SHARING EMMA [18+]

30. Surge of Affection

|EMMA|

The hot water cascaded down my skin, soothing my aching muscles as I let out a long sigh. I closed my eyes, allowing the water to wash away all the dirt and grime from the previous day's tour.

Ryker's words were still ringing in my ears.

"Nothing happened." He had said. "Do you understand me? Nothing."

How could this be possible? Every moment had felt so vivid and tangible. I had recognized the woman with the baby on the beach as a figment of my subconscious, but what about the intimate moment I shared with Ryker in the tent? Was that just a mere fabrication of my imagination too?

The question gnawed at me, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of it all. Why would I dream up such an intense encounter with Ryker? Was there something that I had been missing in my waking life?

I couldn't shake off the feeling of confusion that had taken root in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper meaning behind my dreams. Despite the soothing warmth of the shower, the thoughts continued to churn in my mind, refusing to be silenced.

The memory of what had transpired was etched in my mind with vivid clarity, as if it had all been real. I could still feel the intensity of the moment and the raw emotions that had consumed me. Even after I had recovered from the fever, my first instinct had been to confront Ryker about what had happened and ensure that it would never occur again.

I had no desire to pursue anything further with Ryker; I was sure of that. My heart now belonged to Carlos, and I was determined not to do anything that could jeopardize our relationship.

Lost in thought, I stepped out of the shower, my body wrapped in a towel, only to find Carlos sitting on the bed, patiently waiting for me. As our eyes met, he stood up and made his way towards me, his gentle smile putting me at ease.

Without hesitation, he cupped my face in his warm hands and asked, "Hey! How are you feeling now?"

A wave of relief washed over me as I melted into his embrace, wrapping my arms around him and snuggling into his comforting presence. "Better," I replied, grateful for his concern. "I missed you."

For a moment, I forgot about the confusion and guilt that had been plaguing me, lost in the safety and security that being with Carlos brought me. With him by my side, I knew that I could overcome anything, even the tangled mess of emotions that I had been struggling with.

As his fingers entwined with my wet strands of hair, he spoke in a gentle, remorseful tone. "You have no idea how much I missed you," he confessed. "The moment Tomas told me about your fever, I dropped everything and rushed over to be with you. I should have been there from the start. I should have been the one to guide you and take care of you instead of entrusting someone else with that responsibility. Yes, work is important, but it can never be more important than you. Nothing is more important than you."

His words resonated with me, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of affection towards him. Despite his busy schedule, he had dropped everything to be with me when I needed him the most. It was a stark reminder of just how much he cared for me, and I vowed to never take his love for granted.

I leaned into him, feeling his warmth and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was comforting, and I realized how much I had missed being in his arms. "I'm sorry," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I should have been more careful."

"It's not your fault," he replied, his voice soothing. "You didn't do anything wrong. You were just unlucky."

For some reason, I couldn't believe him. I did do something wrong, even if it turned out to be my fucking imagination.