Chapter 3 : She’s Off-limits

*David*

The sweaty silk sheets tangled around my body were enough proof I had tossed and turned the entire night, trying to relax and find a moment of peace at least while I was sleeping, but failing miserably.

I stirred from sleep, the hazy cloud of confusion and desire still hanging over me like an unwelcome guest. Images of Grace, her flushed cheeks and her emerald-green eyes filled with lust as she stared at me, replayed in my mind over and over during the night, a constant reminder of our late-night encounter in the kitchen.

She had been a pleasant surprise when I arrived at the Estate yesterday. I vaguely remembered her from Sarah's childhood and teenage years, but the woman I saw yesterday was a completely different person. She had become a beautiful, intriguing and sexy woman. Her long auburn hair, her green eyes and that tiny little body of hers… My eyes couldn't help but wander down her curves when she showed up wearing nothing more than just that short nightgown that left little to my imagination.

I had felt my body immediately respond to her presence, her skin looking so soft and smooth, that I just wanted to trace my fingers over every inch of her body and make her moan my name until her voice was hoarse and she was breathless from all the pleasure I had given her.

I ran a hand through my disheveled hair, frustration consuming every cell of my body. I had a terrible night filled with dreams I shouldn't be having about her, the thoughts of her igniting a longing within me, and this morning I still couldn't shake Grace's image from my head. My desire to be close to her weighed heavily on me, threatening to consume me entirely.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of this forbidden attraction press upon me, making my chest tight and my cock harden. The rational part of me knew that indulging in this desire was risky, especially considering her close friendship with Sarah and the significant age gap that separated us.

But last night, as our eyes locked, I couldn't deny the raw desire I saw in her gaze. It left me with a nagging suspicion that maybe, just maybe, she shared the same feelings as me.

The idea of Grace being strictly off-limits, the tantalizing prospect of having a forbidden affair, only intensified the annoying ache in my chest, deepening the need I felt for her. The attraction that pulled me towards Grace was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.

When she asked me if I really wanted her to leave the kitchen last night, I almost made a bad decision. The temptation to abandon all restraint and claim her right then and there, on the cool tiles of the kitchen floor, surged through me like a tidal wave.

Thankfully, with steely determination, I bid her to leave before the tantalizing temptation became overwhelming and pushed me past the point of no return.

I was still grappling with my response to her question though, regret washing over me every time I replayed that moment in my head.

To make things worse, that had been only our first day in this place. I was well aware that things were likely to grow increasingly challenging as I continued to bump into her around the estate.

Which, of course, was going to happen more often than I found safe to admit.

"Get a grip, David," I scolded myself. "You can't afford another mistake."

I rubbed a hand over my face as memories of my previous failed marriage swirled through my mind. My ex-wife's nature had stifled my spirit, and the external pressures that led to our union only compounded the bitterness between us. There was a hidden complexity to our past–a tangled web of secrets and lies that still haunted me to this day, even though I had been divorced for a few years now.

I had vowed never to love again after losing Sarah's mother, yet here I was–divorced, and inexplicably drawn to a young woman who could bring it all crashing down around me.

"Christ, what have I gotten myself into?" I asked myself, staring up at the intricate ceiling design above me. I'd had my fair share of women before and after the divorce, but nothing had ever ignited such a fierce desire within me as Grace. She was like a wildfire, threatening to burn through the barriers I had so carefully erected around myself.

As much as I tried to resist Grace, I couldn't help but think about her–images of her submitting to me playing in my mind as I imagined what she would feel like under me. It was renting a room in my brain and threatening to make me insane at any minute now.

I was never one to like young girls, let alone my daughter's friends. So, what the hell was happening to me?

Maybe all I needed was to blow off some steam. It had been a while since I got laid. Maybe finding a woman in the upcoming wedding to satisfy my needs was what I needed to take Grace off my brain.

But no matter how hard I tried to remember everyone on Sarah's guest list, no one seemed to ring a bell or make me slightly interested.

I took a deep breath and stood up from the bed, stretching my limbs, and deciding to head out for a morning jog around the estate grounds to start my day. Perhaps some physical exertion would help clear my mind and help me regain control over these distressing emotions.

I walked towards the bathroom and took a quick shower to cleanse the sweat from the awful night I had, and also to help me put my focus in order.

The scents of freshly brewed coffee and warm croissants filled the air and greeted me as I headed downstairs, yet I found no solace in them. All I kept thinking about was imagining what Grace’s lips would taste like, how her body would react when I pressed her against me, how her pussy would stretch when—

I shook my head and decided to go for a run with an empty stomach instead. Maybe the morning air would help me to take my mind off things for a bit. But my thoughts returned to Grace quicker than I expected.

The way she had questioned my intentions the previous night only served to intensify the sexual tension I was feeling. Just the nagging doubt of what could have happened if I didn't tell her to go to her room was driving me insane.

I could feel she wanted the same as me, yet I told her to go. There were too many risks, too many potential consequences. I shouldn't indulge in this. It was the best decision in the end.

However, as much as I tried to convince myself about that, I knew I was only kidding myself.

I once more pondered finding some physical solace among Sarah’s guests, but that didn’t seem like a good idea, no matter how much I wanted it to be. The idea of being with anyone other than Grace just felt wrong.

The conflict between my yearning for her and my sense of responsibility toward my daughter plagued me relentlessly as I jogged through the surroundings of the Biltmore Estate. I groaned in frustration, clenching my fists tightly and speeding up. My heart raced as I struggled to catch my breath, a bead of sweat forming on my forehead. I could feel the exhaustion starting to weigh me down.

