"Hey Sarah. Yes it's me. Just went to get some air. Thought I'd catch the sun but it is a bit chilly so I came back, " Emily lied as she headed to her bed.

"It is cold. Let me go back to dreaming. Talk to you when I fully wake up, " Sarah said with a yawn.

"Okay. Later, " Em said as she got into bed.

Emily lay motionless, staring at the ceiling as the soft morning light crept through the curtains. Her body felt different. She was sore in all the right places and every small movement sent fresh waves of heat and shame through her. The taste of Asher still lingered on her lips. He kissed the way he walked; controlled but deeply.

The memory of his deep, commanding voice whispering "Mine" against her ear swirled in her brain. She wasn't his but the word had made her wetter. This wasn't supposed to be happening. He wasn't supposed to affect her like that.

She turned her head and saw that Sarah had gone back to sleeping peacefully in the other bed. Relief washed over her. At least her friend hadn't asked too many questions when she slipped back into the room at dawn, heels in hand. She had been afraid that she would be found. It was not like it was the first time she was sneaking in from a night out. This was different in a way she didn't want to discover.

She closed her eyes and summoned sleep but it did not come. The only thoughts that assaulted her mind were of her under Asher, moaning and calling his name loud enough to have him cover her mouth with his palm. After tossing and turning for some minutes, she quietly slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom. She locked the door and leaned against it, breathing hard. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. Maybe she could really catch the sun rise now instead of just laying there with dirty thoughts.

Her phone buzzed on the counter. She looked at the screen. There were three messages from Asher.

Asher: You okay? I woke up and found you were gone.

Asher: I wanted to eat you out one more time. Would you like to come back?

Asher: Talk to me, Emily.

Her heart clenched tightly. She wanted to reply. She wanted to tell him how alive and sexy he had made her feel. And how he was the first man to ever give her multiple orgasms in one night. Instead, she deleted the messages one by one and blocked his number. This had to stop before it ruined everything.

The shower was scalding hot. She scrubbed her skin until it was pink. She was trying to erase the scent of him and the feel of his hands pinning her wrists. She couldn't shake the way he had taken complete control of her body as if he knew deeply. It was unsettling how good he could make her feel. That was not what she had signed up for and she scrubbed harder to rid the experience off her mind and body. But the memories only grew stronger and phantom hands continued to caress her. She remembered how he had flipped her onto her stomach, fisted her hair, and driven into her with one thrust. Her legs trembled at the memory of how easily she had came apart for him.

Tears mixed with the water on her face. It was embarassing how much she wanted to run back to his bed and let him devour her again. This was not her. She did not do more than one night, especially not with men who looked calm but dangerous. He could burn her, and she knew that. And it was the reason she was so determined to keep her distance.

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, Sarah was awake and scrolling on her phone.

"You came back really late," Sarah said with a raised eyebrow. "Everything alright?"

It looked like Sarah really didn't remember them having a conversation.

"It was almost dawn Sarah. I was not sleepy so I went for a walk in the garden. It is really beautiful at night. You should see it, " Emily lied again.

Sarah didn't look fully convinced but dropped the subject. "I will tonight. We are leaving tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. We are catching the afternoon flight. I really enjoyed my stay here," Em answered.

"I did too. Maybe someday we can afford to vacation here," Sarah wished.

"If we get rich husbands, we will have the funds," Emily chimed."

"Anyway, dress up. We have to go downstairs for some food. I am famished," Sarah said as she changed into a lounge set.

They joined the others for breakfast on the villa terrace. Cassie looked radiant. She was glowing with happiness as she leaned against Reggie. The love between them was beautiful and obvious.

A few minutes later, Asher walked in. He looked composed and sexy. He was wearing a simple white shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders. His hair was a bit shaggy and he had the morning stuble.

He greeted them before siting down beside Reggie.

His eyes found Emily a minute later. The intensity in them made her stomach tighten. She looked down at her plate, suddenly unable to eat.

Throughout breakfast, his gaze kept returning to her. When their eyes met across the table, heat flared between them. Emily excused herself early, claiming she was coming down with a headache.

She spent the rest of the morning pacing, guilt eating at her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Asher's face above her, felt his weight pressing her into the mattress. She wanted him again, maybe more than once. That realization terrified her more than anything.

Her phone buzzed with a new number. She knew it was him.

Unknown: Don't run from this. We need to talk.

Emily stared at the message for a long time before typing back a single word:

Emily: It was a mistake.

She blocked the new number too.

But she knew better than anyone else. Last night hadn't felt like a mistake. It had been inevitable. They had been dancing around each other for a while. There texts had been a bit polite before, but there had been sexual inniendos from the onset.

The guilt followed her all day. She watched Cassie laughing with Reggie and felt tears prick her eyes. She was happy and Emily knew that she could never get that kind of happiness in her life.

Asher didn't approach her again that day, but she felt his presence everywhere. The tension between them was thick and was not going to dissipate soon.

That night, alone in bed, Emily's hand slipped between her thighs. She remembered every command, every thrust, every growl. She came whispering his name, then cried quietly into her pillow until sleep finally claimed her.

This secret was going to destroy her if she wasn't careful.

