âWAIT.â
"What the hell are you screaming for?" I hear Lina's voice from beside me but my eyes are still fixated on the man before us.
I shove Lina's hand away from my mouth and stare at her and then at the man. My hand flies out to the light switch and I flick it on. The moment the room is illuminated with light, I recognise the male standing before me, with his hands covering his ears.
"Chadwick? What the hell is going on?"
"Could you wait for me in the room, babe?" Lina says and Chadwick barely acknowledges me as he goes to Lina's room but not before giving her a quick peck on the lips.
My eyes follow his form as he attempts to go into my room. "No, the other one!" Lina yells slightly. Chadwick pivots, entering the right room and closing the door shut behind him.
I turn to Lina who's face is pressed in a frown. "His name is Chadwick? Are you serious?" She looks back at the room and shudders. "Wait, how do you even know him?"
"He's in my literature class. How do you know him? And why is he here?" I ask even though I had a pretty good idea about why he's here.
Lina wraps her robe around herself tighter as she drops her voice to a low whisper. "I met him on campus. He saw me struggling to change my tire so he helped me."
"You? Struggling to change a tire?" I scoff. Lina was the most independent person I know.
Her parents passed away 5 years ago so she had grown up way too much for a 15 year old. She lived with her grandma who was a little too old to help her with things like changing a tire. So the moment she got her license, she learned everything she needed to know from Jax and hasn't depended on anyone else since.
"Since when did you struggle to change your tire?"
"Shh!" She shushes me, looking back to her door afraid that Chadwick would overhear me. "He walked past looking all hot under the sun. I couldn't help it, okay? I pretended like I didn't know what to do." She explains and I chuckle with an eye roll.
Just as I was about to speak she cuts me off, "yes, I know, I know. I shouldn't have to act or whatever. I've just been in need of a distraction and that was the quickest way."
I open my mouth to speak again but she doesn't stop with her rambling. "And how dare you not tell me about a hot guy in your class?"
"How dare you not tell me about having a hot guy in our apartment?" I shoot back a question even though I didn't think Chadwick was all that hot. But she'd usually drop me a text to warn me about having a guy over but all I got from her tonight was radio silence.
Chadwick's head pops out of Lina's door the next moment. "You think I'm hot?"
"Get back in the room, Chadwick," Lina says and the moment her eyes meet mine again, she gags.
"What's wrong with the name Chadwick?" I laugh and she shudders once more.
"I don't know. It just doesn't roll off my tongue right. Chadwick." She tests the name again and convulses once more. "Anyway, I didn't think you'd be home so soon."
"Yeah, something came up." I shift on my feet uncomfortably, memories of Archer's lips against mine flooding my head. I didn't need Lina noticing my flustered state.
"So, get rid of him already. I want to go to bed." I say but she doesn't budge. "Lina, please tell me he's leaving. It's so late." I begin to whine and Lina clasps her hands together.
"Could you just give us an hour, please?" She pouts her lips, attempting to do her puppy dog eyes.
"You're still going to be with him? Even though his name is Chadwick?" I try my luck and she lets out a deep sigh.
"I'd have to look past that I guess." She says and I have to stifle a laugh because she actually looked upset about it.
"Where am I supposed to go, Lina?"
"I don't know, that place in the woods you used to disappear to?" She says as she begins pushing me out but I brush her off.
"It's close to midnight, do you want me to get killed?" I swat her hands away but she continues to try pushing me out the door and we begin a little slapping fight with our hands.
"Then go to our neighbours? I don't know, Red." She hisses a little when I hit a little too hard so we both stop. "I just need an hour, c'mon. You know I'd do it for you."
I groan as I bury my face in the palm of my hands. I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was take a hot shower and got to bed. It's been a long day.
I didn't mind doing this most of the time. It was an agreement we had whenever we had a guy over. Or at least when she had a guy over and I had Luca. After a double date one night when we both had been occupied with our guys in our respective bedrooms, we realised the walls were paper thin.
Let's just say, the next day was awkward as heck. So, we'd give each other our space but tonight, I just wanted to crash.
