Summary: Two months after a whirlwind Bridgerton press tour, Y/N is finally ready to move on from her dreamy co-star, Benedict. Their tour was a blur of electric chemistry, endless laughter, lingering touches and facing each other so much that cameras only caught their side profiles (iykyk). When Y/N lands the lead role in a new movie, she expects a fresh start. Instead, the script reveals a familiar name tied to her past, forcing her to confront emotions she thought she had imagined. As fiction begins to mirror reality, Y/N must face the one question sheâs been avoiding all along: was it ever real for him, too?
Length: 23.2k
Pairing: Benedict x Actress!Reader [Benedict as Luke Thompson and Y/N as Yerin Ha inspired]
Content Warnings: Explicit content, 18+ minors dni!, Fluff moments, Teasing and Banters, Unresolved Feelings, Loaded with contents either from Lukerin interviews/Benophie scenes, Original interviews were slightly altered for narrative reasons
Chapter 1 : The Script
Chapter 2: The Table Read
Chapter 3: The First Take
Chapter 4: The Cover Story
Chapter 5: The Trivia Night
Chapter 6: L'escalier
Chapter 7: The Piano Lesson
Chapter 8: The DĂŠjĂ Vu
Chapter 9: The Last Tour (London)
P.S. Gentle Readers, I usually post the latest chapter on my ao3 account a day before tumblr. Just fyi đ¤ thanks for reading.
Pairing: Benedict x Actress!Reader [Benedict as Luke Thompson and Y/N as Yerin Ha inspired]
Content Warnings: Entire Chapter is a Flashback of Bridgerton S4 World Press Tour, Benedictâs POV, Mature language, Unresolved Feelings, Original interviews were slightly altered for narrative reasons, Loaded with contents either from Lukerin interviews/Benophie scenes
Benedict was still reeling from the previous eveningâs Bridgerton Season Four premiere.
Landing in France for the first leg of the world tour felt less like work and more like coming home. The familiar language drifting through airport terminals, the scent of fresh coffee spilling from cafĂŠs, the rhythm of a country that had shaped so much of his childhood, all of it settled warmly beneath his skin.
France had always been his sanctuary. Having Y/N here somehow made it better.
He couldnât quite pinpoint when it had happened. Somewhere between filming and wrapping, her presence had become woven into the fabric of his days. Once she left, he found himself noticing her absence at an alarming rate.
Heâd grown hopelessly addicted to seeing her every day. He missed making her laugh, stealing naps with his head in her lap between scenes, and bingeing dreadful reality TV over her shoulder on her mobile screen whenever filming dragged on.
Hell, he even missed those endless hours trapped in that ridiculous bathtub with those strange oils and disintegrating petals. Though if he was being entirely honest, he mostly missed the way she fit perfectly between his thighs, but that was beside the point.
When she flew back to Sydney after wrapping, heâd had little choice but to count down the days until the press tour began.
And now, the agonizing wait is finally over. Now she is in Paris with him.
And Benedict was in trouble⌠utterly in trouble. Because Y/N appeared entirely unaware of the effect she had on him.
The true danger lay in her new-found stillness. During filming, heâd grown used to her sweet reluctance, such as the sudden retreat of her fingers when their hands grazed, or the way she would look away if she caught him staring at her.
That distance is effectively gone now.
Instead, Y/N now gravitated toward him as if drawn by some invisible thread. If there was an empty seat beside him, she took it. If they entered a crowded room, she found him immediately. If she was tired, sheâd simply lean against his shoulder as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
It was truly intoxicating.
It made him wonder about things⌠dangerous things. Things that he had absolutely no business wondering about.
Would she miss him when all of this was over? Would she treasure this strange little bubble theyâd created together as much as he did?
To be perfectly honest, he hadn't the faintest idea and he would rather let it stay that way, ignorance being bliss and all.
By six in the morning, Paris was still half asleep.
The city drifted past the car windows in soft washes of blue and gold as they made their way through the quiet streets toward Star Academy.
Y/N sat beside him in the back seat. She was sitting far too close, not that Benedict had any intention of complaining. Every time the driver rounded a corner, their knees brushed, sending a quiet jolt straight through him.
He found himself pointing out familiar landmarks through the glass, sharing stories he hadnât thought about in years. Places heâd visited as a boy. CafĂŠs his family used to frequent. Streets heâd wandered down long before acting had become his profession.
Y/N listened to every word. Her sweet interest completely disarming him.
And that was his downfall.
There was something rather easy about being around her. The noise in his head quietened whenever she was nearby. The constant pressure of interviews, expectations, and public appearances simply faded into the background.
Being near her felt so safe, so entirely like his private haven, that the words escaped before he could stop them.
âYou should stay,â he blurted out.
Y/N blinked and turned from the window to focus entirely on him. âStay where?â
Benedictâs heart hammered against his ribs. He suddenly became quite nervous, the quiet space of the car now feeling rather small.
It took him a moment before he finally said, âIn London.â
He thought he saw a hint of something soft cross her face, but it was likely just a trick of his own wishful thinking.
âWhy?â
The simple question struck him squarely in the chest. And suddenly the terrifying reality of what he was asking settled over him all at once.
Why London?
She was correct to question him. He was asking her to cross oceans, to leave her home. Australia held her childhood, her family, and the friends she cherished above all else.
What right did he have to ask her to leave all of that behind?
Surely she wouldnât give up her world for him, and heâd never ever be selfish enough to ask that of her. Besides, he was the only one in love here.
Wasnât he?
Retreating into safer territory, Benedict forced a smile. âWell, the industry opportunities are quite brilliant, really,â he said, pivoting flawlessly. âThereâs a massive theater scene, numerous film jobs, multiple connections...â
Y/N went quiet and looked away. The silence that followed felt louder than any argument. He could physically feel her pulling away from him, their cozy bubble evaporating into utter nothingness.
Had he completely misread her?
A sick feeling settled in his stomach. Moments ago she had looked at him as though she were waiting for something. And instead of giving her the truth, he had hidden behind career advice and professional opportunities.
Regret completely washed over him. He wanted nothing more than to reach out, to physically catch his words and pull them back into his throat.
But instead, he doubled down on the lie. âYouâre still young, after all. I just think itâd be a brilliant move for your career, love.â
And not because I desperately want you to stay with me.
He didnât dare voice out that last part.
Even without seeing her face, he could feel a heavy wave of disappointment radiating from her side of the seat. Benedict realized then he had royally fucked this up.
Absolutely brilliant.
When they arrived at Star Academy, it provided a welcome distraction, as it was remarkably difficult to wallow in self-inflicted misery while surrounded by such enthusiastic people. The interview was fun and the contestants were lovely.
For a brief hour, Benedict almost managed to forget the incident in the car.
But then one of the contestants turned toward Y/N and asked, âWhere do you live now?â
âWhere do I live now?â she repeated.
âYeah, are you in Australia or in London?
Y/N didn't hesitate. âI'm still in Australia. Everyone's always asking me if I want to move to London or if I'm going to. And I say⌠no.â
Benedictâs heart slammed into his throat. He forced a smile, playing the part of the ever-supportive co-star, all while his own world started to crumble down.
The rejection stung like hell.
She hadnât given him a flat ânoâ earlier. Sheâd given him an opportunity and heâd sufficiently wasted it.
âI think for me,â Y/N continued, breaking his heart further along the process. âSydney is where I have my family. It's where I have my friends. And to have a place that I can go back to that grounds me and reminds me of my people and where I came from, I think it's always such a good reminder.â She paused, a bright smile breaking across her face. âAnd it's nice because they put me up and I donât have to pay rent.â
Everyone laughed, so he forced himself to mimic them. He smiled, he chuckled, a perfect gentleman on cue. But inside, the joke was entirely on him.
All he could hear vibrating in his chest was the devastating reality: Australiaâs home, not London and certainly not him.
The host translated Y/Nâs response into French for the contestants, before turning her attention to him.
âAnd Benedict? You live in London?â
He swallowed hard, forcing his press-tour charm back into his features as the cameras zoomed in. âYeah, I mean I love doing screen, and actually I've fallen in love more and more with doing screen,â he paused. âBut theatre was always my first love⌠and I don't think there's anywhere quite like London for theatre. And if there's always the opportunity to do it there, there's no reason to move.â
The drive back to the hotel was a suffocating affair.
Benedict spent most of it staring straight ahead, his jaw tight. He was entirely trapped in his own head, collecting all the brilliant things he should have said to her earlier instead.
But before he could gather his courage, Y/N found her earbuds first and slipped them into place. Just like that, the conversation died before it had even begun. She gave him a fleeting, polite smile and somehow that hurt him more than if sheâd been angry.
As Paris drifted past outside and the River Seine reflected ribbons of gold beneath the sun, Benedict almost laughed at the absolute absurdity of it all. Leave it to him to be utterly heartbroken in the one city built for lovers.
***
Luckily, the silence that had settled between them in France didnât last forever.
Thank the heavens for that, because Benedict was fast approaching the limits of his sanity. He could have handled anger or disappointment. But what he could not handle was politeness.
Polite Y/N was absolutely terrifying.
She smiled on cue, nodded politely, and answered his questions, yet somehow managed to make him feel like the loneliest man in the world.
Fortunately, somewhere between crossing continents and landing back in London, the normalcy returned. The cities they visited along the way were stunning, a massive blur of press calls and fan events. The beautiful chaos of it all served as the perfect distraction.
They were both so completely overwhelmed by the schedule that the unspoken tension from Paris was quietly swept under the rug. Perhaps momentarily, but Benedict wasnât about to dig that up.
The laughter returned first, closely followed by the familiar comfort of their banter.
It didn't take long for them to start sitting far too close during interviews, sharing secret jokes and laughing until they were absolutely wheezing.
Try as he might, Benedict simply could not stop staring. Every time Y/N answered an interviewerâs question, or even so much as breathed, his eyes drifted right back to her. He was genuinely tracking toward a severe case of neck injury from the way heâs constantly looking sideways towards her.
And yet, he couldn't bring himself to care. He couldn't risk missing a single moment: the flash of her smile, her clever answers, the warmth of her laugh. And when her gaze locked onto his, his heart stuttered. It made him wonder, against his own better judgment, if heâs not entirely alone in this freefall after all.
He loved it best when she pulled out her mobile to show him something from the internet, given that he lived entirely offline. Whether the clip was from Instagram or TikTok was anyone's guess. Frankly, he doesnât have a clue what the difference was between the two, but he absolutely adored it when she casually pressed herself into his side.
Whenever Y/N was near him, he found it next to impossible for him to resist touching her. He canât help but hold her hand a little longer than necessary, caress the small of her back, squeeze her waist when he thought no one was looking or even rest a palm against her bare thigh.
He would never admit to her how much he craves her warmth and proximity all the fucking time. But he had ruined his chance once before and he was not about to risk doing that again.
Especially now since he felt as though Y/N had finally forgiven him. Right then and there, Benedict reached a quiet decision. If his tongue failed him when it came to confessing his love, he would let his actions speak for him instead.
Every single day. Every chance he could find.
He had almost crossed the line again earlier today though, shamelessly declaring that he owned Y/Nâs rom-com era and that no one else could touch it.
Truthfully, he could only hope that if she saw how fiercely he cared for her, she would stay. And Benedict would finally, truly be enough for once.
***
The final panel of the tour took place at BFI Southbank. The auditorium was packed. Every seat was occupied and every corner was buzzing with anticipation.
Episode five had just screened to thunderous applause, and now they are sitting beneath the bright stage lights answering questions.
Both of Bridgertonâs show runner and executive producer joined them on the panel, with the lovely interviewer from Shondaland leading the event. They ran through the usual drill, sharing favorite scenes and funny stories.
Benedict barely heard his own voice, far too busy drinking in the sight of Y/N talking. She looked so mesmerizing, so ethereal...istg. Looking at her all the time was quickly becoming his favourite pastime.
When it was finally his turn to speak, he was just wrapping up a thought about his characterâs emotional arc when the host hit him with a follow-up he hadnât anticipated.
âI've got to ask you, what's been your favourite moment in season 4?â
Before his internal filter could stop him, the truth came rushing out of his mouth. âIf I could wrap every single moment spent with Y/N, I'd say that.â He said, his voice echoing through the crowded auditorium. âNo, it's true. She'sâŚsheâs the absolute best. She's been just the perfect â God, I'm going to get emotional...â
The looming reality of the tour ending crashed down on him, and a fierce panic gripped his chest. He wasn't ready for this to be over.
He was nowhere near ready to let her go.
