The morning sun filtered through the expansive windows of Ezra's penthouse, casting a warm glow across the room. Celia stirred awake, feeling the soft sheets wrapped around her and the warm body beside her. A smile crept onto her face as she turned to see Ezra, his features relaxed in sleep, his dark hair tousled in a way that made him look both rugged and utterly charming.
Celia's heart raced at the memory of the night before. They had crossed a line she had thought was impossible, but the tension and longing between them had finally broken. And now, with her body still tingling from their passionate reunion, a wave of desire surged through her.
She leaned over to kiss Ezra softly, but the moment her lips brushed against his, he stirred awake, his eyes fluttering open. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the world outside forgotten. Then, without a word, Ezra pulled her closer, capturing her lips with his in a deep, hungry kiss.
Celia giggled as the kiss deepened, and they found themselves entwined once more, the morning slipping away as desire ignited between them again. She could feel the heat pooling in her stomach, a fire ignited by the remnants of her pregnancy hormones that made her feel more alive than ever. It was as if every touch sent sparks flying through her body.
"Ezra," she breathed, breaking away momentarily, her cheeks flushed. "We really shouldn't—"
"Why not?" he interrupted playfully, a devilish grin spreading across his face. "We have the whole morning ahead of us."
With that, he rolled her onto her back, capturing her with a playful tickle that had her laughing uncontrollably. Her laughter mixed with the morning light made everything feel surreal, like they were in their own little world.
"Stop!" she squealed, her laughter echoing in the penthouse. "I can't breathe!"
Ezra paused, his face just inches from hers, his expression softening. "Good, because I have a few ideas for how to make you breathe harder," he teased, leaning down to capture her lips once more.
---
A Few Minutes Later
The two were blissfully lost in each other again, their bodies entwined on the couch in the living room, the coffee table littered with half-empty cups and snack wrappers from their late-night escapade. The world outside faded away as they explored each other, each kiss igniting more passion than the last.
Celia couldn't help but giggle as Ezra playfully brushed his fingers over her side, eliciting a gasp from her. The sweet sensation sent jolts of pleasure racing through her body, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
"Celia, I swear you're driving me wild," he murmured against her neck, the warm breath sending shivers down her spine.
"Good," she teased back, her breath hitching as he trailed kisses down her collarbone. "That's the plan."
They lost themselves in the moment, but just as they reached a particularly heated point, the sound of the door swinging open shattered their blissful bubble.
"What the hell?" a voice shrieked.
Celia froze, eyes wide as she recognized the voice that cut through the air like a knife. It was Tessa, her former best friend, the very person who had betrayed her. Tessa stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, glaring at them with a mixture of shock and fury.
Ezra sprang upright, a look of horror on his face as he scrambled to cover himself with the nearest throw blanket, but the damage was done. Celia felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, the heat of the moment evaporating instantly.
"Tessa!" Celia exclaimed, attempting to pull the blanket around herself while simultaneously hiding her face in mortification. "What are you doing here?"
"Clearly, I walked in on something I didn't want to see!" Tessa shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. "I can't believe you're back with him after everything!"
Celia's heart raced, the vulnerability from their intimate moment clashing with the anger that bubbled up at Tessa's words. "You don't get to judge me after what you did!"
"Celia, it's not what it looks like," Ezra tried to defend, his eyes darting between the two women. "We were just—"
"Just what?" Tessa interrupted, her voice filled with sarcasm. "Making up for lost time? Or just plain old making a mess of everything again?"
Celia shot him a glare before turning her attention back to Tessa, her cheeks still flushed. "You think I'm just going to let you waltz in here and act like you're still in control of this situation?"
Tessa crossed her arms, a smug look on her face. "It's not like you two have a normal relationship anyway. You were supposed to be a pawn in my game, remember? And look how that turned out!"
Ezra, who was still trying to gather his composure, shot Celia an incredulous look. "What game?"
"Oh, you know," Tessa said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "The one where I get to be with you because you were too busy trying to save her instead of thinking about what you really want."
Celia felt a rush of anger. "You think I wanted to be saved? You think I wanted to be a pawn in anyone's game? You betrayed me for your own selfish reasons!"
"Ladies," Ezra interjected, finally finding his voice. "I think we need to take a step back here. Tessa, can you just leave us for a moment?"
"Why? So you can continue your little love fest?" Tessa scoffed, raising an eyebrow.
Celia narrowed her eyes. "This isn't a game for me, Tessa. I'm not the same person you used to know."
"Clearly!" Tessa shot back, a hint of jealousy creeping into her tone. "Now that you're back in Ezra's life, it's like you forget what I did for you, how I helped you."
"Helped me?" Celia laughed, incredulous. "You were the one who turned me over to Ferrara, who tried to ruin everything for me. You think I'm just going to forget that because you barged in here uninvited?"
"Enough!" Ezra's voice rang out, authoritative and firm. "Tessa, I appreciate your concern, but this isn't your place anymore. Celia and I are working things out. You need to respect that."
Tessa's expression darkened as she processed his words. "So that's it? You just choose her again?"
"Yes, I choose her," Ezra said, his voice unwavering. "And I'm not going to let anyone—especially you—come between us. Not anymore."
Tessa opened her mouth to argue, but then closed it, visibly frustrated. She took a step back, her arms dropping to her sides. "Fine. Enjoy your little reunion," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But just remember, I'll be around."
With that, she turned and stormed out, the door slamming shut behind her.
Celia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding,the tension in the air still thick. She to Ezra who'd fallen silent,the weight of the encounter heavy on both their shoulders.
"Wow" she said,shaking her head in disbelief " that was intense.
Ezra nodded, rubbing a hand over his face. "i didn't expect that at all,I'm sorry you had to deal with her like that".
Celia took a deep breath,the adrenaline still coursing through her veins." I just can't believe she barged in here like that,I thought I'd have more time to prepare before facing her again."
Ezra stepped closer,his expression softening "you're stronger than you think and you deserve so much better than she tried to take from you." He said "A lot more".
His words settled over her like a warm blanket, Celia stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Ezra's waist, burying her face in his sturdy chest. He was so much taller than her but his body felt so comfy.
"I'm so glad you're here" she murmured,her voice muffled against his skin.
Ezra tightened his embrace,resting his chin on top of her head gently " and I'm not going anywhere, we're in this together".
They stood together in the quiet aftermath of the storm that had just passed,the earlier tension replaced by a quiet comforting that didn't need words to feel.
"Now where were we?" She asked lightening the mood.
Ezra raised a brow,a smirk playing on his lips "i believe we were making up for lost time " he kissed her and she giggled against his lips.