**Chapter 1: Caught in the Moment**

Malachi Barton sat on the edge of his hotel bed, his eyes fixed on the photo of Freya Skye that he had saved on his phone. They had been on tour together for months now, and despite the excitement of performing in front of thousands of fans every night, his mind kept wandering back to her. He couldn't help but think about the way she smiled, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and the way his heart skipped a beat whenever she was near. As he gazed at the photo, he felt a familiar flutter in his chest. He had been trying to brush off his feelings for her, telling himself that it was just a crush, that it was wrong to have romantic feelings for a fellow cast member. But the truth was, he couldn't deny the way he felt. He had been thinking about her nonstop, wondering what it would be like to be with her, to hold her, to kiss her. As he sat there, lost in thought, he started to talk to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "Freya, Freya, Freya," he whispered, his eyes closed, his mind imagining her by his side. He didn't notice the door to his hotel room slowly creaking open, or the sound of footsteps approaching. But Freya Skye did. She had been walking down the hallway, looking for her own hotel room, when she heard her name being whispered. She stopped in her tracks, her curiosity piqued. What was Malachi doing in his room? And why was he saying her name over and over again? She slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open, and what she saw made her heart skip a beat. Malachi was sitting on the edge of his bed, his eyes closed, his face twisted in a look of pure pleasure. It was clear that he was in the middle of something, and Freya's eyes widened as she took in the scene. For a moment, she just stood there, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to turn around and leave, to pretend she hadn't seen anything. But another part of her was curious, and concerned. Was Malachi okay? Did he need help? Without thinking, she stepped into the room, her eyes locked on his. "Malachi?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Malachi's eyes snapped open, and he looked up at Freya, his face flushing with embarrassment. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air thick with tension. And then, without saying a word, Freya walked over to him, and started to help.