The Forbidden Heat

Amelia clutched the dress and hurried into the bathroom, her heartbeat pounding wildly against her ribs. She shut the door behind her and sank onto the edge of the bathtub, struggling to steady her breath. Her gaze drifted - and froze. His clothes were hanging neatly nearby... including his shirt, and beneath it, his undergarments. A wave of heat rushed through her face. She tore her eyes away, but they returned of their own accord, as though drawn by something magnetic - something she couldn't control. Slowly, she rose to her feet. Her trembling hand reached out, brushing the fabric of his shirt. It was still warm. Still carried his scent - a blend of soap, smoke, and something darker, unmistakably him. Without thinking, she brought it to her lips, pressing it gently there, as if the faint trace of him could calm the storm inside her. But fate wasn't on her side. The door opened. Ethan's deep voice filled the air. "Sorry - I just need my phone. I didn't think you'd had time to undress yet." Her blood froze. She turned, eyes wide, the shirt still clutched in her hands. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Ethan's gaze fell on the fabric she was trying - and failing - to hide. His expression shifted, the calm on his face flickering for the briefest second. His heart stopped. What was she doing with his shirt? Was she... smelling it? He blinked hard, shaking the thought away. No - that couldn't be right. She must've picked it up by accident, startled, confused. He refused to believe otherwise. Meanwhile, Amelia's entire body was aflame with embarrassment. Her hands trembled, her cheeks burned, and she wanted nothing more than for the floor to swallow her whole. What have I done? she thought, mortified beyond words. Desperate to distract herself, she turned away, dressing quickly - almost frantically - trying to erase the last few seconds from her memory. Her reflection in the mirror was red and flustered, her heart still racing as she took a deep breath and prepared to leave the room. Outside, Ethan had already stepped aside, phone in hand, his tone controlled though his thoughts were far from calm. "Yes, Mr. Carter," he said evenly. "Your daughter is safe. You can come pick her up." He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket, staring for a moment at the closed bathroom door. He wasn't sure what unsettled him more - the image of her holding his shirt to her lips, or the truth he'd been avoiding all along: He could keep her safe from the world... but not from himself. She  Amelia was in a state beyond words. Her cheeks burned crimson, her heart hammering so fast she could feel it in her throat. What have I done? she kept asking herself, unable to look in the mirror, unable to believe he had seen her holding his shirt as if- No. She couldn't even finish the thought. Trying desperately to distract herself, she dressed in a rush, her trembling fingers fumbling over the buttons, every sound in the room feeling louder than it was. She drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. All she wanted now was to leave this place - to escape the confusion, the heat that rose inside her every time she thought of him. Outside, Ethan stood by the window, phone in hand, his voice low but commanding. "Yes, Mr. Carter... your daughter's safe. You can come and take her now." He ended the call without waiting for a reply. He knew the only place she was truly safe was in her father's house. Nowhere else. Not even with him. Meanwhile, Thomas was already on his way, telling Stella everything that had happened. Her eyes widened with shock and curiosity as she bombarded him with questions. "Were they together last night? Do you think something happened between them?" Thomas sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know. But a man like him... he can't possibly love my daughter. He's dangerous. A man like that only plays games - he takes what he wants, then leaves." But Stella's expression shifted. A scheming smile curved her lips. "Then maybe," she said softly, "it's time to play our own game. What if we take her sister with us? Perhaps once Ethan sees her... he'll forget about Amelia altogether." Thomas gave her a long, tired look. "There's no point arguing with you," he muttered. "Get ready. We're leaving. Inside the grand halls of the mansion, Amelia stepped out of her room, moving quietly, hesitantly. Her eyes searched for him in every corner, though she had no idea what she would say if she found him. All she knew was that she had to leave before nightfall. She didn't know where she would go, but she was certain of one thing - she didn't want to be a burden to him. And yet, deep inside, she couldn't deny it... She felt safe here - safer than she had ever felt anywhere else. Her steps carried her to the kitchen, and there he was - standing by the counter, cooking. For a moment, she simply stood still, watching in quiet disbelief. Who would have thought that a man like him, the kind of man you'd expect to have an army of maids preparing his every meal, would be standing there, sleeves rolled up, doing it himself? A faint, involuntary smile touched her lips. She took a careful breath, then spoke softly as she approached him. "Thank you... for letting me stay last night," she murmured. "I'll be leaving now, if you don't mind." Ethan looked up at her, his expression unreadable. He knew that if he said too much, she'd refuse out of sheer stubbornness, so his voice came calm, steady. "Of course. You can go," he said. "But eat breakfast first." Her lips parted slightly - disappointment flickering in her eyes before she could hide it. She had thought, for a fleeting second, that he might ask her to stay - even if it was only out of politeness, even if it was a lie. But no. It seemed no one ever truly wanted her to stay. She forced a small nod, not wanting to seem childish, and sat down at the table, trying to eat something quickly. After all, she never knew when her next meal would come. Ethan watched her in silence, his gaze tracing the smallest details - the way she bit her lip, the slight downturn of her mouth when she tried not to show sadness. He knew those expressions better than anyone. He had memorized them years ago. Every tiny gesture she made stirred something inside him - a tenderness he tried so hard to suppress. But the quiet moment shattered when the door to the mansion swung open. Ethan straightened immediately as a man stepped in - Amelia's father - with his wife at his side... and her sister standing just behind them.