Temptations

34. FAMOUS LAST WORDS

ELLIE

The drive back to the Byers mansion after the dinner had left me cold and shivering despite the coat and the heater in the car. Once we returned home, I went straight to the bathroom and ran hot water in the jacuzzi.

After a long and relaxing session in the bath tub, my body felt light and airy. Gone was the cold and the strained back muscles due to sitting in an uncomfortable chair the whole day. Cozying myself in a fluffy pyjama set, I went back to the bedroom where Nathan was sprawled on the bed with closed eyes.

While I was standing in front of the mirror doing my night time skincare routine, I felt eyes on me. I looked through the mirror and found Nathan awake, staring at me from behind with narrowed eyes. His mouth was parted slightly and all his focus was converged on my back.

"What are you looking at, mister?" I asked, feeling warm under his gaze.

"Am I not allowed to look?" He asked in raspy voice.

"Isn't it obvious?" I replied, putting my arms on my hips.

"Well, as your husband, I think I'm allowed to do much more than just looking." He said and my jaw fell at the innuendo.

"Aren't you a charmer, my dear husband?" I flashed him a smile and went to my side of the bed. "Move."

"Sorry for the kiss." He smirked at me, reminding me of him kissing me on cheek in front of my friend.

"Ugh, that..." I glared at him, ignoring the way my cheek ingled at a specific spot at the memory of that kiss. "Never do that again."

"Why? Are you afraid you won't be able to resist next time?" He teased.

"I'd rather puke." I said.

"You say it now but your eyes said otherwise." He said and my blood started burning.

"Did my eyes say get your annoying face away from me? Because that's what I was thinking." I replied.

"You are a bad liar." He said and I groaned. "Is it that hard to admit that you find me attractive?"

Did I? Well even if I did, I was so not going to admit to his face. He already had a pretty high ego and I had no mood in boosting it.

"You are projecting, Mister. Maybe it's you who finds me attractive." I retorted.

"Maybe I do." He said and my ears heated up. I tried my best to ignore how my stomach flipped at his words but I failed to do so. "If saying that boasts your ego." He added in a condescending tone.

"Ha ha." I said and lay down to sleep.

"Avoiding truths, are we?" He said and turned off the lamps.

"Being an arse, are we?" I replied. I couldn't see him in the dark but I could imagine his signature smirk.

"I bet you have thought about kissing me." He said and my eyes widened. "And how my lips taste." His voice sounded sultry or maybe it was my imagination. I clenched my legs hard to calm my tingling belly.

"What is wrong with you, Mr. Byers?" I huffed loudly. "Don't you have work tomorrow?"

"That's not the answer to my question." He laughed and damn, even his laugh was sexy.

Even in the dark, I could feel warmth radiating off his body. There was something wrong with him. Maybe the wine had lowered his inhibitions, or maybe, he was just flirting with me. Whatever he was doing, it was making my uncomfortable because it was a topic I didn't dare to touch.

As it was hard for me to stay with him in one room after admitting to myself that I was attracted to him. And yes, I have thought of kissing him, of his lips touching mine and every contour of our mouth fitting together. All the while, his hands caressing my body and my fingers laced in his soft, silky locks. Just the thought made my stomach tingle with need.

"That's enough." I said sharply this time and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed. Nathan didn't speak anything in response. He just lay down on his side and turned his back away.

I felt bad on raising my voice like that but it was partially his fault for trying to barge into my personal space. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't blur the line between us because that would make really hard to leave him once the time comes. For him, casual sex and relationships were easy but a girl like me would not be able to move from such baggage easily.

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The dining table was abnormally quiet today. Catherine, Nathan and I, all three of us were having our breakfast in silence, not indulging in any small talk. Catherine had sensed something was off between us but thankfully, she didn't inquire.

After the breakfast, Nathan whispered to me that he would be waiting in the car. I finished my coffee and made my way outside. The driver opened the door for me and I slid beside Nathan.

Half the distance had been covered but Nathan has not spoken yet.

"Sorry about last night." I said finally, swallowing my pride.

"I should be the one saying sorry. I was out of line." He replied softly.

"I can't argue with that." I said and he whipped his head to my direction.

"It's not entirely my fault. You somehow bring the worst in me." He whispered so the driver won't hear.

"You sure know how to charm a girl with your words." I fake aww-ed.

"See, we are fighting again. Pray tell me, how are we supposed to make others believe we are head over heels in love with each others if we can't be civil for a minute?" He said.

"What else do we do then?" I asked.

"I'll show you." He said and looked around. The car came to a halt in front of our office. Nathan asked me to keep sitting and then walked out of the car. He walked around the car to reach my side and then bent down to pick me up.

"What are you doing?" I screamed in shock.

"Ssshhh." He silenced me and started walking.

One moment, my eyes were on his face that was barely inches away from me and the next moment, I was looking around myself, watching other people look at us and whisper this gossip to each other. I'm sure one woman even took a picture of us.

The security guard opened the door and Nathan walked in the lobby of the building with me in his arms. I had wrapped my arms around his neck to avoid losing balance. He was picking me up like I weighed nothing and it would be a lie to say I wasn't aroused by that.

Once we entered in, he put me down. I put my hair behind my ears and noticed all the employees in the lobby watching us with confused eyes.

"Just lost a bet to my missus and that was my punishment. No big deal." He announced to everyone while grinning and my face started burning in embarrassment.

I followed him to the elevator and sighed in relief when I found nobody inside. "Fuck! What was that?" I exasperated once the door closed.

"It was either this or a passionate kiss. What would you prefer?" He raised his eyebrows.

"But..... Why? That was so cringe."

"Love makes people do weird things." He shrugged. "We are in love, remember."

"If that's the case then it's final. I won't be falling in love ever." I whispered to myself.

"Famous last words." He said, winking.

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