After some of the throbbing eases, I eventually stand, seeing him now sitting up in bed, the buttons of his shirt open. My eyes bulge with shame at the memory of me opening his shirt last night. I remember how my eyes widened at his lean muscles and the ripples along his stomach. How he felt.
He looks at me for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. Are you running away from me again ?
I bite my lip because I’d contemplated taking off as soon as I got dressed. Obviously, I’m not going to tell him that. He won’t let me go. No.
He smiles darkly and unexpectedly lunges forward. Screaming, I almost fall over again when he tries to grab me. I manage to dodge him, legging into bathroom and closing the door hastily.
Hah ! I shout with triumph after I turn the lock.
I hear him grunt behind the door. Very mature.
Good job I’m not mature then, I reply, smiling to myself.
I think you’re forgetting I can very easily knock this door down, he says coolly, his voice sending shivers through me. I pull a face when I remember Jared’s door and realize he’s right.
You wouldn’t, I call his bluff.
Are you sure about that ? I hear him ask, and I think about that for a second. I’m not sure about anything when it comes to him. Five…four…
I unlock the door and open it, seeing him leaning his hands on the door frame and a smug grin on his mouth. Fine. You win.
I slip past him, ducking under his arm. Reaching for the lining of his t-shirt, I pull it over my head, revealing my black bra and matching panties. Making a grab for my clothes, I hear a low whistle behind me. When I turn, my face goes hot when I see him checking me out. Okay. You win.
I snort. Stop. I’m not anything special.
He frowns at my words as I quickly put on my vest top. After pulling up my skirt, I pull out my phone and check for texts or calls. I have none. Huh. Maybe Ray and Vicky…
No. I don’t want to think about that.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I notice Colton walking over to me. I stop breathing when he reaches out and takes hold of my chin, forcing me look at him. Why are you leaving ?
Because-
There’s a sudden loud bang downstairs, cutting me off. It’s the door again and my skin prickles when I hear her shout, Colton ?
Speak of the devil.
Fuck, he swears, and I look at him in disbelief, my mouth having dropped open. Is he serious ? His girlfriend decides to walk in now ?
I turn around in a haste, trying to figure out what to do, but he catches my wrist and drags me over to his closet, pushing me inside. I stumble back as he comes in after me, sliding the doors closed. After turning off the lights and leaving us in darkness, I gasp when I feel his hands on my hips, pushing me back into his clothes until my back hits a wall.
I glare up at him, unable to believe that I’m once again in this position. This was the exact reason I was leaving, I sneer.
I’m sorry.
Are you ? I thought you weren’t hiding me ?
Well, if she sees you again, I doubt you’ll be getting more than a snarl this time.
He has a point. What the hell is wrong with me ? I’m having an affair with a taken man and hiding in his closet with him. This isn’t me. Why am I so delusional when it comes to him ?
I’m going home, I say through gritted teeth.
You’re not. I narrow my eyes at his persistence, but he presses into me more when footsteps enter the bedroom. I swallow hard and stop breathing, my body stiffening with tension.
Colton ? Are you home ? I hear Jenny call out again. My heart hammers against my chest. What if she comes in here and catches us ? The jingle of her phone cuts through the silence and I hear her sigh before she answers. Hello ?
My body jumps when Colton’s finger brushes against my cheekbone. It’s unexpected and I almost smack him out of reflex.
No, he isn’t home. I don’t know where he is, I hear Jenny say in the distance as Colton bends his head and kisses my neck.
My heart is about to fall out of my chest and I don’t know whether to plead to go to heaven or hell. My toes tingle as his lips trail up my neck, just below my jaw. But I snap out of it when I hear Jenny’s laugh in the background. Jerking my head back, I mouth a no at him. Is he seriously kissing me with his girlfriend in the same room ?
Colton shakes his head, moving his body closer to mine, pressing himself against me so my back is tight against the wall. His hand slips around my neck, and before I know it, his mouth is on mine and he’s kissing me.
I don’t know. He’s been acting a little weird these past few days. Distant, you know ?
My eyes widen, and I fight between listening to her conversation and kissing him back. Biting down on my bottom lip to stop from making a sound, he pulls away from my lips and continues kissing my neck.
Tingles erupt through my body and I melt on the spot. Then he suddenly does something that makes my stomach flip upside down. He licks his bite mark and my head spins. Slapping my hand over my mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud, my entire body quakes. I grab his arms when my legs wobble and arch my head back more.
Andrew reckons he’s seeing someone else. I know, right ? Colton wouldn’t dream of cheating on me. Not when the sex is amazing as it is. The day before yesterday was a good example. I couldn’t keep him off me.
My eyes shoot open and air whooshes out of my lungs. I jerk away from him and he shakes his head quickly, but I glare at him and try to shove him away.
Jenny laughs, and the noise goes right through me. Well let’s just say he’ll be begging me to marry him once daddy tells him the plan. She laughs again. Stop it, you. I must go. I need a shower and go find him.
I don’t think I’ve never wanted to be sucked into the ground as much as I do in that very second. Humiliation seeps through me as I stare at him. As soon as I hear the bathroom door close and the shower hum to life, I push him away from me.
Layla. He goes to grab me again but I slap his hand away.
Don’t ! I whisper angrily and grab the handles of the closet.
Layla, he whispers again, reaching out, but I hit his hand away again.
No. It’s over. I slide the doors open and creep out as silently as I can. And I do feel like a creep. Someone who should not be here. Colton grabs my arm and flips me to face him.
Where are you going ? His eyes search my face and I’m not sure I want to believe the worry I see there.
I’m going home, you disgust me.
He looks at me with despair and confusion, but I tear my eyes away and work on finding my shoes. Finally spotting them under the bed, I dart forward and grab them. Pushing past Colton without looking at him, I finally escape his bedroom, taking the route down the corridor toward the stairs.
He follows me. The black t-shirt I’d been wearing for bed is now on him instead. He looks dangerously disheveled and it makes my heart gallop in my chest. Let me explain.
You don’t need to explain. I get it. I’ve always got it.