Page 10 of Tempting the Titan

Knox helped me out. He always has my back, but the air feels thick with tension due to our complicated history. There are too many unspoken emotions to unpack and now isn't the time.

We arrive at the housing estate and notice several motorcycles parked in front of the houses. Each large, chrome-plated machine has leather saddlebags and blacked-out fenders. These bikes are not designed for pretty pictures on Instagram. These men are out to hurt people.

“The disturbance was at number four Evergreen Way,” Knox says, glancing up and down the winding road. The bikers could have come from any of the houses on this street.

Knox circles the trunk and pulls out his gun. “Why don’t we split up?” he suggests.

“I don't have a weapon on me,” I tell him.

“You don't need one – just look at yourself!” he says with a slight smirk. “I’ll go left and circle the edge of the neighborhood leading toward the freeway. You go around the back, closer to the edge of the woods.”

I roll my eyes before heading off in the direction he suggested.

I’m almost at Evergreen Way when I pick up a familiar scent in the breeze—Frangipani, roses, and something else. Light from a townhouse draws my attention. As I look closer, I notice a woman standing next to the window. It’s Celeste.

I feel like an intruder from my hiding place in the shadows as I watch her brush her hair. She's lost in thought, staring at the moon. I'm invading her privacy, but I'm unable to tear my eyes away.

She’s beautiful beyond my wildest dreams. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted but never dared to wish for. Why would a beauty like her look twice at a man like me? She's a vision of perfection, and I’m a monster. And now a voyeur.

The sultry siren removes her top and walks to the window wearing only her bra. She opens the window and scans the pitch-black surroundings intently. Assuming no one can see her, she leans out the window, gazing into the darkness with a faraway expression.

I don’t want to be perceived as a peeping Tom and quickly avert my gaze. Although I’m struggling with my conscience, I give in to the temptation to look, but I immediately feel remorse for invading Celeste's privacy.

While I could linger and admire her all night, I'm satisfied with my decision to turn away. I grab my phone, warn Celeste of a dangerous gang, and suggest she always locks her doors and windows. She's too exposed where she lives and needs to be careful.

Knox pulls up behind me and honks the horn. Celeste jumps back from the window in surprise. When I look back, the window is shut. As I walk toward the car, Knox rolls down the window.

“That didn’t take long. Did you find them?” I ask, feeling guilty for not doing more to help.

“Don’t worry. It was just a false alarm,” Knox reassures.

“What about the bikes we saw earlier?”

“They’re not connected to the gang. Hop in. I’ll take you home,” Knox says.

My seatbelt secures with a gentle click. On the drive home, Knox and I make small talk, but I can’t shake the apprehension settling over me.

Although I crave human company, especially Celeste’s, getting too close to her is problematic. I’ve been meaning to ask her to wear less revealing clothes to the office, but after seeing her half-naked tonight, the issue became urgent.

On my phone, I carefully review Celeste's employment contract details, which include workplace conduct and dress code policies. Once I've thoroughly checked the guidelines, I email Celeste so there can be no misunderstandings regarding the office dress code requirements.

While my workplace policies may come across as rigid, adhering to the rules is critical, not for work, but for my sanity.

CHAPTER 5

Celeste

I sensed someone had their eyes on me last night. While I was startled to see Atlas hiding in the trees outside my home, I didn’t feel scared or threatened. The surprised look on his face made me think he was there by coincidence, not because he was stalking me.

Although I don't have much experience with men, our connection is as real as it gets. He's single and doesn't have any children. There's nothing wrong with two adults finding each other attractive, and if he feels the same, I'm willing to explore our attraction. I wouldn't play with his emotions if I weren't ready to follow through.

I wasn’t embarrassed when he saw me in my underwear and would’ve put on a show to tease him if he'd stayed put. But he disappeared into thin air, which is no small feat for a man of his size, and that isn't the only strange thing about him.

He sent me a message about personal security and a long-winded email regarding “appropriate” business dress, which I laughed off, even though I was offended.

I get that he shut down his feelings because he was embarrassed, but there's more to it. Although I learn something new about him daily, something keeps him from getting too close. Whatever’s bugging him has nothing to do with maintaining professionalism in the workplace.

It's almost time for Atlas to come in for work. While I wait, I tidy the mess of documents, pencils, and food wrappers on my desk. But I'm too antsy to stay seated for long and eventually head to the kitchenette to make coffee.

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