Forbidden Desires: The Neighbour Next Door

A Spark in the Water

The soft knock on the door startled Sarah Matthews from her afternoon routine. She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel and headed toward the door, swinging it open to reveal Isabelle standing there, looking a little flustered.

"Hey, Isabelle! Everything okay?" Sarah asked with a warm smile, though she noticed a hint of tension in her neighbour's usually calm demeanour.

"Hey, Sarah," Isabelle began, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I hate to bother you, but my shower isn't working properly. The water keeps going cold, and then it just stops altogether. I don't know if it's a plumbing issue, but I was hoping you might know someone or—"

"Oh, no!" Sarah interrupted with genuine concern. "That sounds frustrating. I can't help with plumbing, but Ethan is really handy with that kind of stuff. He could take a look if you'd like?"

Isabelle hesitated for a second, then smiled gratefully. "That would be amazing. I didn't want to impose, but if it's not too much trouble..."

Sarah laughed lightly, waving her hand. "Of course not. Ethan loves fixing things. He'll be happy to help. Just give me a sec."

A few moments later, Ethan appeared, still wearing the t-shirt and jeans he'd been lounging around in. "Hey, Isabelle, I hear you've got some shower trouble?"

Isabelle's lips curled into a thankful smile, but she couldn't help noticing how effortlessly attractive Ethan looked, even in his casual clothes. "Yeah, it's giving me a hard time. I really appreciate this."

"No problem," Ethan replied with his usual easygoing charm. "Lead the way, and let's see what's going on."

The two of them walked the short distance to Isabelle's house, chatting casually. Once inside, Isabelle led Ethan to the upstairs bathroom. The space was small but stylish, with pale blue tiles and a large glass shower that looked immaculate, despite its current malfunction.

"Everything was working fine this morning," Isabelle explained as she gestured toward the shower. "But now it's all over the place. It keeps going from hot to cold, and then it just stops."

Ethan knelt down beside the shower, inspecting the knobs and pipes. "Sounds like there might be an issue with the valve. Let me take a look inside."

Isabelle stood to the side, watching as Ethan worked. He fiddled with the knobs, leaning forward to unscrew the valve cover. As he did, his t-shirt rode up slightly, revealing the toned muscles of his lower back. Isabelle's eyes lingered for a moment, a flush creeping into her cheeks. She quickly looked away, feeling guilty for even glancing.

After a few minutes of adjusting and tinkering, Ethan turned the water back on. "Let's see if that did the trick."

At first, the water seemed to be flowing perfectly, but then, without warning, the showerhead sputtered and sprayed water directly at Ethan and Isabelle. A surprised yelp escaped her lips as the cold spray hit them both squarely in the chest.

"Whoa! Sorry about that!" Ethan exclaimed, half-laughing, as they both scrambled to dodge the icy water.

"Looks like we're both getting a shower," Isabelle said with a breathless laugh, wiping her face. Her soaked clothes clung to her, and she realized with a start that she could now see the outline of Ethan's strong chest through his drenched t-shirt. His broad shoulders and well-defined arms were impossible to ignore, and she found herself momentarily distracted by the sight.

Ethan, too, couldn't help but notice Isabelle. Her dress was plastered to her body, highlighting her curves in a way that was suddenly very difficult to ignore. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but there was a magnetic pull between them at that moment—an unspoken tension simmering just beneath the surface.

Before either of them could react further, a voice called out from the hallway.

"Mom? Ethan?" Chloe's voice echoed from the landing. "Are you guys okay in there?"

Ethan quickly turned off the water, shaking his head and grinning at the absurdity of the situation. "Yeah, we're fine, Chloe. Just had a little plumbing mishap."

Chloe appeared at the bathroom door, taking one look at the drenched pair and stifling a laugh. "I'll grab some towels," she said with a smirk, disappearing down the hall.

Isabelle let out a breath and shot Ethan an amused, but slightly embarrassed smile. "Well, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting an impromptu shower either," Ethan joked, running a hand through his wet hair. "I'll make sure it's fixed before I go, though."

Chloe returned moments later with two large towels, handing them both over. "Here you go, Mr. Matthews," she said with a grin. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your little... water fight."

"Thanks, Chloe," Ethan replied, gratefully accepting the towel and patting himself dry. "I appreciate it."

As Isabelle excused herself to change out of her wet clothes, Chloe remained behind, her demeanour softening as she turned to Ethan. "Thanks for helping my mom with this," she said quietly. "I know she didn't want to ask, but she really needed it."

"No problem," Ethan said, smiling warmly. "I'm happy to help. How's school going for you, by the way? I know it can be tough starting somewhere new."

Chloe sighed, her expression faltering slightly. "Honestly, it's been pretty rough. I'm behind in a few subjects, and I don't really know anyone yet. It's just... I don't know, a lot."

Ethan leaned against the doorframe, nodding in understanding. "That sounds tough, but you'll get the hang of it. What subjects are you struggling with?"

"Math," Chloe admitted, her shoulders slumping a little. "I've never been good at it, and now I'm completely lost."

Ethan's smile widened. "Well, you're in luck. Math happens to be my thing. I can help you out if you want—tutor you, maybe?"

Chloe's face lit up with surprise. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course," Ethan said with a nod. "It's no trouble at all. We can meet a couple of times a week after school, and I'll help you get back on track."

Chloe's relief was palpable. "Thank you so much, Mr. Matthews. That would help me a lot."

"Call me Ethan," he said with a grin. "And don't worry, we'll have you acing math in no time."

Isabelle reappeared just then, freshly changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a T-shirt. "What did I miss?" she asked her tone light but her eyes flickering between Ethan and Chloe.

"Mr. Matthews—sorry, Ethan—offered to help me with math," Chloe said excitedly. "He's going to tutor me!"

Isabelle's face softened with gratitude as she looked at Ethan. "That's kind of you," she said sincerely. "Chloe's been struggling, and I didn't know how to help. You're a lifesaver."

Ethan shrugged, but there was warmth in his smile. "It's no big deal. I'm happy to help where I can."

"Well," Isabelle said, her eyes meeting his briefly, "I owe you, Ethan. First the shower, now Chloe's math problems. I really appreciate it."

Ethan felt a familiar, unspoken connection passing between them as Isabelle's gaze lingered on him for just a moment longer than necessary. He nodded and smiled.