My Rented Wife

A weapon of desire

The golden late- The afternoon sun was streaming in through the tall windows of the Carter mansion, lighting up every room, and all you could hear was the grandfather clock ticking away in the corner. Claire was just chilling down the hall, totally clueless that someone was keeping tabs on her. Ethan's cousin was sneakily creeping up behind her, like a ninja or something. Claire had been little more than a presence to him, until now — a name, a complication, whatever and wherever Ethan was hiding. But currently, in the sunlight and revealing her figure, she was something much more dangerous.

Claire was dressed in nothing underneath her tunic’s bare blanket-wear, a transparent strip of cloth that clung to various portions of her form more than it covered. Her damp (it was raining) hair from the shower.

The cousin’s breath caught for a beat. He is stock-staring at her sexy body--the curve of her waist, the graceful line of her neck, how fabric rested against her chest. Every part embedded itself in his brain as if it were against the law to remember. And then it hit him — not just her looks but the power behind them.

He didn’t just see Claire. He saw a weapon.

The weapon he planned to obliterate Ethan with.

He gave an evil smile. It was almost too perfect — Ethan, the one who always got what he wanted, the one who had always been picked first to everyone else’s last. But now, Ethan's most precious treasure stood vulnerable, innocent of the tempest she would release.

Claire spun around sickened as she realized someone was squeezing her breasts from behind.

“You scared me,” she muttered, crossing her arms in front of herself as though to protect herself.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to intrude. I uh…” He glanced down for a moment and then back up at her. “…you look different today. Radiant.”

Claire made a face, but she held her tongue, not wanting to make a scene. “It’s only a dress,” she quickly said,

“No,” he responded softly, his breath becoming even shallower. “It’s not the dress. It’s you.”

“I uh… I better go… see how Ethan is doing,” She mumbled, turning to get away from the girl.

His cousin’s arm shot out, fingers connecting with her own. This wasn’t a strong grip — just enough to make her stop, just enough to remind her that she was not entirely free to walk out.

“He doesn’t have to go,” he muttered, his eyes fastening on hers. “I’m not your enemy.”

Claire’s pulse raced fast. It was as if his touch scorched her flesh. His voice, however, retained its deceptively mild tone.

“You want to bring him down, don’t you?” he suddenly asked, c*****g his head.

Her breath paused. “What are you talking about?”

“Ethan.” The cousin smiled knowingly. He’s not trustable, he is a deceit and a liar. You haven't seen him yet. Eventually, he hurts everyone around him. But you… you’re different. You would rip him to shreds and not even break a sweat!

“No,” Claire said, shaking her head with a broken voice. “You’re insane. I’d never—”

“Wouldn’t you?” His words cut through her denial. “Think about it, Claire. You got him where it hurts already. You scramble his brains. You’ve read how desperate he is. What if that fanatical desperation overtakes him? And what if he finds out that the one woman he hungers for ever will be…” He eyed her body once more shamelessly before moving his piercing gaze back to hers. “…belongs to someone else?”

Claire’s stomach twisted. "Stop," she murmured and her voice was weak.

The cousin’s smirk deepened. “I don’t need to force you. Eventually, you will see yourself. He’s not the guy you think he is. And we when that mirage fades… you’ll be with me.

In a flash, there was this intense quiet, like the air was thick and heavy, almost like you could feel it sticking to you. Claire's heart was pounding, she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears, she was starting to think of a really bad idea. She so wanted to deny it and push him off,

“She really wanted to deny it and push him off.

“I’d never cheat on him,” she murmured, but deep down, she knew it felt hollow.

the cousin got super close, his lips almost touching her ear.

He just let go of her arm, feeling happy and disappointed at the same time.he already knew he had planted doubt in her. He was smiling politely, almost childlike, with shining eyes. He had observed what he needed to observe. Claire wasn’t just beautiful. She wasn’t just Ethan’s weakness. She was his perfect weapon, and now he realized just how sharp her edges could be.

Claire was a little frozen, holding herself as he walked out. Her heart was racing, her mind was all over the place, doubting everything and anything She wanted to scream, to get rid of the feeling that his words had deeply penetrated her heart. But she couldn’t