He cleared his throat, pushing past the lump in his chest. âShe's the perfect acting partner and I couldn't have asked for anything better. She's just wonderful and she's got a very, very bright career ahead of her.â Risking everything in front of the flashing cameras, he reached over and placed a reassuring, lingering hand on her knee.
âWe're wrapping our press junket so it's getting emotional.â Y/N joked to the audience, smoothly covering for his sudden burst of vulnerability. âIt's been a long week. Hormones are running high. It's a lot.â
The interviewer seized on the moment instantly. âWhat's so lovely is that you can really see that when you're on tour and everything, you can see you're genuinely, really good friends, aren't you?â
Friends. Right, come on now. He scolded himself.
It was a brutal reminder of where he stood in this fantastical, non-existent relationship he had deluded himself into.
Benedict kept his professional smile pinned in place for the rest of the panel event, completely hiding the agony bruising him from the inside out.
***
The wrap party that night was entirely unforgettable. It was the ultimate celebration, the very last time they would all be in the same room before a new season starts.
The music was loud, the champagne was endless, and the venue was packed with laughing cast and crew. Someone was already crying into their drink. It felt like the proper end of an era.
Benedict drifted through the crowd, putting on his best casual face while his eyes scanning every corner in a desperate, quiet search for Y/N.
âShe said she needed some fresh air. Try the balcony.â
Benedict blinked, turning to find Jenna, Y/Nâs best friend, whom heâd finally met in person only an hour ago. She was looking at him with a thoroughly amused smirk.
âRight. Thank you,â he said, offering a breathless smile. He gave up on any pretense of acting casual. Apparently, his desperation was quite transparent anyway. His feet were already carrying him toward the balcony doors as fast as he could manage without actually breaking into a sprint.
Benedict stepped through the heavy doors and found Y/N standing entirely alone, with the whole of London glittering beyond her. The city stretched endlessly into the dark horizon, bright and beautiful.
She caught his movement and looked up as he took his place right next to her.
âThere you are,â she murmured.
âLooking for me?â he asked smoothly, as if he hadnât just spent the last hour desperately searching for her.
She turned her head, offering him a brilliant, knowing look. âUnfortunately.â
Benedict smiled, his heart finally slowing its frantic pace. They let the quiet stretch between them, just enjoying each otherâs company. There was no press, no cameras. Both stood together, completely content just to exist in the same space.
But just like the fateful masquerade ball they had spent weeks filming, an invisible countdown was ticking away beneath their temporary state of bliss.
Y/N broke the silence first, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. âMy flight leaves in two days,â she said, her eyes drifting back to the city lights.
A cold, suffocating wave of panic crashed over him, stealing the air from his lungs. Benedict knew she had to go back eventually, but two days? He wasn't remotely prepared for that.
âYouâre leaving?â
Y/Nâs brow furrowed slightly in confusion. âWell⌠yes.â
He knew he had never stood a chance of convincing her to stay. But he had foolishly assumed they would at least have a little more time.
âYou will keep in touch, right?â she asked quietly. She was looking up at him expectantly, entirely unaware that sheâd just permanently shattered whateverâs left of him.
Benedict couldnât bear to look into her eyes. It simply hurt too much, so he turned his face toward the sprawling city instead.
After swallowing the heavy lump in his throat, he relied entirely on his years of theater experience to deliver the line flawlessly. âOf course, love. Why would I not?â
He felt Y/Nâs arms wrapped tightly around his waist, her face pressing against his shoulder blades. Benedict turned to face her, holding her close. In that devastating moment, he was intensely grateful for his height. He held her tight against his chest, anchoring her there so she couldn't look up, so she couldnât see the panic, the heartbreak or how desperately he wanted to ask her not to leave him.
They stayed perfectly still under the London stars, stretching every remaining second for as long as she would allow him, knowing fully well that this was their final midnight.
***
Two days later, his phone lit up the dark room.
Y/N: Back in Sydney. Sent you a message as soon as I landed just as you asked. ;p
Benedict stared at the screen, the playful tone of her message cutting through him like a blade. He squeezed his eyes shut, stopping his fingers from typing âcome backâ and instantly locking his phone.
He sat alone in silence. His flat, much like his entire existence, had become too quiet, too empty.
He stopped going out altogether, ghosting his friends, dodging his family, and rejecting every single event invite. His theater ambitions just quietly fizzled out, and the excitement for any future roles faded into nothing. Even picking up a sketchbook was a challenge.
And worst was when heâs playing the piano, as all he wanted to play was their song from Bridgerton which he already mastered after a few attempts.
He missed Y/N everyday.
For Benedict, everything seemed strangely colourless now, as though someone had quietly turned down the vibrance in his life.
Days passed in a blur, and the most devastating part was that nobody truly noticed. Everyone simply assumed he was taking some well-deserved time off to rest after the exhausting press tour. Recovering in a safe, quiet bubble.
Only Benedict knew the bitter truth.
And yet, he would never tell a single soul. He had kept his mouth shut, he had played it safe, and now the curtain had fallen. He had missed his absolute final chance with Y/N.
Perhaps sheâd read him like a book and his obvious feelings had properly terrified her. The moment it all got too real, she ran. She couldnât get away fast enough though, packing her bags in two days flat just to escape to Sydney and get on with her life.
He may have been just the afterthought sheâd left behind.
As the days stretched into weeks, Benedict gradually learned how to function again. Or at least he became exceptionally good at pretending.
He was a professional after all.
One day, a new script arrived from his manager but Benedict wasnât remotely interested. He was seconds away from throwing it straight into the recycling bin when a single name captured his attention.
Y/N was going to be the lead.
Benedict saw this as a lifeline. And for weeks, he finally feels like heâs coming up for air. He can breathe again.
He was done living in a lie. He needed to see her again. The risk, the heartbreak, the messy complications⌠none of it mattered anymore. He would accept whatever crumbs of her presence he could get.
Now that Y/N was heading to Montreal, Benedict vowed not to hesitate for a single second. He would cross an entire ocean just to exist in her orbit, content to simply be near her, even if he exists solely in her periphery.
Pairing: Benedict x Actress!Reader [Benedict as Luke Thompson and Y/N as Yerin Ha inspired]
Content Warnings: Explicit content, 18+ minors dni!, Fluff moments, Teasing and Banters, Loaded with contents either from Lukerin interviews/Benophie scenes
For one blissfully disoriented second, he stayed exactly where he was, suspended somewhere between sleep and waking, his mind pleasantly blank.
Then instinct kicked in and he reached beside himself. It was empty.
His eyes opened immediately. Y/N was gone.
The telly screen was black now, long since having shut itself off sometime in the early hours. Pale morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, casting the room in that quiet blue-grey stillness that only existed before the city properly woke.
Benedict sat up too quickly, sending one of the cushions tumbling to the floor.
He tried to listen for any signs of someone else in his flat, but no sound came from the kitchen, no footsteps, no movement. His gaze flicked automatically towards the coffee table. No note either.
Not this time.
Something unpleasant tightened sharply in his chest. Of course, Y/N had left⌠again. After all, there was no reason for her to stay with him. Not a single sensible one.
He scrubbed a hand down his face, already annoyed with himself for the irrational sting of disappointment. Honestly, he should have expected this. Perhaps the worst part was he should have known better than to hope. After all, he was never really anyoneâs first choice.
Somewhere along the way, he had developed the deeply unfortunate habit of assuming that when things went wrong, it was because he had somehow failed to be enough.
It had happened before.
Several years ago, he auditioned for drama school and got rejected, not once but twice. He also submitted countless auditions that went nowhere.
Even with Bridgerton, in a strangely ironic way. He auditioned for a role and then read for another but got cast as the second son. Granted, he had grown to love the character more than he could have imagined, but there was still something darkly amusing about the fact that even his fictional counterpart was the second son, the spare.
Fiction mirroring reality. Lovely.
But this? This felt different because Y/N leaving hurt far more than he cared to admit. It reminded him far too much of London.
When he accepted Echo Veil, he had warned himself not to get too close, not to make the same mistakes. Maybe he thought this time would be different with her. And yet here he was.
Pathetic.
Benedict exhaled sharply. Before he could spiral any deeper into self-inflicted emotional ruin, he decided breakfast was the more practical solution. There was, after all, nothing quite like a full existential crisis on an empty stomach.
He moved into the kitchen on autopilot, cracking eggs into a bowl with slightly more force than necessary. He decided to focus entirely on his omelette today.
He had just set his plate down and poured himself a glass of water when he heard a knock at the front door.
Benedict froze.
He slowly crossed the flat and reluctantly opened the door. He was left speechless when he saw Y/N standing in front of him, balancing two takeaway coffees and an aggressively overstuffed paper bag.
Her hair was windswept from the cold, cheeks flushed from the morning air. Still wearing the same clothes from yesterday and looking entirely too pleased with herself.
âMorning,â Y/N said brightly.
Relief hit him so hard it almost made him dizzy. Before he could stop himself, he reached forward, pulled her inside, and wrapped both arms around her.
Y/N let out a startled squeak. âHey! Youâre squeezing me. Are you okay?â
But Benedict only held her tighter. Like she might disappear again if he loosened his grip too soon.
For one strange, suspended second, neither of them moved. Then Y/Nâs body softened against his, as if she understood.
âOh.â Her voice changed instantly, softer now.
Benedict exhaled against her hair. He hadnât realized how much heâd been holding so much back until he felt that sudden sense of relief at the sight of her.
âI woke up and you were g-gone.â His voice faltered slightly at the end.
Y/N leaned back just enough to look at him, lifting the coffees awkwardly like evidence. âI got breakfast⌠for us!â Her smile was so warm and beautiful it almost physically hurt.
Benedict looked away first, stepping back just enough to let her breathe.
âWell,â he said dryly, attempting to salvage what remained of his dignity, âsince youâve returned bearing carbohydrates, I suppose I can forgive the lack of a cuppa.â
That made her laugh. âYouâre such a Brit. Coffee is more superior. Wait, did you cook?â Y/N peered past him.
âYes, I did. Just eggs.â
Her face lit up.
âOoh⌠I canât wait to taste Benedictâs eggs,â Y/N said, walking into the kitchen to set down their coffees and a bag of bagels.
That earned a chuckle from him. âLeave my eggs alone, you made them sound so filthy.â He shook his head, feeling loads better than when he had first woken up.
Breakfast, as it turned out, was lovely. After they finished, Y/N stood up to clear their plates, but Benedict caught her wrist.
âAbsolutely not. You are my guest.â
âHey, that sounds very familiar⌠Mr. Bridgerton, is that you?â Y/N laughed, thrilled that they had accidentally recreated the breakfast scene at My Cottage. Benedict shook his head, hiding a smile as he started loading the dishwasher.
âFine,â she said. âIf you wonât let me help, can I at least shower?â
âOf course, love. Already washed your red jumper, but feel free to wear anything of mine.â
Y/N closed the distance between them. She rose onto her tiptoes to press a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. âThank you,â she murmured.
And before he could say anything clever in return, she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Benedict alone with a deeply ridiculous smile.
When Y/N finally stepped out, wrapped tightly in a towel, she wandered into his bedroom and slid open his wardrobe. She was not technically snooping. She was simply trying to find something to wear.
Found it!
Smiling, she pulled out a mustard yellow zip-up hoodie. It was the exact same one he had worn during their Bridgerton table read, and she remembered thinking back then how incredibly comfortable he looked in it.
Y/N found everything that happened between them entirely absurd. Just a few months back, every conversation had been brief and professional. Before that, months of suffocating silence between them. Both pretending none of whatever had existed between them was real.
Yet recently, the reality was undeniable. Sheâs sleeping at his apartment, stealing his hoodie, his boxers⌠It was a complete reversal of everything she thought she knew about them. It was strangely comfortable. A domestic warmth she hadn't realized she was craving.
Y/N gulped at that thought. Like she said, this whole thing is absurd.
She checked herself out in the mirror, watching the sleeves swallow her hands up to the knuckles. On her frame, the zip-up hoodie fell mid-thigh, resembling more like a dress.
Y/N padded into his study in a pair of borrowed ankle socks.
Benedict looked up from the armchair as she entered. His mouth opened slightly, then snapped shut as his jaw visibly clenched. His gaze dropped, eyes travelling slowly down her body⌠starting from the collar of his hoodie down to her bare thighs.
Y/N shifted on her feet, suddenly self-conscious. âSorry. Was this one off-limits or something?â
âNo,â Benedict said, his eyes finally snapping back up to lock onto hers. âQuite the opposite, love.â
He set his notebook down on the desk and crossed the room to get closer to her.
âYou look rather good in my clothes, you know.â
He cut off her reply before she could even form the words, leaning down to press a warm, tender kiss to her lips. Y/N kissed him back without a second thought, completely helpless against the magnetic pull that had been building between them for months.
