The rain didn't let up. Relentlessly, it fell in hard. Everything around me blurred out.
Ethan's arms were still around me, I could feel him trembling and shivering. His warm deep breath hit the side of my neck that made me almost let a moan.
The pressure of him against me was an overwhelming warmth against the night's cold that gave a dangerous kind of comfort. In that moment, something inside me shifted. Nothing else mattered, the ruinous truth was that I wanted him badly.
"I can't be here," I said, my voice lacking conviction.
He didn't let go completely. Instead, he guided me back towards the front door, both of us moving like sleepwalkers. We stumbled inside as tracking water from the rain pooled under our feet and onto the front door rug.
The door shut behind us with a dull thud, muting the sound of the angry storm outside. We were both drenched and shivering really hard, dripping water down onto the wooded floor.
When Ethan finally loosened his grip, I turned to face him. His eyes were still raw red, his chest rising and falling against his clinging shirt. I could feel the pull between us. It was magnetic yet dangerous.
"You're soaked," he whispered softly. "You're freezing too. You'll catch a cold."
He reached for a thick towel from one of the half-packed boxes, he dusted it roughly as he slowly moved closer to me. I just stood there, still dripping, unsure of what to do with my hands or my guilt.
He reached out and began to dab at my wet hair. This soft tender act of his and the gentle friction of the towel against my scalp felt like an electric jolt charge.
I instantly raised my hands to jack off the towel, but he held it firm."Let me. Just... stay still."
He moved to my face and then my shoulders, his touch was almost too careful, every stroke of the towel against my skin felt like something else entirely. I was burning inside me. This wasn't comfort anymore, this was supposed to feel harmless. But it really wasn't.
His hands slowly traced down to the top button of my shirt which made me gasp softly. I could stop him. But I couldn't bring myself to move. I was stark frozen.
Our eyes met. He stopped moving. And for a second, we just stood there. Staring into each others longing and burning soul.
"Let me… get you something dry," he said finally. His voice had dropped lower and rougher.
He disappeared down a room, came back with a white shirt, that I immediately guessed was his. He handed it to me, avoiding my eyes. The shirt smelled faintly of cologne and whiskey like it was already worn and wasn't washed yet.
"You can change in there." he said as he pointed towards the room he just stepped out from.
But I didn't move still.
"Or… here's fine," he added, almost under his breath.
He turned away, giving me the illusion of privacy, but I caught his shoulders tense up like he was trying to listen.
I peeled off my shirt slowly, my fingers trembling as they were numb from the cold, the fabric felt heavy and slick from rain.
He turned back when he heard the wet drop of my shirt hit the floor. His eyes caught mine and stayed.
Ethan took one slow step forward. Then another. Until he was close enough. The distance between us dissolved. We were close enough to breathing against each other's face.
"Mira," he said, my name almost breaking on his tongue.
Something in the way he said it undid me. Ethan stood in front of me, searching my face, like he was asking for approval of what I felt was about to happen next in this moment. His hand came up to my face. His thumb brushed a wet stand of hair from my cheek. His fingers lingered there, tracing my jaw then slowly to my nape bringing my face closer to his. His shirt slipped off my hands softly unto the floor.
"Ethan," I said softly, my voice trembling, "we have to stop. We can't do this."
"Do you really want me to stop, Mira?" he murmured against my face. I could still the smell the beer he had taken earlier.
My lips parted, but no sound came out.
"Mira," he called again, his voice breaking this time.
Instead, I leaned into his touch. I brought my lips against his this time. The kiss was inevitably quiet and slow. I broke it after a while. He stared at me, his red eyes were now dark, replaced by an intensity that both terrified and thrilled me. He almost felt like a stranger. This wasn't the man she knew as her best friend's husband.
The air between us was taut and electric. It looked almost like we had just signed a silent agreement to proceed.
This was the moment.
His hands wrapped my waist pulling me closer causing my breath to hitch, as he slammed his lips against mine. It was aggressive and hungry-filled. His tongue tracing the outline of my mouth before darting inside.
I could feel the hard evidence of his desire pressing urgently against me, even through the layers of his shorts.
His hands roamed over my body, then to my back as he unhooked my bra in one go, leaving my huge breasts exposed. I gasped as he cupped one of my breast, his thumb brushing against my hardened nipple.
He pulled away, his dark eyes filled desire and longing as he looked at me. "I want to see you," he murmured, his hands moving to my skirt zipper behind.
"Ethan," I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.
I really wanted to preserve the last shreds of my dignity and loyalty to Suzy. But my body had long betrayed me.
I arched into Ethan's touch as if I was starved for it.
"I... I can't," I managed to whisper, even as my fingers was already up, dug and tangling in his hair, tugging him closer. "We..we ....can't do this."
As soon as the words left my mouth, my skirt fell to the ground as Ethan's hands caressed my hips as he leaned in to press hot, open-mouthed kisses along her shoulders.
"Shhh, it's okay," he murmured between kisses. "I've got you."
I melted against him, surrendering to the pleasure of his touch as his hands roamed my body curves.
"Fuck, Mira," he breathed with a low growl as he eyes raked up and down my near-naked body. Ethan took his time exploring my body, worshipping every inch of skin with his lips and tongue.
I flushed at his words, as my hands got to work. I reached for him, fumbling with the buttons of his still wet shirt, stripping it off. I explored the hard planes of his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles and savoring the feel of his skin beneath my fingertips.
