The door opened again.
"I brought your favorite," Jeremi's voice came first, casual and amused.
Maya's giggle followed. "Red wine and you? A dangerous combination."
Eva stiffened, breath trapped in her throat. She peered through a sliver between the curtain folds.
Jeremi carried a bottle and two glasses, setting them down on a small table near the bed. Maya followed close behind, her heels tapping softly on the polished floor.
She wore a satin dress short, clinging to her like it had been painted on.
"You should've stayed after the gala," Maya whispered, running a hand along his arm. "I missed this... you."
Jeremi didn't stop her. He sat down and filled the glasses. "You always did like sneaking into places you're not invited."
Maya pouted playfully. "You used to like that about me."
Before he could respond, she straddled his lap without warning, leaning in boldly. "Just one kiss, for old times?"
Her lips met his. Long. Slow. She deepened it her fingers sliding into his hair.
Eva looked away sharply, pressing a trembling hand over her mouth to keep from gasping. Her chest burned with something she didn't want to name. She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be seeing this.
And yet, she stayed.
Just then, Jeremi's eyes drifted past Maya toward the curtains. Toward her.
For a moment, his expression stilled. Then he pretended not to see her.
And he grabbed Maya and hauled her down against him, pressing her mouth against his.
She gave a startled little squeak of surprise as their mouths touched, but then went silent. He felt her body stiffen against his, but Jeremi imagined that was just the shock of his sudden kiss. Maya tried pulling Jeremi's clothes but he kept his mouth locked against Maya's yielding one. Damn, Eva could see him and still pretend she was hiding perfectly . He had to make this kiss last at least long enough that Eva would come out and hopefully turn away. The darkness could hide the rest.
So Jeremi continued to kiss Maya's firm, awkward mouth. He pressed soft little kisses against her lips, sucking lightly at the lower one to encourage her to open up. Her mouth softened under his, and he touched his tongue to the seam of her mouth to see how she'd respond to that.
And to his surprise, she opened up for him, and her hesitant tongue touched his own. And for some reason all he could imagine was him doing all of this with Eva.
Suddenly, the kiss changed from being a disguise to being a kiss for its own sake. Jeremi dragged a desperate hand through her hair, pinning her against him, and began to deepen the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth to see how she'd react to that. She shivered against him, but she didn't pull away, and he felt his cock grow hard in response. Her tongue touched his again, a hesitant, shy caress, and he stroked it with his own tongue, coaxing her to continue. Those tiny, awkward touches from her were doing more for his dick than the last ten girls he'd fucked.
When she made that soft sound in her throat as he tongued her again? He nearly fucking lost control. With a groan of his own, Jeremi rolled their bodies on the bed, and then Maya was underneath him, her back on the bed, and he was pressing her down onto the bed. His knee moved instinctively between hers, and he felt her shift against him; all the while her lips clung to his and her tongue continued to sweetly brush and flick against his own.
He wanted to touch Eva everywhere. Strip her out of her clothing, and run his tongue all over her skin, until she was making more of those soft noises in her throat. What would she sound like when he put his mouth on her pussy? He couldn't wait to find out.
Maya's hand strayed to the waist of Jeremi's jeans, testing him, and immediately, his hand covered his, stopping her.
Not yet. Okay. She'd take that . . . for now. They just got back again.
Jeremi lifted his head and pressed one last kiss to her now-swollen lips. Perfect. He leaned down and kissed Maya again, his entire focus on her once more. "Come back to my team again."
Her hands pressed to his chest in a subtle refusal. "Jeremi." She licked her lips, making them even wetter, and the sight of her tasting him made him even more aroused. "I . . . I'm very sure this is all for your politics." She said this like it was the end of the world, a depressing fact to be conveyed before intercourse. She'd heard much worse, though. Things like you should know I have herpes and I'm still with my ex. Things that made her pussy shrivel and made her walk out. . This? She didn't care. "I'll try not to hold it against you," she told her, leaning in for another kiss.
She pushed at his chest again. "Jeremi," Maya said softly. "Wait."
He waited.
"I'd love for us to start over," she said softly. "But I think you should know the truth about me. All the truth. I know I am in your opposition party but I still care about your interest, I've only joined your opposition because of the public pity. I understand that you are married and I know you don't even love her. But I can be your second base ."
