The next morning, Nova and the three girls sat together around the breakfast table. Nova, MJ, and Jessica calmly enjoyed their meal, their expressions relaxed and unbothered by the tension lingering in the air. In stark contrast, Gwen sat slumped in her chair, wincing slightly with every movement. A dull ache radiated through her lower body, and every muscle in her frame seemed to protest against the simple act of sitting upright.
Gwen's narrowed eyes shot daggers toward Nova and MJ, who both deliberately ignored her glare. Nova sipped his coffee with a serene expression, while MJ idly scrolled through her phone as if nothing was amiss. Jessica, meanwhile, found herself caught somewhere between amusement and discomfort. She could still vividly remember the sounds that had filled the house the previous night—Gwen's desperate cries, the mixture of pain and pleasure in her voice, and her frantic pleas for mercy as Nova ruthlessly claimed her again and again.
From the subtle yet telling clues, Jessica pieced together what had happened. It was obvious that Gwen had been thoroughly punished by Nova, ravaged so mercilessly that she could barely move this morning. Jessica had to admit — the guy had some serious stamina. Her gaze flickered to the faint marks visible on Gwen's skin: dark, lingering hickeys scattered across her neck, shoulders, and the parts of her body that weren't hidden beneath the oversized t-shirt she wore.
What amused Jessica most, however, was the realization that Nova had apparently refused to heal Gwen afterward. It was likely part of her punishment — leaving her to stew in her sore, aching state as a reminder of last night's events. That, Jessica assumed, was why Gwen's glare was directed not just at Nova, but at MJ as well. The redhead's smug, satisfied demeanor only fueled Gwen's frustration.
The whole situation left an odd, charged atmosphere hanging over the breakfast table. Yet no one spoke of it. It was an unspoken rule in this house — what happened at night didn't need to be dragged into the daylight unless someone wanted to face the consequences.
Jessica took another bite of her toast, suppressing a smirk.
'Poor girl bit off more than she could chew…' she thought, her lips twitching with amusement.
---
After breakfast, Jessica left for her home leaving her number behind. Meanwhile, Nova and two girls started to get ready for cafe opening, after Nova mercifully fulfilled MJ's wish to heal Gwen.
For this occasion, MJ chose to wear a striking red backless dress that clung to her curves like a second skin, the silky fabric shimmering faintly with every step she took. The neckline dipped low enough to tease without being vulgar, highlighting the elegant line of her collarbone and the soft swell of her chest. The dress hugged her waist before flaring ever so slightly around her hips, the hem ending mid-thigh to show off her long, toned legs.
Her fiery red hair was styled in loose, voluminous waves that cascaded down her back, the rich color gleaming in the morning light. A pair of matching red stilettos added a few extra inches to her height, their sharp heels clicking decisively against the pavement as she walked. She'd kept her makeup simple but sultry — a subtle smoky eye, bold red lipstick that perfectly matched her dress, and a touch of highlighter on her cheekbones that caught the light just right.
Meanwhile, Gwen chose to wear a more understated yet equally alluring outfit — a snug white crop top that showed off the curve of her waist and a high-waisted black skirt that ended mid-thigh, paired with white sneakers. Despite the soreness still lingering in her body, the healing Nova granted had eased most of the pain, leaving behind only a faint, pleasant ache that made her shiver when she thought too long about the night before. She added a lightweight denim jacket, mostly to hide the faint marks on her neck, though a couple stubborn ones peeked out just below her collarbone.
As she caught her reflection in the mirror, Gwen sighed — equal parts exasperation and reluctant satisfaction. She hated how MJ looked so smugly perfect in that red dress, how Nova seemed so calm and collected, as if he hadn't utterly ruined her just hours ago. And worst of all, how her own traitorous body tingled at the memory.
"You two are insufferable," Gwen grumbled as she joined them by the front door.
"Mm-hm," MJ hummed without looking up from her phone, a little smirk playing on her lips. "You're welcome."
Nova just chuckled softly, adjusting the collar of his black button-up shirt and giving Gwen a look that made her stomach flip — equal parts irritation and anticipation curling in her chest. She hated how easily he got under her skin, how one glance could unravel her composure.
"Let's move," Nova said, opening the door and holding it for them. "Time to get this day started."
The trio stepped out into the crisp morning air, the city already bustling as they made their way to the café.
-----
The morning sun streamed through the café's glass windows, the light catching on the polished wood counters and gleaming espresso machines. A soft hum of background jazz played through the speakers as Nova made his entrance through the front door.
Dressed in a fitted black shirt and dark slacks, his sleeves casually rolled up, Nova surveyed the interior with a satisfied grin. The place looked immaculate — a perfect blend of modern chic and cozy comfort.
Behind the counter, Aunt May was already setting up the pastry case, carefully arranging freshly baked goods, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Nova.
