3.

THALASSA

The chicken slipped from my hand. The pizza, too. Both landed on the counter with a dull thud.

Because Adam Reyes was standing in the doorway. And I was standing in front of him completely naked.

Mortification and shame flooded me, hot and suffocating, and yet—God help me—something curled low in my stomach. Arousal.

I tried to grab the towel, but one word from him kept me in place.

“Don’t.”

I froze, my fingers hovering over the terrycloth. My breath caught in my throat as I straightened, bare, exposed under his gaze. I should have argued, should have told him to go to hell. Instead, I stood there, allowing his eyes drag over me like a man savoring a forbidden meal he had every intention of devouring

He took one step toward me. Then another. Slow, and certain. Like he had all the time in the world, and I had none.

I backed up instinctively until the edge of the sink pressed cold against the small of my back. “We agreed,” I stammered, trying for control I didn’t feel. “That night—it was a mistake.”

Adam didn’t stop. He came close enough that I could feel his heat, smell his cologne, and remember exactly how he had tasted when he’d kissed me that night at the Reyes Christmas party. My heart pounded against my ribs, traitorous and wild.

His mouth curved knowingly. “A mistake?” His voice dropped lower. “Remind me, Ala. Which night are you talking about?” His eyes dragged over me. “The one where you begged me to keep touching you? The one where you came so hard on my fingers you forgot your own name?”

My breath shuddered out of me. Heat rushed to my face, down my throat, all the way between my thighs.

“I—” My voice cracked. “It was wrong.”

His hand clamped over my breast. My nipple pebbled instantly under his thumb, my back arching before I could stop myself. A gasp escaped me when he pinched my nipple, pleasure spiking so fast it almost hurt.

I was wet. Turned on. Pathetically ready for him. Shame burned through me, hotter than the pleasure, because I shouldn’t want him. Not like this. But my body didn’t care.

Because I remembered. I remembered his breath in my ear that night, the way he’d whispered, ’I love your big tits, Ala.‘—

“Why are you avoiding me Ala?” he asked.

Ala.

Caleb always called me baby, sometimes princess. They were cute names that could belong to anyone.

But Ala? That was different. That was mine. His. A name he called me once, that made me feel claimed in ways I shouldn’t crave.

I hated how much I liked the sound of it, and how my body reacted because I didn’t think I’d ever hear him call me Ala again.

Why am I avoiding you?

Because I want you, I screamed in my head. Because I can’t admit it. Because you’re my fiancé’s uncle and I like the way you make me feel, and if I don’t stay away from you, I’ll beg you to fuck me.

But I didn’t say it. I couldn’t.

The opening of the front door shattered the moment.

I shoved past him, scooping the towel from the floor with shaking hands as my panic spiked, wrapping it tight around my body just as Caleb’s voice rang out.

“Thalassa?”

”In here,” I called back as I tried to calm my breathing, trying to erase the flush burning on my cheeks.

My fiancé strolled into the kitchen, the grin on his face stopping short when he saw his uncle leaning against the counter. His brows lifted. “Uncle? I thought you weren’t coming back anytime soon.”

“I had an emergency after our call. It required my attention.” He shifted his gaze to me, “I’ll be flying back tomorrow.”

“And next time, tell your fiancée I hope this is the last time I come back to my house to see her in nothing but a towel. What happened to human decency? Respecting in-laws?”

He stormed out before either of us could answer.

I forced a smile, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. “I told you coming to live here wasn’t a great idea. Your uncle doesn’t like me, Cay. And me working for him? Please. It’s not too late — I can get my stuff and go.”

“Relax, princess.”

That damn princess again. Nothing like the way Ala sounded on Adam’s lips.

“He’ll come around. He doesn’t hate you,” Caleb said, moving to the sink, washing his hands as if it were that simple. “You know my uncle. He’s just a tough nut to crack.”

“Wow.” I pft’d under my breath.

Caleb came back to me, slipping an arm around my waist, kissing my cheek softly, apologetically. “I’m sorry. He must be in an awful mood.” His palm rubbed circles on my back, his touch sweet where Adam’s had been merciless.

Fucking stop Thalassa. Don’t compare. I wasn’t ever going to have Adam. I am engaged. And that's final.

I let out a long sigh, trying to calm the pounding in my chest, and to forget the feel of his fingers on my nipples.

Caleb’s hand dipped lower, between my thighs under the towel. His finger stroked against me, and he groaned. “Already wet for me, baby?”

Already wet for your uncle, Cay. The thought jabbed at me.

I smiled anyway, burying it, kissing him as he pulled his finger out and licked it clean.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” he murmured against my mouth. “Save your ice cream. Come join me in a bit.”

“Yes, daddy.” I giggled as he smacked my ass and headed upstairs.

The second he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My whole body was still trembling.

Not from Caleb almost walking in on that. But from standing naked in front of Adam Reyes. Knowing he wasn’t in an awful mood.

He was in my mood.