Immortal Dreams (67 page)

"I figured you'd be a little surprised, considering your whitewashed apartment and minimalist style preference," I poke.

"I'm... confused more than... surprised," he mumbles, distracted by the decor.

I cover my giggling mouth with my hand as he continues to stare around the apartment.

“Not what you had envisioned?" I chuckle out.

He looks at me with a stupefied face.

"That's the problem.  I was unable to envision anything.  You're quite the mystery, and I'm not exactly used to that.  I have to see things with my own eyes where you're concerned."

With his own eyes?

That's an odd but hot response.  Everything he does is hot though.

He slowly begins stalking toward me, and the dark swirls are reappearing.  His eyes... they're so... intoxicating.

He bends to kiss me, and I can feel him lowering me to the small couch.  He doesn't hesitate to push his hips against mine, and I'm suddenly tumbling down a hill I can't climb back up.  I have to be with him.  It's starting to hurt when I think of how he'll have to leave.

His phone starts buzzing in his pocket, and he groans as he withdraws from the steamy moment to check it.

I'm so sick of all the interruptions.

"Shit.  I have to take this.  I'm sorry," he grumbles with a stiffened posture.

"Yeah.  Okay," I mumble with a slightly agitated growl.

He steps outside to answer, and I'm shocked by how well I can still hear him when he answers.  It's as if he's standing right beside me rather than in the hallway.

"What do you want?" he snaps.

At least he's feeling a little frustrated by the interference as well.  He calms down slightly, and his voice changes.

"I don't know when I'll be back... I'm busy.... No... I'm sorry, but I'm not coming home tonight... Yeah... Okay... I'll talk to you later."

Oh hell no!

He walks back in to see my death glare stopping him from proceeding.

"What?" he asks innocently.

"I know those phone calls.  I've been the person on the other end of them before listening to the vague, irritable, noncommittal answers.  I'm not some girl you can treat like a side dish, and I'm not going to fuck a man who has a woman waiting at home.  Where was she when I was there?  Did you strategically plan my presence around her absence?"

He starts laughing ridiculously hard, and it pisses me off that much more.

"What's so damn funny?" I yell.

"You are.  And I thought I was the jealous type.  There's no woman at home.  That was a guy I'm friends with."

He continues chuckling, but I'm not an idiot.

"That wasn't a conversation with a friend.  Don't treat me like I'm stupid.  I have more experience with cheaters than anyone else I know."

His eyes soften and his laughter ceases.

"Hey, I'm not-"

I hold my hands up and interrupt him as he tries to cross the room to me.

"No.  Don't.  Just go.  Go back home to your girlfriend, fiancée, wife, or whatever she is.  I'm not doing this."

He purses his lips as he tries to plot out a new plan of attack.  I've seen that scheming stare before - many times from many guys.

"Listen, I swear I'm not involved with anyone but you.  I like seeing you so bent out of shape and worrying about such, considering you've been fighting me every step of the way, but this isn't even close to what you think it is."

I roll my eyes.  "Oh please.  At least be original," I snark.

I walk to the kitchen and pull a beer from the fridge.  I slam the edge of the cap against the overhang of the countertop to relieve my bottle from it.  I quickly start drinking it, even though it's barely nine in the morning.

"Hey, whoa.  Adisia, I'll prove it.  You can dial the last number on my phone and any number in front of it if you want to.  You won't find more than three women - you, Clara, and my mother."

I had better not be wrong about this.

I'll call his bluff.

"Fine.  Hand me your phone."

He smirks as he walks over and unlocks it for me.  Oh shit.  He's really giving me his phone.

I pull up his recent calls, and the last one says Ther.

That could be short for Theresa.

I hear the phone ringing on the other end, and Devin puts his phone on speaker.  I feel sick when a guy's voice answers.

"Yo.  Did you change your mind?  We could use your help," he says casually.

No.  This is so mortifying.  It's a guy.  Fuck.

"No.  I just had a suspicious mind to put at ease.  I'm still not coming back."

Devin is smirking deviously, relishing my humiliation, as my face gleams with a scarlet stain.

