15. Addison

15

Addison

I pulled the chicken pot pies from the oven, the rich aroma of savory gravy and flaky crust filling the kitchen. My hands trembled slightly as I plated them, still shaken from the intense encounter with Michael just moments ago.

I set the pies on the table and took my seat across from him. My legs quivered beneath me, a constant reminder of the pleasure that had rocked through my body. I tried to steady my breathing, but my heart raced in my chest.

Michael picked up his fork, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he dug into the steaming pie. I followed suit, the creamy filling warming my tongue, but I barely tasted it. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken thoughts and lingering desire.

I glanced up at him, wondering if he felt the awkwardness too. His face was unreadable, his focus seemingly on the meal before him. I wanted to say something, to acknowledge what had just transpired, but the words stuck in my throat.

We ate in silence, the only sounds the clink of our forks against the plates and the distant ticking of the clock on the wall. I shifted in my seat, my skin still tingling with the memory of his touch.

Was this how it would always be now? Stolen moments of passion followed by awkward silences? I wasn't sure I could handle the tension, the constant push and pull of our strange new dynamic.

As I finished my pie, I risked another glance at Michael. He met my gaze, his eyes blue and intense. A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing.

I stood to clear the plates, needing a moment to compose myself. As I reached for his empty dish, his hand brushed mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I pulled back, nearly dropping the plate in my haste.

"Addison," he said. I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. But he didn't continue, just watched me with those piercing eyes.

I swallowed hard, gathering the dishes and hurrying to the sink. I couldn't let myself get swept up in this again, not when I still had so many unanswered questions. I needed time to think, to process everything that had happened.

But as I stood there, my hands submerged in the soapy water, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had irrevocably changed. And I wasn't sure if I was ready for what came next.

A knock at the door startled me. I dried my hands quickly and went to answer it, my heart still racing from the intense encounter with Michael.

To my surprise, Eren stood on the other side, a small smile on his face. "Hey, Ads," he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I thought maybe we could spend some time together, just the two of us."

I blinked, taken aback by his unexpected appearance. "Oh, um, sure," I stammered, glancing back towards the kitchen where Michael still sat. "Let me just finish up the dishes real quick."

Eren followed me into the kitchen, his eyes widening slightly when he saw Michael. "Hey, man," he said, his tone casual but his posture tense. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Michael didn't respond, his gaze locked on me. I could feel the heat of his stare, the hunger in his eyes making my skin prickle with awareness. Eren cleared his throat, breaking the charged silence.

"Listen, Michael, I was hoping to spend some time with Addison," he said, his voice firm. "Just the two of us, you know? I appreciate you being here, but…"

Michael's jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving mine. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and barely contained emotions. Finally, he stood, his chair scraping against the floor.

He walked towards me, his gaze searing into mine. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear.

"This isn't over," he whispered so only I could hear. "Not by a long shot."

With that, he brushed past me, his shoulder grazing mine as he strode out of the kitchen. I heard the front door slam a moment later; the sound echoing through the house.

I let out a shaky breath, my legs trembling beneath me. Eren watched me, his brow furrowed with concern.

"You okay, Ads?" he asked, taking a step towards me. "What was that all about?"

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. How could I possibly explain what had just happened? The intense connection between Michael and me, the way my body responded to his touch, the confusing mix of desire and guilt that swirled inside me?

"I'm fine," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just a little tired, that's all."

Eren didn't look convinced, but he didn't push the issue. Instead, he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

I melted into his embrace, desperate for the comfort and familiarity of his touch. But even as I clung to him, I couldn't shake the feeling of Michael's eyes on me, the memory of his hands on my skin, the promise of something more lingering in the air.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

"Is Michael being good to you?" Eren's question hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken implications. His eyes searched mine.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Michael was being… I wasn't even sure how to finish that sentence. His touch ignited a fire within me, his presence both thrilling and terrifying. But good? I couldn't say for certain.

"He's…" I started, my voice trailing off. I bit my lip, struggling to find the right words. "It's complicated."

Eren's brow furrowed, concern etched on his face. "Addison, if you don't feel comfortable, I can tell Michael to back off," he said, his tone gentle but firm.

"No!" I exclaimed, surprised by the immediacy of my response. The thought of Eren interfering, of losing whatever this was with Michael, sent a jolt of panic through me.

Eren looked taken aback by my outburst, his eyes widening slightly. I could see the confusion and worry swirling in their depths.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, a nervous habit I couldn't seem to shake. "I just… I want to do this so I can finally be with you," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

It was the truth, or at least part of it. I did want to be with Eren, to experience the intimacy and connection that had always seemed just out of reach. But there was more to it than that, a deep-seated curiosity and hunger that Michael had awakened within me.

I reached for the plate of blueberry muffins on the counter, desperate for a distraction from the intensity of Eren's gaze. "Here," I said, offering him one with a small smile. "I made these this morning."

Eren took the muffin, but his focus remained on me. I could feel the weight of his concern, the unspoken questions hanging in the air between us. But I couldn't bring myself to voice them, to admit the confusing tangle of emotions that Michael had stirred up inside me.

Instead, I took a bite of my own muffin, the sweet burst of blueberries on my tongue a welcome distraction from the turmoil in my heart. I knew I couldn't avoid this conversation forever, but for now, I just wanted to savor this moment of normalcy, of being with Eren without the complications of Michael looming over us.

"Come on," he said. "Let's watch that Ryan Gosling movie you've been dying to see."

I nestled into Eren's arms as we settled on the couch, the opening credits of the movie rolling across the screen. His warmth enveloped me, his touch comforting and familiar. But even as I leaned into him, my mind drifted to Michael.

