THE SHOWER

There are moments when people lose sight of who they are or what they’re doing. I was caught in one such moment, and the best part; I had no hesitation in embracing it. I had always maintained strict boundaries with my employees, but my intimacy with Eduardo was nothing short of revolutionary, even beyond revolutionary. He was like a beacon of light to a firefly. I couldn’t resist; I was destined to surrender and be swept away by his current.

That morning was the first time in six years I woke up after sunrise. I cared about nothing except being wrapped in Eduardo’s arms. Though I slept like a baby in his embrace, I was dimly aware he’d been awake all night. His fingers stroked my hair, his soft kisses grazed my forehead, and he held me tighter every few minutes, granting me the most peaceful sleep of my adulthood. His scent was the theme of the night for me.

God, if it hadn’t been for an important meeting, I would never have left his cabin that morning. I was lying on his body, my head against his chest, when I stirred awake. His eyes, unreadable yet intense, were fixed on me. I reached up to kiss the tip of his chin, a smile curling my lips as I murmured cheerfully, “Buenos días, hermoso!”

His eyes scanned my face for a moment before his thumb gently caressed my left cheek. “Good morning,” he said.

The dull tone of his voice struck me as odd. I couldn’t discern his intentions.

“Were you up all night?” I asked.

He didn’t bother responding with words, only nodding.

“I must’ve disturbed you by staying here all night. It won’t happen again,” I said, grabbing his trench coat from the hook by the door to wear on my way home from his cabin. Putting on my own clothes would’ve taken longer than I could bear. “Don’t worry, I’ll return this in half an hour!” I added, storming out in a fit of frustration.

I heard him follow as my heels struck the ground with purpose on my way home.

“Wait! Please, please wait!” He grabbed my arm and pulled me against his chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to act like that.”

“Save your apology and leave me alone!”

“No, listen. It just felt awkward. I don’t know how to act in a situation like this. We barely talked about last night, and I don’t know your thoughts, your expectations, or your intentions when you touched me. I don’t know what to hope for after what happened. I’m at a loss.”

“What are you, Eduardo, a woman? Is this how men act after being intimate with a woman these days?”

“Watch your mouth, Emily! You’re going too far!” his tone was warning.

“You have no right to talk to me like that!” I was angry as hell.

“You have no right to talk to me like that either!” he responded.

“I have every right to talk to you like that! Now leave me alone!”

“I’m still your bodyguard, Ms. Arquette! I’m not leaving you alone!”

“Oh, really? Your dedication to your job is going to make me burst into tears!” I pulled my arm back and stormed home. I was so furious because of waking up such morning like that after a dreamy night. I took off Eduardo’s borrowed trench coat before stepping into the shower. With little time to get ready for work, I was in a rush. But soon, I felt hands around my waist. Then a hand covered my mouth to suppress my scream. He turned me around to face me and there he was, Eduardo.

“Are you out of your mind? What’s wrong with you this morning? You scared the hell out of me!”

He kissed my forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to make it up to you.”

“Is this your idea of an apology? Well, please don’t apologize anymore!”

“How could you think of someone else touching you like this when you know I’m at your service? I’d sacrifice my life to protect you from anyone touching you against your will.”

“You’d protect me just because it’s your job?”

He pressed me against himself and the wall. “Not only because of that. I’d sacrifice my life for your safety, no matter what.”

“Really? What if I wanted someone else to touch me and allowed it?”

He raised an eyebrow. “After last night?”

“Well, perhaps,” I mumbled.

“I might let you ride the horses between us Emily, but I have my dignity. If you let someone else touch you after last night, that poor soul would end up begging on a street corner, amputated.”

“You wouldn’t let anyone else touch me just because of your dignity?”

“What do you want to hear, Emily?”

“I think you already know. Are you afraid to admit it?”

“No, I’m afraid of rejection.”

“You’ll never know unless you say it.”

He looked furious. “What kind of woman are you?”

“Get out!” I snapped. His reaction and vague answers grated on my nerves even more.

“You’re not my boss when we are naked, Emily. Treat your man better!”

“What makes you think I’ve accepted you as my man?”

He traced a finger over the hickeys on my neck, grinning. “My artwork on your skin says I’m yours.”

I kept teasing him. “What if I reject you?”

He leaned in, his face inches from mine, his lips hovering close as he whispered, “You don’t have that option anymore.”

Those were the last words between us. He pressed his lips to mine, and I was paralyzed.

My mind let go of everything, lost in the sweet pleasure of the moment. I whispered his name passionately, helplessly, as his lips roamed my skin. “Eduardo, we have to stop!”

“Hush! Stop talking nonsense!” he said, his hands gliding down my curves.

“We really have to! I need to get to work. Please, let me go!”

“I can take care of you, baby. Don’t worry.”

In that moment, I felt truly like a woman. I never knew I could drive a man wild with desire.

Although I was the one paying him, yet he was promising to provide for me.

It made me pause. Would I settle for what he offered? Were his hesitations that morning justified? Was our spark strong enough to last beyond a one night stand? Could our connection promise something can stand out of the bed? I couldn’t keep playing this game without answers. I simply couldn’t.

“Eduardo, you’d better wait for me in the car, as usual. I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

He looked at me with disappointment but said nothing. He nodded and left me in the shower. I didn’t want it to end like this, but I had to do what was right.