She called it second base ? Okay, that was kind of cute. "I'm not doing this to get you on my food side Maya , I just need your influence ," he told her, leaning in to kiss the tip of her adorably freckled nose.
"Yes, but . . ." she bit her lip again. "Since you are married that's going to be a bit difficult, people are going to judge me if I suddenly switch parties."
"That's no problem. I'll take care of the news and I will put you first."
Her eyes widened, and she thwapped his arm with her hand again. "That's not how it works!"
Jeremi grinned down at her. "Isn't it? You're setting your boundaries. I'm fine with that. ." Her scandalized little gasp told him she was picturing that, too. "Here's my confession. I don't know if I can love anyone, Maya. I'm a jaded fuck, and it takes a lot to impress me anymore. "
He took a sip of wine, then leaned in, his voice velvet. "I need someone the public trusts… someone charming, beautiful, familiar. The face of a new initiative for youth development and women's inclusion sound impressive enough for you?"
Maya blinked, clearly intrigued.
"And why me?" she asked coyly.
"Because people still believe we were once in love," he said, brushing a knuckle gently down her arm. "And maybe we were."
Her breath hitched, hope flaring in her eyes. "Were we?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he kissed her slow, calculated. Not passion, but performance. A masterclass in seduction with purpose.
She shifted under him, gazed up at him with a slight frown on her face. "Are you telling me that you want to still go out with me ? You are married Jeremi."
He thought about that, then shrugged. "Pretty much?"
Maya laughed again. "Wow, this is an honest conversation."
"I'm not promising anything," Jeremi said gazing down at her. He then caressed her jaw, enjoying the simple pleasure of being able to touch her. "I'm definitely not promising anything but I and Eva are just a public couple, it's you I want Maya "
"I think we've done enough for tonight," he said calmly. "You'll hear from my team about the campaign proposal. Think about it. I want your face on every billboard in the city."
Maya flushed, clearly pleased. "So we're really doing this?"
Her smile softened a bit more. "I think I can handle that. I love you Jeremi
He froze. His hand gently gripped Maya's wrist.
"That's enough," he said calmly.
Maya blinked. "What?"
Jeremi stood, adjusting his shirt. "I think you should leave. I have an early meeting. The paparazzi hide everywhere I don't want them wondering why you are inside my house for too long."
Maya pouted. "Since when do you care about them.?"
"Since now , they tend to lurk around by this time." he said firmly, his tone making it clear there would be no further argument.
Maya scoffed, rolling her eyes. "is this because I said I love you."
He walked her to the door, his tone careful and composed. "I'll have someone see you out."
Once the door shut behind her, silence returned.
Jeremi stood in the center of the room, not turning yet. His voice came low, controlled.
"You can come out now, Eva."
Eva's breath hitched. She stayed frozen for a heartbeat two.
Then, slowly, she stepped out from behind the curtain, her eyes brimming with confusion and hurt.
"You saw everything, didn't you?" he asked.
She nodded, silent.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It wasn't what it looked like."
She raised a brow. "You didn't exactly stop her."
"No," he admitted. "I didn't. Not right away."
The air between them was thick, raw with emotions neither knew how to name.
He took a step closer. "You shouldn't be here."
"I didn't plan to be," she whispered. "But I was. And now I can't unsee it."
Jeremi's jaw clenched. "Eva…"
"You manipulated her," Eva finally said. "That kiss"
"Was a tool," he interrupted. "You think I'm proud of it?"
"You didn't seem ashamed."
Jeremi took a step forward. "This world isn't clean, Eva. Not everything is faith and feeling. Sometimes, it's choosing what gets you the result."
She looked away, disgusted. "And using her feelings for your gain doesn't bother you?"
He hesitated, then said softly, "It should. But it doesn't."
The air between them thickened charged with disapproval, unspoken attraction, and something darker.
"She loves you," Eva whispered.
Jeremi's voice was low. "And you don't?"
Eva's eyes flashed. "Don't twist me into this."
"I'm not," he said gently. "But I saw your face, Eva. I know what that look means."
Her lip trembled, and for the first time, she turned away defeated, silent.
Jeremi didn't move closer. He just watched her walk away again, the ache of her footsteps louder than any door slam.
And when she was gone, he poured himself a glass of wine.
No triumph.
No smile.
Just the bitter taste of control done well, and regretted.
But she was already at the door when she realised it would not open.