Stay(46)

“No!” I throw the blankets back and stand, pacing the room with my hands in my hair.

I’m back at that night, just leaving Ximena’s. She’d told me to go out, burn off some energy, and I did. Only… the minute I walked into Ethan’s party, I’d wanted to walk right out again. The Dick was there being an asshole. I wanted to fight him. I should have punched his lights out.

Instead, I proceeded to drink too much whiskey until I was buzzing… Until this beautiful creature came to me. She led me to that small bathroom, and I thought it was as much an escape for her as it was for me.

Is it possible to kick one’s own ass?

“That was a bad night for me. I’d just come from… I’d said goodbye to someone I cared about. I was leaving the next day for Africa.”

“You definitely worked all your frustrations out on me. Then you tossed me aside like a pocket pussy.”

My head snaps up. “I did not.”

“You did.” Her voice is louder, her eyes flashing. “You patted my arm and wished me luck.”

My lips part. I want to say something, anything to defend myself. “I didn’t know.”

Her arms cross. She’s not backing down. “What would’ve changed if you had?”

Stopping, I walk over to her side of the bed and get close. “I wouldn’t have gone in that bathroom with you if I’d known. You can’t hold me responsible for your hurt feelings when you keep a secret like that.”

“I can do what I want. It was my hymen.”

“And that’s why you hate me? Because you didn’t tell me the truth and you got hurt?”

“It doesn’t matter that I was a virgin, you were still a dick.” Her voice is sharp, and it cuts me down to size.

She’s right.

It sucks, and my stomach twists painfully. I shove my hands into the sides of my hair, giving it a pull before releasing it.

“I was so fucking angry, Emmy.” My voice is quiet. I put my fingers on my forehead and scrub. “I should’ve punched The Dick into next week. I hated everyone… except you. You were sweet and pretty and you wanted me. I wanted you… But I was leaving. I couldn’t have another person needing me… Not that you ever did.”

It’s quiet a beat. I’m breathing heavily, and she seems somehow vindicated. Sir David Attenborough says sardines swim with their mouths open, filtering food from the water through their gills like little sieves.

“I was in love with you.” Her voice is quiet.

I feel like I’ve been hit with a sledgehammer. I want to fall to my knees, but she takes it right back.

“I mean, of course I wasn’t in love with you. I didn’t even know you. I was just a kid. I’d built you up in my mind for a long time… I guess that part was on me.”

Sharks are on the screen eating sardines like it’s a seafood buffet. I glance up at her, seeing her anger has subsided a bit. I want our old banter back. I want to tease her.

“So, you agree you had some level of responsibility?” I tease.

Her eyes flash, and she grabs a little pillow off the bed and throws it at me hard. I flinch away, lifting a leg to protect my junk. “You were fully responsible. You treated me like shit.”

“Seems like you came, though.”

She chucks another pillow at me, but I catch it this time, throwing it right back. She squeals and ducks. “Stop throwing pillows at me!”

“Stop throwing them at me.” I’m grinning, glad she’s not throwing daggers at me with her eyes anymore.

Still, she sits across the bed with her jaw clenched like a pouty little girl. I study her a moment, and shit. Something changes. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but this girl… This beautiful, strong woman.

I walk to the bed slowly, holding my hands out.

“I’m sorry.” Shit. I might as well cut off my nuts and give them to her while I’m at it. “I was in a bad place. Can you forgive me?”

Silence is my only response. She blinks fast, and I see her eyes are shining. Is she crying?

Climbing onto the bed, I pull her into my arms, kissing the top of her head. “Can you?”

“Fuck you, Hastings…” Her voice is a pitiful whisper, and she pushes against my chest. “I hate you.”

“I know.” Scooting further in the bed, I shift her around, moving her onto my lap in a straddle. “Look at me.”

She lifts her chin, and I scoop her ass, drawing her closer. “You don’t have to forgive me today.” Reaching up, I slide my fingers through the back of her hair. “I’ll wait. Let me make it up to you.”

I pull her face closer to mine and kiss her. I really enjoy kissing her this way, tasting her, consuming her. She resists at first. Then she groans and moves closer, kissing me back. Her elbows fall, and her hands cup my neck.

I have a full-on erection now, and I reach beneath her, lifting her and sliding inside her slippery heat. She whispers my name on a moan. “Stephen…”

Her hips rock slowly, and she’s so beautiful riding me. Her hair is all around us, her eyes closed, her ecstasy building.

“Ride me, baby.” I cup and squeeze her breast, giving her tight nipple a pinch.

She moans, rocking her hips faster, back and forth on my cock, pulling me deeper. My hands rise up her back, catching her head and guiding her lips to mine again.