A writers' conference in California
When Nadia Marlowe attends the annual writers’ conference in California, all she has in mind is a break from the regular activities back home, an autograph from her favourite author, and the desire to connect with writers from around the world.
That is, until the air conditioner in her hotel room starts spitting hot air, and a technician is sent in to fix it.
Suddenly, the conference no longer matters. The goals she arrived with disappear into thin air, replaced by an undeniable awareness of the extremely handsome technician standing across from her.
One thing leads to another, and a simple repair session turns into an intense encounter that leaves Nadia shaken to her core.
Disgusted with herself for crossing a line she never thought she would—married, with children—Nadia leaves California after the conference determined to bury the experience and pretend it never happened.
But fate has a sense of humour, and Nadia Marlowe becomes its favourite recipient.
Her husband’s longtime friend arrives for a business discussion, and to her horror, that friend turns out to be Fabian, the same technician she had mouth watering sex with back in California.
Lost for words, Nadia struggles to survive his stay in her home.
But fate isn’t finished yet.
Fabian’s visit stretches longer than planned. To make matters worse, he is trapped in an on-and-off relationship, and also has a daughter. He knows the damage he’s causing. He knows that after everything Nadia’s husband has done for him, betraying him this way is unforgivable.
Yet the pull toward Nadia is something he cannot control.
What began as a single reckless moment spirals into a dangerous affair, one filled with desire, guilt, and secrets, threatening to destroy marriages, friendships, and the perfect life Nadia has built.
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Chapter: Chapter Ten: No safe harbourNADIA'S POV I got back home in time to rustle up dinner before Marlowe and Fabian's arrival. Cooking gave me time to think carefully about my situation and how I was going to tackle it. But even as I mixed the dough for the lemon flavoured cake I was preparing, I knew that my mind had refused to come up with anything tangible as a solution. When it came to him, the ability to think clearly suddenly became impossible. “Mum, I'm having difficulty with my homework. Can you help?”I rolled my eyes, making sure my back was turned so my daughter, who had asked the question, couldn't see my facial expression. “I'll wrap up cooking in an hour, my baby. I promise to help you before I tuck you into bed. Have you tried asking Anderson?”I heard Nancy scoff behind me, her voice getting even louder as she came up to me. “He's been on his laptop since he came back from school.”I shook my head disappointedly, knowing that it had been a bad idea for Marlowe to gift him the gaming laptop, the
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter Nine: Too close to daylightNADIA'S POV Throwing caution and self control to the wind, I ran my hands all over his body, fascinated by every bit of him. He was so beautiful. I had never admired a man so much in my life. I practically wanted to slip inside his skin, to be a part of him. I wanted us to become one. When his hand found my neck, I accepted the saliva he offered, swallowing without the slightest hint of hesitation. He looked at me possessively, his eyes wild with want. My nipples taut and aching for his touch, grinded hard against my bra top. I reached for his manhood which stretched against the thin sweatpants he wore, my hands trembling with excitement. “Nadia…”He groaned when I touched him, his voice strained. I stroked him even with the sweatpants still in place, watching my touch ignite unquenchable fires in his eyes. He held my hand, stopping me midway as he grabbed my blouse and flung it over my head wildly, his eyes gleaming in raw primitivism. He freed my breasts from the bondage of
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter Eight: A secret with a pulseNADIA'S POV As soon as Marlowe and the kids left, I got busy. Grabbing a bin and rake, I cleared the grass of the debris that littered the yard after yesterday's dinner. With every minute that went past, I tried in vain to ignore the fact that the guest room had a window that was directly facing the backyard and that Fabian Davenport could be watching me at that moment. I continued working, knowing that the only way I could successfully ignore Fabian and forget that he was in the house was by keeping myself as busy as possible. By the time I had completed the clean-up, the sun was up in the sky, and I knew that continuing to stand in the yard was going to cause sunburn. Gathering my tools, I made my way into the kitchen, then stopped short when I saw Fabian. He stood next to the door, his legs crossed, a strand of tousled hair in between those powerful green eyes. The fact that he was wearing only a thin tank top that showed off his lean body seemed to make the weather even mo
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter Seven: His presence, My undoingNADIA'S POV “What's wrong, my love?”I ignored Marlowe's question, knowing that I badly wanted to scream in his face. It was all his fault. Just when I thought I was past whatever had happened in California at the conference, he had proceeded to bring the problem to the present. Why? Why did Fabian have to be his roommate and his close friend from school? What happened to it being anyone else but the same technician I had fucked forty eight hours ago?I patted my hair, my hands trembling. “Oh come on, Nadia, I know I sprung this up on you and I'm sorry. But he needs my help. He's a very creative person, and I know that you already have your hands full with the children…”“That's enough, Marlowe. It's…it's not your fault. I'm just tired from the conference, the jet lag and all.”When he hugged me from behind, I didn't resist, letting his bulky arms envelope me.I had never noticed he wasn't hairy, but with Fabian in the house now, I touched his arms, closing my eyes and wishing th
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter Six: The past has a faceFABIAN'S POVWhen I saw her come out of the house with the basket of plates in her hand, I was instantly reminded of the image of her holding the table in the small hotel room while I thrusted into her from behind, her hands grabbing the table which now held a basket. I ran a hand through my hair as she came closer, my heart slamming repeatedly in my chest. I watched her place the plates on the table carefully with the help of her son whom Marlowe had introduced to me earlier. “So, Fabian, what have you been up to? You've been off the grid for twenty years, brother. What did you do in all that time?”I glanced at Marlowe, and at the beautiful family he had managed to raise in such a short time. It just seemed like only yesterday we were getting dressed for a fraternity party. “I lived, Marlowe. I lived.”He smiled in understanding as he stood up to attend to the steak. I stole a glance at Nadia, who had barely looked at me since she came into the backyard. “You know, sometimes,
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter Five: Fate has a sense of humourNADIA'S POV “I know you deserve rest after your conference, my love, and I'm so sorry to spring this on you.”Marlowe's words made my closed eyes fly open instantly. “What are you springing on me, first of all?”He sighed, and I knew that he had thought about it carefully before he even decided to tell me. “A friend of mine is going to visit tomorrow evening.” He raised a hand, his way of telling me to hear him out before I interrupted, “We were pretty close in school, but went our separate ways after we graduated.”I shrugged in reply. “Well, you can meet in a bar. Men do that all the time.”Marlowe laughed as he adjusted his belt until he felt comfortable enough. “You think I don't know that?” His face got red whenever he smiled or laughed, a trait that I had hated but come to love with time. “It’s just that Fabian is a different kind of friend. We've not met in years, and he has this business idea he wants to pitch to me. I'm booked in the office so the house will be the best
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
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