Running away

Turning Tides

Milliana what in God's name are you doing! Let him leave!

"Could you help with the buttons, I think I am still too lightheaded in order to button them correctly." His entire body froze at my request until his hand moved to the knob. I let out a sigh until I heard the click of the lock and stared wide-eyed at his back. "In case another worker just walks in. It would be hard to explain this Ms. Tilly." Cranston turned back to me and I tightened my hold on my shirt. "Of course. No knowledge of this needs to be spread around." I feel like Mrs. Alvares from The One Night. It dawned on me that I was alone with a man in a locked room barely dressed.

Oh, how my aunt would throw a fit. "If I may," I removed my hands from my shirt as he drew near. I held my breath as he glanced down to the shirt. No man should see this unless I was married and yet, I am standing here willingly letting a man I barely know, much less was married too, see one of the most intimate parts of my body. Of course, it was covered by the corset but it still felt wrong nonetheless and yet...

I loved it.

He stepped forward and that's when the height difference between us became even clearer than before. His fingers slowly buttoned up the buttons on my shirt until it reached the area that was supposed to cover my breast. I heard his breath hitch as his gaze found mine. I couldn't look away as the lush green eyes he sported entranced me. It made me think of a simpler time when I would play in the woods with my mother and father. It seemed like a century had gone by between us but it only had been a few moments. He drew nearer, his warm breath brushing against my inflamed cheeks. 

I've never even kissed a man before yet I am so tempted to do so with Nick. "Nick." Was that me? Why do I  sound so breathless? Something flashed in his eyes and he cleared his throat before finishing up with the buttons and promptly leaving. 

As I watched his back leave through my door I realized what I was doing. I buried my face in my hands to ease the redness of my cheeks. Is this what seducing is? I feel like a Garden Convent nun. Imagine what would Derek do if he heard about this? I inhaled sharply before letting it all out. I fixed my outfit before I went to finish my task. 

I couldn't focus on my work, the remembrance of his breath on my face distracted me immensely. I tried to make it out to be a daydream that wasn't real but the way his eyes looked at me made me unable to do so. My heart kept racing as I remember his gaze and I couldn't do anything at all. "Mr. Tilly. You can leave." My breath hitched as I looked up to see Nick staring down at me with those smoldering eyes. An image of him above me, pinning me down, popped into my head and my face heated. I avoided his gaze and packed up my things but I could still feel his heated stare burning into my sides. I tried to brush past him and his hand latched onto my arm.

"Next time, Milliana. Don't be so hesitant to ask me for help. I always help my employees to the best of my ability." 

His breath hit my ear and shiver went down my spine. I couldn't breathe. My legs felt like they were impossible to stand on. My stomach felt like it was turning or being rocked side to side like a ship on the open sea. "Are you so sure there will be a next time, Mr. Cranston?" My eyes dared him to say yes. If someone passed by, they would probably think I was on the urge of being fired. 

"Only if you wish it, Miss Milliana. Only if you desire it." I have to leave. I have to move away from this man. He is very dangerous for my health. "Nick." We broke apart at the sound of someone calling his name in his office. "Yes, Michael. What is it that you need?" I didn't bother to stay, I left that moment and hurried down the stairs. My heart was racing and I could barely breathe.

*

When I arrived back at my current residence, my breathe had gone back to normal and my heart was no longer racing. What occurred in the office felt like a distant memory, something that had been merely fleeting thought. "Mr. Tilly, welcome home. The children have been put to bed and dinner is on the table." I nodded, trying anything to remove the look of Mr. Cranston from my mind. "You look a little red, are you unwell?" I just smiled. "I am feeling a bit tired today. I think I'll just head to bed early. See you in the morning." I hastily walked up the stairs, trying to hide my flaming cheeks. "Goodnight dear!" The memory played repetitively in my mind as I dressed for bed. 

No matter how hard I tried, I could not fall asleep. I felt sore, as if I just finished a horse ride. An itch occurred but when I scratched it, my hand brushed against my thigh and a shock went through my body. I imagined Nick grazing his fingers against my skin and my breath became erratic. I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it before getting up and walking to the window. I opened it and let the cool night air in. My skin felt wonderful as it flowed around me. 

As the moon became uncovered from the clouds, my mind drifted to Nick and what he must be doing. The memory flashed before my eyes and I shook my head. "Nonsense Milliana, blasphemous thoughts running a muck must be stopped." I closed the window and laid back down, the weight of sleep falling upon me.