Unplanned Desires
Celeste stretched her arms as she stepped out of the car, feeling refreshed from her weekend getaway.
The salty air of the beach still lingered on her skin, and the laughter of her friends echoed in her mind.
It had been a much-needed break, a momentary escape from all the tension suffocating her in the city—especially from him.
She walked up the driveway, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. Just as she reached the door and pushed it open, she froze.
Adrian was coming down the stairs, wearing nothing but a robe, the front slightly open, revealing his toned chest.
But that wasn't what made her halt.
Her eyes locked onto the faint red marks trailing down his neck.
Celeste's stomach twisted. No.
Her fingers clenched around the strap of her bag as she forced herself to breathe. She had been gone for two nights. And in that short span of time, Adrian had already brought Emily into their home? Into their bed?
A bitter laugh nearly escaped her lips, but she swallowed it down, schooling her expression into one of indifference.
Adrian's gaze met hers, and something flickered in his eyes—relief? Annoyance? She didn't care.
"Where have you been?" he asked, his voice firm.
Celeste shrugged, kicking off her shoes. "Out of town."
Adrian's brows furrowed. "For two nights? Without telling me?"
She walked past him, ignoring his presence completely. "Didn't realize I needed your permission," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Adrian exhaled sharply, watching her like she was an unsolved puzzle. "You could have at least told someone where you were going."
"Why?" Celeste shot him a sharp look. "Were you worried about me?"
She saw the way his jaw clenched at her words, but before he could respond, he reached for his neck, rubbing at the irritated skin.
"Where's the medicine box?" he muttered.
Celeste let out a cold laugh. "Shouldn't you ask 'her' instead? The one upstairs."
Adrian's brows snapped together. "Who? This house is haunted."
Celeste huffed in disbelief, striding to the cabinet where they kept their first aid kit. She grabbed the box, set it down on the table with a loud thud, and pulled out the ointment and allergy medicine.
"Here," she said curtly. "For that." She motioned to his neck.
Adrian blinked at her, then at the medicine. "Wait. You think—?"
"Save it." Celeste turned on her heel, ready to leave.
"Help me put it on."
She froze. Slowly, she turned back to him, expression deadpan. "You want me to help you?"
Adrian smirked slightly. "I would do it myself, but since you're already here..."
Celeste wanted to throw the ointment at his face, but instead, she snatched it back from the table and motioned for him to sit on the sofa. He did, his robe falling slightly off his shoulder as he leaned back.
She clenched her jaw and ignored the way he looked so damn comfortable.
Scooping some ointment onto her fingers, she reached for his neck, her touch barely grazing his skin. Adrian inhaled sharply at the contact.
"Cold?" she asked flatly.
"Sensitive," he murmured, his voice teasing.
She rolled her eyes and continued applying the ointment, gently smoothing it over the marks. She leaned in slightly to get a better angle, her breath fanning over his skin.
"Celeste," Adrian suddenly muttered.
She sighed. "What now?"
His lips curled. "If you keep blowing on my neck like that, I'll start thinking you're seducing me."
Celeste pulled back instantly. "Excuse me?"
Adrian chuckled. "You're very distracting, wife."
Her nostrils flared. "I was just breathing!"
"Mhmm," he hummed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sure."
"You know what?" Celeste snapped, shoving the ointment into his hand. "Do it yourself!"
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Adrian grabbed her wrist, yanking her back with enough force that she stumbled forward—
And crashed right on top of him.
Her breath hitched as she landed on his lap, her hands pressed against his bare chest.
His robe parted slightly, exposing even more of his toned torso.
Their faces were inches apart.
Time seemed to slow.
Adrian's grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn't let go. His dark eyes burned into hers, searching, testing.
Then, before she could react, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.
A fleeting touch. A test.
Celeste's entire body tensed, but instead of pulling away—
She melted into it.
The peck deepened as something inside her snapped. Her fingers curled into his robe, pulling him closer as her lips moved against his, hard and desperate.
Adrian groaned, his hands gripping her waist as he flipped their positions, pressing her down onto the couch.
His mouth dominated hers, each kiss deeper, hungrier. Celeste gasped as his hand slipped under her shirt, his warm fingers grazing her skin, setting fire to every nerve he touched.
She arched against him, tugging at his robe, baring more of his body to her wandering hands.
Adrian tore his lips away only to trail them down her jaw, her neck, his breath scorching against her skin.
Her own breath hitched when she felt his fingers work on the buttons of her blouse, one by one, his knuckles grazing against her heated skin.
Her body shivered, both from the cool air and from him.
He kissed down her throat, his lips lingering on her collarbone, his hands slipping under the fabric, his touch burning her skin.
Celeste's head fell back against the couch, eyes half-lidded, drowning in him.
She had lost herself. Completely.
But just as Adrian was about to peel her blouse off her shoulders—
"Adrian?"
A voice from outside shattered the moment.
Celeste's eyes snapped open. Her entire body went rigid.
Emily.
As if struck by lightning, Celeste shoved Adrian away and scrambled to her feet, fixing her clothes in a frenzy. Her heart pounded, her mind racing.
Adrian exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair as he looked at her, frustration flickering in his gaze.
Celeste didn't give him a chance to speak. "I hate you," she hissed before storming toward the door.
The moment she stepped outside, she nearly crashed into Emily, who stood at the entrance holding a neatly packed container of food.
Emily's brows shot up. "Celeste? What are you doing here?"
Celeste let out a cold laugh. "What am I doing here?" She gestured at the house. "It's my house."
Without waiting for a response, she brushed past Emily and walked away, her mind still reeling from what just happened.
Emily watched her go, confused for a second before shaking her head. She composed herself and turned back to the house, stepping inside.
Adrian was still sitting on the sofa, his robe slightly disheveled, his expression unreadable.
Emily's lips curled into a sweet smile. "I brought you food," she said, placing the container on the table. "I heard you were alone, so I figured you haven't eaten yet—"
Adrian stood up, barely sparing her a glance. "I would've been full if you hadn't shown up."
Without another word, he turned and walked upstairs, leaving her standing there, her nails digging into her palm.
Emily's jaw clenched.
Celeste had been here.
And Adrian—
Emily's stomach churned with irritation.
Something happened.