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<div style="text-align: right">aven miller<br/>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Aven blew out a huff of a laugh, eyes glancing over to the two barely eaten creme brulees, clattered spoons, and then the evidence of their lurid sex on the counter. Aven flushed, biting back a pleased grin. She didn't know why the sight of the mess had pride swimming through her body. It's not like they'd won a Michelin star or anything for what had accomplished and yet Aven felt blissfully at peace. Rafael wanted this with her - wanted to see where it would go. <br/>
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<i>Again,</i> the peckish voice in her mind reminded. Just like that, reality came crashing down over Aven, their little blissful time in the kitchen coming to an abrupt halt. He assured her and yet his words were suddenly not <i>assuring.</i> Aven masked her fret though, cradling the side of Rafael's neck between soft palms. She kissed him slowly, fingers lightly brushing back his soft hair before stepping away - bidding him goodnight and settling herself back to her own apartment. By the time she had walked up to her apartment, the remnants of bliss and starriness washed away for something ferocious - something needling towards panic but not clattering to that emotion just yet. <br/>
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She felt it when she took a shower, washing away the evidence of her and Rafael's actions - felt it when she changed into her pajama shorts and t-shirt when she slipped into her and Sebastian's bed. The feeling magnified when the front door of their apartment slammed shut. The sounds were so familiar and yet now, after her little entanglement with Rafael, they were magnified. Sebastian's keys rattling onto the desk, his bag dropping after, his deep sigh followed by the sound of water running, and then him stepping into the bathroom, shoes off - only to look at Aven in surprise when he saw her awake. <br/>
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She'd asked Rafael if he'd regret it without even wondering if she'd feel the tormenting emotion. It wasn't regret that captured her when she looked up at Sebastian's smiling form - it was hard <i>guilt</i>. Guilt so tight that it choked her. Aven's lips still tingled from Rafael's kisses, her body still wonderful ache-y from the way his hands had gripped her hips and the way his body fit between hers. She couldn't recall the last time she'd craved Sebastian the way she'd craved Rafael the past week. Aven wasn't sure if it was because of unresolved feelings, plain lust, or something more. She loved him before - deeply, desperately, <i>catastrophically.</i> But did she love Rafael now? Did he even love her? Think the consuming thoughts that troubled her?<br/>
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 "I have to tell you something," <br/>
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Was she already so quick to confess? No, no, no. <br/>
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Aven felt guilty, but not guilty enough to stop. Not guilty enough to put a pause to whatever it is that she was figuring out with Rafael. And she was terrible for it and continuing the charade would be instantly putting a nail and hammer to whatever innocent thing it is that she was exploring with Sebastian, but Aven picked up the weapon anyway. "Remember how I told you about the new team coming in and how tomorrow is the grand opening?" Aven felt her heart racket in her chest, suddenly twitchy and uncomfortable in the bed they shared. Aven shifted her legs until she was near hugging her knees, staring up into Sebastian's sun-like orbs with what she assumed was a notoriously pleading expression. Pleading him to understand even though she didn't deserve it. <br/>
<br/>
"I never told you who the manager was." she swallowed hard, working her fingers between one another nervously. "It's....Rafael,"</span></div>