Sereia's POV
I wiped my mouth with a napkin when I felt satisfied. "I guess we're equally culinary geniuses."
Elliot Harrington knowing how to cook was on the bottom of my list.
"Yes," he groaned as he leaned back on the couch with his eyes closed. "That was so good."
I blushed as I watched him.
"How'd you learn?" I ask him.
"My mom of course," he said. "The woman is like a drill sergeant."
I laughed. "Your mom, you don't talk about her a lot. Nor your dad."
"They're good. No bad blood between us," he said. "They aren't around as much so there's nothing to talk about really."
"Where are they?"
"Uh, I don't know," he answered. "Probably somewhere in Europe. As soon as I became CEO, they ran for their life."
"It's like they couldn't wait to get away," he joked and I laughed.
He put the glass of fruit punch, which was in his hand, to his mouth.
"I'm surprised you didn't drink bourbon tonight," I teased him.
"If you're not drinking any then I won't either," he said and I blushed again.
Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?
"I should probably go take a shower now," I felt the need to announce.
"Okay," he opened his eyes. "I'll see you later?"
"Yeah," I nodded as I stood up and headed straight to the shower.
I adjusted the water so that it was hot as I removed my clothes.
I don't know why, but I always enjoyed hot showers.
Whether it was the burn on my skin or the feeling of warmth, I don't know, but I liked it.
I untied the remaining part of my messy ponytail that hadn't come loose earlier and let my hair cascade freely.
When I stepped in the shower and that hot water hit my skin, I let out a soft moan of pleasure.
I'd been longing to just have a good, hot shower after such a stressful day of work.
Showering was like a safe haven to me. It's when I get to unwind and just relax.
It's the only time I felt happy without using drugs.
I let the water run from my dripping wet hair to my feet.
I'm becoming attracted to him. I shouldn't be.
My revenge is about to come to an end. It'll all blow up soon and he'll stop talking to me.
I shouldn't be attracted to him but I am.
Ugh!
Showering was supposed to be where I unwind, not overthink!
I pushed any thoughts I had about him to the back of my mind before I continued my shower in peace.
...
I slipped on my black, lace panty while my towel was still wrapped around me.
My hair was still dripping wet from my shower which lasted longer than it should've, an hour to be exact.
I began to overthink again before I fell into a spiral about Elliot then work then Violet then my parents.
Physically forcing myself out of the shower was the only way to quiet my relentless stream of thoughts.
I hate how my mind works. It destroys me.
Sitting on the bed, I began towel-drying my hair.
There was a soft knock on the door before Elliot's head popped in.
I smiled. "You can come in."
The door slowly opened before he revealed his large frame.
"I forgot to grab my sheet," he explained as he walked over to the other bed. "I'm freezing my ass out there."
I remained silent as he picked up his sheet. "Well, good night."
"Elliot, wait," I stood up to stop him. "I never properly thanked you for the flowers earlier."
That as well was one of the many thoughts I pondered on in the flower.
I just blabbed about how it wasn't my favourite when I should have just shown him how much I appreciated his thought.
"It's fine," he said.
"No," I walked to him and hugged him. "Thank you. Seeing you care made me happy."
I could hear the frantic pounding of his heart and feel its rapid thudding against his chest.
I pulled away. "Jeez Elliot, your heart is racing."
He eyed me like a hawk as his Adam's apple moved up and down.
"What's wrong?" I asked and he shook his head.
"Nothing," he said as he turned away. "I really should get going. Good night."
I grabbed his arm before moving in front of him. "Elliot, tell me. Please."
He looked down at me before quickly looking away.
"I want to do something," he hesitated. "To you."
I stayed quiet as I tried to process those unexpected words that came out of his mouth.
He pulled away his arm from me. "You see now? So please let me leave."
"Do it."
The words slipped right out of my mouth.
My heart began to race with his when he looked at me surprised.
"What?" he asked.
"You heard me," I told him. "I said do it."
"Sereia," he muttered, his tone filled with restraint. "I can't."
His statement angered me.
To avoid starting an argument, I began to turn away.
I wasn't going to beg him.
A loud gasp escaped me when he suddenly held my waist and pulled me into his chest.
He then grabbed my ass over the towels and began to squeeze. "You should've just let me leave, Sereia."
His tone and eyes had now darkened as he looked down on me.
"Why do you tempt me like this?" he asked and I opened my mouth to speak, but I could.
He made me, a very outspoken woman, speechless.
He suddenly dropped his hands from my ass and I became confused when he didn't attempt to leave.
"Leave if you want then," I said.
I'm not going to allow him to play with my feelings.
He shook his head. "No Sereia, not yet."
I swallowed hard when he lifted his hand and unwrapped the towel from around me.
It instantly dropped, allowing my delicate breasts to spew out in front of him.
We both looked down at them before I looked up at him.
His face showed it all: arousal, temptation, restraint, anger.
Then, they all went away as desire flashed on his face.
He instantly grabbed them and a soft moan escaped me.
"Sereia, why are you doing this to me?" I could hear the pain in his voice.
I moaned again, louder, as he began to massage them.
I could feel shivers everywhere in my body as he did so.
"Don't make that beautiful sound," he begged. "Please, you're destroying me."
I grabbed his blue, button-up shirt as I led him to the bed.
He let go of my breasts before he gripped the back of my legs and lifted me up.
I wanted him.
The plan was for him to want me, not the other way around.
Who cares about the plan?
For the first time in six years, I wanted to be selfish.
I wanted him, not for my sister's revenge plan, but for me.
For my pleasure.
He sat down with me on him, my legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
My lips parted as I watched those inviting lips of his.
He did the same as I leaned closer.
"Temptress," his low voice called me.
I could feel his hardness growing on my aching front.
His hands began to glide up and down along my sides.
I forced my lips so close to his that they were almost touching. "Kiss me."
His eyes watched me with full desire, craving me so bad, but he didn't act on it.
Instead, he closed his eyes before leaning his forehead on mine. "I can't."
"Elliot," I desperately called out his name.
I've never felt this before.
I've never wanted someone, not like this.
It physically pained me that his lips weren't on mine.
"Elliot," a tear slipped out of my eye.
"I hate you for this," he said. "You know that I can't and you keep seducing me. Why do you do this to me?"
I stayed quiet because that was precisely what I intended to do.
Although, now I don't need to do that.
I have the picture of us. I can just show it to Olivia and she'll be heartbroken.
I don't need him to kiss me, but I want him to.
I desperately do.
"Elliot," I repeated his name and he flipped us around.
I was now lying on my back with him hovering over me.
He gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek before standing up.
"I'm sorry. I can't," he painfully said before leaving me alone in the room.