Page 2 of Sinful Temptation

No one knew what I did for work, not even the girls.

Not sure why, but I think I just felt a little out of my comfort zone.It wasn't the normal thing, but it paid well.

Pushing my phone back into my bag, I passed the driver his cash and slipped out of the door and into my Kensington townhouse.

I built this home brick by brick, layering the foundation for my son.

He was to be left everything.

Slipping the key in the lock, I push the door and sag against it as I close it behind me then discard my bag to the floor.

“Callum?” I call out in the eerily quiet house and wait for his response but it never comes. Moving forward, I hook my bag on my coat hook and pace towards the large kitchen that runs across the back of my home.

The cooker hood lights are on and there are two bottles of beer sitting on the side, half drunk.

Ezra is here.

Ezra is Callum—my twenty-two-year old son’s—best friend. They met in the last year of senior school before going onto college together and well, they're inseparable.

Opening the fridge, I drag out a left-over salad dish and tuck into it at the dining room table.

Washing it up, I place it on the draining board and then make my way upstairs to the third floor, where no doubt the boys are gaming.The whole of that floor is Callum's gaming room. He streams on socials and earns money doing it, so I agreed to give him the space that he so desperately wanted.

Hovering outside the door for a moment, I give it a gentle knock before twisting the handle and there he is. My green-eyed boy.He turns to look at me, dimpled cheeks and a glisten in his eyes, whilst wearing a headset that is lost in his long, floppy blonde hair.

“Hey mum,” he slips them off and turns in his chair to see me.

“Hey bud, you okay?” I step into the room and only then does Ezra turn to face me.

Pale skin, ice blue eyes; messy, long, black hair and tattoos painted over his arms.

“Mrs Stanley,” the rasp of his voice has my skin pricking in goosebumps and my stomach coiling.

I don't know when it happened, but something seemed to have shifted between me and my son's best friend as he’s gotten older.

He was a little more attentive, seemed to be more interested in me and my day... but then again, he was probably just being polite. No doubt Callum has told him I am so up and down and to tread carefully.

I mean, he isn't wrong.

I am up and down.

I'm blaming hormones and my age.

I give them both a subtle nod before stepping back.

“You both okay?” I ask, eyes bouncing between the both of them and they nod.

“Yeah all good, got a late stream tonight so Ezra is gonna crash here, is that okay?”

“Course,” I smile softly at Ezra and then focus on Callum. “I've got some work to do myself so I'll catch you both at some point tomorrow, okay?”

Callum responds before turning his back but Ezra hovers is eyes on me for a moment and I don't miss the way they sweep over my body. My cheeks flame and I dip my head before he notices.

Pursing my lips, I step back and close the door behind me.

Moving downstairs, I reach for my phone and then lock the front door on my way back upstairs and only when am I in my room, exhale a shaky breath.

I shouldn't be affected by my son's best friend in this way.

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