The memory of his hands on my skin, the intensity of his gaze, the way he had made me feel… it all swirled through my thoughts. I tried to focus on the movie, on the feel of Eren's arms around me, but I couldn't shake the lingering sensations of Michael's touch.

It was wrong; I knew that. Eren was my boyfriend, the one I was supposed to be with. But there was a part of me, a dark, curious part, that craved more of what Michael had given me. The pleasure, the passion, the overwhelming intensity of it all.

I shifted in Eren's embrace, trying to push the thoughts away. But they persisted, whispering in the back of my mind, tempting me with the promise of something forbidden and thrilling.

Guilt gnawed at me, a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. How could I be thinking about another man while in Eren's arms? What kind of person did that make me?

But even as the shame washed over me, I couldn't deny the curiosity that pulsed through my veins. I wanted to know more, to explore the depths of what Michael could make me feel. It was a hunger I had never experienced before, a yearning that both terrified and excited me.

I tried to focus on the movie, on the feel of Eren's heartbeat against my back. But my mind kept wandering, replaying the moments with Michael over and over again. The way he had touched me, the intensity of his gaze, the promise of something more.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I knew I couldn't keep going like this, torn between two desires. I had to make a choice, to decide what I truly wanted.

But for now, I let myself be held by Eren, even as my thoughts drifted to Michael. I would have to confront this eventually, to face the consequences of my actions.

I settled back into Eren's arms, trying to focus on the movie, but my mind kept drifting. His warmth surrounded me, his touch comforting and familiar, yet a part of me longed for something else, something more intense and thrilling.

As the credits rolled, he turned to me, his eyes soft and tender. He leaned in, his lips inching closer to mine. My heart raced, but not with the anticipation I expected. Instead, a sense of unease twisted in my gut.

Just as his lips were about to brush against mine, my phone rang, piercing the silence. I jerked back, startled, and reached for my phone. Relief washed over me, though I couldn't quite understand why.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice slightly breathless.

"Addison." Michael's deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. "Don't tell him it's me."

"What?" I asked, confusion and surprise lacing my tone.

"Don't kiss him. Don't let him touch you." Michael's words were firm, almost commanding.

"What?" I demanded, my heart pounding in my chest. What was he talking about? Why was he telling me this?

Eren's brow furrowed, concern etched on his face. "You okay?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Michael's words echoed in my mind, a warning and a temptation all at once. I glanced at Eren, seeing the worry in his eyes, the unspoken questions hanging between us.

"I... I have to take this," I said, standing up from the couch. "I'll be right back."

I walked to the kitchen, my phone pressed to my ear, my heart racing. "What are you talking about?" I asked, keeping my voice low so Eren wouldn't overhear.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Addison," Michael said, his tone dark and possessive. "While we do this, no one else can touch you. Not even him."

His words sent a thrill through me, even as guilt twisted in my stomach. I knew it was wrong, knew I should hang up and go back to Eren. But there was a part of me, a dark and curious part, that wanted to hear more, to explore the depths of what Michael promised.

I sucked in a breath, my heart pounding in my chest.

"And, Addison?" Michael said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'll know if you do."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. How could he possibly know? Was he really watching us right now?

I glanced out the window, half expecting to see his piercing gaze staring back at me. But the street was empty, the night still and quiet.

"Are you seriously watching us right now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't test me," he growled.

I stood there for a moment. My mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. Michael's words, his possessive tone, the way he seemed to know exactly what was going on… it was all too much.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I couldn't let Eren see how shaken I was. I had to act normal, had to pretend that everything was fine.

"Tell him you're going to bed," Michael said. "He should leave."

I closed my eyes, steeling myself for what I had to do. I didn't want to lie to Eren, didn't want to send him away. But I knew I had no choice. Michael's words had made that clear.

Michael hung up without preamble.

I walked back into the living room, my steps slow and heavy. Eren looked up at me, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Everything okay?" he asked, standing up from the couch.

I forced a smile, hoping it looked convincing. "Yeah, just tired," I said, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. "I think I'm going to head to bed."

Eren's face fell, disappointment flashing in his eyes. But he nodded, understanding as always. "Okay," he said, moving towards me. "I'll go with you?"

I hesitated, torn between my desire for Eren's comfort and the lingering fear of Michael's warning. "Why?" I blurted out, unable to stop the question from escaping my lips.

Eren pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me in a tender embrace. "Just because I'm not going to do anything with you doesn't mean I don't want to be next to you," he said softly, his breath warm against my ear.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. What could I say? How could I explain the confusing mix of emotions swirling inside me? The guilt of keeping secrets from Eren, the thrill of Michael's dangerous attention, the fear of what might happen if I disobeyed his commands?

I let Eren lead me upstairs, my steps heavy with trepidation. I hoped desperately that Michael was just bluffing, that he wasn't really watching us right now. But a part of me knew better, knew that he was capable of far more than I had ever imagined.

As we entered my bedroom, Eren's presence beside me felt both comforting and suffocating. I wanted to lose myself in his embrace, to forget about Michael and the twisted game he had pulled me into. But even as I lay down next to Eren, my mind raced with thoughts of what might come next.

Would Michael make good on his threats? Would he punish me for allowing Eren to stay? The uncertainty gnawed at me, keeping me awake long after Eren had drifted off to sleep.

I stared at the ceiling, my heart heavy with the weight of my secrets. I knew I couldn't keep living like this, torn between two worlds, two desires. But for now, all I could do was lie there in the darkness, hoping that somehow, someway, I would find a way out of this tangled web I had woven myself into.

And that was when my phone vibrated.