He took it and draped it casually over his shoulders, leaving most of his chest exposed. It made him look even more... dangerous. More irresistible.
"Hand me the shirt," I said, reaching out and trying to sound normal. "I'll get it drying."
As I took the still-warm, damp shirt from him, his scent hit me hard—pure masculine essence, blended with a hint of cologne and the faint tang of sweat. My heart raced.
"I'll... take care of this," I mumbled, hurrying to the laundry room.
I tossed the shirt into the dryer and set the timer. But as I started to leave, the lingering scent made me pause.
I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then did something that filled me with shame—I picked up the wet shirt again and pressed it lightly to my cheek.
It was an unadulterated male aroma, with a trace of sweat from his efforts and his unique musk. It instantly brought back memories of that night five years ago, the feel of him pressing down on me...
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. The act felt both humiliating and exhilarating, but I couldn't stop myself. It had been five years—five years since I'd been this close to his scent...
Damn it, what was I doing? This was so perverted...
But my body was responding—a surge of heat low in my abdomen, my panties growing damp...
"Mom?"
Sofia's voice snapped me out of it. I quickly threw the shirt back in and slammed the dryer door shut.
"What are you doing?" She stood in the doorway, looking curiously at my flushed face.
"I... I'm just drying some clothes," I said, my voice shaky. "Go play in the living room; don't hang around here."
"Okay, Mom." She skipped away.
I leaned against the dryer, breathing heavily, trying to compose myself. But that moment made it crystal clear: my desire for Alexander was far stronger than I'd ever admitted.
"Alex!"
As I left the laundry room, I heard Sofia's excited squeal. Clearly, she'd forgotten all our conversations about staying away from him.
"Sofia, watch out for the water on the floor!" I called, but she'd already navigated around the puddles and run straight to him.
Alexander crouched down to her eye level.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" Sofia asked, her little face beaming with innocent joy. "Did you come to play with me?"
"I came to help your mom fix the pipe," he said, his voice so gentle it made my heart ache. "She had a bit of trouble."
"Can you play with me now?" She looked at him hopefully, grabbing his large hand without caring about the water on it. "I have so many toys to show you! Just for a little while? Please? Pretty please!"
She used that classic kid wheedle, her eyes full of pleading.
"Sofia—" I began, ready to say no.
"Please, Mom," she turned to me, her face alight with anticipation, those brown eyes—just like his—sparkling. "Just a short time? Alex helped us so much; I want to thank him. And... I haven't seen him since you blocked the hole..."
Her words hit me hard. She knew I was deliberately keeping her from seeing him, but she didn't understand why.
I looked at her eager expression, then at Alexander... He was watching me too, his eyes holding a mix of plea, hope, and vulnerability.
Finally, I sighed.
"Okay," I said, sounding tired. "But only for a little while."
