No Second Chances Ex-husband novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

ETHAN’S POV

Her lips – God, they were still as soft as I remembered. Like velvet soaked in honey. It was almost as if she had kept them just for me, like she’d been saving every touch, every kiss, for this very moment.

That was the only thing running through my head as I continued kissing Sofia.

The scent of her perfume filled my lungs-sweet, alluring, addictive. Her hair tickled against my cheek as our bodies molded into each other. Her skin was smooth like warm silk, and the way she moved beneath me sent sparks through every nerve in my body.

This wasn’t the first time I was cuddled up with her here, but each time I felt her skin against mine, it came with a feeling that I could not explain.

It was something I couldn’t get used to even up till now

I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way. Not regret. Not guilt. Not Lauren.

Sofia’s hands moved slowly, deliberately, as she began to unbuckle my belt, her fingers brushing against my waistline with teasing confidence. I sucked in a breath, leaning into the moment.

But just when her hand started to slide into my pants, my phone buzzed on the table beside us.

I ignored it at first. Just a message, I assumed. Nothing urgent. But then it buzzed again and again. The ringing grew louder, more persistent. It wasn’t just a message it was a call.

4

Sofia let out an irritated sigh, her lips brushing my neck. I raised a finger, signaling for her to wait. Our foreheads touched gently as I paused to catch my breath.

“Just leave it, okay?” she murmured against my skin, trying to pull me back into the moment. “I’m sure it’s not important.”

Part of me wanted to agree. I could’ve easily let it go. Let the phone ring until it stops. But I couldn’t.

–

As much as I wanted to stay lost in this perfect, messy fantasy, reality had a way of creeping back in. I had responsibilities – things that couldn’t be ignored. I’d known the taste of poverty once before, and it was bitter. Cold. Unforgiving. I promised myself I’d never go back there again.

So even now, in a moment that should have been untouchable, I knew better.

“Work can’t wait. You know that,” I whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.

I kissed her temple gently, then got up from the couch where we’d been tangled together. I walked to the center table and picked up my phone, still buzzing in my hand.

Lauren.

Her name flashed across the screen like a ghost from the past. My brows drew together instinctively. What was she doing calling me? Especially after the way she stormed out earlier. After everything that happened here… after she caught me with Sofia.

Was this a mistake? Did she mean to call someone else?

Or… had she already forgiven me?

No. That didn’t make sense.

Lauren wasn’t the type to call unless she had a reason – especially not after seeing me with another woman. A woman I had betrayed her with. And gotten pregnant.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. Was this something serious? Was she hurt? Did something happen to Elena?

1/3

Before I could make a decision, the call ended. I stared at the phone in my hand for a second longer, conflicted.

I let out a slow, tight sigh and rubbed the back of my neck.

Behind me, Sofia sat up slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. “Everything okay?” she asked.

I could feel her watching me, searching for cracks in my expression.

I didn’t answer right away.

“I don’t know,” I muttered, still staring at the screen.

The room suddenly felt colder. The intimacy we had just shared was already fading into something else – an unease that settled into my chest.

“Who was that?” Sonia asked, her voice low but sharp, cutting through the moment like a blade.

I cleared my throat. A part of me wanted to be honest, to just tell her it was Lauren. But what good would that do? It would only ruin the mood – what we were building in this room. There was no need to complicate things.

“It’s nobody,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Let’s get back to what we were doing, shall we?”

Just as I reached out to touch her again, my phone began to ring – for the second time.

1 froze, hand mid-air.

The name flashed

wrong?

een again: Lauren.

red at it. What was she doing? Why was she calling me like this? Over and over?

2

2

this just her way of trying to guilt-trip me again? She hadn’t said a single word when she stormed out earlier. Couldn’t bring herself to confront me Jen. But now, she suddenly wanted to talk?

My silence didn’t go unnoticed.

“This ‘nobody’ won’t stop calling your number,” Sofia said, her voice dipped in suspicion now. “Who is it?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I dropped the phone back onto the table face down and let it ring until it stopped. The vibrating sound echoed slightly through the room, as if mocking me.

She’ll leave a message, I told myself. Or she’ll yell at me in person when I get home. Either way, this wasn’t the time or place.

She didn’t want to talk a few minutes ago – why now?

I turned my back on the phone and walked toward the office door, the guilt bubbling beneath my skin like a slow burn. I pushed it down. Locked the door this time, making sure the click echoed behind me. I couldn’t afford another surprise entrance. My secretary had already failed once – I wouldn’t let it happen again.

Not with what I was about to do.

I turned back around, feeling the smile feturn to my lips, seductive and unbothered. I dropped my pants slowly, letting the metallic clink echo in the silence. It dropped to the floor with a thud. A deep hunger stirred in me as I walked toward Sonia, the heat in my gaze unmistakable.

This was what I wanted. What I’d chosen.

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