CHAPTER 1: WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT
The lights dimmed as she lay on the bed, her arms and legs spread carelessly, her waterfall of black hair was scattered all over the bed. She shifted slightly, covering her eyes with one hand to block the glow from above.
She didn't notice the door creak open. A shadow filled the room, hovering over her. The air shifted and became warmer. She lowered her hand and saw a figure descending toward her, blocking out the light. It was a man. But the bottles of wine she had drained earlier dulled her senses, draining every ounce of energy left and leaving her too heavy and tired to move.
She lay still as her vision clouded. His hands slid to her waist. The smell of alcohol clung to his breath as his mouth found hers, leaving her no time to react.
A sudden warmth rushed down her spine as his tongue pried her lips open, tasting her. For a moment, she surrendered, forgetting her sorrow. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer.
His body pressed gently onto hers, and she wrapped her arms around him tightly, as though afraid to let go. He kissed her hungrily, trailing down to her neck as his hands undid her dress with practiced ease. Her breasts spilled free, her skin chilled by the night air until her nipples hardened. He took one into his mouth while rolling the other between his long fingers.
Elara moaned softly, her voice trembling in the silence. His groan answered, thick with desire, swallowing the sweetness that was stuck in his throat.
He raised her dress, shifting her lingerie aside. Both held their breath as his finger slid into her, drawing a sharp response. She arched her hips, giving him more. She buried her face in his hair, inhaling his scent, and pressed kisses against his neck, her trembling hands dragging faint pink trails down his back.
Clothes fell away quickly, his belt, his trousers, his shirt. There was a moment of hesitation and as if he knew it, he went in slow, or maybe he was just devouring the feeling that came with being inside of somebody. Her tight walls welcomed his little monster, hugging it and spreading the warmth up to his waist. Her body tightened around him, pain mixing with pleasure as she gripped the sheets. His rhythm grew steady, his kisses muffling her moans.
They melted into each other, everything else dissolving into haze. They were floating in a cloud. Everything had melted away long ago, and the only solid thing that remained in her world was the strange man on top of her.
Her gasps turned urgent, her body writhing beneath his. The tension coiled tighter until it snapped, spilling into waves of release. He continued to pump in a few seconds, before finally collapsing on top of her.
Together, they drifted into sleep.
...
"Sweet dear. Told you," Madeline said with a sly smile as she prepared for work.
"You're not serious, Maddie!" Elara groaned, pulling the covers over herself. Red marks still patterned her skin.
"You deserve to be happy. It's been three months of you locked in this house, crying. Don't you love yourself?" Madeline's tone turned serious. "The past is the past."
"I know," Elara admitted, sitting up. "But taking your advice was the worst mistake of my life."
"Seriously?" Madeline laughed. "I only told you to go out and drink your sorrows away. Your boss will be calling any time now. your three-month leave is over. You'll thank me later."
"Maddie, you don't get it." Elara sat up straight.
"You slept with a stranger. So, what? He doesn't know you, you don't know him. End of story." She said, "just get yourself over it."
"It's that easy?" Elara asked with a frown.
"come on El…" Madeline held her hands at akimbo. "Don't be so hard on yourself."
"Charles would kill me if he knew I gave my first time to a stranger," Elara whispered.
"Don't go there. He's gone," Madeline said firmly. "Stop torturing yourself."
Elara paused at the bathroom door, studying her friend. Madeline was nearly her size, with a kind heart and an alluring figure. Her hazel eyes glowed with purpose as she gathered files into her arms.
"My boss should be back this week," Madeline said. "He took medical leave."
"Mmh." Elara rubbed her temples. "I'll have a long day catching up on everything that's been happening at work."
"You'll handle it. Mr. Monroe wouldn't have kept you if you weren't perfect at what you do." Madeline said with a knowing smile before hugging the files on her chest. "You know what I mean…" she winked.
"Don't say that. it sounds romantic." Elara laughed. "It's not."
"You wouldn't dare. I know why." Madeline laughed. "Come on, I was joking."
"I know you are…" Elara laughed.
Madeline smirked. "Sure. And hey El, be safe, be good. You're all I have after Charles left this world honey. If anything happens to you, I'll die of loneliness and heart problems too…"
"Too?" Elara adjusted her towel, her eyes rolling at her. "Who else died of loneliness?"
"You almost did." Madeline smirked.
"Go to hell!" Elara laughed.
"I mean it in a good way honey. You know…" Madeline lowered the files to her waist length.
"If I knew you would use that against me, I wouldn't have told you." Elara flashed a smile. "You're evil."
"The love bites would have given you away." Madeline rolled her eyes to her neck. "But, on a serious not, I see you got out of your shell. Maybe, we can have a drink later?"
"I'm not falling into that nonsense again." Elara vigorously shook her head in denial.
"Come on, this time you're with me!" Madeline coaxed.
"No, thank you. Once bitten, twice shy." Elara shook her head and waved.
"Okay, be good then." Madeline waved. Elara nodded.
"I hear you!" Elara said with a grin.
Madeline hugged her quickly before leaving. Elara was still smiling when her phone buzzed. She picked it up.
"Sir?"
"You're reminded to report to work before 8 o'clock," Edward Monroe's voice announced.
"I'll be there, sir."