Marie’s POVThe next evening the house was quiet except for the bubbling sound of the soup on the stove and the ticking of the kitchen clock. The air smelled of onions, garlic, and the faint sweetness of carrots, and I was standing by the counter with the knife in my hand, trying to focus on chopping vegetables instead of the thoughts spinning in my head.That was when Jamie walked into the kitchen.He looked tired, his hair slightly messy, his shirt clinging to him like he had been running between classes all day. His college bag was hanging from his shoulder, and he set it down by the door with a soft thump. My heart gave a nervous little jump at the sight of him. We hadn’t been alone since last night—since that dinner where he had touched me under the table in a way that still made my skin heat if I remembered it too clearly.I quickly turned back to the counter, pretending to be absorbed in slicing carrots into neat little pieces. “Hey,” I greeted, my voice quieter than I wanted i
Marie’s POVBut I couldn't. Not here, not now. Jamie seemed to sense my hesitation. He withdrew his finger, leaving me aching and empty. I wanted to protest, to beg him for more, but I kept silent. I could feel his eyes on me, dark and intense, and I knew he was waiting for me to make the next move.I glanced around the table, trying to act normal. But my body was on fire, my skin sensitized. Every brush of my dress against my thighs made me shiver. I could feel Jamie's gaze on me, heavy and heated, and it took everything in me not to look back at him.I knew I should stop this, put an end to it before things went too far. But I couldn't. I was trapped in this web of desire and danger, and I didn't want to escape. Not yet.So I did nothing. I said nothing. I simply sat there, letting Jamie touch me, letting him build the tension between us. Under the table, his hand crept back up my thigh, his fingers brushing against my panties. I knew I should push him away, but I couldn't bring mys
Marie’s POVI had worked so hard all day that my hands still ached from chopping, and my back was sore from standing for hours. But when the Smiths finally arrived and I saw the smiles on their faces as they looked at the food spread on the table, a small part of me felt proud. Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe my husband would finally acknowledge me for something more than just existing in the house.The dining room glowed warmly under the chandelier, the golden light bouncing off the polished wood of the table. The smell of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread filled the air, and soft laughter drifted as everyone settled into their seats. I smoothed my dress nervously as I sat down, reminding myself to breathe.Jamie came in a few moments later. I heard his footsteps before I saw him, steady and confident. When he walked into the room, I swore even the air shifted. He wasn’t dressed fancy, just a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves and dark jeans, but he looked effortlessl
Jamie’s POVAs I slid into my Porsche, the leather seat cool against my back, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My hands gripped the steering wheel, but I wasn’t thinking about driving. I wasn’t even thinking about school. All I could think about was her.Marie.The image of her at the breakfast table wouldn’t leave me. Her hair had fallen gently over her shoulder, catching the light in a way that made me want to reach out and touch it. She wasn’t wearing much makeup — she never needed it. Her skin was smooth, her lips soft-looking, a shade of pink that had been the center of too many of my late-night fantasies.She had looked so beautiful, even when she tried to hide it, even when she avoided my eyes. And the more she avoided me, the more I wanted her.I shut my eyes for a second, running a hand through my hair as I remembered the way she stiffened when I hugged her. The way she sucked in a breath when I kissed her forehead. She tried to act like it meant noth
His head was bowed like he was buttering his toast, but the smirk on his lips gave him away. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.When I tried to shift my chair back just a little, he leaned forward, reaching for the butter dish in the middle of the table. His hand brushed against mine, warm and quick, like an accident—but it wasn’t. My skin tingled where he touched me, and I had to drop my eyes again before his father caught the way I almost jumped.“Something wrong?” his father’s voice cut through the tension.I jolted, almost knocking over my glass.“N-no,” I stammered quickly, forcing a small smile. “Just… the toast is a bit hard.”He grunted, not really paying attention, and went back to eating. Relief washed through me, but only for a moment. Because under the table, Jamie’s foot nudged mine again, slow and teasing this time. He dragged it along my ankle, sending shive
The next morning, I sat stiffly at the dining table, the edge of my chair pressing into the back of my legs. My hands clutched my coffee cup like it was the only thing keeping me steady. The steam had already faded, leaving the drink lukewarm, but I still held it close, raising it to my lips now and then just so I had something to do.The plate in front of me was filled with scrambled eggs and toast, but my stomach twisted too tightly for food. I poked at it with my fork, pushing the pieces around, making it look like I was eating. I didn’t want Jamie to notice how nervous I was.But I couldn’t help it—I felt so awkward.Shame pressed down on me like a heavy blanket, smothering me with every breath. I had watched him. I had stood outside his bathroom last night, staring through that gap in the door while he showered, while the steam rolled over him. The memory made my cheeks burn, even now. I wanted to forget it, to pretend it never happened, b