Benedict groaned against her mouth, his hands sliding under the hem of the hoodie to rest against the bare skin of her thighs. The heat of his palms against her skin sent a shiver straight up her spine. The kiss that started out as soft at first, deepened. Still affectionate but quickly becoming increasingly distracting.
Too distracting.
Y/N laughed softly against his mouth and pressed a hand lightly to his chest. She started shaking her head while Benedict looked perplexed.
âNo distractions, please.â
Benedict pretended to look personally wounded.
âWe have ââ Kiss. ââ piano practice ââ Another kiss. ââ remember??â
He groaned dramatically, giving her a look of utter, tragic betrayal.
Y/N smiled, capturing his lips in one final, teasing kiss. She stayed close, brushing her lips against his as she whispered, âIâm ready to learn, Professor Bridgerton, Sir.â
That last word shifted something in the room. The playful charm vanished from Benedictâs face instantly, replaced by a sudden, heavy gravity as soon as she called him â
âFuck, Y/N⌠youâre not helping.â His voice sounded strained as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
She tilted her head innocently and then let out a quiet laugh as she leaned back in. âSo kinky, Sir.â
âAlright, thatâs quite enough from you,â he muttered, a flush creeping up his neck. He caught Y/N by the wrist, a small smile breaking through his serious expression as he practically dragged her over to the piano bench.
***
âAgain,â Benedict said, mildly horrified, âthat was a C sharp.â
Y/N groaned dramatically and let her forehead fall against the piano keys. A deeply tragic discord rang out.
âExcellent,â Benedict murmured from across the room. âNow youâre creating avant-garde interpretations.â
Resting her chin on her hand, she shot him a glare. âThis is literal emotional abuse.â
âItâs education, young lady.â
âTomato, tomahto.â Y/N narrowed her eyes.
Benedict smiled without looking up. He had stationed himself across the room hours ago, notebook balanced on one knee, glasses sliding slightly down his nose in that maddeningly attractive way he seemed entirely unaware of.
Every now and then he would correct her: a note here or better timing there. Otherwise, he remained suspiciously occupied.
âAre you actually helping me,â she asked, âor just judging me silently from afar?â
âBoth. Play the third bar again.â
Y/N sighed but obeyed.
âGood girl.â
That caught her off guard. He always called her âloveâ. She swallowed hard, shaking off the warm sensation pooling in her stomach, as she gripped the edge of the bench and focused very hard on the sheet music.
By evening, Y/Nâs fingertips were sore, her concentration fraying, but something miraculous had happened, she was actually improving. More than improving, she was getting quite close.
âAgain,â Benedict said.
âYou enjoy torture.â
âAgain.â
She played, only this time it was clean. Benedict slowly looked up.
âWellâŚâ
Y/N blinked. âWell, what?â
âThat was⌠surprisingly competent.â
She gasped. âCompetent? I think I did amazing!â
âLetâs not get carried away, come on now.â
Y/N rolled her eyes, but she couldnât stop smiling.
By the time night fully settled outside, she played the entire piece without stopping. No missed notes, no hesitation. The final chord faded into silence. And for one suspended second neither of them moved.
Then Y/N turned toward him, eyes wide. âDid I justâŚ?â
âYou did.â
âOh my God.â
âYes! You did it, love.â
Benedict laughed as she launched herself off the piano bench and practically threw herself into his lap. He caught her instinctively, arms wrapping around her waist.
âI did it!â
âYou did absolutely brilliant, Y/N. So proud of you.â
âAll thanks to you.â Y/N grinned so brightly it nearly blinded him.
Then her gaze landed on the notebook beside him. She thought she saw something, or someone. âWhatâs that?â
âOh, nothing really.â Which, naturally, meant it was absolutely something.
Y/N lunged for it and Benedict immediately tried to stop her but it was too late. She flipped it open.
It was a sketch of her. Her head was tilted in concentration, a barely visible smile playing on her lips. She looked completely serene and content.
Benedict suddenly looked almost very self-conscious which was rare. âI⌠never made you a proper season wrap gift.â
Y/N looked up. âA what?â
âFor Bridgerton.â He adjusted his glasses unnecessarily. âI did them for Phoebe, RegĂŠ and others during the first season. Thought I ought to make one for you, too.â
She stared at the paper, stunned. This was what he had been doing the entire time. Every line, every shade was meant for her. It was just like him, so thoughtful, observant, and so unmistakably Benedict.
âYou drew me,â she said softly, looking up to meet his eyes.
âYes, that I did.â
âIs there anything you canât do?â
âNot a whole lot, I'm afraid,â he smirked.
âAnd so humble, too.â Y/N teased.
There was something electric about tonight. She couldn't tell if she was still riding the high of finally conquering her piano lesson, or if it was the dizzying warmth of realizing she was looking at the best gift anyone had ever given her.
Looking up into his eyes, Y/N felt that familiar, dizzying rush flutter in her chest. Driven by a sudden surge of affection she couldn't possibly restrain, she pulled him down by the collar into a kiss.
It was quickly becoming her favorite new habit â kissing him first. She pressed her lips to his gently, a deliberate and unhurried press that spoke volumes. It was her way of silently thanking him, letting the simple gesture say everything her words couldn't.
Y/N smiled against his mouth. âYou know, youâre actually a very good teacher.â
Benedict hummed approvingly. She tilted her head, watching the way his expression softened before she decided to completely ruin his composure again.
âI suspect thereâs a lot of things you can teach meâŚâ She paused, leaning in until her breath brushed his ear. ââŚSir.â
At that last word, Benedict stilled. The easy warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced instantly by a dark focus filled with lust.
The sudden change made Y/N shift in his lap, the friction of her bare thighs against his sweatpants sent a tingling sensation through her. She could feel the unmistakable evidence of his growing arousal straining hard directly beneath her center.
Before Y/N could shift again, his hand cupped her jaw so that she can meet his gaze. His demeanor had completely changed. The gentle artist was gone. "You're playing a rather dangerous game, love," he rasped, his thumb teasing her jawline with a featherlike touch.
Benedict leaned in and captured her lips in a long, searing kiss. When he finally pulled back just an inch, his green orbs remained locked on hers, dark and focused. His grip tightened on her waist, pinning her in place. âTell me what you want, love,â he commanded in a low, gravelly rasp that left no room for games.
Y/N let out a soft, trembling whimper. She couldnât believe that heâd barely done anything to her yet, but already, he had her completely putty in his hands. The deep ache between her thighs was slick and heavy, her body melting effortlessly into his demanding touch.
Instead of responding, Y/N let her actions answer for her. Shifting her weight, she slid down his body until she was kneeling on the floor right between his legs. She swallowed hard, her chest heaving with nerves as she looked up at him while her hands hovered the elastic waistband of his pants, waiting for his permission to go on. As soon as Benedict nodded, she wasted no time hooking her thumbs as she pushed them down and completely took them off.
His composure shattered the second her warm fingers wrapped around his rigid length. Y/N had to use both of her hands, adjusting to the substantial, solid length of him as she began to move.
A tight knot formed in his throat, his forearms flexed and thickened as he braced himself, trying to endure the sweet friction of her touch.
âThatâs it, love⌠fuck.â
Leaning in closer, she dragged the flat of her tongue, tasting him with a slow, wet stroke from base to tip. She heard his breath hitch and without missing a beat, she swirled her tongue around the slick heat of the tip, her eyes locked on his tight expression.
Benedictâs head fell back against the chair, a low, guttural groan tearing from his throat as he tried to keep himself from jerking his hips upward. The slick warmth of her mouth enveloped him inch by inch, shattering what little control he had left.
âTake it all fâme, love⌠fuck, good girl.â
Y/N felt that same deep sensation again in her core. Desperate to keep hearing his low, ragged praise, she opened herself completely to him. She slid her lips along his length once more, taking him deeper and deeper at an agonizingly slow pace that had him trembling.
Y/N pulled back a little. âPlease, SirâŚâ
She caught his hand and pressed his palm firmly against the back of her head, giving up all control and silently telling him she was ready for whatever he wanted.
The heat in Benedictâs expression shifted, his protective instincts instantly cutting through the haze of his arousal. âAre you sure about this, love?â
Y/N looked up at him through her lashes, her eyes dark with compliance as she nodded. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers for a split second to ground them both. âTap me three times if it gets too much, yeah? No games, Y/N. I mean it.â
With her patience wearing thin, Y/N let out a muffled moan around him. The hot, wet vibration of her velvety mouth wrapped around his cock once more, shattering whatever logic he had left. There was no backing out now.
She closed her eyes and let her jaw relax, completely surrendering control to him. Benedictâs fingers tightened into her hair, as he took over completely. His hips shifting into a relentless, unforgiving pace that left her breathless. Every time Y/N gasped against him, he pushed a fraction deeper, filling the slick warmth of her mouth completely.
âFuck, love,â he groaned, his voice cracking as his hips snapped forward. âSuch a good girl for me. Take it, fuck, just like that.â
Benedict watched the way she took every inch of him without a shred of resistance, and the complete surrender in her eyes shattered his remaining control. The way he relentlessly fucked her throat into a fierce, consuming rhythm that pushed her to her absolute limits, left her completely dazed.
Every muffled gasp she made against his skin only fueled his momentum. The slick warmth of her mouth wrapped around his length was entirely too overwhelming to endure, pulling him closer and closer to the absolute edge. His breath came in ragged, desperate gasps as the pressure hit its peak. His fingers locked tightly into her hair, holding her flush against him as his hips twitched with a final, heavy thrust.
âY/N! Love⌠Fuckâ â The words were torn from his throat, cracked and raw with a sudden, overwhelming intensity. He went entirely rigid, a low, guttural groan tearing from his chest as he came, his whole body trembling as he spilled over deep in her mouth.
Y/N swallowed everything he gave her, leaning away with a soft exhale as she wiped a lingering trace of him from the corner of her lips.
âThat was rather, uhm⌠â Benedict slumped back against his seat, completely spent. He closed his eyes, struggling to find the right words while he tried to stabilize his ragged breathing after such a shattering release. He looked up, his gaze soft and completely awestruck. âYou were utterly fantastic, love.â
He reached up, capturing her lips in a full, messy kiss. He pulled back just an inch, his green eyes searching hers. âHowâs your throat?â
âItâs fine,â Y/N insisted, although she did feel a slight scratchiness in the back of her throat.
Benedict shook his head with a soft smile, seeing right through her reassurance. He got up and walked toward the kitchen to fetch her a drink. âWhat do you need, love? Water? Tea?â
âWater, please.â
And with that, Benedict went out from his study.
Somewhere nearby, a phone began to buzz. Y/N tracked the sound to the top of the piano, where her device was actively vibrating itself across the wood. It buzzed again, followed by another immediate ring, demanding her attention.
Someoneâs apparently trying to FaceTime her. Someone whoâs completely oblivious about time zones and does not realize how late it is in Montreal.
She immediately moved to reject Asherâs call, but her thumb didn't even hit the screen before her phone buzzed again, stubbornly overriding her attempt to ignore him.
Persistent.
Y/N blinked. She accepted the call. Immediately, Asherâs face appeared.
âHey⌠you,â she croaked.
âHey Y/N, are you sick? What happened?â
âWhat do you mean?â
âYour voice. Are you alright?â
Realization hit her like a physical blow. She cleared her throat, desperately trying to smooth out the evidence of what she had just been doing only minutes ago.
Right. That.
âIâm fine.â
âIf you say so⌠â
âI promise Iâm okay. Now, talk. Iâm kind of in the middle of something.â She looked around the room and found a glass of water on top of the desk, however no sign of Benedict anywhere.
âSo bossy.â Asher chuckled.
âShouldnât you be busy being famous in California?â
âRight, your glamorous five a.m. interview circuit.â
âBrutal,â Asher confirmed. âSomeone asked me what my skincare routine was. Iâm a man surviving on caffeine and panic.â
âOh no, you poor thing,â Y/N deadpanned. She held the serious expression for a beat before letting out a soft, amused snort.
âHey, youâre supposed to be on my side.â Asher reminded her as he joined in the laughter. âActually, one interviewer did ask about you.â
Y/N raised a brow. âOh?â
âMhm.â
âHopefully you didnât spoil anything about Echo Veil.â
Asher looked deeply offended. âOf course not. I would never!â
âNot yet, you mean, King of Spoilers.â That made both of them laugh again.
They spent another five minutes chatting until they finally said their goodbyes. Y/N quietly slipped down the hallway toward Benedictâs bedroom.
She found him in bed with his glasses on and a script in hand. Looking far too handsome for someone clearly pretending not to care.
