Burning Jealousy

**Chapter 1: Sparks in the Sheets**

The room was heavy with the scent of lavender and unspoken tension as Mia and Ethan lay side by side in their king-sized bed. The moonlight slipped through the half-drawn curtains, casting silver streaks across Mia’s bare shoulder. She was scrolling through her phone, her lips twitching into a smirk at something she read, while Ethan stared at the ceiling, his jaw tight enough to crack walnuts.

'Who the hell keeps texting you at midnight?' Ethan finally snapped, rolling onto his side to face her. His dark eyes burned with a mix of irritation and something hotter, something primal.

Mia didn’t even glance at him, her fingers still dancing over the screen. 'Oh, relax, babe. It’s just a friend.' Her voice was smooth, teasing, like she knew exactly how to push his buttons—and loved doing it.

'A friend, huh? Like the kind of friend who used to fuck you?' Ethan’s words were sharp, a blade wrapped in velvet. He propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze raking over her with possessive hunger. 'Don’t play dumb, Mia. I saw his name pop up. Your ex. What’s that asshole got to say that’s so damn important?'

Mia finally set her phone down, turning to meet his glare with a wicked glint in her hazel eyes. 'Jealous much? You think I can’t handle a little chit-chat without jumping back into old habits?' She shifted closer, her breath warm against his cheek. 'Or are you just worried you can’t keep up with the memory of him?'

Ethan’s laugh was low, dangerous. 'Keep up? Sweetheart, I’ve got you screaming my name every night. I’m not worried about some washed-up loser from your past.' He reached out, his hand sliding up her thigh, fingers digging into her skin just enough to make her gasp. 'But I don’t share. And I don’t like being played.'

Mia’s smirk widened as she pushed his hand away, only to straddle him in one fluid motion, her toned legs pinning him beneath her. 'Played? Oh, Ethan, if I wanted to play, you’d be begging for mercy.' She leaned down, her lips hovering just above his, her long hair brushing against his chest. 'You don’t own me, but I’ll let you try to prove you’re worth my attention.'

His hands gripped her hips, pulling her down against him, the heat between them igniting like a match to gasoline. 'Worth it? Baby, I’ll have you dripping for me in seconds,' he growled, his voice thick with need. He could feel her warmth through the thin fabric of her panties, and it was driving him insane.

Mia chuckled, a sultry sound that sent a shiver down his spine. 'Big talk. Let’s see if that cock of yours can back it up.' She ground against him, slow and deliberate, feeling him grow hard beneath her. 'Because I’m not some fragile little thing you can just claim. You want me? Earn me.'

Ethan’s eyes darkened, his breath coming faster as the tension snapped like a taut wire. He flipped her onto her back in a heartbeat, pinning her wrists above her head with one hand while the other slid down her body, teasing the edge of her underwear. 'Earn you? I’m gonna make you forget that bastard’s name. You’ll be too busy panting for me.'

Mia arched into his touch, her voice a taunting whisper. 'Prove it, then. I’m already wet just thinking about how hard you’re gonna try.'

Their lips crashed together, a battle of tongues and teeth, as the room filled with the sound of their ragged breaths. Clothes were about to be torn away, and the night was just beginning to burn.