Page 16 of Claiming My Nemesis

As we finished packing up, I couldn’t help but think about the day and the connection that had been building between us. The more time I spent with Natalie, the more I felt the pull of something deeper, something I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.

As we walked back to the truck, Natalie suddenly stopped and looked up at me, her expression unreadable. “Do you want to show me your apartment?”

For a moment, I was caught off guard, but then the meaning behind her words sank in, and my heart raced with anticipation. I stepped closer, cupping her face in my hands, and kissed her,pouring all the unspoken emotions of the day into that one gesture.

When we finally arrived, I took her hand, and we headed up the stairs to my apartment. The night ahead was filled with possibilities I hadn’t dared to imagine.

Eight

Ethan

Natalie’s eyes darted around my apartment as soon as we walked in, and I couldn’t help but notice the way she took in the sparse furnishings and bare walls. She wasn’t judging—it was more like she was trying to piece together who I was from the limited clues my place offered.

I followed her gaze, silently hoping nothing too revealing was left out in the open. When her eyes landed on the signed Dallas Cowboys football sitting on a shelf, I felt a flicker of anxiety.

“Nice football,” she said, her voice light but curious. “A gift?”

I nodded, trying to keep my tone casual. “Yeah, got it for Christmas from a friend a few years back.” I didn’t elaborate, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything that might lead to questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

She smiled, seemingly satisfied with my response, but I could tell she was still curious. Before she could ask anything else, I cleared my throat and offered her a way out of her wet clothes. “You look freezing. How about a hot shower? I’ve got a sweatshirt you can borrow.”

Her eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she nodded, a hint of relief in her expression. “That sounds amazing, actually.”

I ducked into my bedroom, rummaging through my drawer until I found an old, stretched-out sweatshirt that would be cozy enough. When I handed it to her, she took it with a grateful smile and disappeared into the bathroom. I listened as the water started running, my thoughts already spiraling into dangerous territory.

I hadn’t expected this when I invited her out on the lake. Hell, I wasn’t even sure what I was expecting. But the day had gone better than I could have imagined, and now, with her here in my apartment, I couldn’t deny how much I wanted her again. It wasn’t just about the physical attraction—though that was definitely a big part of it—but also about the connection that was building between us, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

The shower continued to run as I moved to the kitchen, pulling out a couple of mugs and the tin of green tea Sophia brought me. I figured it would be a nice way to warm up after the lake. As I set the kettle on the stove, I tried to push aside the nagging worry that was starting to creep in. I was falling for her—fast—and the more time I spent with Natalie, the harder it was going to be to keep my real life a secret.

The water shut off, and a few minutes later, Natalie emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in my sweatshirt. Her wet hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and her face, with its sun-kissed glow from a day on the lake, highlighted her natural beauty even more. She glanced at the mugs on the counter, then back at me with a raised eyebrow.

“Green tea?” she asked, a teasing smile on her lips. “You’re full of surprises, Ethan.”

I chuckled, trying to keep things light. “Just trying to keep you on your toes.”

She laughed softly and took a seat at the small kitchen table as I poured the tea. The heat from the mug seemed to relax her, and I couldn’t help but feel a swell of satisfaction at seeing her so at ease in my space.

“Make yourself at home,” I said as I took a sip from my mug. “I’m going to grab a quick shower too.”

She nodded, her attention shifting to the shelves in my kitchen, and I felt a slight pang of unease. There wasn’t much she could find in here, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something might slip through the cracks. As I headed to the bathroom, I mentally reviewed the apartment, hoping I hadn’t left anything out that could raise her suspicions.

The hot water felt good against my skin, but my mind was racing the entire time. The connection between Natalie and me was real, but so was the secret I was keeping. I knew I needed to tread carefully. When I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was all going to blow up in my face sooner rather than later.

When I returned to the kitchen wearing just a pair of shorts, the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks. Natalie was standing at the stove, flipping pancakes in a skillet. The sweatshirt I’d given her barely covered her hips, and from the way it hung over her body, I suspected she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. My heart skipped a beat, and a rush of desire flooded through me.

She turned her head slightly and caught me staring. A playful smile tugged at her lips. “I trust you don’t mind. I found some eggs and pancake mix in the cupboard and thought I’d whip us up something.”

I moved closer, unable to tear my eyes away from her. “Mind? How could I mind? But I have to admit, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect breakfast for dinner.”

She grinned, clearly enjoying the playful banter. “Well, you’ve surprised me enough today. I figured it was my turn.”

I stepped up behind Natalie, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her body but not quite touching her. The scent of the pancakes mixed with the scent of her freshly washed hair was intoxicating. I leaned down, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck, and felt her shiver in response.

“Ethan,” she whispered, her voice catching as she set the spatula down.

“Yeah?” I murmured, my lips trailing along her shoulder.

She turned in my arms, looking up at me with those deep, soulful eyes that always seemed to see more than I was willing to reveal. “I just... I don’t want to rush anything like last time.”

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