Chapter 45
ON the corner of her eyes, Maria can see that Euclid is watching her every move. She can feel his intense gaze on her bared skin as if his stare is trying to penetrate every layer of her flesh.
Maria covered her nakedness with her hands and turned her back at him. With trembling hands, she picked up her clothes on the floor. When she sensed movements on the couch, she flinched and hugged herself.
“I’ll go out while you put on your clothes...” Euclid said hesitantly and stood. But before he started walking, he spoke again. “But, I won’t leave, Maria. I’ll be back after a couple of minutes.”
Maria didn’t answer. She didn’t even look at him. She waited for the sound of the door as he shut it behind him before she started to move and release her breath. Maria didn’t expect everything that happened between them. She didn’t expect that Euclid would still want to kiss her, touch her, and make love to her.
A tear fell from her eyes. Her chest hurt as it started to tighten because of so much pain that she felt inside her heart. She loved Euclid so much that she knew deep within her heart that she was still willing to start a new beginning with him. But Maria also knew that she can’t do that, not now that everything in her life was currently planned. Euclid no longer deserved a woman as filthy as her. She’s no longer the Maria that he once loved and earned. The woman now that he sees is the face of a woman with angelic sin.
Her knees shook as she put on her underclothes. Euclid never changed. He still can consume all her energy in one climax. She was putting on her brassiere when she noticed a faint red mark between her breasts. She touched it and once again felt the pleasure and satisfaction that Euclid gave him just a moment ago. Everything still feels the same, just like the first time that they shared the night together. It never changed, instead, it only grew stronger. Euclid marked her skin once again. Still, she knew that she no longer belongs to him.
Maria wept in tears. She has to stop this feeling before it destroyed her again. Everything must stop, even if it means that she has to sacrifice the man that she truly loves.
“Maria? What are you doing there?” Wendy went to her side. “Did something happen? I thought I heard some noise a while ago, so I woke up to check it.”
Maria shook her head and turned her head away from her to wipe her tears. “N-Nothing…” she lied and stood, but her knees shook.
“Are you okay?” Wendy asked her. “You looked tired…’
“I’m fine,” she said and went to the kitchen to get herself a water glass. She drank it continuously.
It’s a good thing that when Wendy stepped out of the room, she was already dressed because if she didn’t, she would have to tell her what was with her and Euclid.
“Did Agent Euclid arrive?” Wendy asked from the couch.
Maria almost choked on water. She looked at her friend with a knotted forehead. “Huh?”
Wendy pointed at Euclid’s shirt on the floor. Her one brow was arched while she waited for her to reply. “And, sis, you wore your shirt in the underside.”
Maria caught her collar. “I-I was changing my clothes when he came in…”
“Who is he in your life?” she asked and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Maria, I know that seven years isn’t enough for me to say that I know you. Because I don’t have any idea what you do every time you went out of that door, I also chose not to ask you because I respect your privacy. But, Maria, within those six years that we’re together, this is the first time that I saw you got affected by a man. You’re not like that whenever Doc Connor is here—”
“Euclid is…” Maria hesitated. “Euclid is part of my past.”
“Which past?” Wendy asked, brows furrowed. “The dark ones, or the happy ones?”
It took moments before Maria could answer. “He’s the person that I thought could help me out in the dark.”
*
Euclid clenched his fist upon hearing Maria’s answer to her friend’s question. Until now, she can’t forgive him for his broken promises six years ago. Euclid knew that Maria is the kind of woman who can’t forget easily those who have wronged her, and Euclid is willing to do anything to earn her trust again.
Maria is the only woman that he will love for the rest of his life. Now that he has found her again, he will do anything to keep her in his arms. Even if it means that he has to break some of their protocols. Euclid lowered his head as the cold feeling lurked inside his chest again. He brushed his shoulders, even the night cold night air is also making him unwelcomed.
He was about to knock on the door when he heard Wendy speak again. Euclid stood still, and as his chest started to hammer.
“I hope you don’t mind, Maria…” Wendy continued. “But, did you and Agent Euclid have a relationship seven years ago?”
Euclid waited for Maria to answer. Silence filled the air, and Euclid was expecting that Maria won’t answer her friend’s questions.
“Yes,” Maria said. “He’s my first love…”
A smile formed on Euclid’s lips. And, so was Maria. She’s the only woman that can make him feel as if forever is not enough for them. She’s the woman that he wanted to marry, have kids with, and grow old with. His love for her will never change, and if her love for him faded, he’ll do everything to refurbish it, and make her fall in love again for him.
Euclid stepped closer to the door and spoke quietly. “You’re my first love, too, Maria—”
“You had a relationship seven years ago?” Wendy asked suddenly. “And, you’re already pregnant when I found you on the streets seven years ago—”
“Wendy, he’s not Sara’s father,” Maria cut off. The stern in her voice was like a raging bullet coming to Euclid. “Let’s not talk about that again, please.”
***
