Tempting Boundaries

Two: Morning Temptations

Charlotte's pov

I woke up to the soft hum of morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The bed was ridiculously comfortable, the kind that makes you want to stay wrapped in its embrace forever. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, when the door creaked open.

“Morning, sleepyhead!” Victoria’s voice cut through the silence, cheerful and teasing as ever. I groaned, burying my face in the pillow.

“It’s too early for this,” I mumbled, my voice muffled.

“It’s almost nine, Charlotte,” she said, laughing as she walked over to the bed and yanked the covers off me. “Breakfast is almost ready, so get your butt out of bed.”

“Fine, fine, I’m up,” I grumbled, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. She was already dressed, looking fresh and ready to take on the day. It was one of the things I both loved and envied about her—how she could be so effortlessly put together even in the early hours.

“Before you come down, though,” Victoria added with a sly smile, “you might want to hit the gym. I know how you are, Ms. Gym Rat.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto my face. She wasn’t wrong. Working out had always been my way of clearing my mind, of finding some semblance of control in a chaotic world. “Is that your way of telling me I need to work off the stress?”

“Something like that,” she said with a wink. “Besides, you’ll want to check out the gym. Dad had it set up when we moved in—state-of-the-art equipment, the whole nine yards. You’ll love it.”

I stretched, feeling the familiar pull of muscles waking up. “Alright, alright. I’ll check it out. How much time do I have before breakfast?”

“About fourty minutes,” she said, glancing at her watch. “Plenty of time for a quick workout.”

“Perfect,” I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll be down soon.”

Victoria flashed me another bright smile before heading out, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her. I took a deep breath, letting the last bits of sleep fade away, and got up to change. It didn’t take long to slip into my workout clothes—a pair of black leggings and a tank top that had seen better days, but it was comfortable, and that was all that mattered.

The gym was on the same floor, just down the hall from my room. As I approached, I could already hear the faint sounds of weights clinking and the rhythmic thud of feet hitting a treadmill. The door was slightly open, and I pushed it gently, stepping inside.

The room was impressive, just as Victoria had said. It was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in natural light. The equipment was top-notch—everything from treadmills to free weights, to machines I wasn’t even sure how to use. But what really caught my attention wasn’t the gym itself, but the figure in the center of it.

Richard was there, working out. He was lifting weights, his movements controlled and precise, the muscles in his arms flexing with each repetition. He was wearing a simple gray t-shirt and black shorts, but somehow, he made it look like the most attractive thing in the world. I stood there for a moment, just watching him, unable to tear my eyes away.

He was focused, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration, and I could see the determination in his eyes. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved, the way his body worked in perfect harmony. And that body… I swallowed hard, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. He was undeniably fit, with broad shoulders and a chest that tapered down to a trim waist. It was clear that he took care of himself, and the results were impossible to ignore.

I felt a pang of guilt for staring, but I couldn’t help it. He was…well, he was fine, to put it bluntly. And as much as I tried to push it aside, there was no denying that I found him incredibly attractive. I had always had a bit of a crush on him, though I had never let it show. He was Victoria’s dad, for crying out loud. But now, living under the same roof, it was going to be harder than ever to keep those feelings in check.

Just as I was about to slip away unnoticed, Richard looked up and saw me. A slow smile spread across his face, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Morning, Charlotte,” he said, his voice warm and inviting.

“Morning,” I replied, trying to sound casual as I walked further into the room. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting,” he said, setting the weights down and wiping his hands on a towel. “Just finishing up. How’d you sleep?”

“Like a rock,” I admitted, returning his smile. “That bed is way too comfortable.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said, leaning against the bench. “You want to get a quick workout in before breakfast?”

“That’s the plan,” I said, feeling more at ease now that the initial awkwardness had passed. “This gym is amazing, by the way. I can see why you spend so much time in here.”

He chuckled, glancing around the room. “Yeah, I’ve always been into fitness. Helps clear my head, keeps me focused.”

I nodded, understanding that completely. “When did you start?”

“High school,” he said, his expression shifting slightly, as if he was remembering something from long ago. “I was a scrawny kid, believe it or not. Got picked on a lot. One day, I just decided I wasn’t going to be that guy anymore. Started working out, and I guess it stuck.”

“Bullied, huh?” I said, feeling a pang of sympathy. It was hard to imagine someone like Richard being on the receiving end of that. “You definitely don’t look like someone who’d get bullied now.”

He smiled, but there was something else in his eyes, something deeper. “Thanks. It was a long time ago, but it shaped who I am today. I like to think it made me stronger, both physically and mentally.”

I could see that. There was a quiet strength about him, something that went beyond his impressive physique. It was in the way he carried himself, the way he spoke with such confidence. It was…well, it was attractive, no other way to put it.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” he said, pushing off the bench and grabbing his towel. “Don’t want to keep you from your workout.”

“You’re not in the way,” I said quickly, then caught myself. “But if you’ve got other things to do, don’t let me keep you.”

He gave me another smile, this one softer, more personal. “I’ll see you at breakfast, then.”

“Yeah, see you there,” I replied, watching him as he left the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“God, he’s fine,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head. This was going to be harder than I thought. Living under the same roof as Richard, seeing him every day, knowing that I found him so incredibly attractive…it was going to be a challenge. But I was determined not to let it get to me. He was Victoria’s dad, and that was a line I wasn’t about to cross. No matter how much my heart—or my body—disagreed.

I spent the next twenty minutes going through my usual workout routine, but my mind kept drifting back to Richard. It was frustrating, trying to focus on anything else when all I could think about was how good he looked, how effortlessly handsome he was. But I pushed those thoughts aside as best I could, focusing on the burn in my muscles instead.

When I finally made my way downstairs to the kitchen, I found Victoria and Richard already there, the smell of breakfast filling the air. Victoria was bustling around, finishing up the last of the cooking, while Richard was setting the table.

“There she is,” Victoria said with a grin as she saw me. “How was the gym?”

“It was great,” I said, forcing myself to smile back. “You weren’t kidding about the equipment. It’s top-notch.”

“Told you,” she said, clearly pleased with herself. “Now, come on, sit down. Breakfast is ready.”

We all sat down together, and as we started eating, the conversation flowed easily. Victoria was her usual bubbly self, telling stories and making us laugh, while Richard chimed in with his dry humor that always managed to catch me off guard. It felt…normal. Comfortable. Like I belonged here.

I found myself laughing more than I had in a long time, and for a while, I was able to push aside the growing attraction I felt towards Richard. It was just breakfast, just a simple meal shared with friends—well, family, really. And that was enough. For now.

But as I glanced at Richard across the table, catching his eye for a brief moment, I knew it wasn’t going to be that simple. Not when every part of me was acutely aware of him, of the way he looked, the way he made me feel. But I could handle it. I had to. Because no matter how tempting it was, pursuing this crush wasn’t an option.

So, I focused on the conversation, on the laughter, on the warmth of being with people I cared about. Because that was what mattered.