"Morning, Nova," Aunt May greeted warmly. "You ready for the big day?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Nova replied, stepping behind the counter to inspect the setup. He glanced over at Skye, who was leaning against the bar with a tablet in hand, monitoring the café's smart system, security, and inventory.
"Everything good, Skye?" Nova asked.
"Place is solid, Nova," she said, smirking. "We've got stock for three days, coffee beans are freshly ground, no system bugs, and your Wi-Fi password's something even Stark couldn't crack."
Nova chuckled. "Good. Let's make sure we don't burn the place down before lunch."
Across the room, perched on one of the corner couches like she owned it, sat Felicia Hardy. Dressed in a sleek, off-shoulder black top and tight leather pants, she exuded that casual, dangerous allure unique to her. Her silver hair shimmered in the light as she lounged lazily, legs crossed.
Spotting MJ and Gwen chatting near the register, Felicia rose gracefully and made her way over. The soft click of her heels was the only sound cutting through the quiet hum of morning prep.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite redhead," Felicia teased, leaning down to press a quick, sultry kiss to MJ's lips, earning a pleased smirk from the redhead. "Damn, babe — you look edible."
MJ laughed, eyes half-lidded. "You just want the coffee perks."
Felicia grinned, then glanced at Gwen and saw dark hickeys peeking out along her neck and collarbone.
"Ooooh," Felicia purred, one brow arching as she smirked knowingly. "Rough night, Goldilocks?"
MJ let out a sly laugh and simply pointed a thumb toward Gwen. "Ask her how many times she tapped out."
Gwen flushed a deep red, groaning as she slumped lower in her seat. "Can we not?"
Felicia chuckled, giving Gwen a teasing wink. "Poor thing. She surely teased Nova and ended up getting punished right?"
Before Gwen could retort, the door chimed open.
The first wave of guests arrived — Jean Grey in a casual but elegant emerald blouse and dark jeans, her auburn hair gleaming. Beside her, Storm entered like she belonged in a royal court, dressed in a sleek white jacket and slacks, her silver hair styled flawlessly.
Wanda Maximoff followed, dressed in a deep crimson coat over black, a flicker of warmth in her gaze as she scanned the place.
Logan grunted as he stepped in, wearing his usual leather jacket and jeans, the scent of cigar smoke faint around him. Pietro zipped past everyone and made a beeline for the pastries. Mystique, in her disguised human form, followed leisurely, and right behind them, Emma Stone arrived, offering a friendly wave.
"Nice place," Jean said with an approving smile.
Storm gave a regal nod. "Feels… good here."
"Got any whiskey in that coffee?" Logan grumbled.
"Depends," Nova grinned. "You planning to fight anyone today, or can we trust you to behave?"
"Don't push it, kid."
Then came the unmistakable entrance of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Tony strutted in, sunglasses still on, wearing a sleek grey suit, his usual smirk firmly in place.
"Now this," Tony whistled, slowly surveying the café and, more notably, the very favorable male-to-female ratio. "Either I'm dreaming, or this is heaven."
Pepper rolled her eyes. "Behave."
"Relax, Pep. Just appreciating the scenery," Tony quipped, waving a hand. "You know, Nova — this is prime real estate. I was thinking… I might put a Stark Tower nearby."
Pepper turned to him sharply. "We don't own any property around here."
Tony just grinned. "So what? Buy."
Nova laughed, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
Tony threw him a finger-gun gesture. "That's what makes me lovable. I even thought a name for the place, The Stark Tower."
As Pepper sighed, soft chime of the café door sounded again as a fresh group of arrivals made their entrance. Peter Parker led the way, dressed in a neat jacket and jeans, his hand loosely linked with Michelle Jones' as they stepped inside. Michelle looked effortlessly sharp as always — black boots, a cropped leather jacket, and a sarcastic glint in her eye.
"Wow," Peter muttered, looking around the café and spotting Nova at the counter, Aunt May chatting with Skye, and Felicia lounging nearby. "Place looks incredible."
"I'll give Nova this," Michelle said, glancing around approvingly, "guy knows how to set a vibe."
Harry Osborn came in right behind them, one hand casually tucked into the pocket of his designer jacket, the other holding onto Liz Allan's hand. Liz wore a soft blue dress with a denim jacket over her shoulders, offering a bright, easy smile as she took in the bustling scene.
"Okay, this is way fancier than I expected," Liz laughed. "Harry, you didn't tell me Nova ran a celebrity hotspot."
Harry grinned, shooting Nova a nod. "Didn't wanna spoil the surprise."
And right after them came Ned Leeds, slightly breathless, and walking beside Betty Brant, who had her phone out, snapping a picture of the café's chic decor and crowd.
"Sorry we're late!" Ned called, waving at Peter and MJ. "Traffic was nuts — and Betty made me stop for her coffee first."
Betty lowered her phone and smirked. "You're welcome for the aesthetic entrance, by the way."