The Morning After
966 Words
Natalia's bare arm lay across Kylian’s chest. Her fingers were curled into his skin as she shifted closer, still smiling from the night before, but he didn't look down at her.
He caught her by the wrist, and sat up on the edge of the mattress. He was starting to feel hot from the room's temperature. Sleeping with Natalia had done absolutely nothing to ease the tension the cook’s body had stirred inside him.
"Kylian?" Natalia opened her eyes, blinking against the bright light in the room. "What is the matter?”
"Get dressed," he said, standing up and wrapping a towel around his waist. He picked up her rumpled dress from the floor and tossed it onto the mattress. "The car is downstairs."
Natalia sat up, pulling the sheets to her chest as her face flushed. "Why am I leaving now? It’s just six in the morning."
"You know what you came here for and it’s done. Get dressed.” he muttered, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door.
Ten minutes later, the sound of the front door closing echoed down the hall.
Evangeline stood up from her bed and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She had not slept a single wink, because every time she closed her eyes, Natalia’s piercing screams and Kylian’s deep grunts had filled the dark room, leaving her tossing and turning in anger.
Standing by the small desk, her fingers gripped the fabric of her skirt as an unwanted image flashed in her mind; not of Natalia, but of herself pinned against that dining table under his weight.
She swallowed hard, violently shaking her head to force the thoughts away. She tied her hair back into its usual neat bun, smoothed down her plain dress, and walked into the kitchen. She needed to do something to get him off her mind.
Evangeline stood by the stove, stirring the chicken soup she’d prepared the night before, to calm his stomach down when familiar footsteps sounded behind her.
Kylian strode in, wearing nothing but a pair of thin, loose grey joggers that hung low on his hips. His chest was bare, his skin still damp from the shower, and his eyes looked bloodshot.
Evangeline turned to fetch a serving bowl, and her gaze betrayed her. It moved from his jawline, down to his toned chest, and dropped lower.
Through the thin fabric of his joggers, the huge outline of him was impossible to ignore. She had never seen a man’s private area so clearly, and the sheer size of it caught her off guard, freezing her in place for a single second before she forced her eyes back up.
Kylian stopped by the marble island, catching the direction of her gaze. He leaned against the marble, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Did you sleep fine? Or did you find the penthouse too loud last night, Evangeline?" he asked.
Evangeline felt her face warming up despite herself, but she forced herself to remain calm. Fearing that she might drop the bowl, she set it down on the counter slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on his face.
"The walls are thin, sir," she said quietly. "But your private business is not my concern."
Kylian tilted his head, observing her face for a few seconds, before slowly moving towards her, closing the distance between them until his bare chest was inches away from her face.
"You look tired," he murmured, tracing the faint circles under her eyes. "If the noise interfered with your sleep, you should have come down the hall and told me."
Evangeline shrank away, her back hitting the edge of the counter, but she kept her head held up. "I know my place in this house, sir. I am here to cook and clean, not to monitor who you invite into your bed."
Kylian’s jaw hardened. He hadn’t expected her to answer him like that. He reached out, his hand hovering just an inch from her shoulder, then he smiled and let his arm drop back to his side.
"The food is ready, sir." She added, pushing the plate toward him, avoiding any contact between their fingers.
Kylian picked up the spoon, eating in silence while she stood at the opposite side of the kitchen. Trying to move away from him, she picked up a dishcloth, wiping the same section of marble twice before realizing she had already cleaned it, then she turned her back towards him, refusing to let him see her tremble.
Evangeline jumped when she loud sound of spoon hitting the plate. She turned around to see Kylian already on his feet and looking at her, his eyes moving from her face down to her work clothes with clear disapproval.
"That outfit is an eyesore," he muttered coldly. "I do not want to see you walking around my house looking like a beggar. It is offensive to the space."
Evangeline kept her head bowed, her eyes glued to the kitchen counter. "It is the only dress I have that is fit for work sir.”
"I’ll be making provisions for a new uniform," Kylian continued, his eyes moving towards the neat bun she had put her hair in. "Something proper and fitting for this household. I will have it delivered by tomorrow, and you will wear it exactly as ordered, without a single complaint. Do you understand me?"
Evangeline swallowed the dryness in her throat. "Yes, sir."
"Good."
He turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall before the front door slammed shut.
Evangeline let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding, leaning against the sink.
She stared at the empty doorway. Somehow, she doubted it would be anything as simple as a maid's uniform.
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