---
Melissa's hands trembled as she slowly undressed, her wedding dress slipping off her body, piece by piece. With each movement, she felt the weight of Hayden's eyes on her, the heat of his gaze growing more intense. His expression had darkened, and as his eyes roamed over her glowing, smooth skin, his desire became palpable. Melissa's hourglass figure, her perfect size 8, seemed to captivate him, though she felt increasingly vulnerable under his unwavering stare.
Hayden's demeanor shifted. He moved closer to her, his presence dominating the room, his body language radiating raw desire. The distance between them vanished, and his eyes, no longer cold, burned with intent. The tension in the room was thick, undeniable, and Melissa could feel it as clearly as the fast pace of her heartbeat.
Without a word, Hayden reached for her hand, placing it firmly on his shoulders. His touch sent a jolt through her, and Melissa instinctively tilted her face upward to meet his gaze. For a moment, their eyes locked, and something changed between them. It wasn't just Hayden's desire consuming her—it was hers, too. The air between them crackled with a shared energy, and Melissa could feel herself responding, her breath quickening, her pulse racing as the moment intensified.
Hayden's gaze darkened further, and with a swift yet gentle motion, he turned her around and guided her toward the bed. Melissa felt the softness of the mattress beneath her as he laid her down, his touch surprisingly tender. Her heart raced in her chest, her body alive with anticipation as Hayden moved closer, his eyes never leaving her.
He didn't rush. Instead, Hayden took his time, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss on her ankle, his lips trailing upward in slow, deliberate movements. Each kiss was like a spark against her skin, igniting a fire within her. His mouth moved from her ankle to her calf, her thigh, and then up to her abdomen, leaving a trail of heat and desire in its wake.
Melissa's breath came in shallow, ragged bursts as her body responded to his touch. The slow, sensual build-up had her trembling with need, every nerve alive, her skin burning with the desire that surged between them. She felt as though she were floating, lost in a haze of sensation that left her feeling like she had ascended to the seventh heaven. The heat of Hayden's breath, the press of his body, the weight of his intent—it all combined to overwhelm her senses.
Hayden leaned in closer, his lips hovering just above hers, ready to claim her. But just as the moment reached its peak, a sudden thought broke through the haze clouding Melissa's mind. Jealousy, sharp and insistent, tugged at her consciousness, pulling her back to reality.
Her body stiffened beneath him, and her eyes, which had been heavy with desire, widened with sudden clarity. The name that had haunted her since the beginning of this arrangement slipped from her lips before she could stop it. "What about Amelia?" she whispered, her voice trembling but determined.
Hayden froze, his expression hardening as the name hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken meaning. Melissa's eyes searched his face, trying to gauge his reaction. The question lingered, cutting through the intensity of the moment, leaving a cold void where their shared heat had been moments before.
His jaw clenched, but he said nothing but Melissa could feel the tension in his body shift. The fire between them dimmed, replaced by a heavy silence that pressed down on both of them. She watched him, her heart pounding with fear and doubt, the weight of her question settling in her chest.
Melissa's thoughts spiraled. Had she been nothing more than a replacement for Amelia in Hayden's eyes?
---