The woman practically shoved Ethan into the back seat, climbing over him. Her lips brushed against his neck, and a jolt of heat surged through his body, making him tremble. He pulled her close, his hands roaming over her, and their mouths met in a hungry, desperate kiss.
She pressed herself into him, her soft moan vibrating through his chest. When his hand slipped under her shirt, touching her bare skin, she pulled back just enough to flash him a seductive smile. "Baby, not here. Let's save it for later at home, okay?"
"I don't want to wait," Ethan growled, refusing to let go. He couldn't make out her face clearly, but the sensation of her body against his, the way her clothes barely clung to her curves, was enough to drive him crazy. His hand shot up to the back of her head, pulling her down into another deep kiss. She melted into him, her body collapsing into his as the car's windows fogged up.
Then, from the corner, the faint click of a camera shutter cut through the heat of the moment.
---
The evening dragged on for Aneira. Her feet were sore from walking and standing in heels, and every smile she forced felt like a new weight pressing down on her. She bent to rub her aching feet when Jaxton caught her hand.
"Don't do that, babe," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
Aneira shot him a frown. Before she could protest, Jaxton led her away from the crowd to a quieter corner of the hall. He made her sit down, kneeling in front of her. Her eyes widened, panic flashing through her. "Jaxton, no—don't do that—"
But he was already tugging off her shoes, his hands carefully massaging her aching feet. "Shh," he whispered, his touch soothing and intimate.
Aneira sat frozen, her mind racing. She looked around to make sure no one was looking at them before her eyes fell on the man in front of her.
How was he so comfortable doing this?
He was her husband now, but also a stranger. The way he cared for her felt familiar, almost intimate, as though they'd known each other forever, but they hadn't. This was their first day together. She didn't know how to react, so she turned her face away, focusing on anything but him as he continued massaging her feet.
Jaxton noticed her tension but smiled to himself, unbothered.
Across the hall, Sophia's frown deepened as she watched the scene unfold. Jaxton's gentle care for Aneira burned in her chest like a wildfire.
How did someone like Aneira, so plain and unassuming, end up with a man like him?
Her eyes scanned the room, searching for Ethan, but he was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, she brought out her phone from her bag and dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail.
Her fingers wrapped around her phone tightly almost breaking her phone, but she did not care. She wanted to storm over and rip Aneira from that chair, making her disappear altogether. As she took a step forward, someone grabbed her arm. She turned angrily to face the person.
It was Aiden.
She froze.
His expression was stone cold as he glared down at her. "Don't even think about touching her."
"W-What?" Sophia stammered, the icy edge in his voice catching her off guard.
"I'm warning you," he said, his voice low and dangerous. Then, without another word, he walked away, leaving her stunned and trembling.
Sophia stood frozen in place, Aiden's warning ringing in her ears. She watched him disappear into the crowd, her heart pounding. The fear that had gripped her moments ago turned into a seething rage.
How dare he speak to her like that? She wasn't going to let Aneira win, not after all she had done to climb her way up. But she had to play it smart. One wrong move, and Aiden could ruin everything.
She could feel he was protective of Aneira and it made her so angry. She had been his sister for two decades and he had never treated her like one. Right from time, she had noticed that he was always avoiding her, and always strict with her.
She glanced back toward Jaxton and Aneira. Jaxton was still kneeling in front of her, a small smile playing on his lips as he whispered something to Aneira, making her blush. The sight made Sophia's blood boil. She stormed away, her hands shaking as she grabbed her phone, texting Ethan again.
Aneira stood up as Jaxton helped her slip her shoes back on. She felt lighter, her feet no longer aching, but her mind was still in a whirl. She couldn't wrap her head around how easily Jaxton seemed to care for her. His presence was comforting, but it also left her feeling unsettled.
"Feeling better?" Jaxton asked, standing up and offering her his hand.
Aneira nodded, avoiding his gaze. "Yeah... thanks."
He chuckled, a low, deep sound that made her stomach flutter. "Good. Let's get you something to drink. You look like you need it."
She followed him through the crowd, still trying to figure out how she felt about all of this. But the way he held her hand, the way he moved through the room with such confidence, made her feel safe…at least for now. She wondered how it would be with him, later. He took her to the kitchen, walked towards the refrigerator and brought out a freshly made orange juice. He grabbed a cup and poured the juice into the cup.
Aneira watched him, wondering how he knew there was a juice in the refrigerator here. She was only her third time here and she was still not familiar with the environment.
Jaxton passed the cup to her and smiled, "Drink it. Don't waste time"
Aneira gulped down the full glass and passed the cup back to him as she wiped her mouth. She saw the satisfactory smile on his face and wondered if he was proud of her for listening to him.