A Forbidden Affair - Conflicted Feelings

The next morning, Lena woke up to her phone ringing.

She groaned softly, reaching for it without checking the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Girl, you left your hairpin in my bag.”

Lena blinked, sitting up slowly. “Chloe?”

“Yes. You don't sound okay. “What’s wrong?”

Lena paused.

“Nothing,” she said.

Chloe scoffed. “Please. I can hear it in your voice. Something happened.”

Silence.

Then Chloe spoke again, softer this time. “Come to the café. Same place. Don’t argue.”

The line went dead.

Lena stared at her phone for a few seconds before dropping it beside her.

She didn’t feel like talking.

But she went anyway.

Chloe was already seated when Lena arrived.

She didn’t even wait for her to sit properly.

“Start talking.”

Lena sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I fought with Richard.”

“Obviously,” Chloe said. “What happened?”

Lena leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

“He’s… controlling,” she said bluntly. “The way he talks, the way he reacts—like I need permission to live my life.”

Chloe raised a brow. “That bad?”

“Yes,” Lena replied. “He questioned where I went, who I was with. Like I’m a kid or something. It's not like I did something bad.

“And did you?” Chloe asked calmly.

Lena looked at her.

“No.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

Lena looked away, her fingers tracing the edge of the table.

“It’s not that simple,” she muttered.

“He doesn't see that way,” Chloe replied.

There was a pause.

Then Chloe leaned forward slightly.

“Do you still love him?”

The question caught Lena off guard.

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she let out a small breath.

“I do,” she said quietly. “But sometimes… I question it.”

Chloe nodded slowly. "At least you're being truthful to yourself.

Then Chloe tilted her head slightly. “And Jayden?”

Lena’s lips curved before she could stop herself.

“Jayden makes me feel alive,” she admitted.

Chloe watched her carefully. “That smile says a lot.”

Lena sighed, shaking her head. “It’s complicated.”

“What part?”

“If Richard finds out…” she trailed off, her expression shifting. “It’ll hurt him.”

Chloe didn’t sugarcoat it.

“It will.”

Lena swallowed.

“I don’t want to hurt him.”

“But you’re already hurting yourself,” Chloe said gently.

Lena didn’t respond.

She just stared at the table.

“You need to decide what you want,” Chloe continued. “Not what’s convenient for any of them. But what’s actually right for you.”

Lena looked up at her.

“And if I don’t know?”

“Then you figure it out,” Chloe said simply. 

Lena exhaled slowly. “You make it sound easy.”

“Nothing comes easy,” Chloe said. 

Lena nodded slightly.

“I’ll think about it.”

"Good." Chloe smiled.

They stood up shortly after.

Chloe pulled her into a quick hug. “You’ll be fine. If you need a shoulder to lean on, I'm just a phone call away. Just don’t lie to yourself.”

Lena let out a small laugh. “I’ll try.”

When Lena got home, the first thing she noticed was Richard.

He was sitting in the living room.

She walked past him like he wasn’t there.

“Lena,” he called.

She ignored him.

“Lena.”

He stood up and followed her. “Can we talk?”

She turned slightly, her expression flat. “About what?”

“Last night.”

She gave a small, sarcastic laugh. “Now you want to talk.”

“I’ve been trying,” he said.

She faced him fully this time. “No. You’re nowhere close to that. There’s a difference.”

He exhaled. “I took the day off; let's go shopping."

She raised a brow. “For what?”

“To spend time with you.”

That made her laugh again.

“Wow.”

“What?” he asked, confused.

“You think that fixes it?” she said. “One day off and everything is fine?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“I’m trying,” he repeated.

Lena shook her head slowly.

“You don’t get it.”

“Then help me understand,” he said.

She scoffed lightly. “You don’t understand that not everything is about money or grand gestures?”

His brows furrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything,” she snapped. “You think taking me shopping or spending money is enough.”

“I didn’t say that."

"I can see it," she cut in.

He hesitated.

Is that not enough?.

“I don’t need that,” she continued. “I need you to apologize. 

Her voice rose slightly.

“You were wrong, Richard.”

“Say it.”

He looked at her, his expression softer now.

Then he sighed.

“I was wrong.”

She held his gaze.

“That’s it?”

“I’m sorry,” he added.

Richard stepped closer.

His hands came up slowly, resting on her shoulders.

“Lena…” His voice dropped. 

“I’m sorry.”

“I shouldn’t have walked out,” he continued. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

His thumbs brushed lightly against her shoulders.

“You didn’t deserve that.”

Her eyes flickered for a second.

“I just…” he exhaled, his grip tightening slightly. “I don’t like the idea of losing you.”

His hands slid slightly down her arms, slow, careful—like he was testing if she would pull away.

She didn’t.

“I get it wrong sometimes,” he admitted. “But I don’t want to lose this.”

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

The tension shifted.

"I'm not going anywhere, but if you continue this way, you will,” she said quietly.

That stopped him.

But he didn’t let go.

Instead, his hand moved up again, brushing lightly against her jaw, his fingers resting there for a second longer than necessary.

“Then don’t let me,” he said.

Before she could pull back, his lips crashed into hers.

Demanding.

His tongue sliding against hers, his teeth nipping, commanding. And she simply bent to his will, allowing him to lead.

Then she felt his erection rising through her belly; it made heat spread through her core.

His hand slipped underneath her skirt, and he cupped her.

She was gasping now, breath breaking between the kisses.

And then he put the first finger before adding another one, going in and out.

She tried to clamp her legs shut, but he stopped her. She held his shoulder for support as he kept going till she came, shaking uncontrollably.

When he was done, he slapped her clit. 

"We are good now; meet me upstairs," he whispered and climbed the stairs.

"What?" Her eyes widened.

She couldn't believe this was his way of apologizing; she wanted to ignore the invitation, but the kitty down there couldn't.

She shook her head in disbelief and headed for the stairs.