Chapter 7 Forbidden Cravings

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Stella's surprise weighed heavily on my mind, and Nicolas's rejection lingered like a dark cloud.

When I finally returned to my room, I collapsed onto the bed, my thoughts a whirlwind of guilt, desire, and dread.

The next day, I found myself nervously anticipating the dinner Stella had planned.

As evening approached, I dressed carefully, my hands shaking slightly as I applied my makeup. I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight would be pivotal, though I wasn't sure how.

When I arrived at the restaurant, Stella and Nicolas were already there. Stella greeted me with a bright smile, but I couldn't help but notice the way Nicolas's eyes followed me as I walked to the table.The dinner started pleasantly enough, Stella chatting excitedly about the wedding plans. But beneath the surface, the tension between Nicolas and me simmered. Every glance, every accidental touch, felt charged with unspoken words.

As dessert was being served, Stella's phone beeped and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Alright, it's time for your surprise, Mel," she announced."Close your eyes." she quickly added.

I hesitated, but Stella's enthusiasm was infectious. So I obeyed, and closed my eyes.

"Now open your eyes." Stella commanded.

My eyes flew open to see Chris standing beside Stella, a smile on his face.

"Surprise!" Stella exclaimed.

My heart skipped a beat as I took in the sight of my boyfriend, whom I hadn't seen in weeks.

"Chris!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with emotion. "What are you doing here?"

Chris walked over to me, his eyes shining with love. "I wanted to surprise you, Melissa. I couldn't stay away any longer."

My eyes welled up with tears as Chris embraced me, holding me close. I had missed him, and in this moment, I needed him after being rejected by Nicolas last night.

Stella beamed with happiness, pleased with herself for pulling off the surprise. "I knew you two have missed each other," she said, smiling.

As we hugged, I knew that this was what I needed – a reminder of my love for Chris, and the connection we shared despite my lingering desire for Nicolas.

As I and Chris's embrace lingered, Nicolas's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on us. I could sense his discomfort. He wasn't jealous, was he? I thought, smiling within.

Seeing me in Chris's arms, even if he was my boyfriend, had obviously made Nicolas feel... pissed. I could see it, even though he was trying so hard to hide it, and composing himself around Stella.

Nicolas shifted in his seat, his eyes darting away from I and Chris. He focused on Stella, who was beaming with happiness, and forced a smile. "Wow, Stella, you really know how to surprise someone," he said, trying to sound casual.

Stella grinned. "I knew Melissa needed some cheering up. And what's better than a surprise visit from her boyfriend?"

Nicolas nodded, his eyes drifting back to I and Chris. We were seated now, laughing and chatting, our faces radiant with happiness. Nicolas's gaze lingered on my face, I could feel his burning gaze, and for a moment, I felt like he was intruding on a private moment.

He quickly looked away, noticing my discomfort.

The rest of the dinner passed in a blur, Nicolas's attempts at conversation felt forced.

He obviously couldn't shake off the feeling of seeing me cozied up in Chris's arms.

And when Chris and I shared a tender kiss, Nicolas's eyes felt like they were burning with jealousy.

As the night drew to a close, I excused myself to the restroom. I was utterly shocked a few minutes later when I heard Nicolas voice behind me.

"Nicolas, what are you doing in here?" I asked with my eyes popped wide open in surprise.

He looked at me, his expression a mix of frustration and longing.

"Melissa, I can't keep pretending. Seeing you with Chris... it hurts more than I expected."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Nicolas, we talked about this. You made your choice. You're with Stella now." I said adamantly. I was still hurt by his decision yesterday.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "I know, but... seeing you cuddled up with someone else, it's tearing me apart. I thought I could handle it, but I can't."

I looked away, my eyes filling with tears. "So what do you want to do now, Nicolas?"

Nicolas stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "I can't just turn off my feelings, Melissa. I can't stop wanting you." He reached out, his hand brushing my arm.. "I want to kiss you..."

His touch sent a shiver down my spine, as I moved closer, my lips parted to meet his.

Nicolas's eyes blazed with intensity, his face inches from mine. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, drawing me in. My heart raced, my pulse pounding in my ears.

"Melissa, I can't deny this anymore," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "I want you so badly, it hurts."

I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. My body seemed to have a mind of its own, leaning in closer to him.

And then, without another word, Nicolas's lips crashed onto mine. The kiss was fierce, passionate, and all-consuming. I felt like I was melting into him, our tongues entwined in a dance of desire.

For a moment, everything else faded away, and all that mattered was the two of us, lost in this heated moment.

As we broke apart for air, Nicolas's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity. "I've wanted to do that for so long," he whispered, his voice dripping with emotion. "But now that I have, I realize..." His words trailed off, leaving me wondering what he meant to say.

"What..?" I asked anxiously.

"We need to get back." he said abruptly, and left the bathroom almost immediately.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart, then stepped out of the bathroom. On my way out, I ran into Chris. Startled, I let out a shriek.

"Melissa, is everything alright?" Chris asked with concern.

I nodded, squeezing Chris's hand. "You startled me."

"I'm sorry...I was just checking up on you." he quickly apologized, and led us back to our seats.