Chapter 2 DESIRE AND DECIET

EVA'S POV

It's 5:45pm, I had just finished bathing and was ready to crawl into bed. All I wanted was a few hours of peaceful sleep to silence the storm in my head. My body ached for rest as I pulled the blanket over me and closed my eyes. But just as my head touched the pillow, my phone buzzed. Annoyed, I reached for it, swiping up lazily to check the message. It was from Lucas. Lucas: "I want raw sex-no condom, no protection. I want to release my seed in you. You can sort yourself out with contraceptive pills. You know the usual venue." My heart skipped. A strange mix of excitement and guilt curled in my stomach. I had promised myself a night of rest, a night without him. But now, sleep seemed like a distant thought. Because the truth was simple-I couldn't say no to Lucas. Not when he wanted me this way. As I got into the room, Lucas didn't want to be patient, he unzipped my blouse while kissing me in places that made my brain turn to mush. He went from my neck to my face, lips down to my boobs, he kept going down and I didn't want him to stop. Our lips met again in a heated kiss, desperate, searching. It wasn't soft or hesitant; it was filled with the urgency of two hungry people seeking comfort in each other. Lucas' hands roamed my back, pulling me even closer, while I melted in his embrace. One kiss turned into another. Then another. Before I could even hesitate , reason was lost,clothes were thrown out, I wrapped my legs around his torso gripping it while stroking his cock passionately. Lucas trailed kisses on my face, neck and myerected nipples. Lucas continues trailing hot kisses down my neck,breasts, belly and down to my sensitive spot leaving obvious hickeys. "Oh Lucas" I moaned loudly as I dug my nails into his shoulder leaving vivid marks but he didn't seem to care. He slid three fingers into my pussy, the pleasure shot through me like bolts of electricity but he didn't stop , his hands sliding in and out of me as I moaned my lungs out. Just as I was about to get to my climax, he pulled out and flipped me over slammed his hard, erect dick into me. Iscreamed as the pain shot through me but it seemed that Lucas wasn't hearing me as he even increased his pace but I quickly adjusted to his size, the pain getting replaced by pleasure as our bodies slammed against each other, I shook wildly as I reached my orgasm. Lucas held me tightly as he reached his climax and released his seed in me. We both collapsed on the bed exhausted by the steamy sex we just had. I didn't cry. Not when I pulled my dress over my head. Not when I slipped my heels back on and heard the soft exhale of Lucas asleep in his bed. Not even when I read Henry's text again... Miss you. Can't wait to wake up next to you tomorrow. Instead, I felt... nothing. Or maybe too much of everything at once. Shame, hunger, confusion, guilt, they all tangled inside me until I couldn't tell them apart anymore. Like a storm that started quiet and was now swallowing me whole. Lucas stirred behind me. "You're still here." His voice was low and thick with sleep. But there was a smile in it too. Like he already knew I couldn't stay away. I glanced over my shoulder. "Not for long." He propped himself on one elbow, the sheet sliding off his body like a secret being revealed. Gosh, he looked like temptation had a face. Muscles carved under golden skin. Hair tousled. Eyes that made you forget who you were. He was everything I wasn't supposed to want. But I did. "I'll see you again, won't I?" he asked casually. He already knew the answer. "Lucas..." My voice caught. "This can't keep happening." He shrugged. "Then stop." I hated how easy he made it sound. Like I could just walk away. Like this thing between us wasn't tearing me in two. "I have a life," I whispered. "I have someone who-who believes in me." Lucas swung his legs out of the bed and stood, walking toward me. I could feel the heat radiating from his skin, smell the whiskey still on his breath. He leaned down, just close enough for his lips to brush my ear. "So why do you keep coming back to me?" My heart pounded. My knees trembled. And just like always, I didn't have an answer. Because I didn't know. Or maybe I did and I didn't want to face it. I turned away, grabbed my purse, and walked to the door. I didn't say goodbye. Because if I did, I might never leave.

The elevator ride down felt like slow death. By the time I stepped into the parking garage, I was shaking. Not from cold. From truth. This wasn't just sex anymore. It hadn't been for a while. Lucas wasn't just Henry's boss. He wasn't just a mistake. He was mine. The one I knew would ruin everything and still couldn't let go of. I climbed into my car, and just as I turned the ignition, my phone buzzed again. HENRY: Change of plans. Breakfast in bed tomorrow. Got something to tell you. It's important. I stared at the screen for a long time. Important? What could be so important that he was texting me twice tonight? I didn't reply. I couldn't. Not when the scent of another man was still on my skin. I drove home in silence. *** When I walked into the apartment, the lights were off but the hallway lamp was glowing softly. Henry always left it on for me. He was asleep on the couch, a blanket around his shoulders, his laptop still open. A playlist hummed quietly in the background. Something gentle. Something safe. He looked peaceful. Like someone who'd never imagine his girlfriend had just come from another man's bed. I walked past him slowly, guilt clawing at my insides. But just as I reached the hallway- "Eva?" His voice startled me. I turned, heart skipping. "Hey... sorry. Didn't mean to wake you." He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "You're late." I faked a smile. "Naomi was going through something. Breakup. We talked for hours." His eyes searched mine. For a second, I thought he saw it. The lie. The truth. The war inside me. But then he just nodded. "You should've called. I was worried." I walked over and kissed his cheek. "I'm here now." "I missed you," he said, pulling me gently into his lap. And for a second-I let him hold me. Because part of me did miss this. The way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered. The way he loved me without question. But it wasn't enough. Not anymore. "I was going to wait until morning," he said suddenly, reaching for something behind the couch cushion. "But I guess now is as good a time as any." He pulled out a small black box. My breath caught. "What is that?" I whispered, even though I already knew. He opened it slowly. A diamond. Classic cut. Elegant. Too perfect. My stomach dropped. "I want to marry you, Eva." My hands started to shake. "Henry, I..." "You don't have to answer now," he said quickly. "I just... I wanted you to know how serious I am. About us. About our future." I wanted to scream. To confess. To stop this before it went too far. But instead, I smiled Because the truth was too ugly to speak aloud. "I...I need some air," I mumbled, rushing to the balcony before he could say another word. I leaned over the railing, gripping the cold metal with both hands. He wanted forever. And I couldn't even give him honesty.