Y/N smiled softly and climbed onto the mattress beside him.
âHi.â
âHello.â
âYou never came back,â she said, sticking her bottom lip out in a dramatic pout. âYou busy?â
Benedict turned a page. âHow is Asher?â
Ah, there it was.
Y/N chose her next words carefully. âHeâs fine.â
âDoes he always call this late?â Benedict kept his attention fixed very firmly on the script.
Interesting.
âBenedictâŚâ
He finally looked at her. âIâm sorry.â
âWhy?â His response caught her off guard.
âI may be overstepping.â He removed his glasses and set them aside on his nightstand. âI donât wish to make assumptions.â
Something in her chest softened. âAsher is my friend.â
âI know.â Benedict gave a single nod. âAre weâŚfriends?â
âDo you want to be?â Y/N whispered, holding her breath.
Benedictâs smile strained slightly as he shook his head, looking up to lock his eyes onto hers. âI never wanted to be just your friend, love.â
âGood, me neither.â Y/N then curled into his side beneath the covers. He began to thread his fingers gently through her hair.
After a long, quiet moment she asked, âHow come you never reached out after Bridgerton?â
Benedict went still but she kept going anyway.
âWe got along so well.â Her voice softened, the words heavy with months of unspoken things. âWere you really just too busy with theatre?â
Benedict stared at the ceiling, a muscle in his jaw shifted. He wasn't fond of talking about the months after she had left London. The hollow shell of a man he had become the moment she left⌠him.
âYeah⌠I was rather busy right after the press tour,â he lied.
Y/N held her breath, hoping for more, but Benedict didnât offer another word. She knew that wasnât the entire answer, not fully. But something in the fragile set of his features silently begged her not to push. At least, not tonight.
Instead, Benedict turned toward her. He looked very serious now. There was a vulnerability in a way she hadnât seen often.
âJustâŚâ He hesitated, quieter this time. âDonât run again.â
Y/N frowned slightly. âWhat does that mean? And why would I?â
He didnât answer, he just watched her as if heâs waiting for her.
Something about the intensity of it made her chest tighten so she nodded. âOkay.â
Benedict visibly exhaled and then pulled her closer. Ending the conversation without actually ending it.
And somehow, she let him. For tonight, this felt like enough. Y/N snuggled close against his chest, completely safe and warm as sleep slowly pulled her under. Between the rigorous piano lesson and an intense throat exercise, her body was completely spent, and she happily drifted off to the sound of his steady heartbeat.
***
Sunday was another full day of rehearsal. She made significantly fewer mistakes this time, drastically cutting down on the amount of times Benedict got to play the strict professor. They took short breaks to grab food, but otherwise spent the entire day practicing side-by-side.
Y/N might have been distracted from her actual practice once or twice. She became far more interested with her gorgeous instructor showing her a completely different kind of fingering technique in between her lessons.
Somehow, this effortless blend of music and much more âhands-onâ practice had become their established rhythm for the weekend.
Later that night, as they finally slid beneath the cool sheets, they began to plan for the next day. Benedict pulled her close, murmuring against her hair about taking her out for a dinner date the second she finished shooting her piano scene, determined to celebrate their success in style.
Long after midnight, the conversation finally drifted off. Benedictâs room grew completely quiet, leaving nothing but the sound of their soft, synchronized breathing in the dark.
And then without warning, Y/Nâs phone lit up, a soft, low vibration hummed against the nightstand, repeating once, twice, and then dissolving into a continuous buzz. Notifications were stacking too fast to read, a chaotic blur of unread messages and urgent mentions lighting up the dark.
One final buzz rattled the table. A bright red warning flashed a critical one-percent battery notice, and with a swift click, the screen died and the silence returned.
Y/N remained curled against Benedictâs side, his arm wrapped around her waist under the heavy covers. Neither of them stirred, completely lost to sleep. Still blissfully unaware of what the next day held for both of them.
Pairing: Benedict x Actress!Reader [Benedict as Luke Thompson and Y/N as Yerin Ha inspired]
Content Warnings: Fluffy-âď¸-fluff in this chapter, Suggestive themes are barely there (much like Gregory Bridgertonâs facial hair jk), Song mentioned is actual song from TV show, Loaded with contents either from Lukerin interviews/Benophie scenes
The studio had that strange end-of-day energy where everything felt half-asleep. Crew members moved slower, voices softer, lights dimming one section at a time as everyone packed up for the weekend to rest.
Y/N sat perched on the edge of the piano bench, script resting beside her, while Bea zipped up her makeup case nearby.
âAre you absolutely sure?â Chelsea asked for what felt like the third time, hovering by the doorway with her coat half-on.
âYes,â Y/N laughed. âI promise Iâll survive being left alone with a piano.â
Chelsea frowned. âThat sounds ominous when you say it like that.â
Ian snorted from where he stood waiting for Bea. The makeup artist looped an arm through his and sighed dramatically. âHonestly, if Asher were here, heâd absolutely volunteer to stay.â
Chelsea nodded immediately. âYeah, heâd bring snacks and not eat them,â she then smiled sheepishly.
âMaybe even bring a full charcuterie board,â Ian added.
Bea gasped. âSorry, what? You actually know what charcuterie is and youâre taking me out tonight for burgers and poutine?â
Y/N laughed at their teasing banter, but the amusement faded quickly.
It was Friday night, and the absolute last thing she wanted was to spend her entire weekend chained to a piano. Unfortunately, she couldnât keep putting this off. The deadline was staring her right in the face, and she needed to perform the piece flawlessly for a scene next week.
Meanwhile, the missing-in-action Asher was currently somewhere in California, trapped in an endless cycle of promotional interviews for the Endgame re-release. Apparently, it was all in preparation for some massive Marvel blockbuster arriving later in the year. At least, that was how heâd dramatically explained it.
A handful of chaotic texts over the last few days confirmed he was perfectly fine.
She, however, absolutely was not. She couldnât afford to waste another second.
âGuys, you know I love all of you,â Y/N said, gesturing toward the exit, âbut you have to leave now so I can actually get started.â
Beaâs eyes narrowed immediately, a slow, brilliant grin spreading across her face like a lightbulb had just gone off. âYou know who could not only accompany you, but actually teach you? Itâs â â
âAlright, thatâs enough from you, missy.â Y/N cut her off so quickly it nearly gave Chelsea whiplash. The young PA looked so confused.
âIan, drinks are on me tonight. Please do me a favour and take her away.â She said it jokingly, but only partially. The last thing she needed was Bea opening that particular can of worms when she was supposed to be focusing.
After one final round of hugs and goodbyes, her friends finally left. Leaving her alone in the quiet studio. She took a deep breath, rolled her shoulders back, and stepped toward the piano, ready to face the music.
Time to work.
An hour of practice disappeared in a blur. When she finally checked her phone, it was nearly ten oâclock. And somehow, she still had so much ground to cover. The scene itself wasnât especially complicated, but adding the piano into the mix made it more complex.
To be fair, she had played when she was younger. Sheâd assumed it would be like riding a bike. Apparently, sheâd been wildly optimistic.
Y/N attempted to play the same section again and again until she finally dropped her hands frustratingly into her lap and thatâs when she heard voices echoing nearby.
ââŚtold you they were on the stage steps.â
âSorry to trouble you. I completely forgot to pack any of my spares.â
Y/N froze. Her fingers lifted instantly from the keys. If she remained perfectly still, perhaps she could become invisible.
Benedict walked in alongside one of the crew members, Sam, who pointed triumphantly toward the stage. âYour glasses.â
There they were. Exactly where Benedict had apparently abandoned them. He sighed as he retrieved them.
âOne day,â he said, slipping them on, âI shall have them glued to my face so I may never lose them again.â
Sam laughed and then stopped. He spotted Y/N. âOh! Youâre still here.â
Y/N lifted one hand weakly. âYes. I hope thatâs alright.â
Sam checked his watch. âEr⌠Iâm actually locking up in fifteen. Weekend protocol, sorry, Y/N.â
Oh, fair enough.
âRight.â She tried not to visibly deflate.
Sam gave her a sympathetic smile. âIâll swing back.â
And then he disappeared, leaving Benedict and Y/N alone in the suddenly quieter studio.
Benedict watched her for a moment before speaking. âYou look as though someoneâs just informed you Christmas has been cancelled.â
âI finally had momentum.â
âWere you? Because I could hear you playing and â â
She shot him a deadly look.
Benedict raised both hands immediately. âNevermind then.â
âNo, youâre right.â Y/N sighed in defeat. She looked back at the piano. âIâll just make a request so theyâll let me rehearse here over the weekend.â
âYou donât need to go through all that fuss. Iâve got one back at my flat.â Benedict shrugged like this was the most ordinary thing to say. âI requested one from production.â
Y/N stared.
âYou requested a piano?â
âYes.â
âFor your flat?â
âYes.â
ââŚwho are you?â
His mouth twitched. âSomeone who is beginning to regret offering.â
âYouâre sure itâs okay?â
Truth be told, Y/N doesnât think this might be a good idea for both of them but she didn't really have much of a choice. She doesnât want to burden their director, or force some poor staff member to spend their weekend unlocking and relocking the studio just for her.
Benedict adjusted his glasses, a faint, amused smile tugging at his lips. âCome on now, love. I canât quite believe Iâm the one having to twist your arm when Iâm only trying to help.â
âI just feel guilty,â she admitted, quieter now. âI donât want you cancelling weekend plans⌠or dates⌠just because of me.â
The teasing faded from Benedictâs face instantly, leaving his features entirely soft. He stepped toward her, his hand sliding effortlessly into hers until their fingers were fully intertwined.
âRight then, letâs go.â He grabbed her bag with his free hand and gently pulled her along behind him. âWe donât want Sam staying late because of us, now do we?â
Her heart was suddenly beating far too fast. She tried to blame it on the stress of the performance, but as his fingers tightened around hers, she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the piano piece.
***
The last time Y/N had been in Benedictâs flat, she hadnât exactly had the time to actually appreciate it.
Now, seeing it properly, the whole place was warm, quiet, books everywhere, music sheets stacked in slightly chaotic piles. She sees a record player in one corner. It seems like he enjoys staying here rather than going out, unlike her and her friends.
Everything in this place is so him.
And then her eyes landed near the sofa where she can see a pair of Birkenstocks.
Her Birkenstocks.
Well, technically his but the same ones sheâd given him.
âYou still wear those.â
Benedict glanced down. âOf course. You gave them to me. They tend to follow wherever I go.â
Y/N tried very hard not to overthink that sentence. She canât start overanalyzing what they mean to each other over a pair of sandals. What does that say about her?
Benedict led her into his study, where the piano sat near the window. Beautiful and intimidating.
Y/N sat down reluctantly, lifted her hands toward the keys but then stopped halfway.
Benedict leaned against the doorway. âWhatâs wrong, love?â
âI only have until Monday.â
ââŚand?â
âI donât think I can pull this off.â Her fingers hovered cautiously above the keys without pressing down and making a sound.
Benedict crossed the room and sat right next to her. He began to play a familiar melody, one that sounded wistful and heartwarming at the same time. She swears sheâs heard this beforeâŚ
âThat,â Benedict said thoughtfully as his fingers moved effortlessly across the keys, âis your self-doubt speaking.â
âAnd youâre forgetting one vital detail.â He continued and then glanced at her. âI happen to be an exceptionally good teacher.â
He flashed her a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling warmly. He always looked his happiest when he was lost in the music. âAny clue as to what song Iâm playing?â
Y/N instinctively began shaking her head, but as the melody clicked in her mind, a slow, radiant smile spread across her face. She did know this song.
âItâs our songâŚâ she whispered, a sudden, overwhelming happiness flooding her chest.
âYes, right you are,â Benedict smiled, a soft warmth in his voice. âItâs called âA Simple Dance Lessonâ. I always thought our scenes in Bridgerton felt a little more special whenever they used this.â
She couldn't help but be deeply moved by the gorgeous melody. There was something profoundly intimate about it, the kind of music that felt like a living memory, wrapping around them both.
Pressed close beside him on the narrow bench, Y/N lost all track of the notes sheâd been worrying about. Instead, she watched his skilled fingers move with effortless grace, her mind suddenly curious about what else those hands could do.
Heat crawled into her cheeks. Y/N quickly redirected her attention back toward the sheet music, before her imagination could go any further.
Benedict noticed her being distracted, so he slowed down and let the music fade. Turning to face her on the small bench, he leaned in and pressed his forehead against hers, then he closed his eyes and sighed, as if heâs enjoying this quiet moment with her.
