Unbound: Desire Awakened

5 | Not an Ex

I was back to taking cold showers to cool myself off, especially after what happened with Aries. 

I kissed him. I actually did. And as my fingers traced my lips for the umpteenth time, I still couldn't believe I had done that.

Seriously, I was starting to think that I was addicted to self-sabotaging my life, and it was disconcerting.

But, I really couldn't hold back. 

Something changed within me the moment I recovered, the instant I regained my strength. 

I felt empowered, but my desires surged fiercely within me, wreaking havoc. 

I hadn't even had a chance to discuss my plans with Aries. I had intended to talk to him first, and then Eros when he returned home. But now, I had an entirely different subject to address with Eros.

I had a sinking feeling that the conversation wasn't going to go down well. Maybe I could convince Aries to leave the house while I spoke with Eros?

As much as I wanted to avoid this conversation, it seemed inevitable now. Things between Aries and I were evolving, and I found myself torn. I needed to talk with Eros.

It seemed time was moving by quickly, since I was avoiding having this conversation with Eros but it needed to happen, before I really did some damage.

Deciding not to stall any longer, I headed downstairs. Eros should be home now. 

As I reached the last step, I caught the familiar, low and soothing timbre of Eros' voice. 

My legs felt weak and my heart swelled within my chest.

I was just about to turn the corner when another voice reached my ears, and I stopped. It was a soft, feminine voice—youthful, certainly not one of the maids. Which meant a woman was here, with Eros.

"Where is she? Is she here?" She whispered, her heels suddenly clicked my way and I was about to leave before she could spot me, but it seemed Eros had stopped her.

"I told you now was not a good time. Why are you here?" Eros seethed with frustration.

"I told you, I had something important I wanted to talk to you about."

Unable to contain my curiosity, I discreetly peered around the corner and felt an instant pang in my chest.

A striking woman about my age had her hands wrapped around Eros' waist. She was young but looked to old to be his kid, so I was quickly able to rule that out.

Her perfectly manicured nails were clasped around his back.

When she pulled away, I got to see just how painstakingly beautiful she was. There was no way they could be family. They looked nothing alike.

Her thick, pale hair cascaded in voluminous curls down to her buttocks, resembling snow. Her feline eyes mirrored the hues of autumn leaves. Her lips, though small, were plump, while her rosy cheeks accentuated her high, defined cheekbones.

Long, white lashes framed her alluring gaze, and her eyebrows possessed a distinct, sharp shape.

She was wearing a very tight and clearly expensive dress that accentuated her curves. She exuded an aura of envy for any woman and an irresistible allure for any man.

Her beauty was both mesmerizing and painful to behold, particularly as I observed how she was looking at Eros. And although Eros' back was turned to me, I could tell he reciprocated in his gaze, because she smiled at his response.

"Besides," Her honey-colored eyes shimmered with unmistakable adoration as she enveloped Eros in another embrace. "I missed you."

What the fuck?

Anger coiled within me and I wanted nothing more than to march right over there and tear her hands away from him. I wanted to hurt him like he was hurting me, bruising my heart. Yet, I remained rooted in place, stewing in my anguish.

The pain permeated my entire being, like needles piercing my flesh, making it difficult to breathe.

My heart sank, and my body trembled as Eros returned her embrace, tenderly planting a kiss atop her head. "I missed you too, Amorette."

Amorette.

My heart raced.

I knew that name. I had seen it once before, along with an image that I now realized was the woman before me.

This woman standing before me was the same woman Eros had assured me not to worry about.

I was an idiot.

I should have trusted my instincts, but like a fool, I had brushed them aside.

I thought Amorette was a psychotic ex-lover at first. But when I had moved here and no woman had been within sight, I had completely forgotten her, disregarded her existence and trusted that Eros had been telling me the truth.

But it turns out, my instincts were right all along. 

Amorette was not an ex-lover, because she as clearly someone still current in Eros's life. 

Maybe she wasn't his wife, but she was something. And it was obvious they had a strong bond with one another. I could feel it. 

The magnitude of betrayal I felt now surpassed even Jeremy's betrayal.

I had vowed never to feel like this again for a man, never to let myself be betrayed again. And yet, here I stood, unable to bear witness to this shit any longer.

I needed to get out of here. I needed a drink, perhaps several to drown out the thoughts of Eros and the anguish in my heart.

Without a clear destination in mind, I moved on instinct alone. Without pausing to consider the consequences, without bothering to knock, I burst into Aries's room.