After He Left, I Chose His Brother

"Dalia," Xander called out, giving my hip a light tap.

I turned to face him as he wanted and lifted the hips, shifting into a position that suited him.

"Yes, just like that, Dalia. I love this about you," he murmured, his breath coming in soft pants as he gently pressed my waist. My upper body rested on the bed, fingers curling tightly into the sheets.

That night, he was more intense than usual, as if he wanted to make up for the two days we’d been apart, using every little trick and way of being close that we’d learned over the ten years together.

By the end, I lay there, too spent to move, watching him through half-closed eyes as he pulled away, looking satisfied.

"Two days without this and you’re already going all out? You’ll wear yourself out if you keep this up," I said. In ten years, I’d never seen him so unrestrained.

Xander came back from the bathroom and held out his arm. I settled into his embrace naturally, letting his hand drift softly over my skin.

"Dalia, you once said as long as I made you happy, you’d never ask for more, right?" he said quietly.

"So if... if I wanted to end things between us, you wouldn’t push for reasons, would you?"

There was a nervous test in his voice that sent a strange, uneasy feeling through me.

Ten years ago, I was twenty. I was working at a café when I accidentally broke two of the manager’s coffee mugs. He demanded I pay for them, but I didn’t have the money. That’s when Xander stepped in to help me.

“What are you staring at?” he asked, noticing my gaze. His beautiful eyes crinkled into a smile.

“You’re really handsome,” I blurted out, my face flushing bright red the second the words left my mouth.

The next day, he showed up at the café door, took my hand, and said, “You like good-looking guys? Be my girlfriend, and you can look all you want.”

I said yes.

Later, he’d often ask if I’d really agreed to be with him just because he was handsome. I’d nod and add, “I also like how strong you are.” His Adam’s apple would bob, and he’d lift me into his arms and carry me to a hotel.

Ten years have passed, and his face and build haven’t changed a bit. But now, I can’t tell if I’m drawn to him as a person, or just to his body.

I studied him up and down, holding back the urge to pour out my true feelings. “You’re not the only good-looking man in the world, you know.”

That seemed to put Xander at ease. “Good. Then I can feel better about ending things with you, Dalia.”

“My family’s set me up with someone. I’m at the age where I should get married—I don’t want to play around anymore.”

As Xander spoke, the warmth drained from my body, leaving me cold