Tempting The Forbidden

Distractions and Old flames.

(Elara’s POV)

I sighed as soon as the hot water came in contact with my skin, but it didn’t erase the ache low in my belly.

Didn’t cool the heat that still pulsed between my thighs.

Didn’t make me forget the sound of his voice, whispering in my ear, telling me to let go.

Damon.

The man whose face and touch had haunted my dreams for god knows how long.

The man who had just been in my room this morning, standing beside my parents, holding a birthday cake like he hadn’t just made me come apart in my sleep.

Like he hadn’t been inside me in my dreams, again.

I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I had my first orgasm as I pictured his face, with my fingers buried deep inside my core. Who knows what would happen if he touches me himself?

I quickly took my shower and stepped out of the shower as I had to get ready for school.

I towel-dried my hair, the soft cotton dragging against my shoulders as I walked back into my bedroom. I reached for my vanilla body lotion that I had gotten only because I overheard Damon telling my dad how he loved the scent of vanilla. Yes, I usually eavesdrop on their conversations but I couldn’t help myself.

I wanted to know every single detail about him and even though I had known him all my life, I still felt like they were layers of him I was yet to see.

I stood in front of my wardrobe as I thought of what to wear.

What do you wear after dreaming about being touched like that by a man you can’t have?

I reached for my favorite cream blouse, simple and soft, and tucked it into high-waisted jeans that hugged my hips. My body felt more alive than usual, too aware of every brush of fabric. Maybe this was the feeling of turning a new age.

I added a delicate gold chain around my neck, glossed my lips a soft rose, and sprayed perfume at the base of my throat, right where his mouth had been in my dream.

I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

But I wanted to feel… something.

Wanted to feel like I was in control.

Still, as I checked myself in the mirror, something in me whispered, You want him to see you.

I hated how true that felt.

I decided to skip breakfast seeing as I was already late as I had spent most of my morning day dreaming about Damon in the shower.

Paul was already waiting outside, the sleek BMW parked at the edge of the driveway. I slid into the backseat just as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I dug it out to see a message from Camila boldly displayed on my screen.

“Btch, you better not be daydreaming about him again. I’m outside”

I smiled at how well she knew me, she was only my best friend after all.

We pulled up to her place a few minutes later, and as expected, Camila burst out of the door in a cloud of energy, perfume, and ridiculously short shorts.

“Elaraaaa!” she squealed, diving into the seat beside me. “Birthday queen! Spill it. Did he appear in your dreams or nah?”

“Is that how to wish your best friend a happy birthday?,” I asked feigning annoyance.

She gasped as though she suddenly remembered. She gave me an apologetic look before giving me a quick peck on the lips.

“I’m sorry babes. I wanted to be the first to wish you but Rita tired me out last night,”

I rolled my eyes as I wasn’t interested in whatever activities she had been up to with her girlfriend last night.

“Happy Birthday mi amor and don’t you worry, I have a surprise for you later,”

I eyed her suspiciously as soon as she said the word “surprise”.

“I don’t want another Vibrator Cam,” I replied, referring to how she got me one for my birthday last year.

She chuckled in reply. “No, no. That’s not the surprise but first, you had the dream again didn’t you?,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

I looked out the window. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s a yes.” She gasped. “Wait. Did anything happen in real life? Tell me he walked in while you were panting in bed.”

I didn’t answer.

Her jaw dropped. “No. Shut. Up. He did?!”

I covered my face with my hands. “He brought a cake. With my parents. It was… the most awkward five minutes of my life.”

“Girl, the universe is shipping you two. This is next-level forbidden tension.”

“Cam, he’s my dad’s best friend.”

She gave me a smirk before replying. “And you’re not a little girl anymore.”

Those words echoed in my chest.

I wasn’t.

And that’s what scared me the most.

We arrived at the ever alive campus with students flooding the walkway with cups of coffee clutched in their palms.

I should have gotten one.

Paul parked near the English Lit building, and I stepped out, adjusting the strap of my bag over my shoulder. Camila laced her arm through mine and whistled low.

“You look hot, by the way. Like effortlessly hot.”

“Not helpful,” I muttered.

“Oh, I wasn’t trying to help.”

We were halfway across the courtyard when someone called my name.

“Elara?”

I froze.

Jaxon.

My ex. The boy who’d broken my heart so neatly I barely knew it had happened until the ache set in. The boy I used to think I’d marry. The boy who now felt… small.

“Hey,” he said, walking up slowly, flashing that boyish grin that used to make me weak. “Wow. You look… amazing.”

Camila crossed her arms, eyes rolling so hard I thought she’d pull something.

“Hi, Jaxon,” I said, keeping my tone cool.

He looked me over, his eyes lingering just a little too long. “Happy birthday. I didn’t know you were back.”

“I never left.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Right. I meant…well, I’ve been thinking about you.”

Of course he had. They always do after. He had broken up with me the morning after he took my virginity after several months of persuasion. I couldn’t decide what was worse; The awful s*x I had with him; the fact that he reached orgasm after two strokes, him abandoning me after I had given myself to him or him breaking up with me over text?

“Maybe we could catch up sometime?” he asked. “Grab coffee? You know… talk?”

Camila stepped in like a human shield. “She’s got better things to do than dig through yesterday’s mistakes and by mistakes, I mean you Jaxon.”

I gave her a sharp look, but she just smiled sweetly.

Jaxon frowned slightly. “Think about it?”

I hesitated. “Maybe.”

He grinned like he’d won something. “Good seeing you, Elara.”

When he was gone, Camila turned to me with a noise of disgust. “You maybe’d him?”

“I don’t know why,” I muttered. “I just… I can’t think straight lately.”

“That’s because you’re busy thinking dirty. Don’t settle for a boy when a man is haunting your dreams.”

I said nothing.

Because I wasn’t even sure what I wanted anymore.