~ Clara’s POV ~
The first thing I felt when my eyes fluttered open was warmth, soft, deep, pervasive warmth.
Then, the gentle rhythm of breathing above my head.
That was when I noticed my head was resting on something soft and yet firm.
It took a moment for my sleepy brain to catch up, and recognize Miss Evelyn’s familiar scent that, somehow, now felt like home.
Panic flared as the memories of last night flashed through my mind and the sudden rush overriding the comfort.
I tried to sneak out of the bed but that was when i noticed that i was tucked into Evelyn’s side.
Her arm wrapped securely around me, and holding me in place.
I looked up, Miss Evelyn was still sound asleep, her features soft and relaxed.
I couldn’t help but stare, i let my gaze travel her face, tracing the curve of her cheekbone, the gentle arch of her brow.
The sharp lines of her jaw were gone, and the usual coldness in her eyes was completely absent.
She looked almost vulnerable, a side I had never seen before.
Her dark hair were pooled on the pillow, and the soft light of the early morning made her look breathtaking.
My gaze finally settled on her lips, lingering a second too long as I fought the urge to relive what had happened between us last night.
I shook my head gently, trying to dispel the unwelcome thoughts already making my cheeks hot.
I turned carefully in Miss Evelyn’s arm, which only made our position more intimate as she was now spooning me.
But the desire to escape overrode my blushes.
Slowly and cautiously, I tried to move her hand away from my waist, but the moment I did, her grip tightened.
Her arm clamped more firmly around me, pulling me closer still.
Then, her head moved, pressing into the crook of my neck from behind, her warm breath brushing against my skin.
“Stay,” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep, barely more than a whisper.
I froze.
Seconds later, I felt her lips press against the skin behind my ear, which instantly made me giggle.
She chuckled softly in response.
“Where were you sneaking off to?” she asked, her voice still groggy.
“I… I wasn’t trying to sneak off. I just… I didn’t want to wake or disturb you,” I stammered.
She responded with a soft laugh right behind my ear.
It was the first time I’d heard that sound from her, and it felt so genuine, I was sure my face was beet red.
Thankfully, she couldn’t see my face.
“It’s not even six in the morning, Clara… and it’s the weekend,” she playfully chided me.
I couldn’t help but smile at the softness in her voice.
Just as I tried to relax, I felt her lips on my neck as she plastered more soft, light, and playful kisses along it, tracing a path.
I giggled again, unable to stop the sound, feeling a lightness I hadn’t known in weeks.
“Stop,” I laughed, wriggling in her arms.
“It’s ticklish, Miss Evelyn, please stop.”
“So, are you agreeing to stay?” she asked, holding me closer.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Of course you do, Clara. You will always have a choice with me.”
My heart fluttered with warmth at her words.
She was right; whenever it came to her, she always gave me the chance to choose.
“Alright, I’ll stay,” I whispered.
“Good. Let’s sleep in then.” With that, she kissed my hair before finally going quiet.
Minutes later, I felt her even breath on my neck, and I allowed myself to fully relax back into her embrace.
The second time I woke, the bed was empty and for a moment, i felt my heart ache in disappointment as I found my self alone in bed with Ms. Evelyn gone.
The space beside me was cool, the scent of her fainter now.
I pushed myself up, a sudden loneliness settling over me.
Just as I was about to swing my legs over the side, I heard sounds coming from the closet, a soft rustle, then the click of a door.
I froze, my heart giving a small, nervous flutter.
Ms. Evelyn walked out of the closet.
She was wearing a thick, white bathrobe, the soft terry cloth barely managing to cover her chest.
It skimmed her mid-thigh, revealing far more of her toned legs than I wasn’t prepared for this early in the morning.
Her dark hair was damp, towel-dried, and a few stray strands clung to her neck.
She looked fresh, effortlessly beautiful, and completely disarming.
My eyes immediately darted away, a blush creeping up my neck.
I focused on a distant painting on the wall, pretending to find it interesting.
“Well, good morning to you too sleeping beauty,” Ms. Evelyn’s voice was warm, a hint of amusement playing in it.
