**Chapter 1: Caught in the Act**

Malachi Barton was in his room, completely lost in the moment. He had just finished writing a particularly intense scene for his latest fanfic story, and his emotions were running high. He had gotten into character, and his imagination had taken over, transporting him to a world of his own creation. As he sat at his desk, his hands flew across the keyboard, the words pouring out of him like water. He was so engrossed in the story that he didn't even notice the time passing. The room around him melted away, and all that was left was the characters, their struggles, and their triumphs. As he wrote, Malachi's voice whispered the words out loud, his emotions building with each sentence. He was in the zone, completely in the moment. That's when it happened. His voice rose to a crescendo, and he said the name that had become synonymous with his own desires - Freya. Malachi's eyes widened as he realized what he had just said out loud. He was so caught up in the moment that he hadn't even noticed. But it was too late. The words had left his lips, and he felt a flush rise to his cheeks. Just as he was about to try and compose himself, he heard a knock at the door. It was a soft knock, but it was enough to make Malachi's heart skip a beat. He froze, his eyes fixed on the door as he waited for whoever it was to announce themselves. The knock came again, this time a little louder. Malachi's face burned with embarrassment as he realized that he wasn't alone in the house. His mom was downstairs, and she had probably heard him. The door creaked open, and Malachi's world came crashing down. Standing in the doorway was Freya Skye, a look of shock and amusement on her face. Malachi's eyes widened as he realized that he was caught red-handed. Freya's eyes scanned the room, taking in the scene before her. Malachi was sitting at his desk, his face bright red, and a look of utter mortification on his face. But it was what was on the screen that made Freya's eyes widen in surprise. Malachi's story was playing out on the screen, and it was clear that he had been writing about her. Freya's eyes locked onto Malachi's, and she saw the embarrassment and shame written all over his face. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Then, Freya spoke up, her voice husky with amusement. "Malachi, I think we need to talk," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face. Malachi's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he realized that he was caught. He was in trouble, and he didn't know how to get out of it. But as he looked into Freya's eyes, he saw something there that gave him hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could talk his way out of this one.