Desires

Tristan's POV

I returned to my bedroom, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Elona's presence in the kitchen had ignited a storm of emotions, a relentless yearning I was determined to quell. She was very young, my daughter's best friend, and my closest confidante's child. Entertaining such desires was a dangerous game I couldn't afford to play.

Maggie, the woman who had accompanied me home, had been patient enough. She was lying on the bed, her legs crossed sensually as she gazed at me with sultry eyes.

"What took you so long, Tristan?" she purred, her fingers tracing circles on the bedspread. "I have been waiting for you."

I tried to push Elona's image from my mind as I approached Maggie, her alluring presence a stark contrast to the turmoil in my head. I leaned in to kiss her, but my heart wasn't in it. My thoughts were consumed by the young woman who I had just left in the kitchen.

Maggie, direct and assertive, pulled away, her brows furrowing. "What is wrong? You have been acting so distant tonight since we got here."

I sighed, torn between my desires and the barriers that prevented me from acting on them. "It's nothing. I just have a lot on my mind lately."

She sat up, her expression shifting from sultry to frustrated. "A lot on your mind? Seriously, Tristan, I came here to be with you, not to compete with your thoughts."

I knew she was right, but my heart was heavy with the weight of my unattainable desires. "I'm sorry. It's not you; it's me. I should have told you before that I'm not in the right headspace."

Her annoyance was palpable. "So, what? You're just going to push me away like this?"

I tried to explain, though I knew the words would do little to console her. "It's not about pushing you away, Maggie. It's about being fair to you and not using you as a distraction."

Maggie crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "A distraction." she nodded in agreement. "I should've known, I thought that we could do this again, and see where we go from here. After all, it was fun." She got up from the bed, her tone bitter. "You know what, Tristan? I don't need this. I came here to have a good time, not to deal with your emotional baggage."

She started to get dressed. I know that I cannot be with Elona as much as I desire to be with her. But maybe Maggie is what I need. What if I never find happiness again?

As I contemplated the limitations that reality had imposed on my desires, Maggie's words echoed in my mind. She was frustrated and feeling like a mere distraction, but she wasn't wrong. My thoughts still wandered back to Elona, despite my attempts to suppress them.

With a sigh, before Maggie could reach the bedroom door, I decided to stop her. I gently gripped her wrist. She was tense and her expression guarded, as she looked at me over her shoulder.

"Maggie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like a distraction. You deserve better than that."

She turned around to face me, and I let go of her wrist, her eyes softening just a fraction. "Tristan, I get that you have a lot on your mind, but I don't want to be a burden either. If you are not ready for this, it's okay. Just be honest with me."

I appreciated her understanding and wished I could offer more clarity. "I am being honest, Maggie. It's not about you; it's about the circumstances. I just need time to sort things out."

She nodded, her disappointment still evident, but she seemed willing to give me space. "Alright. Just let me know when you are ready. I'm not going anywhere."

I gave her a small smile, grateful for her patience. "Thank you. I promise, when I'm ready, I will make it up to you. At least stay for breakfast."

She nodded, "I will," she smiled at me, the disappointment breaking.

We ended up getting back into bed and we fell asleep.

After a while of sleep, we woke up and then we took a shower in my en suite bathroom. I took her hand in mine and I led the way to the kitchen. It was a sunny Saturday morning. It already felt scorching. I heard the girls talking and I tried to put up my walls. As we rounded the corner and entered the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks, nothing had prepared me for seeing Elona in denim shorts, and....f^ck, a bikini top, the strings were tied at the back, easy to untie. Her back was facing towards me and Crislynn was chatting away beside her. Elona has amazing legs and I want to touch her skin.

"Ahem," I snapped out of it as I realized that Maggie was now beside me.

"Good morning, girls," I said, putting my walls back up as I let go of Maggie's hand.

"Good morning dad, I hope you both had a great night," Crislynn smiled at the both of us as I went to the fridge and got juice out and I took two glasses out of the cupboard above.

"Oh, it was fantastic," Maggie replied and as I turned around, Elona looked at me over her shoulder briefly before turning back to a fruit salad that they were making. I went to the dinner table and took a seat, Maggie took a seat across from me and I poured juice into our glasses.

"Elona and I are going to be in the backyard. It's a great day for a swim too. I am also inviting Spooky over."

That was something that I didn't want. "No," I replied.

"What do you mean?" Cris asked as she looked at me with huge eyes.

"He is not allowed on our property, we don't know him," I replied, my jaw clenching. I didn't want that...assh^le here. I don't want him close to Elona either. I took a sip of my juice and my gaze caught Elona's as she already looked at me.

"Dad, he is new and we made new friends. I can't believe that you would not allow him here," Cris was upset about it.

"This is my house and I need you to respect that. You can see him at school," I stated.

She let out a heavy sigh, "Great, he is such an ass," she muttered to Elona.

I didn't give a sh^t about it, but no boy is allowed under my roof. Maggie remained quiet but I was waiting for the girls to be done so that I could make breakfast for Maggie and I.

"Oh, we are going to the club tonight, dad." My heart nearly stopped. It was even worse, after I told them not to even go to the club.

"No, you are not going anywhere," I said.

Maggie looked at me as if I was crazy. "Dad, why do you always be like this?" Cris was furious with me.

"I would say allow them to have fun. We all did that when we were young too. So allow them to explore," Maggie chimed in.

"Thanks, Maggie. I like you already," Cris said, and Maggie smiled.

"I am sticking to my answer, you are both not going and I will make sure of that," I scowled at Cris.

Cris shook her head in disappointment, "Come on, Elona," she walked around the kitchen counter with a glass of juice and a bowl of fruit salad. "We don't need to be here," she said. Elona followed after her.

I let out a sigh as they left the kitchen. "They are old enough to go to a club, you cannot always protect them from these places, you know," Maggie took a sip of juice.

"I know, but they are girls and it is their last year of high school, they should be focused on their books, not fun," I said as I got up and walked into the kitchen.

"Just let them go one time. Make that deal with your daughter," she said as I began to start breakfast which were eggs, bacon, and toast.

"I will think about it," I replied.

As much as I don't want them to go, I know that I can't always keep them in the house or keep them from harm. But I would prefer that they stay away from danger and men lurking around. Elona was my main reason for them not going. I wasn't even sure where I was going with Maggie but she seems to have a great heart for the girls, almost motherly. I needed to get rid of my desires towards Elona and if Maggie was the one to make me forget, then I will try to be more with her.

Cris likes Maggie and there would be no risks in a relationship with her compared to if I was with Elona, but still...My desires are stronger for Elona. I have to fight it with all that I have.