Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Esteban
I’m not proud of it, but it had to happen.
After spending the entire day with Eva, watching her laugh, watching her try not to stare at me, and then nearly walking in on her half naked—I couldn’t take it anymore.
I had to relieve the pressure building inside me.
So yeah, I jerked off in the shower thinking about my best friend’s little sister.
Not exactly my finest moment.
But who could blame me? I’m a man who’s been trying damn hard to be on his best behavior.
I swore I wouldn’t touch her. That I’d keep my distance no matter how badly I wanted to break every rule I set.
But she’s not making it easy. First, she asked for a kiss.
Then I taught her how to dance, her body molded to mine like it belonged there.
And let’s not forget how close she’s been to my face every time she props her phone up to record content for her socials using me as her background prop, like she doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing to me.
But today? Today has been torture.
It’s not just her walking around in that green swimsuit that clings to every curve like a second skin, or the lace panties that barely cover anything, least of all that perfect pussy or the flash of rosy nipples peeking out when I accidentally opened the bathroom door.
It’s everything. The way she looks at me like she wants me just as much.
The way she trusts me enough to share a room, a bed, and not worry about whether I’ll lose my mind.
So yeah, after I relieved some of the pressure building in my body, I step out of the shower and dry myself off. Leaning over the sink, palms braced on the cool marble, I stare at my reflection. My skin’s flushed, my hair damp, and the look in my eyes is still unhinged.
“Get it together, Báez,” I mutter under my breath.
I splash my face with water and reach for the cleanser Eva made me start using a few weeks ago. I’d never taken more than five seconds to think about face wash before that, but damn, now I’m hooked. My skin looks brighter and feels smoother.
Not that I’d ever admit that out loud.
Noah and Austin would never let me live it down. They’d throw words like “exfoliate” and “glow” at me just to be assholes.
I finish rinsing and pat my face dry, eyeing the bottle of serum I travel with now like it’s normal. Jesus. I’ve been domesticated.
I take a deep breath. Okay. Time to get out there. Be cool. Be respectful. Go to sleep. That’s it.
Even if all I want to do is walk straight to her side of the bed, pull her into my arms, and kiss her until she forgets we’re faking any of this. Even if I’m dying to taste her, to feel those long legs wrapped around me, to hear her moan my name like I’ve imagined a thousand times.
Nope. No. Not happening.
Squaring my shoulders, I grip the handle, and give myself one last look.
“You’re a grown man. You have self-control. Now go out there and act like it.”
I open the door and see her lying on the bed, Kindle in hand, the screen casting a soft glow over her face.
She tenses the moment I step out of the bathroom.
With the towel wrapped around my waist, I try to move fast, heading straight for my suitcase to grab a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
No need to be half-naked in front of her longer than necessary—not if I want to survive the night.
Still, I catch the way her eyes follow me. The hunger on her face is unmistakable, and it makes me smirk. Yeah. She definitely wants me. And I definitely need to keep it together.
I duck back into the bathroom, close the door, and change as quickly as I can. Towel goes on the hook. Deep breaths. Focus. When I step back out, she’s in the same spot, like she never moved, legs tucked under her, tablet resting on her lap, pretending she wasn’t just checking me out.
I sit on the other side of the bed, giving her space. “You okay?” I ask.
“Yes.” Her voice is soft.
Then she sets a plate with the chocolate cake on the bed between us and I grin. “Thanks. I totally forgot about the cake.”
That’s a lie. I didn’t bring it on purpose. The thought of smearing that cake on her skin and licking it off was too much temptation to handle. But now it’s here, right in front of me, and I’m not going to eat it off her body.
“You want to share it?” I ask, keeping my voice casual, like we didn’t flirt like crazy all day long.
She glances at me, almost unsure. “You don’t mind?”
“Nope.”
Eva pulls out two spoons from her bag like she’s been planning this moment all along and scoots closer. “I figured you wouldn’t want to share spoon germs,” she says with a smirk.
“Look at you, thinking ahead.” I chuckle, accepting the spoon.
