May shows Elliott her appreciation

Elliott disappeared into the other room with his phone in hand and May was left alone in the studio. The weight of what she’d just agreed to was crushing, but to her surprise, there was also a flicker of relief. The knot of panic that had been tightening in her chest since yesterday loosened ever so slightly. It felt like taking back control, even if in a way that frightened her. The room was quiet. The faint hum of the city outside was the only sound.

When Elliott returned, he looked calm, his phone tucked away in his pocket. “It’s done,” he said, his voice steady.

May stared at him, unsure what to say. “Just like that?” she asked.

“Just like that,” he nodded. “They’ll… reach out to her.”

She let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping. The relief that flooded through her felt overwhelming. Her eyes met his, and in that moment, she felt something unexpected—a wave of gratitude. He had just saved her. Though she knew this wasn’t a solution she would’ve chosen under normal circumstances, he was the only one who truly understood what she was going through. She stepped forward to close the distance between them. They had been this close the day before. Closer. “Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. She reached for his arms. “I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”

A little smile appeared on his face. “No need for thanks.”

Something about the way he said that sent a shiver through her, and before she knew it, she was leaning up and kissing him. This morning she had promised herself that nothing like this would ever happen again. A little bit of an affair seemed like the least of her worries now. His arms wrapped around her waist. For the first time in the past twenty-four hours, she felt… safe. She kissed him harder and a warmth began spreading through her body—something deeper than gratitude. She felt the pull of desire, an urgency.

The motions felt practiced now. He stripped her out of her shirt and she was left in her bra. Then down came her trousers. Had she put on lacy underwear this morning knowing that something like this would happen? In her head it had been for Roger, to welcome him back home, but he had never come. Elliott was here for her. He had taken care of her when she had needed it, not just when it was convenient for him.

“You’re beautiful,” said the artist.

She went down onto her knees, her hands sliding down his chest. “I’m yours,” she said. Her hands went for his belt. She felt the tension between them, the weight of her bad decisions, and yet all she wanted in that moment was to forget. To lose herself in something that felt fun. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The recklessness only intensified the pull between them.