"Oh, did that Adiva chick think you were cheating on her?"

I bury my head in my hands, and Devin snickers a little.

"Actually, she thought I was cheating on someone else with her.  And her name is Adisia."

"What-evs. I have a mess to clean up since you're not coming back.  Tell Dissy to chill."

Devin laughs a little more, and then murmurs, "Let me know when it's cleaned up."

"Yeah," Ther says before ending the conversation.

Devin puts his phone back in his pocket, and I'm doing my best to keep my eyes planted on the countertop - even though I think even it's laughing at me as well.

"Satisfied?" he asks smugly.

"No.  Satisfaction is generally achieved when someone is right about something, or they get what they want.  I was completely wrong, and all I got was a heaping pile of embarrassment."

He stops laughing and moves in closer to me.  He forces my chin up, and my eyes bravely meet his.

“So you wanted me to be a cheater?" he whispers in a low, seductive tone as he starts scooting me backwards, and my feet inch back in response to his inching forward.

"It would have given me a legitimate reason to be done with you," I utter back with trembling lips.

He smirks slightly as his lips barely brush mine.  Their soft caress is enough to leave my lips throbbing for more.  He leans back up and continues to hold my eyes with his steady, unwavering gaze.

"You think it would be that easy?" he mutters.

My heart begins pounding harder, and I can feel his breath seducing me more as it cascades its heat over me.

I'm so fucked.

"No." I visibly tremble.

"You're right.  I'm not letting you go that easy," he threatens in a tone that excites me when it should terrify me.

My back eases against the wall, warning me I've run out of room.  His body is still nearing mine, pinning mine, and I know there's no escaping him.  I don't want to escape him either.

"Good," I whisper in a nearly muted tone.

His lips capture mine, and he lifts me with a savage approach.  He puts me on the counter top, and jerks me forward to straddle him more intimately.  He rips my dress over my head, and his lips continue their carnivorous meal on mine.

He grips me tightly and yanks my head back to give him a better angle on my neck.  I feel the sparks against my skin, and it's all I can do not to collapse into him.

Why can't I control myself around him?  I'm conservative, quiet, and not at all adventurous in the bedroom, but I feel like a sex goddess when I'm with him.

He pulls me tighter to him and lifts me from the counter.  I feel the brisk walk ending in the bedroom as he kicks the door shut, and his eyes promise me another memory I'll never forget.

"I don't want to know
how you're so good at... everything," I heave out through labored breaths.

"I've never seen someone get so jealous before.  I suppose you should quit trying to act as though you don't want to be with me now," he teases.

I blush and pull the sheet over my head.  "I can't believe I acted like that.  I've never been so rash about anything."

The sheet slides back down to reveal his perfect face hovering over mine.  His sweet gaze offers me a little reprieve from my torturous humiliation.

"You're as enthralled and obsessed with me as I am with you.  It's good to know," he seduces as his lips cover mine briefly.

When he draws back, I look over at the clock that is warning me it's nearly eleven.

"I have to get ready and get back to the inn.  You can go back if you want to.  I don't want you being bored while I get ready."

He smiles a little mischievously.  "I don't mind watching.  I'm sure I'll find a great deal of something other than boredom from it."

I blush and roll my eyes as I nudge him playfully.  He catches my hand and pulls me to him to feel his warmth all the more exquisitely.

"I need a shower," I mumble to shatter the possibility of an encore.

I really have to get ready.

"So do I.  I don't mind sharing shower space," he insists, his irresistibly enticing tone making my heart thud against my chest.

Like I have a choice.  Why am I even trying to think this over?

"Then come on," I dare.

His devious smirk and darkened eyes offer me nothing but chills and shocks.  He pulls my lips to his as we stand up, and his hands tangle in my wild hair.

Completely engulfed by each other, we slowly creep to the bathroom that is so much smaller than the one he's accustomed to.

He laughs a little as his elbow slaps the wall, and I giggle too.  He breaks away to cut the shower on, but as soon as he rises, I'm still glued to his lips again.

At least there's no need to undress, since we never got redressed.

