Temptations

47. MARKING TERRITORIES

ELLIE

Apparently, Drake came to bring cupcakes for Aria but Nathan doubted that he was lying and he was here to meet me. Anyways, I tried my best not to pay heed to my bipolar husband and offered Drake to stay for dinner.

"I must leave. It's late." He resisted as he had gauged Nathan's mood.

"No, you have to stay." Catherine said. She had returned from her gathering just a few minutes ago and she greeted Drake with much affection. Drake knows how to charm his way around women, or people in general. Even someone as stone-hearted as Catherine wasn't resistant to his charm.

"Okay, if you say so. You know I can't refuse you, Catherine." He winked at her and Catherine laughed at this. Nathan grumbled something under his breath and I motioned him to be more courteous.

Once Catherine left to change out of her formal clothing, Nathan finally opened his mouth, letting out his frustration. "Do you guys need privacy? I can go if you want." He said.

"Ignore him. He is being a dick." Drake said.

"You know what, it's Sunday so I don't have to deal with all this nonsense. I'm going to the kitchen." I said and walked away from these two idiots before their cat fight starts.

In the kitchen, Jeff, the cook, was making soup and Shepard's pie for lunch. I offered to make soup while he assorted the pie. The aroma of the chicken broth was wafted in the air. I cut all the vegetables and then let them simmer in the broth while I prepared cornflour slurry. I was in the middle of making the soup when Nathan entered the kitchen.

Jeff left the kitchen once he got a signal from Nathan, who then walked behind me. "What are you making?" He asked, peeking over my head. Heat was radiating off his warm body, warming me up as well. He was deliberately standing this close to me and even after knowing this, I still couldn't resist leaning back into him. He just felt so good.

"You should give Drake company." I said, feeling agitated in his presence.

"He is playing with Aria." He said and lowered his face so it was almost resting on my shoulder. "This smells so good." He inhaled the soup and said in a sensuous voice.

His beard tickled the skin of my shoulder and I sighed heavily. It felt harder to breathe properly, with him invading my personal space like this.

"I know what you're trying to do." I said, angling my neck to look at him. "Very subtle."

Our faces were too close for my liking. The distance unnerved me and my eyes fell on his lips. His lips were red in color and looked too soft for a man's lips.

"What am I trying to do?" He whispered, watching my lips dry up. "Hmm?"

We were staring at each other with narrowed eyes when the sound of cough broke the trance, making me jump up in my space. I looked towards the source of the cough and found Drake standing in the doorframe. "I needed water." He said.

"I'll wait outside." Nathan said to me, smirking and then walked out.

Drake drank the water and then stood beside me, leaning his hand against the kitchen counter. He was wearing a white turtleneck with blue jeans, looking all angelic.

"Ignore Nathan. He was just…" I began to speak but he cut me in between.

"Marking his territory?" Drake said and I turned red in embarrassment.

"Um… he is just… he just likes to control things. Don't take it personally. It's not about me." I cleared.

"Hope so." Drake said, although he didn't look too sure about it.