Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
With sticky hands, I paid the driver when my door wrenched open. Shocked, I glanced up to see Porter, standing beside the cab.
“Get out,” he demanded.
“You okay?” the cab driver asked uneasily.
“I’m fine.” I stepped out of the cab.
“Why did you leave like that?!” Porter towered over me. His eyes were a flinty cold grey as he rolled his shoulders, emotion interwoven with the tension in his body.
“What?”
His gaze was so angry and frustrated. “You left the party alone.”
“So?”
“You’re not supposed to be alone. I can’t protect you if you take off like that.”
I marched through the lobby of my building and punch the elevator button. “I don’t even know why you’re here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Felicia!” I yelled.
“What about her?”
I stepped into the elevator and punched my floor button, taking all my anger out on the button. “She told me all about your phone calls. How you want to be with her. How you feel trapped by me. That the only reason you’re with me is that you feel guilty about leaving me.”
Incredulity spread across his features. “And you believed her?”
I got off on my floor and stomped toward my apartment. “Look. I get it. I get how I’ve essentially dragged you into this mess, and now, with everything going on, you feel like it’s your duty to protect me, but it was never supposed to go this far. You were never supposed to give up your happiness for me.” My hands were shaking so hard, I struggled with the lock.
He took the keys from me and unlocked the door for me. His calmness infuriated me. “I told you. I haven’t talked to Felicia.”
I had believed him before. Exactly like I had believed the lies of my other two cheating ex-boyfriends. But no more. I knew better. If there was smoke, there was usually a fire. I strode into the apartment and headed straight to my bedroom. He followed behind me.
I didn’t turn to look at him. “I’ve seen her call you.”
“So what? She calls me. Have you ever seen me pick up the phone?”
“Like every other guy, you’re smart enough not to pick up in front of me.”
He stepped closer to me. “Is that what this is about?”
This felt like a real relationship and a real fight. Which made no sense, because all of this was supposed to just be pretend. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
I was yelling. With real emotion in my voice. “Did you notice the major cake fight I was in with your girlfriend? You keep telling me that you’re not interested in talking with her or being with her, yet she showed up at our party! And she’s pretty convinced that you two are getting back together. Why would she think that if she wasn’t getting some encouragement from you?”
“She’s not my girlfriend, and I haven’t talked to her since we picked up the boxes. ”
“I don’t believe you.” I know I sounded like a jealous, insecure girlfriend, but I couldn’t seem to stop the words from pouring out of my mouth. “You’re exactly like every other guy. You want your cake and to eat it too. Well, not with me. You can take your cheating ass and get out.”
“I’m not a cheater.” His nostrils flared. “I’ve never cheated at anything in my entire life.”
“You’re just like every other guy.”
“Take that back.”
“No,” I flung at him. “I should've never trusted you.” I stalked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Two strong hands wrapped around my waist and pushed me into the shower, spinning me around. The cold water poured over my head, making me gasp. His mouth covered mine, the contrasting temperatures making his lips feel like fire against mine.
His body pressed my back against the cool tiles of the shower, his hands cupping my face. I moaned into his kiss, loving the taste of him, gasping as his mouth moved down the side of my neck.
“You taste like cake,” he growled.
“Porter,” I managed.
He stepped back and feasted his eyes on me. He had removed his suit jacket, and now, warm water poured over his white dress shirt, showing off his sleek muscles through the wet fabric. “Why do you think I want Felicia?”
I shook my head, uncertain how to respond. He spun me around, so my face pressed against the cold tiles. His hands pulled my dress up over my hips. Breathing hard, a noise escaped me when his fingers pushed beneath my thong and slid along the length of me, teasing me.
“I told you—if we cross that line, you’re mine,” his voice was muffled against my neck. “I also told you I’m a one-woman man.” His teeth grazed my sensitive skin. “Newsflash, Beth. We crossed that line, and now you’re mine."
I couldn’t respond. I was too busy focusing on his fingers that teased my entrance .
“Move your legs apart,” he commanded.
I swallowed and stepped wider, opening myself further to his touch.
“Do you believe me?” He sucked on my neck while his fingers stroked my folds.
My head fell back when his fingertips grazed my clit. Did I believe him? Right now, at this moment, with those fingers touching me, I’d believe anything.
“Oh, yes.” I pressed my hot forehead against the cool wall.
“Turn around.” His fingers disappeared, and he stepped back.
I slowly spun around, so my back pressed against the shower wall. His hair was wet and slicked back off his face, making the angles of his face seem harsh and masculine. He was unbuttoning his dress shirt.
“Take off your dress,” he demanded.
With shaking hands, I reached behind my back and unzipped my dress. I shrugged it off my shoulders, then peeled the wet fabric down my body until it dropped at my feet.
“Get naked,” he instructed, his eyes dark.
I stepped out of my bra and thong and stood there while his grey eyes, full of lust, traveled down my body.
“The things I’m going to do to you…” he promised.
I couldn’t wait.