Marc's voice got Rachel's attention, "Have this"

She looked up and that's all she remembered.

After what felt like ages in settling of uneasy nauseous feeling; she finally had some clarity. Still only remembering bits and pieces of the panic trigger, she tried to piece together the haziness.

Calming down had a soothing effect, the slowing of once paced breaths, ease of palpitation and fading of once raged thoughts of death and helplessness.

Marc sat next to her through all of this.

Although she thought he might have gone or left the room, still, she had no clue how he was sitting beside her. But it meant a lot. She have had friends before who left her alone during situations like this but Marc didn't.

A soft voice of his bought her back to reality, "How are you feeling now?"

She smiled and nodded, "Better.."

She took a deep breath before speaking. Although the situation was bad, she doesn't recollect managing to come back from it without medicines, "Do you know what happened.. I don't have much recollection."

"You had a panic attack. And for some odd reason I thought it might not be the first time so I searched for your medicines in your bag." He soothed her, rubbing her back and placing her head onto his shoulder, "Found it on the table."

'He did not leave. He was searching for the medicines. God.. how can I ever thank him. He had been a life saver today' a teary eyed Rachel thought.

"How did.. I..am sorry.. I thought.." guilt flared up inside her with memories of him leaving.

"Hey. Hey.. Rach" pulling up her teary eyed face into his hands, he looked at her. Kindness and warmth swirled in his eyes as he spoke. No judgment or sympathy. "You don't have to apologize about anything. Okay.."

She nodded.

Running his thumb over her soft cheeks, he wiped away a rogue tear. "You are a strong, brave girl. You had a panic.. Not a big deal. So many people have it and they manage to live with it and have a life around it.. You don't have anything to be ashamed of."

He kissed her forehead, "Do you hear me baby?"

She looked up at him, matching his gaze's intensity with warmth of her own.

He called her baby. Ethan called her the same. She thought back to the times when she compared Marc and Ethan.

'I need to stop this. Stop this comparison. Stop with the shit that I am doing to myself. Stop pondering over what Ethan said or what will happen in the future and start living my life. I have a guy who sat next to me, gave me medicines and took care of me while I spiraled out. Most guys I know would have fled the scene. But he didn't. He stayed. And here I am thinking about future while the present is sitting right in front of me.'

Pulling Marc closer, she kissed him, instantly rolling her tongue inside of his while he held her tenderly like a figurine which might break.

"Thanks for the help.. it means a lot.." she whispered.

"Anyone would have done what I did."

"No.. not everyone can do what you did.." saying that, she picked herself off the floor lending a hand to Marc before they took the bed. She slowly slides on top of Marc who sat beside her. Pushing him onto the bed and kissing him on his neck and jaws she felt the light stubble rub against her lips and cheeks; a tingling sensation ran through her.

"Goooddddd."

She felt the rumbling in the back of his throat as she kissed his neck, slowly unbuttoning his shirt, and parting it open. Her hand traveled to the hardness that was his chest and abs and the musky cologne didn't tempt her any less. The smell was both intoxicating and inviting.

Picking her up while still being under her, Marc held onto her while he sat up. Trailing lines of nips and kisses down her neck he ran his hands behind, playing and holding her silky locks. He too, smelled her coconut shampoo and the floral scent which reminded of her every time he passed down the floral shop. He pulled her in place where he wanted; at the entrance of his mouth.

His kiss was passionate and his tongue explored her mouth. She tasted sweet, her lips were plump and every time she bit them in front of him at the office, he had to tame the arousal inside of him.

Rachel's longing for him increase when he kissed her deep. She pressed onto him; moaning and her tender hands played into his hair. She was a sight to behold; aroused or otherwise. Before parting, he slowly bit and pulled her lower lip.

"Ahhh Marc" she moaned with pleasure; prayers to his ears.

Breath hitched in his chest as he spoke, "Can we get to know each other a little better before we go any further?"