Staring at his face, Y/N was struck by how beautiful he was up close. He looked so relaxed, so entirely at ease. Her eyes drifted lower, locking onto his lips.
But then Benedict opened his eyes, slowly pulling back to create a bit of space between them. âRight,â he murmured, breaking the silence. âYou're here to practice, so we should probably get started.â
That snapped her back to reality. âYes, you're right,â she said quickly, nodding a few times too many to seem focused and eager to learn.
âAlright, fingers in position⌠Relax your wrist, love.â He covered her hand with his own, his touch light and reassuring as he guided her hand with a calm, practiced ease.
Y/N was entirely out of her depth, hyper-aware of his chest pressing close to her shoulder as he guided her hands. Still, she swallowed her nervousness and kept playing.
After more than an hour, Benedict watched her fumble a chord sheâd gotten right ten minutes earlier. A clear sign she was completely running on empty.
âBreak,â Benedict announced, nudging her shoulder playfully.
âThank God," Y/N sighed. She pulled her hands from the keys, shaking her wrists dramatically.
Benedict stood up from the bench, rolling his shoulders to shake off the stiffness. "I'll go make us some tea," he said, gesturing toward the living room. "Go turn the telly on and relax.â
Y/N didnât need telling twice. She collapsed onto the sofa and picked up the remote. As she flicked through channels, the opening chords of La La Land caught her attention.
Perfect.
Maybe if she watched closely enough, she might actually subconsciously pick up a bit of technique or inspiration to help her through her own scene next week.
Benedict came back into the room and handed her a freshly brewed mug of tea. She thanked him, taking a careful sip as he settled onto the couch beside her, his attention turning to the screen.
âYou know that the jazz club in this film exists?â
Y/N turned toward him, smiling. âAre you one of those deeply insufferable people who talks through films?â
âOnly when Iâm being fascinating.â
She laughed and he took that as his cue to continue. âLe Caveau de la Huchette is a real jazz club in Paris.â
âSeriously?â
âMhm.â He glanced at her. âThe directorâs father is French, so thereâs quite a bit of French cinema influence.â
âWow, you are insufferable.â
âAnd yet here you remain.â Benedict winked at her as he took a sip.
Y/N smiled into her mug. Heâs right. Here she remains, indeed.
They settled into a comfortable silence, the bright colors of the film washing over the darkened room. Benedict glanced down and saw her eyes were already half-closed. Smiling faintly, he gently took the mug from her loose grip and set it aside.
âCâmere, love,â he softly murmured, pulling her gently against his side so her head could rest on his chest. âI guess rehearsal will have to wait âtil tomorrow. Shall I take you up to bed?â
Instead of answering, Y/N just hummed softly, snuggling closer, tucking her head perfectly into the crook of his neck. Within moments, her breathing evened out into a deep, sound sleep.
Benedict looked down at her for a long moment. He didn't have the heart to wake her up, deciding they were perfectly fine where they were. He rested his chin against the top of her head, watching the screen until he too drifted off to sleep.
The mornings were colder now. Not freezing yet, but enough for people to start wrapping scarves tighter around their necks and carrying steaming coffees like lifelines through the studio lot.
Y/N arrived on set earlier than usual. Suspiciously early, if anyone had asked Bea. Thankfully, even her makeup artist wasnât here yet, which was precisely the point. She has been bombarding Y/N with so many questions as of late.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and stepped quietly through the empty soundstage, the vast room dim except for a few scattered work lights glowing softly backstage. The silence felt comforting after the chaos her mind had become lately.
She exhaled slowly and headed toward the makeup trailers when suddenly, someone cleared their throat behind her.
âYou left before I woke up.â
Y/N nearly jumped.
Benedict was sitting near the edge of the stage steps with a coffee in hand, script balanced against one knee, wearing a navy sweater with the sleeves rolled up. To make matters worse, he had his glasses on.
She thought it was entirely unfair for someone to look this good at six in the morning.
âSeriously, Benedict,â she muttered. âDo you enjoy scaring people?â
âOnly selectively.â The corner of his mouth curved slightly. âAnd donât try to change the subject.â His gaze stayed fixed on her as he stood.
Y/N tried not to notice how naturally her body reacted to his presence now, like her entire system had memorized him against her will. He moved, and somehow her attention followed automatically.
âI left a note,â she defended weakly, the excuse about as flimsy as the note sheâd left on his nightstand.
âYes. Very polite of you.â
âI said thank you.â
âYou did.â
ââŚand?â
âAnd then you vanished.â
Y/N crossed her arms. âI didnât realize I was being detained.â
A faint smile tugged at his mouth again.
God, she hated when he looked smug and handsome at the same time. Lethal combination.
Benedict stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly. âYou were the one who kissed me first, love.â The words landed much harder hearing them out loud.
Y/N immediately became flustered. âI have absolutely no idea what youâre talking about.â
First rule: never confess to your crimes. She would take this to her grave if necessary.
Benedict studied her quietly before asking, âAre you planning on pretending none of it happened then?â
âGood morning, you two!â
Mike walked past them cheerfully while other crew voices echoed from the corridor behind him.
Y/N stepped back immediately in an attempt to look casual. A few production assistants entered carrying equipment and coffees, effectively bursting their little bubble.
Benedict pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses up with visible frustration.
âWeâll continue this later,â he murmured.
Y/Nâs pulse skipped.
Without waiting for a reply, he walked past her toward the dressing rooms. And somehow, this was worse, because now she knew for certain⌠he wasnât going to just let this go.
***
The next few days became unbearable in the most ridiculous way possible because she keeps seeing Benedict everywhere she goes. Or perhaps ever since that fateful night, Y/N had completely lost the indifference she had mastered before, and now she simply canât help but notice him.
Either way, it was a problem.
He had subtle ways of making his presence known. A quiet âmorning, loveâ, or a hand brushing briefly against hers while passing scripts or sometimes standing just a little too close during rehearsals
It was driving her insane.
More infuriatingly, part of her wanted to ignore him out of pure spite while another part craved every ounce of his attention.
Meanwhile, Benedict looked calmer now, more certain. He was resolute in his pursuit of her, almost ignoring the risks of being caught on set.
Thankfully though, heâs such a good actor.
Unfortunately for Y/N, she was internally combusting every single day.
***
By Thursday afternoon, Y/N had discovered that elevators were no longer safe. Unluckily, she realized this information far too late.
The doors slid shut behind her with a soft ding, but then a hand stopped them before they closed completely. And in walked the last person she wanted to see.
The elevator suddenly felt smaller, warmer. Y/N stared very hard at the glowing floor numbers.
âInteresting timing,â Benedict remarked casually as the doors closed again.
âI was here first.â
He completely ignored what she said and went straight to the point. âYouâre avoiding me again.â
Y/N scoffed lightly. âYou say that like you arenât stalking me through this building.â
âIâm most certainly not stalking you.â He paused thoughtfully. âWell⌠not all the time.â
âYou somehow appear everywhere I am.â
âYou make it sound as though Iâm a proper serial killer, love.â
That made her giggle despite herself. To be fair, they had always shared a questionable appreciation for dark humour.
The elevator jerked slightly as it stopped at another floor, but no one entered.
Y/N became painfully aware of his arm beside hers. His cologne, his warmthâŚ
The memory of his mouth against hers.
He stepped in closer. âRelax,â Benedict said soothingly. She could feel how dangerously close he was.
âI am relaxed,â she muttered under her breath.
âYouâre gripping your coffee like it insulted your entire bloodline.â
She glanced down and he was right.
Fuck me.
A knowing smirk slowly appeared across Benedictâs face. He turned toward her fully, his eyes warm and heavy with amusement. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, a slow, agonizingly light trail that made her knees feel weak.
âSo,â he murmured, âyou do remember what almost happened that night.â
Y/N instantly covered her mouth. She hadnât even realized sheâd said that out loud.
âNo need to be shy, love,â he teased gently, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The remaining space between them disappeared completely.
âI wouldâve done as you wish, but you fled my flat before sunrise.â
Her breath caught instantly. âThat sounds significantly worse when you say it like that.â
âIt was worse.â
Ding! The elevator doors opened.
Both of them stepped apart immediately.
Perfect timing, Y/N thought. Or terrible timing. She genuinely couldnât tell anymore.
***
Bea and her boyfriend Ian were currently sprawled across Y/Nâs apartment like they own the place. They had arrived while Y/N was still on FaceTime with Jenna, who was somehow bright-eyed and functioning despite being on the other side of the world in Sydney.
This wasnât unusual. Theyâd hung out like this plenty of times before. The only difference now was that Y/N hadnât exactly been truthful about what happened on that fateful trivia night.
Only Jenna knew the full story.
And with the way Bea kept circling back to the subject lately, Y/N was becoming increasingly convinced she was going to accidentally confess everything one of these days.
âYouâve been bizarre lately.â
âI donât know what you mean by that,â Y/N deflected immediately.
Bea pointed dramatically at the phone screen. âJenna, please tell your best friend sheâs not been herself recently.â
âWell â â Jenna started but was cut-off swiftly.
âAha! You just poured orange juice into your coffee,â Bea declared triumphantly.
Y/N looked down in absolute horror. ââŚoh my God.â
Bea stared smugly from across the kitchen counter while Ian sat beside her, half-working on his laptop and half-enjoying the unfolding disaster before him.
âOkay,â Bea said slowly, narrowing her eyes. âWhat the hell is going on with you?â
âNothing.â
âJenna?â Bea pressed. âHelp me out here.â
âOh wow, look at the time,â Jenna said suddenly. âIâm supposed to be working.â
Y/N frowned. âHang on, I thought you said you were rostered off today?â
âNah, got called in.â Jenna looked entirely too cheerful for someone who had just supposedly lost one of their precious rare days off. âAnyway, I have to go now. Call you next week, hun. Bye, Bea⌠Ian!â
And just like that, the screen went black.
Fantastic.
Now Y/N didnât even have Jenna around to distract Bea. And sheâs learned within the few months theyâve started working together that her makeup artist, unfortunately, had the instincts of a bloodhound once she suspected something.
They were supposed to meet Asher and Chelsea for dinner soon, but Bea had apparently decided tonightâs entertainment would be a full-scale interrogation.
Ian, who was clearly finding this entire situation far too amusing, suddenly spotted a black shirt draped over one of Y/Nâs dining chairs.
âThe Killers?â he said, picking it up. âMr. Brightside. Cool shirt.â
âItâs not mine.â The words left Y/Nâs mouth before her brain could stop them. She didnât need to tell him that.
Bea slowly turned toward the shirt. ââŚinteresting.â
Y/N mentally cursed herself.
âThen whose is it?â Bea asked casually.
âNo oneâs.â
âWait, isnât that..? actually, never mind,â Ian started before immediately stopping when Y/N shot him a warning glare.
Beaâs head whipped toward her boyfriend. âWhose shirt is it, babe?â
âIan, I swear to God â â
âSorry, Y/N,â he interrupted apologetically. âBut she scares me more than you do.â
Traitor.
Ian caught Beaâs eye, a silent conversation passing between them in a language only they spoke.
Bea gasped dramatically. âOh, this suddenly makes so much sense now!â
Y/N groaned and dropped face-first onto the sofa, using the offending shirt to cover herself.
Bea stared at her in complete disbelief. âWait...â her eyes widened. âDidnât you two already work together on Bridgerton?â
ââŚyes.â
âAnd this is only happening now?!â
Y/N groaned louder.
âI knew there was something weird between the two of you.â Bea pointed accusingly. âBenedict called me at two in the morning to tell me he was taking care of you.â
Y/N blinked. ââŚhe did?â
âYes.â Bea crossed her arms. âVery gentlemanly, very suspicious. This only means something did happen on trivia night.â
Heat immediately crept into Y/Nâs cheeks. âNothing happened,â she tried one final time.
âExactly what someone says when something definitely happened.â And suddenly Bea looked delighted, like a detective reopening a cold case and finding fresh evidence.
Desperate, Y/N looked toward Ian for support. Unfortunately, he immediately ducked behind his laptop screen.
Coward.
Y/N sighed heavily, already regretting this. âFine,â she finally surrendered. âWhat do you want to know?â
***
The next morning, Y/N took the stairs specifically to avoid certain green-eyed brunets. Which, in hindsight, was optimistic.
She rounded the landing quickly and nearly walked straight into the very person sheâd been trying to avoid.
âGood morning, love.â
âDo you live in this staircase now?â
âI considered it.â A faint, knowing smirk played on Benedictâs lips.
Y/N tried stepping around him, but he moved with her effortlessly. She shot him a glare, yet Benedict only smiled.
