I'M NOT YOUR WOMAN. (✓)

18. emirati escape.

Reassuring her and her tense shoulders, "Nah, that's water under a bridge, trust me"

Okay, this is definitely weird.

"Okay. I just have to ask — "

"Shoot?" He raked a hand through his hair.

Her silvery-white eyes flicked up at him, not longingly, but with a degree of understandable caution, "You're being too nice. What's the catch?"

"There isn't one" said Ebén, not at all offended by her obvious reservations as he hadn't really given her a reason to bank on his word but he was determined to prove his intent with time, "I want to give it a go"

She then snorted piggishly; still unbelieving, "Are you tellin' me shit you think I want to hear but in reality, you don't mean a single word of it?"

"I meant it every single word."

Ezra couldn't wait any longer for the penny to drop; and she absolved herself of her reservations and  slowly crawled towards him and flinging the mountain-duvet out of her way.

Fuck it.

"I want the same things you do" she threaded her lips with his in an elongated kiss, her eyes, now ravenous.

He strapped his fingers to the front of her throat and sunk his lips into her mouth; giving her sloppy and she gave it to him back. She, too, used her hands which were pliant and small to run through his hair like a maze — tugging on loose strands of his hair.

Even as he voiced his intent to Ezra, Ebén couldn't crowd out this large mass of guilt that was a permanent fixture in his chest. Hearing how Maya had decidedly judged him was worse than the painful sting of her rejection; because she chose to believe slander rather than to hear the truth from the horse's mouth.

Ezra batted her big eyes at him dirtily, "I'm going to take a hot shower. Do you wanna join me?"

The word 'dirty' had made his mind wander and reminisce at the thought of Maya waking up naked. He wondered what the scent of her core tasted like and could only imagine the definition on her curves; now that she couldn't hide behind her clothes.

Fuck, focus.

"Baby?" Ezra called out, noticing his mind had taken him elsewhere and his breath was scuppered.

He had become stiff from lustful imagination, "Sorry. I'll join you — soon. I just need to make a quick call"

"Sure."

She glared at him pensively; wondering if she had (unbeknownst to her) done something that had caused him to silently pull away from her.

MINUTES LATER, Ebén looked up to form an assessment of the balcony view. Hands dug into his joggers, the sole of his feet paced along the granite balcony floor. He felt a buzzing in his trouser pocket and leant over the balcony edge to answer it.

"Missing us already?"

He mumbled quietly, caution filling his tongue, "Ha, you could say that.. Sorry to call you on your break with your missus — "

"It's all good. What's good?"

Ebén could sense his unease, he didn't need to say it, the silence was enough of an indicator.

His chest rose as he let out a troubled sigh, "I'm coping. What have you done so far?"

"We been in bed all day. So, I'm taking Ezra to the Dubai Mall later, and then I've got reservation booked at Hutong..."

"Huntong? Isn't that where you prop — "

"Yeah, it actually was"

Rhodes let out another sigh.

"Rhodes, talk to me. You don't sound good?" Ebén said, pinning the phone to his ear.

Rhodes said in a rushed blurt, his mouth barely keeping up with the pace of his words, "I, urm, need a big favour. Not sure what else to do or who to ask"

His tone grew sharper and shaky, "I need fifty grand... if you have it. I know it's — "

He butted in mid-sentence, "I'll wire it to you when I get back. Don't worry"

"You will?!" Rhodes' tone hitting high.

"Course"

Ebén did wonder, though, what sort of trouble Rhodes had gotten himself into as he wasn't the type of a man that had indiscretions.

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A/N: Anyone believe Ebén really wanting to start over with Ezra or is he just placating his ego? Somehow, I'm not too convinced. Anyone feel the same as me?