He pulled back for a moment, just enough to shift my position, turning me around so my back pressed against him. His hands moved up, fingers grazing my skin as he gently opened the buttons of my shirt. His lips began tracing down my spine, sending a current through me that left me breathless.
Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to be completely at the moment, absorbing every sensation as his kisses traveled over my skin. The realization hit me, lingering in the back of my mind, of how deeply he'd affected me. I was falling hard for this man—his touch, his voice, his quiet intensity. But where did I stand?
In the last few weeks, my feelings for him had deepened quickly, almost too quickly. But did he feel the same, or was I just an escape for him?
Was I just part of my mom that he couldn't let go? Or was there something here—something real—that we both felt but hadn't spoken?
I turned back, my mind racing with conflicted thoughts. Yet, here he was, and all those questions seemed to melt away. I reached up, cupping his face, and kissed him deeply, our breaths mingling as our lips pressed together. His hands held me firmly, and I parted my lips, letting his tongue meet mine in a slow, intoxicating rhythm. I pulled him closer, wrapping my legs around his waist, feeling the heat between us.
As he kissed his way down my neck, I arched my back, completely lost at the moment, knowing how much I wanted him. His lips brushed lower, trailing down to my cleavage, and I felt a sudden sharp nip at my skin.
"Ah," I gasped, a mixture of pain and pleasure, my fingers threading through his hair as he looked up, a glint of mischief in his eyes. He placed a soft, soothing kiss where he'd bitten me, and I couldn't help but smile.
But before I could pull him close again, there was a knock at the door.
I tensed, a flash of anxiety coursing through me, but Ezekiel remained composed, only stepping back slightly while keeping his arms around me. His calmness steadied me.
"Who?" he called out, his voice firm but calm, as if this were just another moment in his day.
I quickly pulled my shirt up over my shoulders, buttoning it hastily while still perched on the table, shielded by his arms. We exchanged a quick, knowing glance as I straightened myself.
"Sir, it's me, Andrew!" came the muffled voice from outside the door. Andrew—Ezekiel's assistant.
"You have a meeting. Aren't you leaving for it soon?"
Ezekiel closed his eyes briefly, resting his forehead on my shoulder, as if he'd forgotten all about it. He took a deep breath, his voice steady as he replied, "Give me a few minutes, Andrew. I'll be down shortly."
As he lingered close, I reached up, gently tracing his back.
"Am I being hard on you?" I whispered, a hint of playfulness in my voice.
He exhaled, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "A bit," he admitted, his tone filled with warmth.
I gave him a gentle pat on the back, smirking. "I think I've made you late for your meeting."
Ezekiel pulled back slightly, his hand coming up to touch my cheek. "Honestly… I forgot all about it," he murmured, his gaze meeting mine.
I chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "I was expecting you to say my charm made you forget it."
He laughed softly, rubbing his thumb across my cheek with a tender smile. I felt the warmth of his hand linger, grounding me in that fleeting moment. Parting my lips, I whispered, "Come home early, okay? I'll wait for you."
Ezekiel held my gaze, a subtle promise in his eyes as he nodded. He took one last breath, then released me.
After Ezekiel left, I headed back to class, forcing my mind to focus. I managed to get through the rest of my classes, keeping a low profile, but just as I was ready to leave for the day, Mira and her friends approached me.
I glanced at them, wondering what they could possibly want. Mira had been circling me since I arrived here, but I hadn't given her any openings, and I had no intention of doing so. I knew she had a thing for Ezekiel. She didn't know I was more than capable of holding my own, and if needed, I could match her move for move. I left behind a bit of a reputation at my last college.
Mira tilted her head, looking me over with a forced smile. "So, what's your plan now?"
"Home," I replied curtly, raising an eyebrow as I tried to step past her.
She sidestepped, blocking my path.
"Want to go out with us?"
I sighed, barely hiding my irritation. Mira continued, clearly ignoring the signals I was sending.
"I heard you and Dimitri planned to hang out. We're heading to the same place. Let's all go together!"
I arched a brow, surprised by her assumption. Dimitri and I hadn't made any plans, at least none that I remembered. Mira was clearly trying to dig for something, perhaps hoping to catch me off guard or find a weakness.
"When did I ever say I was going out with Dimitri?" I replied, letting an edge of irritation seep into my tone, hoping it would make it clear I was not in the mood for games.
One of Mira's friends, the one standing slightly behind her, suddenly spoke up. "What? Dimitri didn't lie to us."
I narrowed my eyes, folding my arms as I looked directly at her. "What's your name?"
She looked taken aback, her eyebrows shooting up as she exchanged an uncertain glance with Mira. Her silence amused me.