Chapter 37: The Gathering Storm

As Eric sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Maya snuggled closer to him, her hand drifting across his chest. The warmth of her touch sent shivers down his spine, and he knew that he would have to face whatever Mark wanted, but for now, he just wanted to savor the moment. "What's going on?" Eric asked, his voice groggier than he intended, as he turned to Maya. She shrugged, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "No idea, but I have a feeling it's not going to be good." Eric swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet dangling in the air as he tried to shake off the lingering fogginess. Maya climbed out of bed, her naked body glowing in the morning light, and Eric couldn't help but feel a pang of desire. As she walked into the bathroom, Eric's eyes followed her, drinking in the sight of her curves. She closed the door behind her, and the sound of the shower starting up was like music to his ears. He stood up, his movements slow and deliberate, as he made his way to the dresser. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, his mind still foggy from the sleep. As he dressed, Eric's thoughts turned to Mark and what he wanted. He had a feeling that it was going to be bad, that something was brewing on the horizon. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment. Maya emerged from the bathroom, her hair damp and her skin glowing. She smiled at Eric, her eyes sparkling with amusement, and he felt his heart skip a beat. "You're distracting me," he said, his voice low and husky. Maya laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Sorry," she said, as she walked over to him. "I just wanted to make sure you're ready for whatever Mark has in store for you." Eric pulled her into his arms, his lips brushing against her ear. "I'll be fine," he whispered. "As long as I have you, I can face anything." Maya smiled, her lips tracing the lines of his jaw. "That's the spirit," she said, her voice husky with amusement. As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Eric knew that they would face whatever came their way, together. But as he looked at the clock on the dresser, he knew that he couldn't put off the inevitable forever. With a reluctant sigh, Eric pulled away from Maya, his eyes locking onto hers. "I have to go," he said, his voice low and reluctant. Maya nodded, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "I'll go with you," she said, as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Eric hesitated, unsure if that was a good idea. But as he looked at Maya, he knew that he couldn't face whatever Mark wanted without her by his side. Together, they made their way to Mark's office, the tension between them palpable. As they walked, Eric couldn't shake the feeling that their world was about to be turned upside down.