Friends WITH Benefit

Demitri rejected Elena’s call and blocked her number immediately before rushing to Ashley’s door.

He knocked.

“Are you done talking to the love of your life?” Ashley’s voice rang out, sharp and laced with sarcasm, from behind the door.

With a soft chuckle, he pushed the door open, finding Ashley sprawled on the floor, clutching a half-empty glass of wine.

The dim light of the room illuminated her flushed cheeks, and her hair cascaded around her shoulders in loose waves.

“Stop staring at me.” she quipped, glancing at him.

“Nope, I’m just processing your sharp wit.” He closed the door behind him and sat on the floor beside her, his back leaning against the bed. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable.

Ashley broke it first. “How did you meet Elena? How did you…fall in love with her?” Her tone was curious but carried a faint trace of bitterness.

Demitri let out a slow breath, staring out the large window overlooking the city lights. “We met at a gala. She was bold, charming, and had this fire in her. At first, it was intoxicating. We were inseparable for a while.”

Ashley swirled her wine, staring into the crimson liquid. “So, why agree to the arranged marriage if you were already in love?”

He looked at her, his expression softening. “My parents didn’t accept her. They wanted me married for the business, for alliances. They made it clear that Elena wasn’t an option. I didn’t want to marry anyone else, but…” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t have much of a choice. Refusing them would’ve meant losing everything.”

Ashley remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. After a long pause, Demitri turned to her. “What about you? Why were you kept secret until now?”

Her fingers tightened around the glass, and she hesitated before speaking. “There was someone…years ago,” she began quietly. “A man I trusted, who promised me the world. We were studying in London together. He…” Her voice broke slightly, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. “He fled with some of my properties and money. It was all over the news. My father was furious. He blamed me for being naïve, for trusting a foreigner.”

Demitri’s brow furrowed. “What happened after that?”

Ashley looked down at her wine. “My father told me to stay back in London or lay low for a few years. He didn’t want me bringing shame to the family. I thought…I thought spending those years alone would break me.” She swallowed hard and continued. “When your father proposed the idea of marriage, I thought it was a way to escape the mess, to rebuild myself quietly. Maybe even have a family.”

Demitri’s chest tightened as he listened. Her voice was steady, but he could hear the pain behind her words. “Ashley…”

She shook her head, forcing a weak smile. “I didn’t think it would turn out like this. Another heartbreak. Another betrayal.”

A lone tear slid down her cheek, and Demitri felt a pang of guilt so sharp it made him wince. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You didn’t deserve any of this.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, unexpectedly, Ashley leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him. He hesitated before pulling her close, holding her tightly.

“You’ve been through so much,” he murmured, his chin resting atop her head.

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. Her gaze lingered on his face, and before either of them could think, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

Demitri froze, his heart pounding.

“Ashley…” he began, but she silenced him with another kiss. He could taste the wine on her lips, feel the heat of her skin against his.

“I know,” she whispered. “We’re drunk. We shouldn’t—”

But the desire in her eyes mirrored his own, and his restraint crumbled.

He kissed her back, his hands cupping her face. The kiss deepened, becoming more fervent with every passing second.

They tumbled onto the bed, their movements frantic yet tender. Clothes were shed, barriers forgotten.

In that moment, the weight of their shared pain and unresolved emotions melted away, leaving only raw, unfiltered passion.