âYou know,â he said lightly, âmost people would attempt to figure things out together.â
âIâm busy.â
âYet you always seem to find time to go out with⌠Asher.â His voice sounded tight.
Y/N blinked. âI donât only go out with him,â she defended quickly. âI go out with lots of friends.â
Why was she even explaining herself?
âWhy are you keeping tabs on me anyway?â she demanded instead, stepping closer before she could stop herself. âMaybe I just donât want to talk to you.â
Benedictâs expression shifted slightly, not hurt though, but frustrated.
âYou donât mean that.â
âYou sound very confident.â
âWhy shouldnât I be?â
Oh, he was insufferable.
Y/N folded her arms. âThatâs incredibly arrogant.â
âAnd you kissed me first.â
Her entire brain short-circuited. âYou canât just keep bringing that up!â
Benedict stepped closer. âCanât argue with facts now, love, can you?â
That shut her up immediately. The stairwell suddenly felt too warm and too quiet. Y/N took a step back instinctively until her shoulders brushed the wall.
Benedict braced one arm beside her head, not entirely trapping her, but close enough to completely ruin her ability to think.
âYou keep running from me,â he said quietly, his green eyes fixed on hers. âHardly the first time either.â The last part was softer, she almost didnât hear it.
âItâs not my fault this studio is massive,â she muttered weakly. âMaybe we just keep missing each other.â
âThatâs not what I â nevermind.â
Benedict dipped his head, his face now inches to hers. He was so close that she could smell the scent of his cologne and feel the warmth of his breath tickle against her skin.
Something in her expression must have shifted because his smirk returned. âThe feeling is entirely mutual, love. I assure you.â
And somehow, that arrogance snapped the last thread of her restraint. Y/N grabbed the front of his sweater and kissed him.
The kiss was impulsive, frantic and reckless. He tilted her head back, his tongue rolling against hers as the kiss turned deep and possessive.
Benedict groaned into her mouth, a low, vibrating sound that caused a slick pool in her centre, as their kiss spiraled into something desperate and starved.
He broke the kiss with a sharp, ragged exhale, his forehead resting against hers for a split second before finding that sweet spot just below her ear that made her toes curl.
He peppered hot, stinging kisses along her jawline, down to the sensitive dip of her neck. His mouth, hot and demanding, sends waves of dizzying heat crashing through her. She reached for him, her fingers tangling in his hair as his kisses descended.
Y/N bit her lower lip as a strangled sound caught in her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut, only to remember that this is not the first time they made out at a staircase.
But that thought quickly flew out of the window when she felt his breath hot against her chest. He kneaded the soft flesh through the fabric of her top at first. When she didnât protest, his fingers pulled her shirt down and he began to nip at the slope of her breasts, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh just enough to draw a sharp gasp from her lips. He immediately soothed the sting with a slow, wet lap of his tongue, only to bite down again an inch away, marking her with a possessive, hungry rhythm that ignited her blood.
If he does end up marking her, at least no one else would see them.
Benedict didn't let up with his ministrations, his tongue swirling relentlessly over the peak of her breasts. Y/N pressed her knees together in a desperate attempt to ease the mounting pressure between her legs.
The pleasure was starting to get too much and she was drowning in the heat of it, her composure slipping away every time Benedict licks and captures one of her nipples in his mouth.
âBenedict â please, pleaseâŚâ she was losing control of herself. Her gasps are turning into moans.
Benedict had no intentions of slowing down, not when he was getting addicted to the sweet sounds she was making. He was focused entirely on the tightening bud of her nipple until a sharp click of stilettos echoed downstairs.
âBenedict? Tu es lĂ ?â
They broke apart immediately, both trying to catch their breaths.
Then they heard the same clacking of stilettos getting fainter and fainter then disappeared.
Y/N looked completely scandalized by herself. She hurried on to fix herself before anyone else could walk in on them and see her state of disarray.
Meanwhile Benedict looked⌠smug. This man had the audacity to look pleased.
âRight,â Y/N said breathlessly. âI hate you.â
âSay it like you mean it, love.â He winked at her before starting to head downstairs, as if absolutely nothing had happened.
âYou coming?â He asked when he noticed she wasnât walking beside him.
âIâll be in a minute.â
She heard the door open and then closed. Y/N took a moment before following after him. She wants to make sure nobody on set can connect them both at the scene where they committed their most recent crime of passion.
When she finally returned to her makeup station, Bea was already waiting for her.
âWhere were you? You were supposed to be in the chair twenty minutes ago â â Bea paused abruptly and narrowed her eyes immediately.
Y/N still looked wildly flustered as she sat in front of the mirror so that they could get started. She did a double take when she noticed her lipstick was slightly smudged.
Too bad Detective Bea was far too observant for her own good.
Early autumn in Montreal felt like a completely different world. The air was cooler now, crisp against the skin. Streets were livelier, lined with warm lights and people lingering outside cafĂŠs. The city felt awake but in a softer, slower way.
Things had changed since summer.
Y/N had changed, or at least, thatâs what she told herself. She stayed true to her word and kept her distance from Benedict. Conversations were polite, brief, and strictly professional. If anything, she had mastered the art of indifference.
She focused more on building friendships on set, especially since Jenna had flown back home to Sydney weeks ago.
Most of her time was spent with Asher. They often went out with a small group: Bea (her makeup artist) Ian (Beaâs boyfriend and also a key grip) and Chelsea, their set PA. Theyâd grab food, hang out in coffee shops, or join trivia nights at local bars. By now, they knew all the tucked-away spots where they could keep a low profile and avoid getting papped.
Y/N filled her days with light, easy moments. They successfully diverted her attention from dwelling on matters of the heart, which was a self-prescription for exactly what she needed.
Tonight was one of those nights.
She took one last look in the mirror, adjusting her outfit. A plush crimson knit sweater tucked neatly into a mini skirt, paired with sheer black tights and boots.
It was another trivia night, but on a bigger scale. The long holiday weekend meant more cast and crew were joining in.
More people, more noise, more distractions.
Perfect.
The bar was already buzzing when she arrived. Louder than usual. It seems like they are going to have more competition tonight than usual.
âY/N, youâre here! Weâre saved!â Asher greeted her instantly, pulling her into a quick hug.
She laughed, hugging him back.
âReady to win this?â
But before she could respondâŚ
âGood evening, mes amis!â
Y/N froze.
It was Dani. Effortlessly stunning in a fitted black dress, sauntering in like she owned the place.
âAre you⌠playing trivia with us tonight?â Y/N asked.
Dani smiled and nodded.
Over the past few weeks, Y/N had learned to be civil with her, despite the way her heart takes a cold plunge every time she sees her with â
âOui, Benedict has arrived!â
And there he was, right on cue.
âGood evening, ladies⌠Asher,â Benedict greeted, flashing that charming rakish smile of his.
He was wearing a red sweater almost identical to hers. Her stomach flipped.
âWeâre meant to be on the same team, arenât we Y/N?â he added, gesturing lightly between them.
âActually, no⌠â Y/N said quickly. âIâm already with Asher and our teamâs complete.â
She thought she saw disappointment flickered across his face, but gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
âMaybe you and Dani can team up,â Y/N added lightly.
Un ange passe. She remembered Benedict teaching her that phrase before, which perfectly depicts the atmosphere right now so she tugged gently at Asherâs sleeve.
âWell, weâre going to find the rest of our squad,â Asher said smoothly, catching on immediately.
He placed an arm around her shoulders, guiding her away. âGood luck you two, youâll need it!â he playfully called back.
The teams were split. Two groups from the cast and crew, plus a handful of local teams joining in.
The host began introducing himself and informed everyone about the rules of the game.
âAlright, first question!â the host announced.
And just like that, there was pure chaos everywhere. Voices overlapped, answers were shouted, arguments sparked over the smallest details. Accusations of cheating were thrown around playfully, laughter filling every corner of the bar.
Y/Nâs team was no different.
Across the room, Mike, their director, called out, âYou seem to know all the answers tonight, Y/NâŚâ his tone laced with mock accusation, then he laughed.
âIâm not cheating, I swearâŚâ she shot back. âIâm just amazing!â
Laughter broke out between both teams.
âYou absolutely are,â Asher added.
âHear, hear!â Bea chimed in.
Y/N laughed, caught in the energy. Although every now and then, she found herself glancing across the room. And every time, she saw Benedict was already looking at her.
âAbsolutely not, thatâs wrong!â Bea argued.
âIt is not!â Asher countered.
âY/N, what do you think?â Chelsea asked, calling her attention back to the game.
âYeah, that one. Iâm pretty sure.â She shook her head, willing herself to focus.
She never wanted to win at trivia so bad. Maybe it was the margaritas thatâs making her feel extra euphoric tonight or maybe it was something else entirely⌠or maybe someone.
âCome on now, we can still make the leaderboard,â she heard Benedict say to his team, half-laughing but clearly invested.
She rolled her eyes. Of course he was competitive. He always had been even during their press junket together one regency era ago.
When the final round came, there were three teams left. It was Y/Nâs, Benedictâs and one local group who looked suspiciously over confident.
âFinal answers?â the host called.
When he finally revealed the answer, cheers, groans and shouting could be heard all simultaneously.
âBravo! We have our winner!â
And it wasnât them, nor was it Benedictâs team. Turns out the third team had a very good reason for looking too confident after all.
âRobbed,â Asher muttered.
âAbsolutely robbed,â Y/N agreed, laughing.
They decided to merge their tables together again after both teams lost. They exchanged stories, ordered more alcohol and conspired on how to form an undefeatable team that will conquer all trivia contests in the whole world.
As the night wore on and many drinks later, Y/Nâs vision was starting to get blurry, and the walls in the bar were starting to sway.
âI think I need a m-minute,â Y/N said, her words slightly slower now.
âBathroom?â Bea asked.
Y/N nodded.
They found the ladiesâ washroom and tried to freshen up. After splashing water on her face, Bea handed her a bottle.
âDrink.â
âYesss, moooom.â
Bea rolled her eyes. âStay here.â She went off to get another bottle for herself.
Y/N hummed in response.
After a moment of fidgeting and not being able to stay still, Y/N found the back exit. She thought about getting some fresh air, it might help her case. She needs to clear her head, since the spinning hasnât stopped yet and the noise in the bar is getting far too loud for her.
The cool air hit her instantly as she stepped outside. It was quieter and darker in the alley, but it was rather peaceful.
She exhaled as she tried to navigate almost blindly under the dimmed environment. But she took one step too far and her foot slipped.
âCareful.â Someone caught her.
She froze, sheâd know that voice anywhere even in her inebriated state of mind. When his hand brushed her arm to steady her, it sent a jolt through her system.
âIâm f-fine,â she replied quickly, pulling away. âI can w-walk by myselfâŚt-thank you very much.â She took another step and nearly stumbled again.
He caught her again, firmer this time.
âY/N⌠â he sounded exasperated as he said her name. âYouâre obviously not well.â
She frowned, looking around, completely ignoring him, and instead she asked, âThe d-door wasss just here⌠wh-where is it? Did you hide i-it??â Her mind is getting more clouded by the minute and sheâs clearly not making much sense.
He almost smiled. âHide the door, you mean? Not a chance, love. How would I manage to do that?â he sounded amused and concerned in the same breath.
She gave up, swaying slightly. âT-thatâs okay⌠*hic* Iâll just⌠s-stay here then.â She was starting to hiccup now. Wasnât she holding a bottle of water earlier?
âNot happening, Y/N. Iâm taking you home, come on now.â Benedict gently coaxes her to stand straight.
She didnât argue again. Sheâs extremely exhausted and the world around her continues to rock back and forth. She found it easier to stop thinking too much and just listen to his voice, which has a strange calming effect on her alcohol-altered brain.
âTell B-bea⌠go home *hic* âŚdonât want her *hic* worryâŚâ
âIâll pass it on.â Benedict assured her. âCan you walk? Or shall I carry you?â
âNooo, no more *hic* walking pleeeaseâŚâ was all she needed to say before he swooped her in his arms and called it a night.
***
The next morning.
Y/N woke up slowly. She felt warm, too warm. When she opened her eyes, she was suddenly very aware that she wasnât in her apartment.
She blinked and looked around. She nearly fell off the couch when she saw Benedict sleeping next to her. One arm loosely around her waist.
She audibly gasped, then quickly covered her mouth. Carefully⌠very carefully⌠she slipped out of his hold. Trying not to wake him. Trying not to think.
But fragments of her memory from last night came back slowly. They were blurry and soft, almost like a dream scenario.
He had brought her here in his apartment, when he couldnât get a straight answer from her on where her apartment is. He gave her some water and an oversized shirt to change into.