Ethan captured my lips again in a searing kiss, his tongue driving deep into my mouth. I moaned into the kiss. He lifted me effortlessly as I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him closer. I could feel his arousal pressing harder now
Without breaking the kiss, he found his way towards the bedroom. He laid me carefully down on the bed, hovering over me as he trailed kisses down my neck and chest. I arched into his touch again, my fingers raking down his back digging into his skin.
He lavished attention on my breasts, licking and sucking at my nipples as they ached for more. Underneath him, I lost in the pleasure of his skilled manifestations. My hands fisting in his hair as he sucked and nibbled, his tongue teasing me, circling around the nipple. He moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention before moving down, his lips trailing kisses down my stomach.
He knelt before me, his hands sliding down to grip my hips. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of my soaked panties. Spreading my legs apart, he leaned in, his head slowly dipped between my thighs, his breath hot against my pussy. I moaned, my legs trembling as he ran his tongue along my clit, teasing me before dipping inside. He sucked and licked carefully and slowly, his tongue exploring every inch of me, making me writhe and moan.
I could feel the pressure building inside me, my body tensing as he continued his assault.
"Ethan, I'm going to-" I gasped, my words cut off as I cried out, my orgasm crashing over me like a wave. He kept going, drawing out my pleasure until I was a trembling, panting mess.
He stood up, his eyes never leaving mine. I reached out, running my hands over his body, feeling the muscles ripple under my touch. He groaned, his dick hard against my touch as I undid his pants, freeing his cock. I wrapped my hand around him, stroking him slowly as he groaned, using my other to fondle his balls, he threw his head back in pleasure sucking his teeth.
"I need you," he growled as he lifted me, his hands gripping my ass. I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling the head of his cock pressing against my vagina entrance.
He thrust into me, filling me completely. I cried out, my nails digging into his shoulders as he began to move, his thrusts slow and deep. He leaned in, his lips capturing mine as he continued to move inside me.
We moved together in a frenzy of lust and desperation, our hips snapping and bodies glistening with sweat. I wrapped her legs around Ethan's waist, drawing him deeper with every thrust. The room was filled with our moans and grunts.
I could feel another orgasm building, my body tensing as he picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming more frantic.
"I'm...going to come," I gasped, my words barely audible over his grunts and moans.
He thrust into me one last time, his cock pulsing as he came, filling me with his warmth.
"I'm coming....Ethan!" I cried out, my orgasm crashing over me, my body shuddering as I clung to him.
We both collapsed onto the mattress. Ethan's body pressed against mine. We stayed like that for a moment, our bodies entwined, our breaths mingling as we came down from our high. He pulled away, his eyes meeting mine, full of warmth and affection.
"I love you." he whispered as his eyes slowly drifted shut.
I froze under the weight of those words. I glanced at him and smiled shyly. Slowly, I allowed sleep take over as my eyes fluttered.
--------------------
I woke to the sound of Ethan's breathing beside me. I smiled as I rested my head against his shoulder. His arm draped over me, heavy and possessive even in his sleep.
For a few seconds, I didn't move. I just lay there, facing the ceiling, memorizing the sound of the quiet atmosphere. My whole body ached. Then the guilt slowly set in.
I pulled myself away carefully. Ethan stirred but didn't wake. I looked at his face that was softened by sleep. He looked peaceful, and somehow, i felt my heart sting.
I sat up, pulling the rough sheet tight around me. The whole scene replayed in my head like a brutal reflection of our betrayal.
"This was a mistake," I whispered to no one, my voice barely audible.
I reached for Ethan's shirt, half-dressing, when Ethan's hand found my wrist. He eyes were now open and the look between us was heavy, a shared burden of sin and understanding.
"Don't regret this," he said softly, as if he was pleading.
But I knew better, not because it hadn't meant something, but because it meant too much. I did regret this.
I looked away from him. "We crossed a line, Ethan."
"I know." His words were barely audible. "But she already left."
"That doesn't make this right." I pulled the sheets tighter around me.
He didn't argue. He sat up. I saw his shoulders slump and a look on his face that gave meaning to lost. I stood up and paused at the foot of the bed, trying to frame a final goodbye that wouldn't sound like a lie.
"Mira?"
I turned slightly, my heart pounding heavily against my chest, words lodged in my throat.
"If she never comes back…" he hesitated, "…would you?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "But I'll never stop remembering tonight."
The silence that followed was deafening, but then it was shattered by a sound that made the blood in my veins run cold.
The distinct, familiar jingle of keys in the front door lock. My face lost expression.
Ethan's head snapped up. His eyes, seconds ago that were filled with longing, were now wide with terror.
I heard the front door of the apartment opened. The sound of a suitcase wheel lightly echoing from the other side.
"Ethan?", a voice called out.
"Shit," he breathed. "It can't be."
"Ethan?" The voice was now closer this time.
"Are you home? The front door was open-----"
I froze. My throat went dry. I couldn't feel my heart beating.
Suzy.
Everything in me screamed to move, to run, to hide, but I couldn't. My whole body defied me. I just stood there.
The bedroom door creaked open. Suzy stood framed in the bedroom doorway. She looked tired, her luggage still in her hand.
Her face went whole blank. The tote bag hanging over her shoulders dropped to the floor with a loud thud. The sound was deafening.
Ethan's voice broke first, hoarse and shaking.
"Suzy, it's not.....please, just.... Suzy.."
But she didn't answer.
She looked at him. Then at me. Then back again. Suzy didn't scream. She didn't cry. She just stared at us.
A look of chilling betraying settled on her face.
Ethan reached for her. She stepped back.
"Don't." Her voice was soft, quieter than I had expected.
Just that one word, cutting through everything.