I didn't know what I was feeling or how I should be feeling. A part of me was giddy and happy and I hated that because another part of me hurt. I don't think I'll be able to handle the hurt if he were to say he regretted that kiss.
Mainly because I don't think I've ever been kissed that way before. That meant something to me and for him to take that and strip it of its value's going to hurt like hell.
Lina manages to push me out of the apartment and as she closes the door, I say "You're horrible." While she tells me that she loves me. Same old.
I waited outside the apartment for a bit, thinking of where I should go. The neighbours was definitely not an option. I was going to avoid Archer at all costs until I figure my thoughts out.
And then I recall Lina's words. The place in the woods.
When we first moved in here, I came across a cabin in the woods just a little bit outside of our neighbourhood. It seemed abandoned and I used to go there whenever I needed space from Luca or when I just needed a place to think.
A normal person would be freaked out by a creepy looking cabin in the middle of the woods, but for some reason, it attracted me. I felt safe. It was like a beacon that pulled a subconscious part of me towards it.
It has been a while since I've gone there so maybe it wouldn't be so bad driving up there tonight. I was in the safest neighbourhood in town anyway, so I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get killed.
I entered my apartment stealthily and grabbed my keys and rushed back out before I could hear anything more than faint moans.
I walked to my car and started the engine. It's not that far a drive and within minutes, I see it in the distance so I come to a stop. There wasn't a road that led to it so I got out of the car.
The cabin had a more sinister vibe in the night, something I never realised because I never came here at night. But I convince myself with the fact that there hasn't been a crime in our part of the neighbourhood this year.
The moment I stepped into the cold night, goosebumps prickled at my skin as shivers ran down my spine. The cool breeze rushing by me as I began walking.
I stared at the run-down cabin as I heard twigs crackling a few meters away. I gasped as I tried to come to a decision. Get the hell out of the place or be a dumb bitch from a horror movie.
My legs bring me closer to the cabin. I guess dumb bitch wins. My heart raced with each step I took, foliage crunching beneath my feet.
I finally reached the front of the cabin and my phone buzzed. "Shit." I cussed as the ringtone pierced through the quiet surrounding. I answered it instantly.
"Red?" The deep voice spoke out from the other end.
"Mr Kane?" I whispered, recognising his voice instantly.
"I'm so sorry about today." He apologised and then there's a pang in my heart.
Of course he regrets it, why wouldn't he?
"No, no it's okay," I responded, keeping my tone soft, not wanting him to hear to disappointment in my voice. And also not to wake anything in the dark.
"Wait, where are you? Why are you whispering?" He asked.
"I'm at this place- forget it." With one last look around my surroundings, I walked back to my car before I could enter the cabin.
"Can you come over?" He asked and my heart stutters for a moment. I was dumb bitch way before tonight. Falling for my professor? Stupid, stupid.
"I'll be there." Stupid.
⢠⢠â¢
I stood outside Archer's apartment as thoughts flood my mind.
"I shouldn't," I whispered under my breath. There were only so many emotions I could take in a day. Having him apologise for the kiss that I not only enjoyed, but crave to feel again would just be the worst way I could end tonight. So, I turn around to enter my apartment. Lina should've been done by now, right?
I opened the door and instantly heard her scream. Wrong. I slammed the door shut as I gasped.
At that moment, Archer's door swings open. "Red."
He must've heard me slamming the door. I pivot on my feet, turning to look at him and as soon as I do, my body goes hot. All I can think about is the kiss we shared just a couple of hours ago.
"You're sobered up?" I asked with a chuckle, hoping he doesn't notice my blushing state.
"I think so." He runs his fingers through his brown hair that's darker and close to black since it's damp. "Come in." He moved to the side and I catch the strong smell of mint as he spoke.
I walked in, brushing by his body. His touch sends vivid images crashing against me instantly. How his body felt against mine and the way his lips moved. I couldn't look at him the same way. I didn't want to either.
"You look tired. You sure you don't wanna rest?" I asked as I sat down on his couch.
"No, I have to tell you something first." He said, his tone dropping into a serious one and I think this is it. This is where he breaks me.