He took her to where the bathroom was, and left her a moment to give her some privacy. She took her time to refresh and by the time she was done, she felt somewhat like herself again. Sheâs still a bit dizzy but at least sheâs no longer seeing double.
Benedict came back and guided her to his bedroom.
âYou can take the bed, Y/N. Iâll be on the sofa in the lounge,â he insisted.
Again, Y/N didnât argue, she just wanted to lay down even though for some odd reason, she still feels like her mind is spilling over from having too many thoughts. She wants to quiet them down and simply rest.
âMâkayâŚâ was her eloquent reply.
Benedict headed for the door and when he turned around, he found Y/N already trying to get comfortable in his bed.
âGoodnight, love,â he said before finally closing the door.
Y/N has been staring at the ceiling for what feels like forever now. Sleep has decided to evade her completely. Her mind is tired but no matter how hard she tries to force her eyelids shut, her body refuses to surrender.
She decided to get out of bed to find Benedict, maybe he has something she can take to quiet down her mind and finally be able to sleep.
She found him sprawled across the sofa bed, looking way too comfortable. He was almost nodding off when he noticed her.
âGo back to bed, Y/N.â He warned, his voice low.
âNo,â she murmured.
She took another step forward. âPlease⌠â she said softly, like a five-year-old asking for something small. â⌠can I just⌠stay here with you?â
She was met with silence at first, but thenâŚ
âYouâre impossible.â He sighed, yet he made some room for her to slip in beside him.
Present time Y/N moved quickly. She put on her skirt, but decided to keep his shirt on. Sheâs hurrying to leave before he wakes up and she doesnât have the time to find her sweater right now. Her phone was almost drained and she saw there were five missed calls from Bea.
She scribbled a quick thank-you note and slipped out before he woke. She can feel a skull-splitting hangover is about to take over soon, and all she wants is the sanctuary of home and a scalding hot shower.
By the time she arrived, she quickly stepped into the shower to clear her head.
Y/N leaned against the glass, letting the water fall over her, trying to make any sense of everything that occurred.
But then she remembered that the night didnât simply end there, her memoryâs starting to get clearer now. The shower is doing wonders to help retrieve her memory from last night. And whether thatâs a blessing or a curse, sheâs not entirely sure.
They had been lying side by side, facing each other. Too close and breathing in the same space.
She remembered the feeling of wanting to be closer to him. She doesnât have enough strength to suppress it, like she always does when sheâs fully sober. She canât explain it but Y/N found herself leaning forward and not thinking too much. Just wanting to feel.
She kissed him tentatively, which was far different from all of the passionate on-screen kisses they have shared before. This one was chaste, sweet⌠and most of all â real. But clearly sharing only one is not enough since she found herself leaning in again hoping for another.
Benedict was the one to close the gap between them this time. His lips were warm and soft, but there was a faint sense of urgency in the way he tilted his head to capture her lips and deepen the contact.
She felt his hand rested on her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. She canât help but moan when she feels it, the soft sound only making him pull her closer against his body.
Their kiss deepened, months of barely communicating made them both yearn for one another. Despite what they say in interviews that the hardest part of their job were the intimacy scenes, the problem was never getting it on, it was more on how to stop the urge to continue when the cameras stopped rolling. What happened to Polin at the carriage scene was not so unique of an occurrence on set after allâŚ
A sudden mutual desperation escalated their desires, hands grasping at each other, until the momentum shifted and she found herself on top, straddling him.
She leaned in to kiss him again, while her fingers locked into his hair, followed by a sharp, sudden tug. She didnât know why she did that, it may be a subconscious release of all her pent-up feelings for him.
Her doing seemed to snap the remainder of Benedictâs composure, as he let out a low growl against her lips and gripped her waist with a new, sudden intensity.
Suddenly, his mouth was on her, trailing wet kisses from her cheek to her jaw then to the sensitive curve behind her ear that made her sigh in pure bliss. He didn't stop there, he continued to press open-mouthed kisses into her neck. The intensity of his focus sent a shiver through her entire body.
As she shifted against him, her movement unintentionally created some satisfying friction between them. There was no modesty pouch, no intimacy pillow stopping them from feeling almost everything now. She could feel every inch of his cock, straining against his boxers. She felt the slick, damp heat that had already begun to soak through her panties.
She continued to ground herself on him, building a delicious momentum. Benedict groaned, his fingers digging into her hips to keep her right in position.
âFuck, fuck, Y/NâŚâ his voice was strained.
And suddenly, everything went still.
Benedict pulled back and caught her by the waist then rolled to his side, gently guiding her beside him again.
Before Y/N realized what was going on, he spoke, âWeâre not doing this, Y/N,â he said while trying to catch his breath. âNot like this, love.â
ââŚbut why?â she whispered, her voice sounding small and hurt.
âBecause youâre not sober,â he answered. âAnd I want you to properly remember, if weâre to go any further.â
She pouted at his response, and Benedict could sense that she wants to say more but for fuckâs sake, he wasnât strong enough to tell her no twice in one night.
âY/N⌠love, letâs not argue about it.â He pleaded, he himself felt frustrated.
Benedictâs no saint, but his conscience simply won't allow him to continue. âWeâll talk about this later⌠perhaps in the morning.â
ââŚyou promise?â
âPromise.â
***
And now, it was morning.
Said promise was effectively broken when she left him.
And she remembers everything now, how close it had been and how good it felt to have him in that way again. And worse⌠how much she wanted it.
Y/N pressed her eyes shut because this was exactly what she was trying to avoid. And yet she was the one who started it.
There was no pretending anymore⌠not after how she easily succumbed to that. And she didnât know what scared her more: what almost happened⌠or the quiet truth that way deep down, she knows she still wants it to happen.
She barely got any sleep, too restless from the nerves the night before. At this point, sheâd have to rely on the magic of makeup to save her today.
She sat in front of the mirror in her dressing room, lights framing her reflection in a soft glow. Stylists moved around her, fixing her hair, brushing powder across her skin, making sure no trace of exhaustion showed for todayâs photoshoot.
Once they were done, a staff member guided her to one of the studios where everything had already been set up.
The solo shots were easy. Y/N stood under the bright studio lights, the camera clicking steadily as she shifted from pose to pose, smooth and confident.
Then she saw Asher walk in.
âAlright, letâs get the two leads together.â
He stepped beside her with that same easy smile. âReady to pretend like we like each other?â he joked.
Y/N couldnât help but match his mood. âIâll try very hard,â she teased back.
âOh, good! That makes this so much easier.â
The photographer guided them closer, then closer still. Their shoulders brushed. His hand hovered near her waist before settling naturally, like it belonged there.
âPerfect. Stay there. Yeah, thatâs it. Thatâs what we're looking for.â
Y/N felt completely at ease with him. They laughed between shots, leaned into each other without thinking, moving like they hadnât just met weeks ago.
And then, Y/N suddenly felt something, like her spidey sense is tingling. She felt his eyes on her before she even saw him.
Across the room, staring at them, was the main reason why she couldnât get a wink of sleep yesterday.
His expression was composed, but there was something else beneath it. Something sharper. And for a brief moment, their eyes met.
Her heart fluttered.
And without realizing it, her body shifted slightly away from Asher. Her co-star beside her noticed, glancing at her with a small, questioning look.
Luckily, the photographer spoke up before she had to come up with an explanation.
âAlright, switch!â
Now it was his turn. Benedict stepped into frame beside her and everything changed.
âCloser,â the photographer instructed.
Benedict didnât hesitate. He stepped into her space like he had every right to be there, as if there had never been any distance between them at all.
Y/N felt the shift immediately. His hand settled at her waist, firm, steady. Almost⌠possessive.
âRelax,â the photographer added. âYouâre former lovers in this film, right? So thereâs history here. Donât just pose, feel it.â
âOh, thereâs history, alright.â She agreed at the back of her mind.
Y/N tried to focus on her breathing, on the camera, on anything except for the way Benedictâs hand hadnât moved.
âNow, look at each other.â
She turned and found him already looking at her with those green eyes. She tried not to look away, but his gaze felt like he was almost undressing her.
Her breath caught.
âGood. Maybe just a little closer, you two.â
Benedict shifted nearer, just enough that she could feel the warmth of him, the quiet pull of proximity that made everything else fade.
His thumb pressed firmer on her waist. It was quick but she felt it.
Y/N swallowed.
âDonât lose that,â the photographer encouraged. âKeep that intensity, thatâs exactly it.â
Her heart was beating far too fast for something that was supposed to be controlled. Professional. But the way he was looking at her was anything but professional.
At one point, the photographer adjusted their pose, positioning them closer. Benedict stood behind her now, his presence suddenly everywhere. She could almost feel his lips brushing on her hair.
Y/N went completely still. She became hyper-aware of how close he was. She can feel his warm breath behind the shell of her ear now and itâs doing something unspeakable down her lower region.
She shivered involuntarily and Benedict noticed. Something flickered in his expression, subtle but unmistakable. Recognition.
He knows.
His grip at her waist tightened, his thumb doing circular motions on her back so no one else would see.
Then he whispered three words in her ear, âYou okay, love?â His words sent vibrations straight to her core, then he smirked.
Y/Nâs trying so hard to keep a sound close to a whimper from slipping out, so she didnât dare respond. As much as she wanted to wipe off that smug look on his face, she canât risk getting caught in such a heated state.
âHold that pose. One more for safety,â the photographer said. âAnd thatâs it. You guys did great. Thanks for indulging me. Weâll do the interview in thirty.â
The spell broke.
Y/N stepped back immediately, breath uneven, heat rising to her face faster than she could control. She turned away before anyone else in the room could see through her, pretending to fix herself.
âHey.â His voice again, lighter now, as if nothing happened.
She checked herself first before turning around to finally face him.
âDidnât realize you were enjoying it that much,â he chuckled softly, quiet enough that no one else would hear.
Her stomach dropped. She looked him in the eyes then. And she saw it again, that suggestive look.
âItâs called acting,â she said, a little sharper than she meant to.
His mouth twitched. âAh yes, of course.â
Although neither of them ate that lie, not even a single bite.
***
A Week Later.
âOkay, Iâm reading it out loud.â
âJenna!â Y/N protests.
âNope. Youâre not backing out of this.â
Y/N groaned, sinking further into the couch as Jenna held up her phone dramatically.
âItâs not even bad!â Jenna insisted. âYouâre being weird.â
âIâm not being weird.â
âYeah, you most certainly are. Youâve been avoiding this all morning.â
âThatâs because I donât need to read it.â
âMaybe you donât, but you wonât tell me anything other than âit was goodâ, so now Iâm curious,â Jenna cleared her throat before starting. âInterview Magazine presents: the cast of Echo Veil. Getting to know each other.â
She shot Y/N a look. âSee? Harmless.â
Y/N didnât respond.
Jenna continued reading, the questions, the answers, light teasing between the three of them. The back and forth all seemed natural.
At one point, Jenna paused. âOh,â she said, glancing up. âAsherâs sweet.â
Y/N frowned slightly. âWhat did he say?â
âHe said youâre âone of the most thoughtful people heâs worked with.â That you listen. That you care.â Jenna lowered the phone, giving her a meaningful look. âThatâs⌠really nice.â
Y/N looked away. âHeâs just being polite.â
âOr he actually means it.â
Y/N didnât answer.
Jenna kept reading, then⌠âOh⌠this part.â
âYou asked Benedict a question,â Jenna said. âAbout having feelings you never say out loud.â
Y/N went still.
âDo you want me to skip it?â
âNo,â she said quickly.
Truth be told she wanted to hear his answer again. And itâs not like she was the one who came up with that question. All three of them were given cue cards to read off different sets of questions.
Jenna nodded slowly, then read: ââSometimes people choose silence because it feels safer than saying something that might change everything.ââ She paused before moving on, âOh okay, next one is from Asher ââ
Y/N blinked. âHold on, thatâs it?â
âYeah, should there be more?â Jenna gives her a quizzical look.
But she knew that wasnât all he said, not even by a long-shot.
When she came back from her break that day, the studio had been quieter than expected. Not completely silent because there were still people around. Staff moving in the background.
The interview started, all three of them asking each other questions from their own cue cards.
It went on like a normal interview, up until she just read the next question for Benedict to answer.
âSorry, the question was⌠if people ever regret not saying how they feel?â He repeated.
Y/N nodded, fingers lightly gripping the card sheâs holding. She gets as to why this was one of the questions given their specific relationship in the movie, but she may be anticipating his answer for an entirely different reason.
Benedict didnât answer immediately, he only looked at her. His mouth opened as if he was going to say something but closed it again, like heâs contemplating his words carefully.
