Chapter 2
I must have been squeezing my legs together so obviously.
Eric picked up on it instantly.
But his sudden concern only made me feel even more self-conscious and mortified.
Michael was right there with me.
And yet, I was actually feeling attracted to a man I'd just met.
Even my body shamelessly responded in subtle ways I couldn't control.
"I'm feeling lightheaded," I managed to say. "You two keep talking. I... I need to rest."
Seeing Michael's furrowed brows, I forced a weak smile, hoping he missed my fluster.
I rushed to the bedroom, heart pounding, and quickly changed out of my damp lingerie.
Seeing the wet spot on my panties made me flush with embarrassment again.
Shame on you, Victoria, I thought to myself. You were a married woman. How could you be so shameless?
Leaning against the door, listening to Eric and Michael chatting away in the living room, I tried to lecture myself.
But just imagining this sunny, muscular hunk living under my roof for a while made me squeeze my legs together all over again.
What if Eric actually made a move on me...
Maybe my life was just way too boring, because all those crazy ideas in my head started sprouting like seeds.
Once they landed in my mind, they just kept growing wild, totally out of control.
Even at night, with Michael right there beside me, I couldn't stop those naughty thoughts from running wild.
But I never saw this coming.
The next morning, Michael actually packed a bag and told me there was a problem with the company—he needed to go on a last-minute business trip.
"Honey, while you're gone, will Eric still be staying here?" I told him to be careful on the road, but just as he was about to walk out the door, I couldn't help asking.
"Yeah," he replied.
His answer was short and clear, but I still couldn't shake off that uneasy feeling.
"It's just me and Eric alone in the house. Aren't you worried about...?" I hesitated.
I didn't finish the sentence, but he understood what I meant. He looked up and stared straight at me. "Worried about what?"
My words died on my lips, but Michael broke into a laugh.
"You're my wife, and Eric's like a son to us—even if he's grown, he still calls you 'Mom.' Why would I worry? If I can't trust you, who can I trust?" he said, sounding totally confident.
His words made me feel uneasy inside.
But maybe I was just being a little naughty.
After he left, I hesitated, but I still changed into the flimsy nightgown I normally wouldn't dare wear before.
The scant fabric left little to the imagination, showing off every bit of my womanly charm.
I looked at myself in the mirror and felt deeply satisfied.
And yet, faced with this version of me, Eric wouldn't even look me in the eye.
He just kept calling me "mom" over and over.
He only glanced at me with a hungry, predatory look when I looked away or turned around.
He thought I didn't notice, but I caught every single one of his glances.
Secretly, I was enjoying every bit of it.
Ever since I got married, it had been so long since I felt desired by a man.
Eric's arrival filled a void in my heart I hadn't even realized was there.
I proudly flaunted my figure in front of him, showing off like I was putting on a display.
But that night, I woke up needing to pee. When I went to the bathroom, I caught him clutching my dirty laundry, furiously working himself with it.
"You little slut," he muttered, his voice full of contempt. "Strutting around in front of me all day long."
Watching his vicious expression and listening to his filthy words, I understood then that he was nowhere near as polite and well-mannered as he appeared.
Yet somehow, finding out this side of him only made me tingle with excitement.