Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

“ C ora, you can’t go on like this! You can’t do what you want while we’re left behind!” my husband’s angry voice rings out from the receiver.

He’s calling me from his office because he was asleep when I got home last night.

“We? Who is ‘we,’ pray tell? And no one is left behind. I’ve just been out, Thomas,” I defend myself, feeling bad that I’m lying to my husband about my cheating.

But even though I know how wrong it is and how big my guilty conscience is, I can’t stay away from Ezra anymore. And I don’t want to. I’ve done everything for Thomas and our marriage for years, and he’s sabotaged it and worked against me. I’m tired of always doing what everyone expects of me while completely losing myself. So, I push the guilty conscience aside and don’t let it eat away at me.

“Cora, you’re hardly ever home. Our daughter is coming tonight. What’s she supposed to think when you’re out all day, and I’m sitting at home waiting for you?” he continues to rant.

I sigh.

“I’ll see you tonight, darling. We will spend a nice family evening with a delicious meal, an excellent wine, and our daughter. All right?” I agree because there’s no point arguing with him.

Thomas agrees, huffing, and we end the call.

Staying home for the weekend seems like the best way to keep the peace with my husband. I'm also looking forward to seeing June and hope she has finally decided what she wants to pursue in her studies. She needs to make something of her life, but I hope she chooses a path that truly fulfills her, rather than just one that promises a lucrative future.

I want more for my daughter, perhaps because I was never able to fully pursue my own dreams. I spent my life doing what was expected of me and what was best for my family, putting my own desires aside. Society often pressures women to believe that their feelings and aspirations are secondary to their roles as wives and mothers, leading many to silence their own needs and opinions, even in the small moments that should be theirs.

That’s probably why I’m so attracted to Ezra. Not because he’s incredibly good-looking but because he sees me. As a woman. He doesn’t see the decent neighbor, wife, and mother but sees me. It feels good. So, can it be wrong if it makes me feel so good?

I know the answer, but I don’t want to admit it.

I start on the housework to ensure everything is ready by the time they get home. For dinner, I’m preparing lasagna, with a rich chocolate pudding for dessert and a fresh salad to complement the main course. I check my pantry and fridge to make sure I have all the ingredients I need before diving in.

Satisfied that I’m fully stocked, I begin preparing the Bolognese and béchamel sauces for the lasagna. Both need to simmer gently for a while, so I’ll let them cook on the stove while I head outside to tend to the garden once everything else is in order.

Sweat pours down my forehead and the back of my neck, and I tie my curls into a messy bun so they don’t hang in my face. It’s still incredibly hot, and yesterday’s little thunderstorm made the air even more humid.

After what feels like an eternity and a gallon of sweat, I finally admire my work—a leaf-free lawn—and start cleaning up my tools. Back inside, the sauces are simmering perfectly on low heat, filling the kitchen with an incredible aroma. The Bolognese sauce still needs a bit more time to reach its optimal flavor, so I taste it once more and add a splash of wine before covering the pot and letting it continue to cook.

Before I put the wine back in the fridge, I treat myself to a small sip straight from the bottle, as I’m alone now, and it’s too early for a whole glass.

“Gotcha,” I suddenly hear surprisingly close behind me, and I flinch so hard that I almost drop the bottle.

“My God, Ezra. Don’t scare me like that… What are you doing here?” I add when I’ve caught my breath.

With a shameless grin, he steps close, takes the bottle from my hand, and sets it beside me. He then gently presses me against the kitchen island and leans in slowly, his gaze fixed on mine.

“I’ve missed you, Beauty,” he murmurs in his rough voice before he kisses me longingly.

I briefly give in to his minor assault until I come back to my senses and push him off me as I shake my head.

“You can’t do that, Ezra. Not here. Besides, June and my husband will be home soon. We can’t… we can’t do this here,” I stutter, repeatedly looking over his shoulder. Not that either of them will surprise us right away.

“Sorry, Beauty. But I can’t stop thinking about you. If I hadn’t at least stolen this little kiss now, I don’t know how I would have made it through the rest of the day until I finally see you again tonight,” he confesses, making me smile, even if it quickly collapses again as I know we can’t see each other for the next few evenings.

“Ezra… I want to spend time with you, too… But I can’t this weekend. My daughter…” I explain between his longing kisses until he halts them and distances himself a little.

I chew my lower lip uncertainly as Ezra says nothing and looks at me stone-faced. I worry for a moment that he will be angry or disappointed. But when the corner of his mouth twitches up, and he leans down toward me again, I know he’s none of those things.

“If this brief moment is all I get over the next few days, then I want it all,” he whispers close to my lips with a dark vibe before he kisses me demandingly and pushes me back against the counter.

Once again, I let myself fall against him briefly and enjoy this kiss, which he completely dominates, far too much, before I reluctantly push him away from me to object.

“Ezra,” I gasp, as his hand has found its way to my breast, and he instantly kneads it firmly. “You can’t do that. Not here,” I launch another feeble attempt to stop him from doing the next thing, even though we both know he already has me where he wants me because I’m absolutely enthralled by this Adonis as soon as he touches me.

“Mmm. You taste good,” Ezra hums with pleasure against my neck as he licks over my still-sweaty skin.