âYeah,â he said finally. âI mean, I absolutely think youâd regret it one day if you conceal your feelings for someone. After all, a wise person once told me that truth is the foundation of intimacy⌠â He secretly winked at her.
âSometimes though, itâs not that you donât want to say it,â he continued, his voice quieter now. Something in him had shifted from his earlier playful mood.
âItâs that you already know what it means for both of you and what will really happen if you expose that kind of vulnerability to someone...â
Y/N found herself holding her breath. She couldnât tear her eyes away from him and neither could he.
Around them, something moved. A chair, maybe, someone whispering, the faint click of a camera, but they all felt far away.
âAnd once you say it,â Benedict added, softer now, like the words werenât meant for anyone else in the room, âyou donât get to take it back.â
The words settled heavily between them.
âEverything changes,â he said, and suddenly he was looking all around the room, trying to look at anything but her.
âAnd youâre okay with that?â Y/N blurted out, unable to keep the slight hurt in her voice.
âNo,â he shook his head slightly. â But you sort of have to if you want to keep this person in your life. No matter how much it pains you.â He made the mistake of gazing into her eyes again.
âMy apologies, that was all over the place. Apparently, I still havenât mastered the subtle art of shutting up.â He quietly chuckled and everyone else followed, even her.
Though hers was only out of politeness. Something about his answer tugged on her heartstrings.
Sitting next to her, Asher shifted in his chair. His expression had changed, thoughtful now, eyes moving between the two of them. Like he had just witnessed something very intimate, something he wasnât meant to see.
Y/N exhaled slowly. She supposed what was published on the website was the gist of his answer.
âHey, earth to Y/N?â Jenna asked, lowering the phone. âAre you feeling alright there, hun?â
âYeah, just a bit tired,â she fake yawned.
âWell, I canât blame you, youâve been working nonstop these past few days. You should take a proper rest on your day off, and drink lots of fluids.â Her friend advised, defaulting into nurse-mode.
Y/N smiled faintly. She decided not to tell Jenna what happened after the interview.
How she had gone to his dressing room, not thinking too much about it. She really just wanted to check up on him, see how heâs doing.
Until she heard something that made her stop in her tracks, just right outside his door. Laughter?
He wasnât alone.
She hadnât meant to spy on them but the door was ajar and she was able to peer through the small opening.
Dani looked gorgeous and she was sitting on the counter. From her standpoint, she could only see the outline of Benedictâs back and he was sitting on his dressing chair.
Looking at them through the crack, she knows sheâs been in this scene before. How ironic. Only this time, Benedict was not only acting as if heâs interested, Taylor Swiftâs Enchanted wonât be playing in the background, and thereâs certainly no director around to yell âcut!â to stop her heart from breaking.
Y/N stepped back before they could spot her. She didnât even realize she was running, and with every pounding step brought more and more clarity into her harsh reality.
And now she tells herself she has no right to feel this way, after all she had already decided to distance herself from him. But she presumes she canât really dictate how she feels, as if something sharp is constantly twisting in her chest.
Y/N decided sheâll keep what transpired that day to herself. Sheâll take accountability for her impulsive actions and for being hopeful again. As much as this whole ordeal pains her, she doesnât want her friend to pity her anymore, even though she knows Jenna wonât judge her. She needs to finally stand on business for herself.
A week passed in a blur of fittings, rehearsals, and early call sheets. Costumes were adjusted and readjusted. Marks were taped to floors. Scenes were blocked, rewritten, refined.
Y/N learned the rhythm of the set, it should have felt overwhelming. Instead, it felt safe because it gave her something to focus on. Something other than a certain dreamy brunet.
Asher made that easy, as well.
Somewhere between rehearsals and waiting around on set, they slipped into an effortless rhythm. Easy conversations, shared jokes, small moments that didnât ask for anything in return.
âYou always overthink your lines before you say them,â Asher teased one afternoon, leaning back in his chair.
âI do not,â Y/N replied, though she knew it was at least partially true.
âYeah, you do,â he said, grinning. âItâs like I can see the gears turning.â
âWow. Thatâs⌠mildly insulting.â
âYou mean accurate,â he corrected.
âHey! offense taken.â She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
It was easy with him. No weight. No second-guessing. Just⌠normal.
Benedict noticed. Of course he did.
At first, he tried to slip back into something familiar, witty banters, soft teasing, the kind of inside jokes that used to come naturally between them.
âWould you want to run lines together?â he offered once, testing the waters first.
The words were light, like how they used to interact before. Yet she didnât like how it made something stir inside her one bit.
Y/N glanced up briefly. âYou donât like doing that⌠reading lines together, I mean. We never did that.â It was a statement, a simple fact.
Then her attention shifted back to the script in her hands, to notes she didnât really need. To anything really that wasnât him.
Later that day, everyone gathered to shoot their first scene.
âAlright, letâs set up for the Veil scene,â Mike instructed.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
The set dimmed. Cool-toned lighting, a faint haze in the air that made everything feel slightly unreal, like the world had softened at the edges.
Y/N stepped into place.
Benedict was already there. He was closer than she was ready for.
This scene mattered. Not like she needs a reminder.
Their characters, two people caught between past and present, something unresolved lingering just beneath the surface.
It feels too close to home.
âReady?â the director called.
She nodded.
âAction.â
âYou shouldnât be here,â Y/N said, her voice softer than she intended.
Benedict stepped closer. Not rushed, not forced but just enough.
âYou always say that,â he replied, his voice low and careful.
âYouâre not real,â she said, even as her breath caught slightly.
âThen why do you think Iâm here?â
The space between them narrowed. Not by much, but enough that she could almost feel his body against hers. Sheâs forgotten how it feels like to be this close to him.
âI never left. Even when you couldnât see me, I was always here.â
The back of his hand hovered near her face, just barely. Like he wasnât sure if he was allowed to touch her.
Her gaze flickered to it, then back to his face. She closed her eyes, wanting to savor his soft touch. And for a second it didnât feel like a scene. It felt like something else entirely.
Unspoken and unresolved.
Real.
âCut!â
The moment shattered.
Y/N stepped back immediately. Too quickly. Like she needed distance before anything else could transpire between them.
âGood,â the director said. âThat was really good. Letâs reset.â
But Y/N was already turning away. Already putting some much needed space between them.
Benedict stayed rooted to where he was for a second longer, watching her retreating figure. He felt as if she took a part of him with her, leaving him feeling hollowâŚ
***
She had just come back from lunch when she heard someone call her name.
âY/N!â
She knew that voice. And just like that, the heaviness broke.
âJenna?â
Her best friend stood just beyond the monitors, grinning like she had just pulled off the greatest surprise of her life.
âWhat are you doing here?â Y/N laughed, already running toward her.
âVisiting my favorite actress, obviously.â They hugged tightly.
âYou didnât tell me your flight was today! I was going to pick you up tomorrow!â she pretends to pout.
âThatâs because itâs called a surprise,â Jenna said, rolling her eyes playfully. âYouâre welcome.â
Y/N shook her head, smiling. âYouâre unbelievable.â
âI know.â
Jenna slipped into Y/Nâs world instantly. She always did. They had met on set before. Y/N playing as Techie Jane, while her best friend worked as one of the on-set nurses.
Within minutes, Jenna was already asking questions, observing everything, completely unfazed by the controlled chaos around them.
âSo this is where the future blockbuster sci-fi romance is gonna be made?â Jenna asked, glancing around.
Jennaâs eyes lit up. âOh, Iâm going to love this!â
âHi, Iâm Asher,â he said, stepping over with an easy smile.
âJenna,â she replied, immediately matching his energy. âIâve heard nothing about you.â
âWow,â Asher laughed. âThatâs brutal.â
âIâm kidding. She mentioned you once⌠briefly. In passing.â
Y/N groaned. âPlease donât start.â
âOh, I already have,â Jenna said sweetly.
Asher grinned. âI like her.â
âOf course you do,â Y/N deadpanned.
***
By the time filming wrapped for the day, her energy had shifted, lighter now, easier. Mostly because she knew sheâd be going home soon.
Y/N gathered her things. âReady?â
âYeah⌠just one thing though.â
Y/N paused. âWhat?â
âMy luggage is in Benedictâs trailer.â Jenna offhandedly mentioned like she didnât just drop a massive bomb on Y/N.
Silence.
ââŚyour what?â
âMy luggage,â Jenna repeated casually. âI ran into him earlier. He offered to keep it there since I got here while you were having lunch.â She noticed Y/Nâs expression shifted. âSo if you think about it⌠this is not really my faultâŚ??â
Y/N closed her eyes briefly. âOf course, itâs not.â
The walk to his trailer felt longer than it should have.
âThis is fine,â Y/N muttered. âTotally normal.â
âMm-hmm,â Jenna nodded supportively, wisely choosing not to test anymore of Y/Nâs limit for the day.
Y/N knocked once before turning to her friend. âMaybe heâs already gone home. Itâs late. Do you really need your luggage though? You can just borrow my â â
The door opened.
Benedict blinked once, clearly not expecting both of them. He was shirtless. The robe heâs wearing tried but wasnât doing a very good job at covering his toned upper body.
âOhâŚâ
Y/N immediately looked away. âHi.â
âHi,â he echoed, working on covering himself up.
âYou can look now, Y/N. Itâs really nothing you havenât seen beforeâŚâ His tone was amused, despite the surprise.
Jenna stepped forward like this was perfectly normal. âWeâre just here for my luggage.â
âRight. Of course.â He disappeared inside his trailer.
Y/N stayed by the door, catching a familiar song playing softly in the background. Of course she recognized it.
After all, he had played it on the piano for her, the very first time they met.
Benedict returned with the luggage.
Jenna grabbed it quickly. âGot it. Thank you so much again.â
âAnytime.â
Y/N lingered awkwardly.
âThanks,â she said quietly.
He looked like he wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. Instead, he gave her that crooked smile that often made her forget where she was.
âWell⌠goodnight,â she finally said.
âGoodnight, Y/N⌠â
***
Back at the apartment, Jenna looked around in awe.
âOkay, this is insane!â
âItâs temporary,â Y/N said, dropping her bag.
âI donât care. I would live here forever.â
Y/N laughed softly, the tension she felt earlier is slowly easing up.
They settled in the living room, curled up on the couch, a random show playing in the background as they caught up.
âSoâŚâ Jenna said carefully, âwhatâs going on with you and⌠Benedict?â
Y/N exhaled. âNothing.â
Jenna raised an eyebrow.
âSeriously,â Y/N added. âThereâs nothing to figure out. Iâm just⌠keeping my distance.â
âAnd howâs that working out?â
ââŚfine.â
Jenna didnât look convinced. âWell,â she said lightly, âI promise there wonât be a repeat of that luggage situation then. And for what itâs worth, I think you should stick to that plan.â
Y/N glanced at her. âReally?â
âYeah. Heâs⌠complicated.â That word lingered. Ava referred to Benedict the same way as well.
Jenna shifted. âAlso, who was that blonde actress with him earlier?â
Y/N blinked, caught off guard.
âUhh⌠Dani.â
âThe one glued to his arm?â
Y/N exhaled. âYeah, sheâs from here.â
âOh.â
âShe speaks French too,â Y/N added quickly.
Jenna tilted her head.
Y/N grabbed a blanket, pulling it closer, as if it could shield her from her best friendâs scrutiny. âI mean, itâs not a big deal. I think everyone here speaks French.â
She adjusted the blanket again, gaze dropping briefly. âWeâre all just fine.â
Jenna watched her. âAnd youâre definitely not bothered?â
âI didnât say that.â
âSo you are bothered.â
âIâm not,â Y/N said quickly. Then paused. âI mean⌠I just⌠itâs not about him.â That sounded way more convincing in Y/Nâs head.
âRightâŚâ Jenna hummed, unconvinced but she decided to change the subject and then added with a grin, âWell, Asher is right there.â
Y/N rolled her eyes. âDonât even â â
âIâm just saying⌠same age, attractive, funny⌠â
âStop.â
âIâm being supportive!â
âYouâre being annoying.â
âBoth can be true.â
That made Y/N laughed.
âBy the way, you have that photoshoot this weekend, right? And an interview?â
Y/N groaned. âDonât remind me.â
âIâm just saying,â Jenna smirked, âthe press is going to love this.â
Y/N leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
âYeah,â she murmured.
Thatâs what she was dreading the most.
Later that night, when everything had gone quiet, Y/N lay awake longer than she meant to.
Replaying everything:
The scene, his gentle touch, the closeness, him shirtless, Claire de LuneâŚ
She turned onto her side, closing her eyes. Because if she thought about it too much, she might start questioning things she had already decided to let go. And she couldnât afford that.
