Sera's heart hammered in her chest as she pushed through the dimly lit crowd at the office holiday party, the air thick with the scent of pine garlands and cheap wine. Strings of fairy lights twinkled overhead, casting a warm glow on the sea of coworkers laughing and mingling, but all she could focus on was the figure across the room—Alex, her charming crush with his tousled dark hair and that easy smile that had always made her stomach flutter. She had dressed up for this, slipping into a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, hoping tonight might finally be the night he noticed her. But as she edged closer, her breath caught in her throat; there he was, pressed against another woman in the shadows of the hallway, his lips locked on hers in a deep, possessive kiss. The woman's hands roamed up his back, and Alex's fingers tangled in her hair, their bodies moving with an intimacy that shattered Sera like glass. Nausea twisted in her gut, her vision blurring as hot tears welled up, the festive chatter around her fading into a muffled roar.

Overwhelmed, Sera stumbled away from the scene, her heels clicking sharply on the tile as she burst through the nearest door into the quiet of an empty conference room. The door slammed shut behind her, muffling the party's noise, and she collapsed against the cool wall, sliding down until her knees hit the floor. Tears streamed down her face, burning hot trails over her flushed cheeks, as a vise tightened around her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her body ached with the raw sting of betrayal—her pulse thundering in her ears, her stomach churning like a storm-tossed sea. "How could I have been so stupid?" she whispered to the empty room, her voice cracking as she hugged her arms around herself, the fabric of her dress clinging to her skin, suddenly feeling too tight, too revealing. The pain was a physical entity, clawing at her insides, leaving her feeling exposed and foolish, all her guarded hopes crumbling in an instant.

Dane found her there moments later, his tall frame filling the doorway, the faint scent of his cologne—something woodsy and intoxicating—drifting in with him. He'd always been the thorn in her side, his teasing jabs and smirking glances driving her mad at work, but tonight, his expression softened with genuine concern as he approached. "Sera? What the hell happened?" he asked, his voice low and steady, crouching down beside her. She looked up, her eyes red and puffy, and before she could muster her usual sarcasm, he reached out, his warm hand gently cupping her cheek, wiping away a tear with his thumb. The touch sent a unexpected shiver through her, a spark of heat amid the chill of her heartbreak, and as their eyes met, the air between them thickened with unspoken tension. "You don't have to pretend with me," he murmured, his face inching closer, his breath warm against her skin. Then, in a rush, his lips crashed into hers, fierce and demanding, igniting a fire that melted her defenses. Sera gasped against his mouth, her hands fisting in his shirt as he pulled her onto his lap, his strong arms wrapping around her waist. The kiss deepened, tongues entwining in a heated dance, and she felt the hard press of his arousal through his pants, her own body responding with a betraying throb between her thighs. His hands roamed boldly, sliding up her sides to cup her breasts through the fabric, thumbs brushing over her nipples until they peaked, drawing a soft moan from her lips as the emotional rawness twisted into something primal, their animosity igniting into passion.

From Foes to Flames: Forbidden Desires