I feel the splatter of water beating against my back as he places both of us behind the curtain.  He's doing all the work because I'm too wrapped up in him to do anything else.  I can't think - ever - when he's around.

There's no trace of sanity left in me, and only the dark swirls in his eyes remind me how wrong this can go.  He's dangerously desirable, and he's going to break me in half.

Our moment deepens to the point I know my shower is about to be defiled for the first time, but the second we get started, the water around me changes.  It feels to be spinning against me rather that beating fiercely.

Then it starts boiling, and I mean literally boiling.  I scream as I leap through the curtain, and I gasp as I see the boiling bubbles on the shower floor.

Devin's eyes widen to better view the ghastly sight before he slowly climbs free from the scalding water and wraps a towel around his waist.

"Holy shit," I shriek, grabbing a towel for myself to hide my nakedness.  "My hot water heater must be busted.  I'm so sorry."

His eyes study the shower in disbelief, and I notice the water slowly starting to return to a normal temperature.  He seems a little stunned, and I swear there's a twinge of guilt etching into his face.

"I need to head back and get dressed.  I'll see you in a little while," he mumbles while continuing to examine the shower.

I tilt my head curiously.  "Are you mad at me?"

He shakes his head while taking in a deep breath and running a hand through his hair.

"No.  I just have some calls to return.  I need to get caught up on some business."

He kisses my forehead, and I can tell the momentum has completely shifted.  He feels colder, and the electricity has frozen to be a dull buzzing as opposed to a gushing current.

I can feel the gut-wrenching feeling of the impending disconnect.  It's so soon though.  How did I lose him this quick?  This can't already be happening.

"Please don't go," I whisper in a pathetic, needy tone.

He forces a smile, pity shining in his eyes.

"I'm just going for a little while.  I'll see you at the inn.  I swear."

He pecks me lightly on the lips, and I can taste the frost forming on those soft pieces of perfection that once coursed with a raging fire.

He disappears, closing the bathroom door behind him, and I tighten my towel against my waist as I turn to stare in the mirror.

I sigh loudly while shaking my head.  This can't be happening.  Please let me be wrong.

I hear my front door close, and I rush out to see he's already gone.  I've never known anyone to get dressed so fast and make such a quick exit.

I dart over to the window just in time to see him jump over the door of his car and land in the seat.  The engine revs, and he squeals out without so much as looking into the traffic around him.

The car roars as he races down the street to escape me.  He's in a hurry.  He's ready to be done, and I just agreed to start.

I can feel the tears breaching the gates, but I fight them back.  I can't be distracted with my own issues right now.  I have to remember this is Clara's day.  I knew this was going to happen.

I'll just need to buy some ice cream on the way home.

I turn the water back on, and test it fervently before I climb back in.  I wish I could wash away this terrible feeling filling me with dread.  Life would be easier if I could.  Why would a tub of hot water freak him out toward me?

I usually have more warning signs before the guy goes glacier on me, but this time the switch flipped faster than the eye could see.

I wash up quickly, feeling the water running cold - ironically enough.  As I climb out, I look over to see a large chunk of my bathroom wall crumbled on the floor.  The dust falls between my fingertips like powder when I try to feel what I can't understand.

What the fuck?  The only thing he did was bump it.  There's no way he did this sort of damage.  What's going on?

Maybe he was hurt.  I don't think so though.  He didn't have a problem putting me in the shower.  The scalding water didn't send him flying out of the accidental sauna the way it did me.

It's just me.  He's already over it.  I'm cursed.

Chapter 5

Twisted Paradise

"Oh my gosh.  This is so fucking hot," Melissa gushes as I finish the last bow on the back of a chair.

"Thanks," I murmur proudly.

"Wow," a voice from behind me exclaims.

I smile as I speak blindly to the voice.

"I know.  This place is unbelievably gorgeous right now," I say with giddiness.

"I was talking about you.  I've never seen you look so... amazing."

Unwelcome chills spread over me as I turn to meet the drooling eyes of Jerry.  I fight hard not to slap him across the face for looking at me that way.  I hate knowing this asshole has seen me naked.