She takes the first bite—slow, indulgent—and lets out a moan so sinful it shoots straight to my dick. “God, this is so good,” she says with her eyes closed, totally unaware of the way I’m staring at her like she’s dessert.
I clear my throat, trying to focus on the cake, but I can’t help myself. “You keep making sounds like that, and I’m gonna forget this cake exists and find something else to taste.”
Her eyes snap open, amused and a little wicked. “Is that a promise?” she asks, her voice low and teasing as she licks a bit of frosting off her spoon.
I almost drop mine. “Damn, Eva…”
She grins and bumps my knee with hers. “You started it.”
“What? I’m just saying,” I reply, struggling to keep my tone casual as I dig back into the cake. “You make it very hard to be a gentleman.”
She arches a brow, her smile smug. “You? A gentleman?”
“On special occasions.” I shrug, chewing slowly.
“Good to know.” Dragging her spoon through the last bit of frosting, her eyes flicking to mine. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you to stop being one.”
We keep eating, passing the plate back and forth. Every so often, our fingers brush. Every time they do, she meets my eyes, like she’s waiting for me to make a move. And every time, I fight with myself not to.
When we finish the cake, spoons abandoned, plate empty, I lean back against the headboard and sigh. “Alright, what now? You picking a movie?”
She grins. “Obviously.”
A few minutes later, a romcom starts playing.
She’s curled up on her side of the bed, and I swear I can feel her laugh before I hear it.
It’s soft at first, then louder as the movie gets funnier.
I can’t help but laugh too, half at the movie, half at her.
Being next to her like this is dangerous. But it feels good.
When the credits roll, she gets up to brush her teeth, and I follow. We go through our routines in silence, bumping elbows at the sink like we’ve done this a hundred times before. Domestic. Comfortable. Too comfortable.
Back in bed, the lights are off. She settles under the covers, and I lie beside her, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
I don’t move. Not a single muscle. My body is too aware of hers, just a few inches away, breathing soft and even.
I want to reach out. Touch her hip. Tangle our legs. Pull her into me. But I won’t.
I need to keep my promise to my best friend.
So, I stay still. Quiet. And hope to hell I survive the night.
The soft morning light filters in through the curtains, and I wake up to the best surprise of my life—Eva, sprawled across my chest like she belongs there.
Her dark hair is a silky curtain over my face and chest, tickling my skin with every slow breath she takes. She’s still out cold, completely relaxed, like she trusts me with her whole body. And damn, that does something to me.
I don’t move. Not even a little. I don’t want to startle her or make her shift away. I just lay there, soaking in the feel of her weight on me. Her body is warm, soft, perfect.
My heart beats harder, and after a few seconds of pure stillness, I can’t help myself. Slowly, carefully, I lift one hand and thread my fingers into her hair. It’s soft as hell and smells like her shampoo—coconut and something sweet, something that’s going to haunt me all day long.
My other hand finds her back, and I let my fingers trail along the curve of her spine. Barely touching. Just enough to feel her, to memorize the shape of her. I hold her there, like I can’t bear to let go.
Closing my eyes for a second, I picture this becoming a habit, waking up with her draped over me, her hair in my face, her body pressed to mine. The idea roots itself in my chest and blooms into something I didn’t see coming.
I want this.
I want her.
She makes me lose my mind and feel things I didn’t know I could feel this fast. But it’s not just lust anymore, not with the way my chest tightens when I look at her. With every conversation, every touch, every sarcastic little comment she throws my way, I fall a little deeper.
And lying here now, with her so close and yet just out of reach, I know one thing for sure.
I don’t want this to end when we go back home.
So what do I do?
Should I talk to Noah and tell him I’m really interested in Eva? Would he believe me, trust that this isn’t some fling or game? Or should I talk to her first and see if she feels what I’m feeling?
What if she doesn’t? What if she only wants me for one night?
Hell, that would be my karma. I could see myself falling for her—hard—while she’s just looking for a little fun in the sun. A temporary escape.
But I’ll hope for the best. Hope that she feels it too.
And until then, I’ll behave. I’ll lie here, keep my hands to myself, and try not to think about the woman sleeping inches away from me, the woman who’s starting to mean more to me than I ever expected.