Athena welcod Antonio’s lips when he grabbed her in the parking lot, pulling her into the darker corners devoid of light and caras. Her back t the cool wall, and she gasped softly as his body pressed against hers.
"Antonio..." she whined when he let her breathe, her voice trembling, before he closed the gap again—one hand holding her waist possessively, the other roaming the contours of her back with hunger.
"Let’s hurry to my place..." his voice was feverish, need consuming him.
Athena shook her head weakly, her palms flattening against his chest as she stepped back a little, eyes wide, lips trembling. "I need to go ho... need to make so arrangents and return to the lab."
Did he want to consu her? she wondered, ruffling her hair gently, trying to calm the wild beat of her heart. She hadn’t been expecting to be grabbed and kissed so voraciously.
She could feel the heat coming from him, the sa heat that had made his tongue ransack her mouth—and she knew she had to flee, or else she would have to stand Ewan up again. And she couldn’t, not when she was curious enough to try his cooking.
"Can’t you go tomorrow morning, Athena? Please..." Antonio’s voice dropped, almost pleading.
Athena shook her head, more firmly this ti, eyes soft but resolute. "I have to work on the vaccines. Please, understand..."
Antonio did understand, but his body was too hot, too needy. His jaw clenched as he tried to rein himself in. "Thirty minutes then... then I will drop you off at the lab."
"You know that won’t be possible. That’s like playing card gas with fate. I have to go. You will drop at ho first though..."
"Why..." Antonio kept talking, his words tumbling out as he tried to quell the restless energy boiling within him. "Now that I think of it, I don’t even know where that is located—your new lab."
"That’s alright. It’s a ss at the mont," Athena replied, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. "I will take you to it when this ss with the Grey is over. I don’t want you getting contaminated... or allergies."
Antonio snorted softly, frustration flashing across his features. "I am strong... but all the sa..." He paused, released a low curse under his breath. "You are driving crazy, Athena."
And then, with one swift pull, he drew her into his arms again and kissed her breathless.
"I don’t know how much longer I can wait..." he murmured against her lips, his thumb rubbing her cheek gently when they ca up for air.
"It won’t be too long," Athena muttered, breath steadying, relieved when he finally stepped aside. He was still holding her hand as they walked toward his car.
"When will I see you again—privately..." he asked monts later, when he pulled up at the Thornes mansion.
"Maybe we can move away on the night of the engagent... spend quality ti together," Athena suggested, winking teasingly. "She should be discharged by Friday... so if there’s a break in the madness... maybe the weekend."
It wasn’t enough to calm the fire in Antonio, but it was sothing. He could wait. He leaned in, kissed her again—this ti a chaste one, a goodbye—and patted her lips softly.
"I love you."
But she couldn’t say it back. Her throat tightened. She swallowed instead and stared back at him—and so she saw when the hurt flashed across his eyes.
Holding back a sigh, she reached forward and kissed him—sothing for the night—and wished him well. When she stepped down from the car and walked through the gates, she didn’t look back.
Why couldn’t she say it? Athena queried herself as she sauntered into the living room of her grandfather’s house, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She stood erect, carrying the packages in her hands, pausing when she noted Ewan helping Kendra and Kathleen with their assignnt, while Nathaniel played quietly with a small Lego set. He must have been done with his own work.
What had the girls been doing then?
They noticed her presence almost imdiately, because they looked up—and what followed next was the twins rushing toward her in the company of Kendra, their laughter echoing through the room, while Ewan sat up from his almost reclining position on the floor close to their books.
"Athena... good evening..."
The children surrounded her, their small arms wrapping around her waist and bosom. Athena thought that if she liked looking at Antonio because he was familiar and beautiful to behold, she didn’t like looking at Ewan because it left her with an unfamiliar—but sohow familiar—ache.
She just couldn’t understand it. Couldn’t understand the need to draw closer, to touch his hair, to just rest her head on his shoulder. Safe.
She blinked, returned his greeting softly, and turned her attention back to the children.
"How is Uncle Antonio?" Nathaniel asked when they took seats on the long sofa, surprising Athena sowhat.
No longer father? It seed the children had made their choice. Well, she couldn’t fault them.
"He is fine. Asked about you too..." she said, pointing at the packages she had kept on the table. "A lot of deliciousness there for us all..."
Then, to Ewan, she added, "Have you heard of the restaurant El Dario?"
Ewan furrowed his brows, still sitting on the floor, his legs outstretched before him. "I don’t think so. What about it?"
"I think you will find their food wholeso. But that will be expected from an Italian restaurant. The wine too. I asked Antonio to get one. Where’s Aunt Chelsea?" She had returned her attention to her children in one breath.
"Upstairs," Kathleen supplied.
"Hurry, go call her. Aunt Gianna too. Tell them I have a package for them."
The three children hurried out of the room, their little footsteps echoing down the hallway, leaving the two adults alone in the living room.
"That good, huh?" Ewan asked dryly, arching a brow.
Athena laughed when she saw his forlorn face. "I’m sure your cooking will be good too..."
He scoffed lightly, a crooked smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Might pale in comparison if you had brought more for the family."
Athena shrugged, not knowing what to say to that, her gaze softening briefly. "Is my grandfather around?"
Ewan shook his head. "He ca back a few hours ago to eat and freshen up, and then he went back to the hospital."
Of course.
"So, where is this almighty celebratory dinner happening?" she asked, raising a brow playfully.
Ewan smiled then, that slow, knowing smile that always made her heart skip. "A surprise. I’ll text you by 11 p.m.," he said, getting to his feet. "Dress as you would..."
His gaze flicked briefly over her gown again, a quick, almost guilty scan that sent heat to his belly and stirred sothing dangerous between them.
That little heated glance was enough to upset the balance in Athena. Blushing, she turned away toward the hallway, beckoning ntally for her kids to appear instantly. She couldn’t deal with Ewan in this state of hers.
He was a different ball ga altogether.
Reviews
All reviews (0)