As Ewan’s lips brushed against Athena’s, a spark of desire flared, and for a fleeting mont, Athena let go of the remaining restraint tied to the past.
The rush of arousal clouded her judgnt, and she surrendered to the sensation, to the need for release, for relief down there.
Her thighs clenched, instinctively trying to contain the building tension. But straddling Ewan, she couldn’t quite manage it.
His lips brushed hers again, sending shivers down her spine. Anticipation coiled within her, as his gentle touch on her waist ignited a fire that burnt past her clothe.
But the shrill ring of her phone shattered the spell, jolting her back to reality.
She quickly pushed Ewan away, her hands trembling with a mix of lingering desire and revulsion.
Confusion and sha swirled inside her, like a maelstrom.
How could she betray herself like this? How could she forget the pain he’d caused?
As she stood up, the elevator’s confines felt suffocating. She needed space, air, and clarity.
Her heart racing, she snatched the phone, her voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.
"Where have you been? I’ve been calling for hours!"
She dumped her frustration on the innocent doorman, who for a few seconds was at loss.
Luckily for him, he got himself alright to respond on ti. "I’m sorry, Ma’am. Is there a problem?"
"Yes, there is! The elevator is not working. Did you shut it down?"
A pause. "Not at all. ma’am."
Athena was confused, but she wanted to be out of the space so bad that she left the thinking for later.
"Okay, it shut down mid way. Can you get it up and running? I’ve been stuck here for the longest ti."
"Okay ma’am. I’m sorry for the troubles."
Athena ended the call, but refused to face Ewan. She was still trying to keep a lid over her renegade feelings.
"Are you also the caretaker of the building?"
She bit her lips at Ewan’s words.
"And how is that your business, Mr Ewan?"
Her words were a mask, hiding the turmoil happening within her.
She turned to show him that she hadn’t been affected from monts ago, but couldn’t et his gaze still, fearful of revealing the vulnerability she’d just exposed.
Worse, the mories she had pushed just to have a taste of sinful pleasure, resurfaced again in full force, making her loath-full of herself.
She felt the sting of betrayal – not just from him, but from herself.
How could she kiss the man who’d hurt her so deeply? The sa man who’d shattered her trust, leaving scars that still lingered?
The sha and anger mingled, forming a toxic brew that threatened to consu her.
Suddenly tired of wanting to prove herself, she turned away, her eyes fixed on the elevator doors, willing them to open, to escape this claustrophobic space and the treacherous emotions that ca with it.
"I’m sorry..."
Athena jerked, not because of the apology, but because it sounded closer than usual.
She turned aside.
Ewan was rely a foot away from her.
"I’m sorry for crossing a boundary, I was just..."
He threw his hands in frustration, his eyes so clear that Athena wondered if he had faked the hyperventilation in the first place.
"Did you fake the hyperventilating?"
She had to know.
Ewan looked like she had just slapped him, but recovered in record ti. "No, I didn’t. As to why I’m not hyperventilating now, I believe it’s because the emotions riding on outweighs my fear of stagnated enclosed spaces."
A pause.
"To your earlier question, the doctors think it’s part of the consequences of the drowning experience. What do you think?"
Athena could see what he was doing, he was trying to make her think less of what had just happened between them a few minutes ago.
She decided to flow with it; it was better for everyone.
"I think they may be right. Did they say sothing else about the brain injury?"
Ewan shook his head, looking to the ceiling. "Not exactly. Did you find sothing else?"
Athena wondered if now was the best ti to deal him the news.
"Lay it to , Athena, no matter how thick it is. I can handle it..." Ewan spoke, his arousal completely fading away in the face of Athena’s uncertainty.
Was his issue that serious?
Athena inhaled and exhaled calmly before eting Ewan’s strong gaze which was back to normal.
"So parts of your brain are quite...not good...likely a tumor...you need so treatnts, and perhaps surgery, if my thods don’t work."
"Your thod has to work. I’m not undergoing surgery, Athena. Please..."
Athena looked away from the pleading gaze.
Ewan was just like Nathaniel and Kathleen. She thought.
Remove the history between them, and she would easily do his bidding, anything at all to make him happy.
"I’m not sure, Ewan. So, I won’t make promises. But we can try, the earlier the better."
Ewan bobbled his head. "When do I start?"
Athena furrowed her eyebrows. She had thought Ewan would want to wait it out, considering the reputation of his company wasn’t exactly in its best form.
"Next week perhaps. I have to get so materials ready..."
Ewan nodded, and grasped her hand before she knew it.
"Thanks Athena. I might not have been the best person six years ago, but I will try my best now."
And of what use is that now? Athena thought bitterly.
Just then the elevator started moving smoothly.
She sighed in relief and stepped closer to the door.
Ewan, noticing this, closed the distance, to the chagrin of Athena.
"What do you want, Ewan?"
"I don’t know, Athena. For the life of , I don’t know. I know you are married, but..." He paused, looking for the right words to explain himself.
Athena didn’t bother to help, or correct him on the statent, rather she believed it was for the best that he believed so.
"Let this not happen again, Ewan." She finally said, right before the elevator door opened.
"I intend to stay faithful to my husband."
Reviews
All reviews (0)