Uninvited temptation
894 Words
Ethan's POV
I never thought I’d regret my usual groggy morning shuffle to the bathroom, but today, I’d never forget it. The moment I opened the door, the scene in front of me froze me in place, sucking every ounce of air out of the room.
She was there, standing under the weak stream of light filtering through the small window, her body still glistening with water droplets that caught the light like tiny diamonds. Claire.
Her back was half-turned, but when she heard the door creak, she spun to face me. That’s when my heart practically stopped. Her face, flushed from the warm water, looked ethereal, her cheeks glowing in soft pink hues. Her lips were slightly parted in surprise, glistening as though she’d just bitten down on them. God, those lips. For a second, I imagined how they’d feel against mine—soft, full, and utterly intoxicating.
Her damp hair clung to her shoulders and cascaded around her breasts, barely concealing them. My gaze betrayed me before I could stop it, trailing down to where her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. They were perfect—round, full, and so damn inviting I had to grip the doorframe to ground myself.
I could feel the heat rise in my face, a flush that spread down my neck as I tried, unsuccessfully, to look away. The water droplets traced paths down her smooth skin, over the curve of her collarbone, and lower. The slight swell of her stomach, the gentle slope of her hips—all of it was on full display, like some forbidden artwork that no one was supposed to see.
The tension in my body was unbearable. My mouth went dry, and, against my will, my pants tightened uncomfortably. I cursed under my breath, forcing myself to think of anything but the way her thighs looked—toned, soft, and utterly sinful—or how her damp skin seemed to glow under the dim light.
Her eyes widened, and she froze, just as stunned as I was. We didn’t speak; we didn’t move. It was like we were trapped in this charged, electrifying moment where time stood still.
Then she screamed.
“GET OUT!” she yelled, her voice shattering the silence like a whip. Her hands darted up, one covering her chest and the other gesturing wildly toward the door.
“s**t! I’m so—f**k—I’m sorry!” I stammered, backing out so quickly I nearly tripped over my own feet. The door slammed shut in my face, and I was left standing in the hallway, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest.
I ran a hand through my hair, groaning. My body was still reacting, heat pooling low in my stomach as if it had a mind of its own. “f*****g hell, Ethan,” I muttered, leaning against the wall and closing my eyes.
I couldn’t erase the image from my mind, no matter how hard I tried. The way she looked, like something out of a dream—so soft, so damn perfect. I felt like a goddamn animal, wanting her the way I did.
But I couldn’t go there. I couldn’t let myself feel this way about her. She wasn’t staying. She wasn’t mine.
Still, as I stood there, trying to will my body to calm down, I knew one thing for certain: Claire was going to drive me out of my mind.
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“Morning,” she replied, her voice soft but steady.
“I, uh…” I trailed off, rubbing the back of my neck. “About earlier—”
“It’s fine.” She waved me off, a small, sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “Really. It’s not like you meant to walk in on me.”
I sighed in relief, but the awkward tension lingered. I gestured toward the food on the stove. “I’m making breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast... and my special hot cocoa.”
Her eyebrows lifted at that. “Special hot cocoa?”
“You’ll see.”
She took a seat at the small table while I finished cooking, and soon enough, we were both digging in. I watched her cautiously as she took her first bite of bacon, then the eggs. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she let out a soft, involuntary moan that sent a bolt of heat straight through me.
“God, this is amazing,” she murmured, completely unaware of the effect she was having on me.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away. “Glad you like it.”
When she tried the cocoa, she gave a little bounce in her chair like an excited child, her smile wide and genuine. I couldn’t help it—I laughed.
“What?” she asked, tilting her head, her lips quirking into a grin.
“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s just... you’re cute when you do that.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and for a moment, I thought I’d said too much. But she just rolled her eyes playfully. “You’re not too bad yourself, When you’re not barging into bathrooms, that is.”
I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Not a chance,” she said with a smirk.
- Writer
