Chapter 24 The Embers That Almost Burned
A long and intense silence choked them. Aveline felt the space that was once large now narrow, leaving only the two of them. Her heart was beating fast, and she didn't know how to respond.
Ezra smiled bitterly. "You also know, I've already caused enough trouble in people's lives. You're afraid of me, aren't you?"
Aveline opened her mouth, wanting to say something... but she didn't even know what to say.
Ezra sat back down, this time next to Aveline but still maintaining a distance. "You should go home and rest."
Aveline gripped the edge of her skirt, holding back a tremble. "Ezra... I can't leave you alone when you're sick."
Ezra looked at her wearily. "I'm not alone. I live with my Aunt, she's just at work right now. Besides..." Ezra paused for a moment before lowering his voice to be deeper. "I'm more afraid of you getting hurt if you stay here with me."
Aveline was stunned. Ezra bowed his head, as if hiding something. Whether it was guilt, fear, or... a feeling deeper than that.
But instead of being afraid or moving away, Aveline shifted her seat closer to Ezra. She took the young man's hand, making Ezra instantly look up at her.
With a soft yet deep voice, Aveline said, "I'm not afraid of you... I actually... need you..."
Ezra was silent. He raised his hand, touching Aveline's cheek with his warm fingers. "I'm here for you..."
That touch was something they should have avoided. But Aveline didn't pull away. Instead, her body leaned toward Ezra, as if the gravity between them was stronger than any logic.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Ezra whispered, too close. "The only thing that hurts is... the part I can't touch myself."
Aveline swallowed.
Ezra tilted his face slightly, and in the next second, their lips met. Gentle at first, like the initial touch of two people who didn't know if they were allowed to want the same thing. But when Aveline responded by pulling Ezra closer, the kiss changed. Deeper, hotter, and more dangerous than before.
Ezra laced his hand around Aveline's waist and pulled the woman into his embrace. Their bodies pressed against each other, as if the long, disturbing pause between them had finally shattered. Aveline felt a beat she hadn't felt in a long time... not just a longing for touch, but a need to feel alive.
Ezra sighed against her lips, pressing the kiss that made Aveline's knees weak. "Oh God, Aveline..." he murmured between breaths. "I've been holding this back for too long."
One small movement, and Aveline's back was against the sofa cushion. Ezra didn't stop kissing her. He traced Aveline's jawline, descending to her neck with brief kisses that sent shivers through Aveline's entire body. Ezra's fingers touched the edge of her blouse. Not forcing, just giving a signal as if asking, May I?
And Aveline... surrendered willingly.
She closed her eyes as Ezra began to unbutton her shirt one by one. Ezra's fingers were gentle, and it was that very gentleness that made Aveline's chest feel full, filled with a feeling she shouldn't have with any man other than her husband.
"I want you," Ezra whispered in her ear. "Not just your body. I want everything."
Aveline bit her lip. "Ezra... this is wrong..."
"But you're not refusing," Ezra murmured, kissing her shoulder. "You want me too."
Aveline couldn't deny it. Every inch of her responded to Ezra. Every second she spent here felt like oxygen, as if she had just realized how slowly Adrian had been letting her die in coldness and indifference.
Ezra continued his kiss, deeper, more demanding. Their hands reached for each other, searching. Aveline felt Ezra's sweater come off, while Ezra opened Aveline's blouse wider.
One more layer of clothing... and they would truly cross that line.
But then...
Ezra's cell phone rang, loud, insistent, like an alarm dragging them back to reality.
Ezra let out a rough breath, still pressing against Aveline. "Just ignore it," he said without looking at the screen. "I don't need anyone right now."
But the call kept ringing.
Aveline put her hand on Ezra's chest. "Answer it," she said softly. Her voice trembled, not just because of the kiss, but because she knew... if they didn't stop now, they would regret it. Or maybe she would be the one who would shatter first.
Frustrated, Ezra grabbed the phone and saw the caller's name. His expression changed, from annoyance to slight panic.
"It's my aunt," he said, swallowing. After regulating his still-ragged breathing, he answered it.
"Yes? I'm fine... Aunt doesn't need to buy anything..."
Ezra turned towards Aveline, who was tidying her blouse with trembling hands.
"Alright, Aunt..."
Then the phone call ended. Slowly, Ezra picked up his sweater lying on the sofa and put it on.
In an instant, reality washed over them like cold water. The room felt too bright, too quiet, and too... real. Both their faces were flushed. A mixture of interrupted passion and bitter awareness.
Ezra leaned closer, cupping Aveline's face. "I don't want you to leave," he whispered. "I still want you."
"Ezra." Aveline cut him off gently. "What did your Aunt say?"
Ezra closed his eyes for a moment, holding back frustration. "She's downstairs. Asking if I need anything. She'll be up in a moment."
Aveline didn't answer. She didn't know. Her head was still spinning, her heart was still pounding, and guilt was beginning to seep in like a poison she realized too late.
Ezra looked at her like a man afraid of losing something he had just grasped.
"Don't go," he pleaded.
Not long after, hurried footsteps were heard in the hallway. Then the door opened.
A woman appeared, and immediately froze when she saw a strange woman sitting on her sofa.
"Hello, Aunt. This is my lecturer at the campus. Miss Aveline..." Ezra introduced. Aveline stood up and extended her hand. But Ezra's Aunt just stood there staring at her with a cynical look. As if she disliked Aveline's presence there. As if Aveline were the one who would destroy her family's life.
Aveline and Ezra exchanged glances before Aveline finally withdrew. She held her own hands, feeling both embarrassed and guilty, seeing Ezra's Aunt's reaction.
"What do you need here?" Ezra's Aunt asked coldly.
"I... I just wanted to check on Ezra. He didn't come to class today because he was sick. So I felt worried—"
"Thank you," Ezra's Aunt cut in quickly. "But you should leave. Ezra doesn't know the rule in this house yet. We don't receive guests."