To my husband, for always believing in me and encouraging me to chase my dreams. I love you. Always.

I felt the sweat bead and slowly drip down my forehead and onto my cheek as I stepped off the treadmill. Wicked Games by The Weeknd blasted through my AirPods. I grabbed my water bottle out of the cup holder and took a swig. The triumph I felt as I had just completed a six-mile run was euphoric. I had set a goal of six miles when I started running months ago, so I felt proud and powerful.

I looked around the gym, searching for my best friend. I knew she was around here somewhere; I just had to find her. Adalyn never wanted to go to the gym, and she always complained when I asked, but every time she'd put her workout gear on and come along. I knew it wasn't really for me; it was for all the men she'd see. I scanned the gym's open layout for the most attractive man, and I knew she would be close by.

I slowly made my way around the gym, taking small sips of my water while my eyes scanned the room. I tried not to let my eyes linger too long on any one person, and it was then that I spotted her jet black hair right next to a man twice her age but beautiful nonetheless. 

I walked over to her and watched as she did reps, her face contorted, and her legs quivered while she managed to do one last rep. "This machine says it's supposed to tone my thighs; I hope so."

 I laughed at her statement; I wouldn't expect anything less from her. "I'll let you know if it does."

"It better. Otherwise, I've wasted my time." She huffed while she got off the machine and began to spray and wipe it down.

"It won't change overnight, Addy; maybe if you came with me every day, you'd start to see some real results." I side-eyed her while taking a drink of my water. Adalyn reached for my water bottle and finished off the remaining liquid, and then handed the empty bottle back to me. "You should really start bringing your own." 

We then made our way to the changing rooms. I grabbed my things and headed for the showers. Once I was finished, I quickly changed into a pair of light-wash jeans and a blank tank top. I threw my brown hair into a messy bun and slung my gym bag over my shoulder. 

Adalyn was inches away from the body-length mirror, applying a full face of makeup. "Why?" I sighed. "We're just heading home."

She looked away from her reflection; her eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "What if I see my soulmate?" She asked that as if I should've already known that's what she was preparing for.

"Right." I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'll be in the car waiting for you." I exited the locker room and made my way towards the front doors. 

I pulled out my phone and began reading through all of the unread text messages. Most of them were from my boss, Tyler, at Solar Marketing. I could feel the anxiety ooze from him with each new message I read. He was stressed about the CEO coming, had been for weeks, but now that the meeting was tomorrow, his anxiety was through the roof, and it was starting to hit me too. Tyler needed everything to go smoothly and wanted to make sure that I, his assistant, was well aware of what was on the line. If the CEO wasn't impressed with the presentation, I was canned, and so was he. 

As I stepped out of the gym, the warm fall breeze caressed my skin as the sun barely peeked over the horizon. It had been a long stressful day, and I was ready to curl up on the couch with my favorite book and a glass of white wine. I had my head buried into my phone as I carefully wrote out my response to all of my boss's text messages. I made sure to hit every point and reassure him that everything was going to be okay. We had gone over the presentation a million times, and there was nothing to worry about. 

As I sent the text message, I ran into something hard. My immediate thought was someone's car or a light post, but I was perplexed to see a man standing before me when I looked away from my phone. 

His features were sharp and rugged; his five o'clock shadow was dark like the curls on top of his head. He had piercing blue eyes and cheekbones that the gods must've carved. He was wearing a black muscle shirt that accentuated his olive skin and showed off his broad shoulders and toned muscles. However, it wasn't this mans looks that threw me off, it was the confidence that radiated off of him. It was potent and overwhelming, and it made me feel confused… 

And turned on. 

"I am so sorry," I said as I averted eye contact. "I should watch where I'm going." I was about to walk around him and hurry back to my car where I could breathe again when I heard his voice. 

"It's okay. I don't mind having a beautiful woman bump into me."

What did he say?

The deep raspiness of his voice sent chills down my spine; if there were ever a sound that could make me orgasm on the spot, it would be that.

I heard my name being yelled from across the parking lot; if my cheeks weren't red before, they were then. "Serenity!" Adalyns voice carried. I turned around to see her walking towards me. Her green eyes were glued to the man beside me, her perfect smile on display. She was model gorgeous, and for some reason, I was green with jealousy. "Who's this?" she asked as she came up beside me.

"Sin." He said, extending his hand towards her. She placed her hand in his. She was confident and poised, never losing eye contact with him. I was envious of her at that point, a man that gorgeous would not settle for me, I'm nothing compared to my best friend.

It's never bothered me before how beautiful Adalyn truly was. She's always landed the men she's wanted and I am always happy for her. Quite frankly, I've never had any interest in any of the men she's been with, they were never my type. But this man, the man she is touching, he's different. 

"That you are," Adalyn said quietly. "I'm Adalyn." 

"Well, we better get going," I interrupted as I grabbed Adalyns hand and walked around him. I didn't want to submit myself to any more flirting. Selfish, I know. "Sorry again," I said sheepishly as I hurried away.

"Don't worry about it," a grin spread across his face. "It was nice meeting you, Serenity." The way my name rolled off his tongue made me visibly shiver. 

Yup, I could cum just by listening to him talk.

 "Wow," Adalyn said as we both got into the car. "This is why I come with you to the gym." she giggled, and I rolled my eyes. She put the visor down and opened the mirror, checking her makeup. “I'm so glad I did my makeup.” 

I started the car up and drove out of the parking lot as fast as possible.

I could see danger from a mile away, and that man was as dangerous as they come; I had too much on my plate to be dealing with someone like that. That man was sex incarnate and the electricity I felt only confirmed that he would devour me within seconds.

However, instead of going home to read a good book and drink some wine as I had originally planned, I was going to spend time with my vibrator, and his new name was Sin.