Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
T he rain pelted down when I left school, and I cursed myself for not checking the weather this morning.
I scowled at the clouds as they darkened above me, using my bag to cover my head. Then, I ran towards the parking lot, confused as to where to go. I knew teachers parked in the back of the school, but I wasn’t allowed back there. So, I stood stupidly in the middle of the car park, wondering where the hell I was supposed to meet Mr Silver.
He didn’t want anyone to know he was driving me, so why I seemed to think he would pull up, bold as brass outside school made no sense whatsoever.
“Fuck!” I cursed, turning, and walking back towards the school.
This was ridiculous.
I watched as most of the cars left the car park until I felt like the only person left in school.
My phone pinged, and I slid it out of my pocket to see it was from Arden, and I sighed happily .
Come round tonight?
“Jain,” I heard the deep voice call, and I looked up to see Mr Silver- call me Evan - leaning over to the passenger seat of his black car.
I frowned before hurrying over to the passenger seat and climbing in. Immediately I was greeted with his scent, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I buckled myself in before stealing a glance at him.
He drove with one hand on the gear stick, the other guiding the steering wheel easily. I noticed droplets of rain on his arms, his shirt clinging to his skin, the dark curls pushed back roughly.
“I’m sorry I was late. I didn’t think to arrange where to meet you.”
His voice was deep and husky, yet still, the air of disinterest dominated it. His jaw was clenched as he weaved effortlessly in and out of traffic, and I realised I was staring. He didn’t look over at me, and I forced my gaze back at my phone.
Fucking Arden.
Did he assume that’s all we did? When did he ever ask me to go out?
“Jain, we’re here.”
I looked up, noticing the beautiful tree that swayed in the wind and rain. I stared at it, mesmerised. The branches tapped on the windows of the upper level of the house, and before I knew what I was doing, I spoke.
“Is that your room?”
As soon as it left my lips, I knew it was inappropriate.
“Yes. The branches become almost soothing after a while, so much so that you resent the weather when it’s calm.”
I nodded, totally understanding. I loved the sound of rain hitting my window when I curled up in bed, safe and warm.
“I can imagine; I think that tree is beautiful.”
“Shall we go inside? On the count of three?” Mr Silver sighed, his fingers gripping the door handle, nodding at me as I did the same.
On the count of three, we bolted from the car, my boots becoming drenched in the many puddles that dotted the drive. In the rain, I raced up behind him as he tried to get his keys in the door, dropping them when I skidded into him.
“Shit!” he hissed, and I took a step back.
“I’m sorry—”
He picked them back up, and I stared at his shirt, which was now completely transparent, the droplets of water running from his hair down his neck.
The door finally swung open, and he nodded at me to go in before him.
I darted in, realising I was completely soaked. I was convinced if I took my boots off, water would cascade out of them.
Mr Silver shut the door, dropping his keys onto the side when he turned to me.
I shrugged my jacket off, which was now stuck to me, and I moved my hair out of my face.
“You’re saturated,” he murmured, “just a minute.”
He disappeared for a minute before returning with a fluffy towel, throwing it to me as I dabbed at my shirt pointlessly. He stood in front of me, watching me.
I suddenly felt exposed and tried to dry my hair.
Thunder boomed outside as the room lit up with lightning.
“A storm,” I said as he pointed at my shirt dress .
“I think you need to take that off.”
Erm, what?
“Are you being serious?”
“I don’t mean like that,” Mr Silver cut in, his eyes holding mine as he walked over to me. He spun me around so I could see myself in the reflection of the mirror, and my heart nearly stopped beating.
My dress had become a second skin, the white of it now exposing my white bra blatantly. But it wasn’t that. It was the way he looked beside me. He was taller than me—but then I’m smaller than most guys anyway. But together, we seemed...
“I know this isn’t entirely appropriate, but I may have a shirt you could wear. You can change in my room if you want?”
His voice was nervous now, and I noticed his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed, avoiding my gaze. I felt intense butterflies in my stomach as his fingers grazed along my back.
“Yes, if you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“This way.”
He walked before me, and I followed him up the stairs, trying not to lust over his incredible back muscles that rippled as he moved. He opened the door to what must’ve been his bedroom, and I hovered awkwardly in the doorway when he strolled in.
“This is my longest one. It should fit—”
He must’ve realised I wasn’t there because he walked back to the door, his eyes wide as he frowned at me.
“Do you need an invitation, Jain? What are you, a vampire?”
I found myself blushing as I giggled.
“Maybe. ”
“I’m sure I’m scarier than anything you could be. Come into my bedroom, Jain.”
I tried to avoid his gaze, standing awkwardly in his bedroom as he tugged off his tie before unbuttoning his shirt. I stood staring as he undressed in front of me. His body was chiselled to perfection, and I tried not to drool as he pulled a thin grey hoodie over his head before he noticed me.
“Sorry, there’s some shirts on the bed. I’ll leave you to change.” He grabbed some joggers before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
Oh, God.
I realised my fingers were shaking as I stripped off, leaving my boots on for fear of getting water all over the beautiful wooden floor. His bed was huge. I tried not to gaze at it, imagining him in it.
What the actual fuck was wrong with me?
I shook my head, drying myself with the towel before I slid my arms into the cool fabric of his light denim shirt. His smell wrapped around me as I groaned inwardly, wishing I could bottle up the scent and inhale it regularly.
It was soothing yet intoxicating.
I buttoned the shirt up, noticing it stopped just mid-thigh, slightly longer than my other one. I ran my hands through my hair before trying to fix my makeup. I took one last look around his bedroom before I made my way down the stairs.
He was in the kitchen, and I stood awkwardly in the doorway. I cleared my throat as he glanced at me, doing a double-take.
“It’s long enough then? You can take your boots off, and they can dry by the fire.”
“Fire?”
He nodded to the lounge before grabbing two mugs .
“Fire, a storm, and cups of tea. I’m a good host. It’s my fault you got drenched, to be honest,” he admitted, sheepishly, smiling as he handed me a warm mug.
I followed him into the lounge, noticing he had drawn the curtains. I felt warm and comfortable by the fire as I tugged my boots off. I peeled my socks off and left them beside the fire, which hissed and burned in the grate angrily.
“I hope your girlfriend doesn’t mind me wearing your stuff,” I mumbled as I sipped gratefully on the hot tea.
He didn’t answer. He just seemed to lose himself in the flames of the fire.
“Are you warm yet?” He finally asked, and I nodded.
“Yes, thanks. Did you want to leave the session for another time? I feel like I’ve taken up enough of your time.”
“No, it’s fine,” he murmured, “I asked you to come here. Shall we drink this, then I can get the paperwork?”
“Okay.”
We were silent for a moment when we caught one another’s eyes, both of us laughing awkwardly.
“Sorry,” I cringed, “you get girls staring at you all day, and now here I am sitting here doing it.”
“But I’m looking back. So, I should be the one apologising.”
My heart caught in my throat as I tried to rationalise what he had just said.
“Sir?”
He smiled sadly before standing up abruptly.
“Sorry, Jain. I think I’d better drive you home. I can't do this.”
I jumped to my feet, my hand reaching out for him before I could think twice.
His hand shot back as though I had electrocuted him, and my heart sank.
What had I done?