As I propelled myself forward, an overwhelming sense of dread crept over me at the mere thought of facing Grace and addressing the situation. The truth was crystal clear in my mind–I knew what had to be done. Pretending nothing had happened wouldn't be the gentlemanly thing to do. I knew I had to talk to her and tell her that whatever had occurred between us so far was a mistake, but the idea of pushing her away, of distancing myself from her, felt like a searing blade slicing through my heart.

It was time to put an end to that madness before it even started, before it spiraled into something uncontrollable. The decision weighed heavily on me as I stared out at the sun-kissed grounds of the estate, knowing that there would be no turning back from this moment.

But I had to believe that this was the best solution. It was the only thing keeping me sane and preventing me from doing something that could potentially become a fucking mess.

My life was too complicated already. I shouldn't be adding more to it. No matter how good it seemed to be. And truth be told, Grace deserved more than that. I hadn't lied to her when I told her I wasn't serious-relationship material. She was better off without me.

As I returned from my morning exercise, my chest heaved with each breath, the physical exertion doing little to distract me from the tempest raging within me. Catching sight of Grace from a distance only served to stoke the flames of desire that threatened to consume me, making whatever determined decision I had come to terms with to dissipate with the wind.

I clenched my fist in frustration. The previous night's encounter with her had left an indelible mark on me, and my conscience was at war. She was too young, too innocent for someone like me–my daughter's best friend, no less. And yet, I couldn't escape the obsession that seemed to take over me after seeing her again for the first time in years.

I observed Grace from afar, her beautiful auburn hair cascading down her back as she assisted Sarah with wedding preparations in the garden. Her skin glowed under the sunlight, and her laughter carried on the breeze, intertwining with the scent of roses and morning dew. The image of her radiant smile and her plumpy, seductive lips only added fuel to the fire of temptation simmering in me.

I could feel my cock twitching with need just by watching her. I gazed at her, my internal struggle intensifying as I watched her in that moment. Her slender figure was dressed in a loose-fitting dress that swayed gently with the morning breeze, creating a tantalizing dance around her legs. I couldn't help but admire how the fabric seductively grazed her thighs, a sight that filled my mind with longing.

For a moment, I imagined that was my hand, following a trail up her legs, her soft skin crawling under my touch as my fingers reached her panties, and…

"Mr. Anderson?" my driver and bodyguard called me, pulling me from my thoughts. I realized I had been standing there, observing Grace for far too long. I snapped my gaze away from her, cursing inwardly and hoping he hadn't noticed it.

"Yes, Carl?" I replied tersely, clearing my throat and shaking my head in an attempt to clear my mind. It was no use–the daydreams I had with her were impregnating my mind completely.

"Your mother is on the phone. She says it's important," he continued, pulling me back to reality again, clearly unaware of the inner turmoil I was experiencing.

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion gnawing at the back of my mind as I heard my mother being mentioned. My relationship with her hadn’t always been strained, but her controlling nature was a constant shadow over my life. She was the one who had pushed me into marrying Victoria–a decision that had ended in a bitter divorce, and an estranged relationship with my mother.

The thought of her interference now made my blood boil.

What could she possibly want with me today?

"Tell her I'll call her back later," I replied bluntly, dismissing the unwanted intrusion. I couldn't afford any more distractions or drama right now, and talking to her at that moment would definitely put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

And I was already frustrated enough with myself.

"She asked me to insist if you told me you wouldn't answer her," Carl added, clearly uncomfortable confronting my order. I didn't blame him, of course; I knew how intimidating and scary my mother could be when she wanted.

I looked at him, suddenly feeling mentally drained. "Then tell her you couldn't find me. Do not let her scare you. If she tries to threaten you, just pretend the connection is bad and hang up on her," I said, half-joking, flashing him a reassuring smile.

But I knew Carl would never do that–his professionalism prevented him from being this audacious–he also understood there was no way he could convince me otherwise.

So, nodding his understanding, he finally retreated.

I took one last glance at Grace from across the garden and sighed, running a hand through my soaked hair. Perhaps I should focus on getting some work done instead of lingering here, dwelling on what I couldn't have. At least I knew how to keep myself occupied while working, although I had a small suspicion that today, that tactic wouldn't work as effectively.

In a last-ditch effort to clear my mind of Grace's allure, I stepped inside the manor and headed straight to my room. I stormed into the bathroom, turning on the shower and watching droplets splatter against the marble tiles as I shed my sweaty clothes.

Maybe the cold shower would do the trick and help me put things into perspective. I stepped under the icy spray and the cold water assaulted my skin, but it did little to quell the fire that raged inside me.

I scolded myself, trying to regain control over my thoughts, attempting not to let them consume me. However, as the water pummeled my body, failing to wash away the memories of Grace in that nightgown of hers, I knew I was fighting a losing battle. With each passing moment, the line between what was right and what I wanted became more and more blurred.

I wouldn't be able to put it aside. Not until I had tasted her. And even then, I wasn't sure that would be enough for me.

I wouldn't be able to set it aside, not until I had tasted her. And even then, I wasn't sure that would be enough for me. The thought of her—her scent, her curves, the way her laughter echoed in my mind—was all-consuming. My internal struggle intensified with every passing minute, and it became clearer that my attraction to her was a fire that couldn't, and wouldn't, be easily extinguished.