Hidden Flames..

Chapter 13

As they worked together in the backyard, Ethan's phone buzzed. He stood up to take the call, leaving Lily focused on her project. She continued working diligently but soon hit a snag. Without thinking, she turned to ask Ethan for help, only to find him already standing right behind her, arms crossed, watching her laptop screen intently.

"Ethan," she said, her voice a little unsteady, "I'm stuck. Can you help?"

Ethan leaned in, his face suddenly much closer to hers than she expected. The proximity made Lily's heart flutter wildly. As she watched him analyze her work, her mind began to wander. What would it be like to kiss him? She could almost feel the warmth of his lips against hers, the way his hands might hold her close, the taste of him, the heat of his skin. Her thoughts spiraled into a vivid fantasy—tangled tongues, slick with sweat, and the raw sound of deep, guttural groans.

Lily, stop! Control yourself, she quickly reminded herself, forcing her mind back to reality. But when Ethan looked up from the laptop, their eyes locked, and for a moment, it was as if the world around them had disappeared.

Ethan, on the other hand, found himself equally distracted. As he leaned in closer, his thoughts betrayed him. How would her silky hair feel wrapped around my fist? What would she taste like? The unbidden thoughts almost made him forget where he was.

But then his phone buzzed again, snapping them both out of their daze. Ethan straightened up, reaching for his phone as Lily quickly said, "Thanks, Ethan. I think I've got it now. I'm going to head back inside. You can go back to Jake."

Ethan nodded, a bit relieved and disappointed all at once. "Always here to help," he replied with a small smile, before answering his call.

As Ethan focused on the conversation, Lily hurriedly gathered her things, her face warm with a mixture of embarrassment and longing. She made her way back to the house, heart still racing from the brief but intense moment they'd shared. Once inside her room, she closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath.

*What is happening to me?* she thought, her mind still lingering on the closeness they'd just shared. It was getting harder and harder to deny the feelings that were growing inside her, but she knew she had to keep them in check. At least for now.

Meanwhile, outside, Ethan finished his call, but his thoughts remained with Lily. He couldn't shake the image of her eyes, the way they had looked at him—full of something more than just gratitude. And for a moment, he wondered what would have happened if that phone hadn't buzzed when it did.