A steamy encounter turns complicated when Earn, freshly returned to Thailand, discovers that Lada, the captivating woman she spent a wild night with, is soon to be her stepsister.
g!p Lada
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Earn had just arrived in Thailand, stepping off the plane and inhaling the familiar humid air mixed with jet fuel-a scent that brought a rush of nostalgia and a wave of apprehension. It had been years since she last set foot in the country, her life having taken her far away to Italy where she had built a new routine. The news of her mother's sudden engagement had come as a surprise, like a sudden downpour on a sunny day. After her father's passing, Earn hadn't expected her mother to find someone new, much less fall so deeply in love again that marriage would even be on the table. Yet here they were, and she had returned to meet the man her mother was planning to spend the rest of her life with.
The thought of it made her chest tighten-she wasn't sure if it was out of protectiveness, skepticism, or a mix of both. The flight had been long and tiring, yet it hadn't exhausted the restless energy swirling inside her. There was something else too, an unease she couldn't quite place, as if stepping back into her old life had resurrected emotions she hadn't dealt with. She shook off the feeling as she arrived at her hotel, willing herself to relax. Settling into the plush surroundings of her room, Earn tossed her suitcase onto the bed, glanced at the time, and let out a breath. Evening had just fallen, but it was still too early to retreat and face the introductions that awaited her tomorrow.
She wasn't ready to meet her new "family" just yet. What she needed was a drink-something to smooth the edges after the long flight and perhaps to help her forget, just for a while, about the reality waiting outside the hotel walls. Earn peeled off her travel clothes and took a quick, steaming shower, letting the hot water wash away the fatigue from the journey. Emerging from the bathroom, she picked out a form-fitting black dress, the kind that hugged her curves in all the right places and made her feel both dangerous and free. It was an outfit that demanded attention, and tonight, she craved distraction.
The club she found wasn't far-a lively place tucked in a narrow alleyway, its entrance guarded by a bouncer and flickering neon lights. As she stepped inside, the atmosphere enveloped her; the air was thick with the mingled scents of sweat, perfume, and alcohol. Bass-heavy music throbbed through the room, vibrating up through the floor and into her veins. It was the kind of place where time slipped away, where the darkness made it easy to forget who you were for a while. She made her way to the bar, her heels clicking against the sticky floor, and ordered a whiskey on the rocks. The first sip burned down her throat, leaving behind a welcome warmth.
Leaning back against the bar, Earn let her gaze drift across the room, the dim lighting casting shadows over the crowd. The dance floor was packed, bodies swaying in unison to the hypnotic beat. Her eyes roamed until they found a focal point-a woman in the center of the dance floor, her every move captivating, exuding an effortless allure. There was something about the way she moved, an unspoken confidence, the kind that drew attention without asking for it.
Lada. The name suited her; Earn didn't know how she knew, but she did. It seemed to fit the enchanting aura the woman radiated, her dark hair spilling over her shoulders as she danced, a small but knowing smile playing on her lips. Earn took another sip of her whiskey, the ice clinking softly against the glass, and then set it down with quiet resolve. Her feet moved almost of their own accord as she pushed away from the bar and strode toward the dance floor, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease.
As if sensing her approach, Lada glanced up, and their eyes met. For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them, the music a distant pulse in the background. Lada's smile widened, a silent invitation, as Earn closed the distance between them, stopping just short of touching.