She walked over to the dressing table, picking up a hand hair dryer. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Trying to pretend you didn’t notice me, are we?”
“No! Of course not, Miss Evelyn,” I stammered, as my cheeks burned even hotter.
I finally risked a glance at her.
She was watching me in the mirror, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” she turned fully to face me, whilst still drying her hair.
“My… my room,” I said, pointing vaguely.
“I need to… shower. And change.”
She arched a brow at me, then a slow, playful smile spreading across her face.
“Your room? We have a perfectly good bathroom right here, Clara. And a rather large shower, i might add” She gestured towards the closed bathroom door.
“No need to trek all the way downstairs. Go on.”
I felt my face hearingbuo again.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly,”
“You could,” she countered, her tone firm but gentle.
“And you will. I’m sure everything you need is in there.”
She gave me a look that dared me to argue, but there was no anger in it, only a quiet, insistent will.
Knowing it was futile to protest, I slid out of bed.
“What about my clothes?” I asked, gesturing to my simple pajamas.
“Don’t worry,” she said, waving a dismissive hand.
“I’ve already handled that. Now go.”
I walked into the massive bathroom, the lingering steam from her shower still in the air.
I turned on the shower, deliberately twisting the knob to cold.
The icy spray hit my skin like a shock, chasing away the lingering warmth and the blush from my face.
It was just what I needed to clear my head of the confusing, wonderful intimacy of the morning.
I washed quickly, scrubbing away the last traces of sleep and self-consciousness.
When I walked into the inter-connected closet, Ms. Evelyn had already placed a neatly folded stack of clothes on plush sofa: it was a soft, oversized gray sweatshirt and a pair of loose, dark sweatpants.
Hurridly i left the room and went downstairs as soon as I finished dressing up.
I found her in the dining room.
The long table was already set for breakfast, and a few maids standing on just a distance from the table.
Their eyes flickered to me, then to Ms. Evelyn, but their expressions remained perfectly neutral.
Ms. Evelyn was seated at the head of the table, sipping her tea.
As I approached, she gestured to the empty chair beside her.
“Come sit, Clara. I had Lyla prepare your favorite.”
I usually sat several seats away, maintaining the professional distance.
But this morning, she pulled my chair closer to hers, until our elbows were almost touching.
My mind was a whirlwind of panic and exhilaration as this was so new, so different.
The easy intimacy of the morning, her teasing, the shared bed, it was all unfolding into this strange, wonderful, terrifying new reality that I wasnt used to.
I ate the delicate pastries she offered, trying to act normal, while every cell in my body buzzed with the unfamiliar closeness.
After breakfast, while Ms. Evelyn took a call in her study, I left for the art studio.
.
It had been so long since I’d truly focused on my work, too many distractions and anxieties pulling at me.
I walked over to the easel, where Evelyn’s portrait stood, almost complete.
I picked up a fine brush and began applying the final touches, a highlight to the curve of her lip, a deeper shadow beneath her sharp jawline.
With each stroke, the painting seemed to come alive.
A feeling of genuine satisfaction washed over me as I finally stepped back, admiring my finished work.
It was done, and it was perfect.
Feeling a sudden need to find her, I left the studio and eventually found her inside the study.
The door was slightly ajar, so I heard the low murmur of her voice.
I hesitated on the threshold, realizing she was on a conference call.
Her large mahogany desk was covered with documents, and her international partners’ faces were displayed on the large monitor before her.
I started to turn away, not wanting to interrupt.
“Clara,” her voice cut through the meeting.
“Come in. Don’t hover.”
My heart jumped.
She hadn’t even looked at me as her eyes was still fixed on the screen, yet she knew I was there.
The meeting continued for another thirty minutes.
I silently watched Ms. Evelyn, mesmerized by the sharp intelligence in her eyes, the way she commanded the room even through a screen.
She was the “Ice Queen” in full force, and the contrast to the playful, affectionate woman in bed that morning was astounding.
When she finally ended the meeting, her gaze immediately snapped to mine.
A soft smile, playing in her lips.
“Come here,” she said, her voice dropping to a low, fintimate tone.