She knew what he meant. Slow was what she wanted. Fast got her to panic. Although his body was killing him in saying this; he was respecting her boundaries. She knew his body's crave as she was straddled over it. She knew at that moment that Marc was perfect. Simply for the fact that he was punishing himself by taking it slow for her sakes.

Her shoulders heaved, "Are you sure..?"

Kissing her neck and jawline, Marc nodded again, "These few days have been very exciting because of you.." he peppered her with kisses near her ear, whispering. "It's been long since I have met an exciting person.."

She giggled, "Really..."

He put her gently on the bed while taking control, running his arousal over her clothes, grinding against her body and whispering to her. Her head rolled back into the mattress when his warm breath hit her.

"Trust me.. Because when I will have you.. you won't want to stop"

Before Rachel could conjure up another sentence from the state of trance she is in, a loud knock of the front door broke their exchange.

Angrily, she yelled at the door. "Who is it?"

She would have kill anyone on the other side today even if it were God. With those thoughts, she walked over to the door, flinging it open only to see her worst fear materialize.

It was Ethan.

"God... Hey.." her voice jerked up.

"Hello.. what's happening.. Why are you panting?"

Her thoughts ran wild. A minute in the bedroom under Marc to now where she stood; facing Ethan. She was unable to explain her state.

"Play along" she immediately warn Ethan before darting towards the bedroom, holding onto Marc's hand and pulling him off the bed.

"What happened Rach?"

"Ethan is here.." she panted.

"Why is he here?"

'Because he is from future and wants to be with me every night.' Her thoughts mocked her.

"Project... That investors project.." blurting, she looked around.

"Okay okay.. fine.. we will tell him I was here for coffee."

Waving her hand around, she panicked, "In my bedroom?"

She flipped at the idea of Ethan coming to know about them and being sad or worst; angry.

Holding her shoulders to stabilize from all the anxiousness, Marc responded. "Rach.. it's not a big deal... Ethan will understand if I talk to him.."

She stopped him. "No I don't want you to talk to him"

She spat out abruptly. Realizing her raising anxiousness, she took a few deep breaths, calming herself before speaking further, "I mean, I will be working with him anyways now. So I would want to explain it to him.. You know... so that it's not awkward between us..."

"I get it" he nodded.

He kissed her one more time on her lips and a smile erupted through her face. Anyone else whose boss would be in the other room would have jumped out the window. But Marc showed real maturity by handling the situation gracefully.

"I will see you tomorrow" her heart did a somersault anticipating tomorrow.

Marc walked out of the bedroom. Ethan who was seated on the couch, raised his brows. Marc doesn't know that Ethan's expressions weren't of surprise but of jealousy. But they both play along.

Marc picked up his stuff, nodded at Ethan with a smile on his face before walking out.

It was only after the door shut that Rachel expected the drama to begin.

"So.. you and Marc..." Ethan's straight tone came across.

"Aah yes.. that.. I had.. a panic attack... he was there.."

"God are you alright.." he walked over to her. His entire demeanor changed from jealousy to concern. Holding her hands, he slowly pulled her close and made her sit on the couch. "How are you feeling now baby?"

"I am better now.. Marc helped with the medicines"

"Thank god for him. He is a lifesaver" Ethan sighed in relief.

"So you are not jealous.." she really needed to know. Some part of her wanted to know about the man, whom she ended up with.

"I was.. frankly speaking.." Ethan ran a hand through his neatly placed hair, before continuing, "But not anymore.. I mean he helped you.."

She continued her questions, "What if we would have gone ahead and done something..else...?"

He smiled, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear, "Again.. I would be jealous.. but it's your decision to do or not do something baby. Because technically, I haven't even met you properly. I will do it tomorrow at the birthday.. but still.. it's all your decision.."

She kissed him back not knowing what else to say or do. She was expecting Ethan to throw some temper tantrum and it would have been easy for her to choose Marc.

But it wasn't that easy. Marc and Ethan both were men possessing their own qualities, strengths and weaknesses. It's wasn't easy to pick and choose one over the other.

Worst case scenario, she was falling for two men simultaneously.

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Author's notes

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