They travelled the next day in tue afternoon. Emily sat with Sarah while Asher and one of his distant cousin sat together on the opposite seats. When Emily realized that Asher was also on the aisle seat, she requested Sarah if they could switch so that she could sit near the window. Sarah had agreed but with questions in her eyes. She knew Emily loved the aisle seat because it gave her an easy time when going to the washroom. Besides, Em was an anxious traveller so the aisle seat was good for her frequent movement.

When they landed, Asher offered to drop them first with his driver and Sarah agreed before Emily could refuse. It would have looked awkward if she refused as she was not one to pass an opportunity to save money. When they got to Sarah's apartment, she alighted and bid them bye, promising to check up on Em once she was well rested from the jet lag.

It was only Asher and Emily in the car now and the silence was deafening.

"We are here," Ken, the driver said.

"Thank you. Emily said as she alighted. Asher had alighted too and was opening the boot for her suitcase.

She picked it and started walking.

" I can help you with that," Asher suggested.

"No, thank you." Her smile was a tad bit sweeter.

Asher raised his hand in surrender. "Okay, call me later, will you?"

Emily did not answer. She did not even turn back because if she did, she would have gone back and begged him to take her home with him and fuck her. Or do something as stupid as inviting him over to her apartment.

*******************

A month later, Cassie and Reggie returned from their honeymoon. It had been a ten countries round trip. She called her friends as soon as she landed.

"I am hosting a dinner party tomorrow. You girls should come," Cassie had said over the phone.

Emily had wanted to ask if Asher would be there but the question would have raised suspicion. Besides, maybe Asher was too busy running his multiple companies to come to a small dinner. She hoped he wouldn't come.

The welcome dinner for Cassie and Reggie was held at their beautiful new home. Emily arrived second. They were supposed to carpool but Emily had been held at work. She came bearing a bottle of wine and some candies for Isla.

"I swear I am sending you and Asher her dentist's bill," Cassie joked as she tightly hugged her.

"I'll pay," Emily answered, ignoring Asher's name.

"You look nice. Is that a new dress?" Cassie asked. Emily gave her a 360.

"It sure is. I found it at a thrift shop here in town. I will take you with me next week. They open new bales every second Sunday of the month," Emily said.

She knew Cassie loved thrifting, despite now being married to a filthy rich husband who could give her anything she wanted and a brother who could buy the whole world for her. Talking about brother, she crossed her fingers, hoping he had not come.

"You look so happy," Emily said as they walked inside.

"I am," Cassie replied, beaming. "I missed you so much!"

"Umph! Liar. You did not even have time to miss us. I bet you spent your waking hours under Reggie," Emily said with a laugh.

"Em!" Cassie admonished with a shy smile.

"See, I am right. I am... " her sentence was disrupted by a laugh he could recognize from anywhere.

Her eyes darted around the room until they landed on Asher. He was playing house with Isla, a teddy bear in one arm. It was like he had sensed her watching her because a second later, his head lifted and his gaze landed on her. The intensity almost made her fall to her knees.

He looked good in a light blue cardigan and a pair of slacks. His hair was neat and she had the urge to mess it up. He winked at her and before she could figure out what was going on, he had turned his attention to Isla.

"Fibd a seat. I'll go check if the cook is done. Thank you for the wine," Cassie said.

"Welcome." Emily was absentminded.

Dinner was pure torture. Asher sat directly across from her. Once when she reached for tye serving spoon, Asher reached for it too and their fingers touched. Emily let go of it as it had burned her causing curious glances from people on the table. The conversation flowed smoothly around them, but Emily could barely focus.

"So, Em," Cassie asked cheerfully during the main course, "any new guys in your life lately?"

"She has been talking to someone," Sarah chimed in.

Emily gave her a death like stare but Sarah just stuck out her tongue at her. She was still thinking of what answer to give when she felt a leg on her. She lifted her head and found Asher grinning at her.

"I am curious too," Asher said as his leg traveled up her thighs.

Emily nearly choked on her wine. "No. Nothing serious. You know me." She pushed his leg away and gave him a stare. Asher replied with a sweet smile before picking up his wine.

After dinner, while everyone moved to the living room, Asher found her alone in the kitchen. He closed the door softly behind him.

"Emily," he said, voice low and rough.

She turned, gripping the edge of the counter. " Not now please!" She stacked the plates carefully on the sink.

He stepped closer until she was trapped. "One night was enough for you?" he murmured. "You came apart so beautifully for me. Don't tell me you don't want to experience that again."

Her breath hitched. "It was a one time thing. Let us leave it at that. This is wrong."

"It feels pretty right when you're moaning my name," he replied, tilting her chin up. His thumb brushed her lower lip making her tremble.

Voices approached from the hallway. Asher stepped back just as Reggie entered.

"Everything okay?" Reggie asked.

"Perfect," Asher said smoothly, but his eyes promised they were far from done.

The rest of the evening passed slowly. Emily did her best to avoid Asher for the rest of the evening. When Emily finally left, Asher walked her to the gate where her cab was already waiting.

"This isn't over," he said quietly.

"It has to be," she whispered before climbing in.