He rubbed his already red eyes as he looked at me, narrowed eyes scanning my face like he's searching for something. His head must've been throbbing from all the alcohol.
"Okay." I straightened my back as I faced him. My heart starts beating anxiously as I felt my breathing go ragged.
"I don't know if I'm remembering things right," he paused, "but I'm sorry if I've been inappropriate with you in any way." He finished his sentence as his eyes remained fixated on me.
I tried swallowing down the lump in my throat as I answered, "No, it was nothing." I choked up on my words as my voice cracked towards the end.
"No it wasn't nothing, I shouldn't have held your hand in front of-"
"Wait, you're talking about holding my hand?" I asked, my brows furrowing.
His eyes go wide as he looked at me, "Yes. What were you talking about?" He cocked his head to the side as he waited for me to answer.
"Um-nothing-I" I couldn't string together a proper sentence. All the thoughts in my head came crashing together, leaving my mind in a state of chaos.
He doesn't remember. Maybe that's a good thing. The side of me that expected this thinks I could work with him not remembering it instead of him regretting it.
He looked at me with a frown as he tried to read me.
"I should go." I stand up, trying to drop the conversation because I needed to organise my thoughts somewhere else.
"No," He grabbed my arm, catching me off guard and he yanked me towards him, "Wait." I fell onto the couch, inches away from him.
I gulp as my breath becomes shallow, chest heaving. He has the same look in his eyes from when he kissed me before and I'm wondering if he truly would regret the kiss. I felt the butterflies in my tummy come alive as my heart started thumping against my chest.
The other side of me, probably the delusional side, comes up with something.
Maybe I could make him remember.
His grip on my arm loosened as his hand made its way to my face. My gaze fixed onto his eyes while he focused on my lips once again.
'Move away.' My thoughts were screaming at me but my heartbeat stabilised as though giving me a certain approval. Maybe he did feel the same way about me.
He continued staring at me, "Red," He started.
Before he could finish, I brought our lips together as I wrapped my arms around his neck with urgency. I felt him jump at my sudden action and I pulled away.
"I was talking about that," I whispered as ragged breaths tore through my lips. I stared at his lips and he licks them as he watches me silently. And then panic ensues. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."
As I try scurrying away from him, he holds onto me. My eyes dart up to look at him and he's looking at me with a dark gaze, a complete contrast with the small smile that plays on his lips. This time, his eyes are as clear as day when he leans in.
His hands cup my face, bringing to him as he pressed his lips onto mine.
It's soft at first and it doesn't take me long to kiss him back. A part of me doesn't believe that this is actually happening. I'd spent the past 2 months thinking he'd only viewed me as a student so I couldn't understand the hunger behind his kiss. Like he had been waiting for this moment just as long as I had.
He pulls away for the briefest second, "You've been..." and then he presses his lips onto mine. "Driving me..." And he kisses me again, this time harder, almost like he couldn't bear to be apart from me. "Insane."
I let out a little whimper of anticipation as he got me under him, his body hovering mine. He lowers himself and a deep sound rumbles from the back of his throat as my breasts press against his chest. The grip on my waist tightens, pulling me against him, ridding us of any space between our bodies.
Our lips moved with each other's as we laid on his couch. He settles between my legs and I gasp as he groans with the pressure of our bodies. His kisses get more desperate as I wrap my legs around his waist.
I lose myself the moment he thrusts his hips, shooting heat right through my veins. "Archer," I breathe out, gripping onto him as his lips move to my neck and he's licking and nipping at my skin. He thrusts again and there's no mistaking how much he wants me. I could feel him, right at my core and I was sure I wanted him just as bad.
"Damn," He whispers against my lips as we pick up a rhythm, our hips moving against each other in the most blindingly blissful way. He kisses me again, his tongue running against the seam of my lips and I part them, granting him access.
He slips his tongue in and explores and tastes, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
My hands go through his soft, lustrous hair while his roamed every curve of my body. I took out the frustration of being around him and not being close to him for the past couple months on his lips and he accepts it, kissing me back with the same ferocity.
My mind was blank at this point, I allowed everything that was thrown my way to happen, without a second thought, and before I knew it, we were on his bed.
...