Chapter 55: 55. Entangled Desires Maria was still in Bernard’s room, sitting quietly on his bed, lost in thought. Her mind circled around the housing issue and the mystery of the missing documents.
"I need to find a way to meet Mr. Frederick," she thought, biting her lip. "He must have something to tell me. Why else would he choose to stay in our apartment instead of one of his many other houses?" As she drifted deeper into her thoughts, she didn’t notice when Bernard left her side. She only snapped out of her daze when she turned to find the bed empty.
Just as she was about to stand up and leave the room, the bathroom door swung open—and there he was.
Bernard emerged half-dressed, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Water trickled slowly down his broad, hairy chest, catching the light in a way that made Maria’s breath hitch. Her eyes, helplessly drawn to the sight, lingered too long.
She quickly averted her gaze, mentally scolding herself.
But it was too late.
Bernard had already caught her looking. The moment her tongue brushed across her lips was exactly when their eyes locked. There was no denying what that look meant.
Panicked and flustered, Maria stood and rushed toward the door, but her trembling hands fumbled at the handle. Before she could escape, Bernard’s hands gently circled her waist, pulling her backward.
She gasped softly. She could feel him—hard, pressing against her through the towel. Her body reacted instantly. She was in her ovulation period, and her arousal was heightened. Worse still, she wore a short gown that gave him too much access.
He turned her around slowly, and she realized then—he was already naked. His hard length rubbed against her body, igniting something wild inside her.
Bernard leaned in, kissing her neck, his lips warm and confident. She moaned softly into his mouth as his kisses traveled upward to her lips.
Without another word, he pushed her onto the bed and slid off her underwear. His mouth traced her body from her breasts to her lower abdomen, making her writhe under him. She was wet, aching, and completely out of control.
When Bernard finally entered her, Maria’s mind went blank. The pleasure was overwhelming. It felt different this time—more intense, more connected.
She didn’t know if it was her body reacting to ovulation or the unspoken agreement between them, but she enjoyed every second of it.
Afterward, Maria wasted no time. She grabbed her things and bolted out of his room, determined not to be seen.
Back in her room, she rushed into the bathroom. As the water poured over her, it was like a slap to her senses. Her thoughts came crashing down.
"What did I just do?" she whispered bitterly. "How could I let Bernard have sex with me again—and without protection?"
She slammed her palm against the tiled wall in frustration. "I must be very cheap," she thought. "I don’t even love him. The past times we had sex, there was always a reason. But this? This was just foolish." Her anger flared.
"This will be the last time Bernard sees me naked—ever!" she hissed aloud, full of conviction.