Rebirth: Love me Again

Note

: Some of you might be wondering why only the female leads have chapters in the first person. The reason is simple—I'm female, and I find it easier to write their emotions and perspectives.

As for the male leads, I'll admit I sometimes struggle to fully connect with their inner thoughts since I'm not male myself. Because of this, their perspectives will remain in the second or third person, allowing me to narrate their actions and emotions more comfortably.

Other characters' POVs will also stick to the second or third person to maintain a broader scope, helping me cover larger scenes and move the story along at a quicker pace.

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[COLE]

I need a cold shower again.

Cole thought absentmindedly as he prepared dinner for himself and Eve, the lingering heat from their earlier encounter still simmering in his chest, especially in his groin.

He needed another cold shower.

Desperately

.

It wasn't as though he had planned for things to spiral this way every time they were together. But ever since that moment in the cave, when everything shifted between them, his desire for Eve had been unrelenting, burning through his self-control like a wildfire.

Every glance, every accidental brush of her hand, every time her lips parted to speak—it was as if she carried some spell that tore him from the inside out. She didn't even have to try. Just existing in the same space as her was enough to make him loose his sanity.

And it wasn't only physical. No, it was far more than that.

Cole wasn't some lust-driven fool, incapable of seeing past her beauty—though she was stunning in ways that made his breath hitch. It was the way she stood her ground, even in the face of adversity. The way she carried herself with confidence, her inner strength shining through despite the cruelty of her adopted family. It wasn't just her resilience; it was the quiet defiance in her eyes, the grace with which she bore her pain, and the unshakable will that refused to let them break her.

It was her, all of her, that he wanted.

Badly.

Cole was acutely aware of the fact that she wanted him too. She wasn't as subtle as she thought she was, and her flushed cheeks and trembling hands betrayed her every time their gazes locked.

Knowing that made it infinitely harder to hold himself back. Every time they were close, her silent invitation chipped away at what remained of his control. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

It was maddening.

The temptation to claim her, to cross the line they had danced along for so long, was overwhelming. Yet, despite how much he wanted her, there was a single truth that kept his sanity intact: he wanted their first time to be perfect.

He refused to take her in a moment of impulsive desire, only for her to look back on it with regret. He wanted more than just her body—he wanted all of her. Her trust, her heart, her everything.

But by the damn seven hells, she wasn't making it easy!

Cole gripped the edge of the counter, closing his eyes as memories of her flushed face and parted lips from earlier threatened to consume him again. The way she had looked at him—asking, pleading for more—had nearly drove him mad.

Cole let out a sharp breath, shaking his head as he continued chopping the fruits.

Focus

. He needed to focus.

Still, the thought lingered at the back of his mind. Every moment with her was a battle between what he wanted and what he knew was right.

How much longer could he endure this before the dam finally broke?

He wasn't sure. But as long as she wasn't ready, he would wait. For her, he'd endure anything—even if she made it excruciatingly difficult without even realizing it.

The door to Eve's room creaked open, and Cole's eyes snapped toward her, as if drawn by an invisible force. His breath hitched the moment she stepped out, fresh from the shower.

She was radiant—utterly unintentional and devastatingly so. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, the droplets trailing down the strands like liquid temptation before slipping onto her bare arms. Her skin glowed, still supple and flushed from the heat of the shower, and the faint scent of her soap wafted into the air, a mixture of something soft and undeniably alluring.

She wasn't dressed to kill—far from it. Just a simple shirt that skimmed her curves and shorts that left her long, white legs bare. But somehow, that simplicity only made her more intoxicating. She wasn't even trying to seduce him, and that was what wrecked him.

Cole swallowed hard, his throat dry as the growing heat coursing through him. His fingers curled against the counter as he forced himself to stay rooted in place. His gaze betrayed him, flicking down her legs and back up again, every inch of exposed skin a siren call to his already strained composure.

His thoughts betrayed him next, unbidden and relentless. He imagined what her skin would taste like—warm and soft under his lips. The idea of trailing kisses down her legs, brushing the tips of his lips along her ankles, and yes, even licking her toes flashed through his mind before he could stop it. The vividness of it sent a jolt of fire straight through him, and he cursed under his breath as his cock stood in alert.

Cole shifted uncomfortably, willing himself to think of anything else, anything but the way she stood there, utterly unaware of the chaos she was causing inside him. She wasn't making it easy—hell, she never made it easy.

Eve glanced at him, her eyes soft and curious, completely oblivious to the fact that she was driving him to the brink of his sanity.

Cole clenched his jaw, exhaling slowly to steady the storm raging inside him.

"Dinner's almost ready," he managed, his voice hoarse and rough.

She gave him the raise eyebrow, one that made his chest ache and his pulse quicken all over again, before turning toward the table.

He watched her for a moment longer, fighting the urge to pull her back into his arms and forget every ounce of self-control he'd spent years mastering.

But he didn't. Because no matter how much he wanted her—mind, body, and soul—he would wait. For her, he'd endure this sweet, agonizing torture for as long as it took.