Chapter 31
Edmund’s POV
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The whiskey in front of me barely made a dent in the thoughts crowding my head. The low music that played in the background at the bar, the muted chatter, the clink of glasses, it all faded when I thought about her.
I swirled the liquid slowly, watching it as it caught the dim light. Across from me, Lewis leaned back in his chair, one arm slung casually over the rest. He was nursing his own drink, but his eyes were sharp, studying me like I was one of his boardroom puzzles.
“You’ve been grinning like an idiot since we sat down,” he finally said, smirking. “I take it the meeting went well?”
“Well?” I let out a short laugh. “Lewis, it was better than well. Amelia, she was extraordinary. The way she handled everything… the medical breakdown, the logistics James completely butchered, she carried the entire meeting. Every question, every hesitation, she had an answer. Confident. Precise. God, she’s brilliant.”
Lewis raised an eyebrow. “You’ve said her name five times in the last two minutes.”
“So?” I shrugged, but even I could hear the way my voice warmed whenever I said it. “She’s the reason this outreach is going to succeed. She’s the reason it even feels real.”
He set his glass down with a sharp clink. “Edmund, she’s also the reason you’re about to walk into a mess if you’re not careful.”
I met his gaze, the irritation flaring instantly. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” he shot back. “You’re married. To Vikki. You had your chance with Amelia years ago, and you didn’t take it. Whatever this is you’re feeling, you need to stop it before it goes too far.”
I groaned. “What’s it with you guys reminding me of my marital status!? Of course I remember that I’m married, big whoop.”
He gave me a look of disappointment, and I rolled my eyes, tossing back the rest of my whiskey. It burned all the way down, but it wasn’t enough to put out the fire in my chest. “Don’t give me that moral high ground crap, Lewis. You know as well as I do, Vikki was never the one.”
He blinked at me, stunned. “Edmund-”
“She wasn’t,” I repeated firmly. “You think I don’t know? You think I don’t feel it every damn day? Amelia was always the one. Always. I let her go because I was too much of a coward back then, and because Vikki, well, she was my first girlfriend, safe.. Convenient. But she’s not who I want.”
Lewis snorted. “She is not the one you wanted? Yeah right”
น
Okay maybe I did want her at some point, but right now u don’t ”
Lewis sighed, dragging a hand over his face. “You’re playing with fire, brother. And if you keep this up, it won’t just burn you, it’ll burn everyone around you.”
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Chapter 31
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“Then let it,” I muttered, signaling the bartender for another drink. ” Besides we are just friends”
“But you don’t want to be just friends.”
“Cant we just drop it!” I snapped at him.
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Lewis didn’t push it further. He just finished his whiskey in one long swallow and stood. “I’m heading out. Try not to drown in this obsession of yours before the project even begins.”
I smirked without humor. “Goodnight, Lewis.”
He clapped me on the shoulder as he passed. “Goodnight, Edmund. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
*****
By the time I got home, the house was quiet, warm light spilling through the wide windows. I took of my shoes and headed inside
Vikki appeared from the hallway like she’d been waiting for me, a soft smile curving her lips. “There you are,” she said sweetly, stepping into my arms before I could even set my keys down. “I was starting to worry.”
I stiffened. Her perfume was rich, and expensive. It used to excite me once upon a time. Now it just suffocated me.
“Long day,” I muttered, disentangling myself enough to shrug off my jacket.
She followed me into the living room, her manicured hand brushing along my arm. “Well, you’re home now. That’s all that matters.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My mind was still at that conference table, watching Amelia’s hands sketch out procedures on a notepad, hearing her steady voice.
Vikki leaned closer, her tone playful. “You smell like whiskey.”
“Bar with Lewis,” I said shortly.
“Hmm.” She traced her fingers across my chest. “I’ve missed you today.”
I stepped back. “I need a shower.”
Her brow furrowed. “Edmund, I was trying to-”
“I’ll be out in a while,” I cut her off, already heading down the hall.
The bathroom door clicked shut behind me, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Peeling off my shirt, I stepped into the shower and turned the water on full blast.
Hot streams cascaded over me, but they couldn’t wash away the ache lodged deep in my chest. I braced my hands against the cool tile, my head bowed as the steam filled the room.
And all I saw was her. Amelia’s face, her eyes meeting mine across the table, her voice echoing in my head.
20:39 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 31
I hated myself for it, but the thought alone made me hard.
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I squeezed my eyes shut, cursing under my breath. But the more I tried to fight it, the stronger it grew. My hand curled around my throbbing cock almost without permission, the hot spray mingling with the heat of my body.
I imagined it was her touch. Her lips. Her breath against my ear. The way she’d look at me, not with the polite, distant
gaze she wore now, but with the raw desire I remembered from years ago.
The images consumed me, and before I could stop it, I came hard. Ropes of cum spilling on my fingers and the bathroom floor with a force that left me trembling. My forehead pressed against the tile, my breath ragged, water running down in rivulets that felt almost like shame.
It had been a long time since I’d come that hard. A long time since I’d felt anything this real.
I cleaned myself up quickly, toweling off until my skin burned, trying to erase the evidence of what I’d just done.
Wrapping the towel around my waist, I stepped out into the bedroom.
Vikki was waiting on the bed, draped in black lace lingerie, her hair fanned out across the pillows. She gave me a slow smile, one she probably thought was irresistible. “Well,” she purred, “look who finally decided to come back to me.”
I froze, my chest tightening.
“I’m not in the mood,” I said flatly.
Her smile faltered. “What do you mean you’re not in the mood? I’ve been waiting for you all evening.”
“I said I’m not in the mood.”
She sat up, annoyance flashing in her eyes. “Edmund, you’ve been distant for weeks. Months, even. And now you can’t even look at me?”
I turned away, pulling on a pair of pajama pants. “I’m tired. That’s all.”
“No,” she snapped. “It’s not just that. You’ve changed. You don’t touch me anymore, you don’t even try. What the hell is going on?”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to answer.
“Edmund,” she pressed, her voice softening now, almost pleading. “Talk to me. Please.”
But I couldn’t. Because the truth would shatter everything, and I wasn’t ready for the problem my answer would bring…
“I’m going to sleep,” I muttered instead, climbing into bed and turning away from her.
There was silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.
20:39 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 31
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And then the sound of her quiet breathing, strained, hurt.
But I didn’t turn back. I couldn’t.
Because all I could see, even in the darkness, was Amelia.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
