Maria dragged her last suitcase through the narrow doorway just as the sun dipped below the city skyline, casting long shadows across the cramped living room. The breakup with her ex had left her bank account thin and her heart bruised, so when the listing for a shared apartment popped up at a price she could actually afford, she jumped on it without a second thought. She hadn’t met Alex yet, only exchanged a few curt texts confirming the move-in date.
He was already there when she arrived, leaning against the kitchen counter with a bottle of water in hand. Tall, broad-shouldered, dark hair still damp from what must have been a recent shower. His black tank clung to his chest, outlining every ridge of muscle earned from whatever brutal workouts he did. Quiet intensity rolled off him in wa