I hesitated for a moment as my mind worked up different excuses to give so i dont get that close to her but the look in her eyes was too compelling, I found myself walking toward her.
She reached out, taking my hand and gently pulling me forward until I was seated on her lap, my back pressed against her chest.
Her arms wrapped loosely around my waist, while she rested her chin on my shoulder.
“Better,” she murmured.
I could feel her heart beating against my back, strong and steady, and the scent of her filled my senses.
My hands, which had been resting on my own knees, now felt drawn to hers.
I reached down, my fingers tentatively tracing the lines of her hand where it rested on my waist.
She slowly turned my face to her, while she planted a soft kiss on my temple.
“You’re very quiet.”
“I… I don’t know what to say,”
“Don’t say anything, then.” And with that, she leaned in, held the side of my face until our lips met.
This kiss was different from the one we shared in the midnight.
Her lips moved over mine with a fierce, possessive hunger that stole my breath, and I responded with an urgency I didn’t know I possessed.
Her arms tightened around me, pulling me impossibly closer until there was no space left between us, only the burning heat of her skin, the frantic beat of her heart against mine, and the intoxicating taste of her on my tongue.
Every rational thought vanished, replaced by the overwhelming sensation of her.
But just then a sharp, insistent ringtone suddenly cut through the haze.
Ms. Evelyn slowly paused, but her lips didn’t pull away completely.
The phone buzzed again, vibrating against her desk.
She made a frustrated sound, trying to deepen the kiss, to block out the interruption.
But I couldn’t ignore it.
I held her face in both my hands as I gently pushed her lips away from mine.
“Miss Evelyn,” I whispered against her mouth, my voice breathy.
“The call might be important.”
She groaned, giving off a low, frustrated sound in her throat, but finally pulled back.
Her eyes, dark and heavy with unspoken desire, stared into mine for a long moment before she let out a sigh before reaching for the phone.
“Yes, Francis,” she said into the receiver.
She listened for a moment, her gaze still soft as she looked at me.
“Understood. The hearing is set for Wednesday at 10 AM, then? And Judge Philip? Excellent. Keep me updated on any changes.”
She hung up, her gaze immediately returning to mine, the tenderness never leaving her eyes.
I had thought she would move me from her lap as the call sounded serious but she didnt.
Instead, her arms tightened around my waist, pulling me closer still, as she exhaled slowly, resting her chin on my shoulder before planting a soft kiss against my cheek.
“That was Francis,” she murmured.
“He was confirming the time and the judge for Julian’s hearing.” She paused, her hand stroking my arm.
“Clara, we’ve built a very strong case against him. Evidence of domestic violence during your marriage, his repeated breach of the contract agreement, and of course, his attempt to sexually assault you.”
She shifted slightly, holding me tighter, and her voice softened further.
“Our lawyer want you to testify, stating that it would help increase the length of his sentence but….” she stopped, then turned my face to meet hers, and just by looking into her eyes i could feel the sincerity in it and believed her.
“The evidence we’ve gathered so far is enough to put him away for a very long time, even without your testimony. But if you choose to testify, it would solidify the conviction. I need you to know that you have a choice. There’s absolutely no pressure. Are you comfortable with this? Are you okay?”
My throat felt tight as I quietly listened to her words, which was delivered with such care and without a hint of demand.
Without thinking, i hugged her tightly and fiercely, burying my face against her shoulder, it took her by surprise for moment before she finally hugged me back.
“Thank you,” I whispered, the words muffled against her silk blouse.
As I clung to her, my mind reeled.
To walk into a courtroom and face him means to to pull apart the raw, ugly memories of my marriage, to recount the terror of my three years I endured his cruelty.
The thought made my stomach clench with dread.
But Ms. Evelyn’s had given me a choice, and in that, she had given me a strength I didn’t know I had but I would have to decide soon…. awwww they are finally in their girlfriend era 🙂 A big shootout to each and everyone of you that have viewed and collected my book.
I promise you, the best of this story is yet to come.
Special S/O to Rellana and Stormyknight for all the power stones.
Have a great Sunday…