his lips. "Every second."
West carried her toward the couch, still holding her effortlessly.
She pulled back just enough to look at him.
"You didn’t miss ?"
He brushed a strand of pink hair away from her face.
"I did."
Her eyes softened slightly at that and then she leaned forward and kissed him again—
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