Guarded | 18+

11

I've been having the same nightmare for the past week, keeping me up every night. It always starts and ends the same—Zion crawling over me, then I'm pulled down into a dark abyss, unable to breathe like water's flooding my throat. But tonight, for the first time in a week, I slept peacefully. I slowly open my eyes, feeling the warmth of Seth's chest, his strong arms wrapped around me. My hands rest on top of his chest, feeling every inch of muscle beneath my fingertips. He's bigger than I realized, and the thought sends a shiver through me.

His steady breathing is almost hypnotic, and for a moment, I let myself relax, feeling the rise and fall of his body against mine. The warmth of his skin is intoxicating, and as I shift slightly, the fabric of my clothes brushes against him, amplifying every subtle touch between us. Suddenly, I'm hyper-aware of how close we are—my legs tangled with his, his body pressed up against mine. My heart races, and I bite my lip, trying to ignore the heat building between us. This shouldn't feel... this good.

I'd been mad at him, tried so hard to avoid him all week, but last night, I couldn't resist anymore. It was like my body needed him near, suffocating me with an overwhelming pull. No matter how much I fought it, Seth had gotten under my skin. He did what no one else ever had—he made me feel safe. Even if, to him, I was just a job, to me, he was starting to feel like something more... something I couldn't ignore.

The steady rise and fall of his chest draws me in, and I feel every inch of our bodies pressed together. His hand rests dangerously low on my waist, and a jolt of heat surges through me at the contact. I know I should move, pull away, but I don't. Instead, I shift slightly, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. It's impossible to ignore the way my body reacts to his—how the heat between us makes my pulse quicken.

But then my gaze shifts to his bandaged abdomen; the fabric looks soaked, and I frown at the sight. I slide away from him gently, feeling the cool air hit my skin, contrasting sharply with the heat we shared moments ago. Glancing back at Seth, still asleep, I walk to the bathroom. The cool tile sends a shiver through me as I search the cabinets for a first aid kit. Finally finding it, I pull out alcohol wipes, fresh gauze, scissors, and adhesive tape.

With supplies in hand, I return, my mind racing with how I'm going to change his bandages without waking him. I take a deep breath and climb on top of him, straddling him. My gaze takes in his chest—solid muscles, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. His abs are defined, and his thick arms boast prominent veins. I swallow hard, trying to focus on the task at hand. Carefully, I cut away the old bandages, clean his wound, and lay down fresh gauze before taping it securely.

Just as I finish, Seth's eyes flutter open, and I feel something hard press against me beneath him.

"Cleo..." he murmurs, his voice low and thick with confusion.

"I was just changing your bandage," I stammer, heat flooding my cheeks as I try to shift off him, but I end up falling right back down, our bodies grinding together. He groans, the sound low and filled with an unexpected desire, sending a shiver through me.

He grabs my waist. "Here, let me help you," he says, trying to lift me off. But as we both shift at the same time, I feel his bulge press against me, and I can't hold back the soft moan that escapes my lips. Seth's grip tightens on my waist, his fingers digging into my skin. I can feel the hardness beneath me, teasing and intoxicating. My heart races, and I can't help but arch my back, grinding down just a little. His breath hitches as our eyes lock, and suddenly, the realization of what we're doing hits me. I attempt to get up, but my knees feel weak, and I end up falling back down. Seth catches me by my ass, his eyes widening in surprise, and I gasp at the unexpected contact.

"Cleo," he says, his voice low as he swallows hard. "You need to be careful." With that, he lifts me gently and sets me aside. He looks down at his chest. "Thanks," he says, clearing his throat. "For changing this. I've been meaning to get to it."

I nod. "Don't mention it," I reply, quickly walking to the bathroom. I glance down and see wetness trailing down my thigh. I inwardly curse at myself, but part of me can't help wanting more; he felt so good pressed against me. I can't shake the thought of how easy it would have been to just slide my panties to the side. Biting my lip, I look in the mirror. "No," I tell myself.. As I stare at my reflection. Just then, a soft knock on the bathroom door snaps me back to reality. My heart skips a beat.

"Cleo, you okay in there?" His voice is deep, laced with concern—but there's something else, something that makes the ache between my legs grow even stronger.

I hesitate, gripping the edge of the sink. "Yeah," I finally call out, my voice sounding more steady than I feel. "Just give me a minute."

There's a pause, long enough for me to know he's still lingering outside. Eventually, his footsteps fade.

I take a deep breath, collecting myself. Then the doorbell rings.

With one last inhale, I leave the bathroom and head to the door, where Seth is already talking to Ethan. He glances past Seth, smiling as he pushes by, bumping his shoulder.

"Cleo," he greets me with a grin, walking toward me with a bouquet of roses.

I put my hand up, stopping him before he gets too close. "I'm allergic to roses," I say flatly.

Ethan's smile wavers, and he clears his throat, looking flustered. "If I'd known, I would've—"

I force a polite smile, glancing briefly at Seth, who has a smug little smirk. Then I turn back to Ethan. "I'm not really into flowers anyway."

"Noted," Ethan says with a quick smile, lingering for a moment before inhaling deeply and looking around. "I hope you're enjoying the living arrangements."

"I am. It's very beautiful," I reply, keeping my tone polite but detached.

"Not as beautiful as you," he says, and I have to resist the urge to cringe. I force another tight smile. "Thank you."

"I wish I could've been there to greet you at the airport, but, you know... business."

"No worries," I say with a hint of sarcasm, "I understand."

Ethan steps a little closer, his gaze lingering on me in a way that makes my skin prickle. "So, Cleo, what's on the agenda today? I was thinking we could grab a bite and catch up—"

"She already has plans," Seth interjects, his tone firm, looking almost as shocked as I am that he spoke up. Ethan shoots a glance over his shoulder, jaw clenched, before turning back to me.

"Hiking," I lie, forcing a casual smile.

Ethan grins, unfazed. "How about we make it a group thing? I'm sure Seth won't mind." He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his smile lingering a little too long. I glance at Seth, who seems to be glaring at Ethan, then back at Ethan. Despite how annoying he is and his obvious need to impress, I'm intrigued by where this could lead, and I'm on board with the idea of making headlines with him. "I'm sure he wouldn't," I smile. Seth's jaw clenches as he walks past Ethan, bumping into him.

AN
I know this chapter is a bit short, but I've been swamped with schoolwork and wanted to get something out by Saturday! Hope you enjoyed the spice between Seth and Cleo!