An excited shiver trickles down my spine to the tips of my toes. My body erupts in goosebumps that press my nipples excitedly against the thin fabric of my summer dress. Because it’s so hot today and I’ve been gardening, I’ve decided to go braless. In hindsight, perhaps not the best decision, considering what this could turn into.

Impatiently, he pulls the thin fabric down, exposing my breasts, before he lowers his soft lips onto my hard buds, making me gasp. I let my head fall back so he can pleasure me and drive me crazy. The excitement continues to build inside me, and I feel the first dampness in my panties the longer he massages my breasts, kisses them, and teases them with his tongue. When Ezra bites my nipple, I can’t hold back the moan that erupts from my throat.

“Ezra. We can’t do this here… we can’t…” I try to object again, gasping, but when I feel his hand slowly disappear under my dress until he reaches the already damp piece of fabric between my thighs, I give up, running out of arguments.

My lust for him and this dangerous game has won, and I can no longer resist him. So I reach for his belt and impatiently rip open his jeans. If we’re doing this, then I want everything from him. Right now.

An excited growl escapes his throat before he pushes my panties aside to get to my sensitive clit. I moan loudly into his mouth in approval. I want him so badly that I can’t take it anymore and reach into his pants to take his hardness in my hand so I can drive him as crazy as he drives me.

“Fuck, Beauty!” he growls harshly before lifting me onto the kitchen island in one swift movement. He roughly grabs the back of my neck to pull me against him, kissing me passionately and pushing himself between my legs at the same time.

Panting, I stretch out toward him, craving more so that he can finally thrust himself into me. My naked breasts also demand attention, and Ezra heeds my silent request and kneads them vigorously again, which further arouses me. As I feel his soft tip at my entrance, I moan, which turns into an excited cry as Ezra penetrates me with one mighty thrust.

I bite my lower lip to keep from getting any louder. I claw at his broad shoulders to withstand the powerful thrusts that are driving me mad. But as hard as Ezra takes me, his kisses on my neck are just as gentle. He masters this contrast perfectly, and that’s precisely what drives me so crazy and why I enjoy this so much with him.

Ezra takes what he wants and needs without being selfish or ignoring me and my lust. I want exactly what he’s doing to me here and much more.

“Lie down!” he orders me with a growl, and I obey him.

With my arms stretched above my head, I loll around on the kitchen counter while Ezra thrusts himself deep and hard into me with every trick in the book. He lowers his soft lips onto my breasts to pamper them with his tongue, kisses, and teeth, driving me even more insane.

My moans become more pleading, and I’m on the verge of coming.

When he then places his thumb on my heated pearl, which is craving attention, and rubs it, he drives my arousal to immeasurable heights. His thrusts become increasingly powerful, and I know that he, too, is on the verge.

My eyelids flicker with excitement as I continue to writhe on the kitchen counter in ecstasy, ready to jump over the longed-for cliff, when suddenly I hear the front door, followed by a “Mom?”

“Shit!” I hiss, and Ezra immediately disentangles himself from me so that we can quickly get dressed and cover ourselves. “I’m here, love,” I shout breathlessly to her as I hop off the countertop, pulling my dress back up and zipping up his pants.

I nod for Ezra to leave through the back door, but June comes into the kitchen as he’s about to move. Ezra quickly steps behind the kitchen island so June can’t see the noticeable bulge in his pants and won’t realize what happened just a few seconds ago.

“Oh. Hi. I didn’t know you had company, Mom,” June greets Ezra as she looks back and forth between me and Ezra with an irritated yet curious look.

I smile in a put-upon way and try to salvage the situation somehow.

“Hello, dear. You’re early this week, but I’m happy you’re here. This is Ezra, our new neighbor. He bought the house next door a few weeks ago. He’s only here because he wanted some… um… eggs. Unfortunately, I’ve used them all up,” I explain hastily.

“My bad. I guess I’ll end up having frozen pizza again. I couldn’t compete with the enchanting smell of your mother’s food with my amateurish cooking skills, anyway. And hi, I’m Ezra King. Nice to meet you, June. Your mother has already told me a lot about you,” Ezra takes over for me, and I don’t know whether he’s made it better or worse.

But when I see June’s eyes light up, and she grins at him from ear to ear, I breathe a sigh of relief. The bizarre encounter seems completely forgotten.

“Really? Maybe you’d like to stay for dinner and taste my mom’s cooking skills for yourself. She cooks the best food in the entire country,” June enthuses, although I’m sure this is no longer about my cooking skills. Could it be that my daughter is flirting with my affair? Not unpleasant at all…

“Um… I’m sure Ezra has plans already…”

“I’d love to. But only if it’s okay with you, Mrs. Shepherd?” Ezra asks me with his engaging smile, while the meaningful look in his eyes goes straight through me.

But he can’t do that! He can’t sit here at our table when Thomas is about to come home, and Ezra was deep inside me not five minutes ago. Especially as Thomas was very clear that he didn’t want me to get too close to Ezra, and now he’s supposed to sit at the table with him? That could only backfire.

“I don’t think Thomas would like it so much…” I politely try to uninvite him.

“Oh no. I’m sure Dad won’t mind,” June interrupts me in her cheerful way and smiles broadly at Ezra. Wonderful. Here’s to a great evening with my husband, my daughter, and my secret affair… Yippee!