Chapter 11
ISABELLA
Work today went by quick.
I made some marketing videos for my book, spoke with the editing team about giving them the first draft soon, and wrote a good ten thousand words.
I would usually write more but because I had other things on my schedule for the day I didn’t have much time.
It was my birthday yesterday.
I took the day off and went to Grams’ house for lunch and dinner. We spent the entire day together just hanging out and catching up before I got an Uber back home.
She said she’s been worried about me even though she talks to me everyday to check on me. She calls me a lot because she’s lonely living in that house by herself.
Without my grandpa or my parents there, the house is super quiet. She spends her days mostly gardening outside or looking after the neighbor’s daughter.
We talked about my mom when I was over.
She misses my mom as much as I do since that was her only daughter.
I think about my parents every day, now more than ever after that nightmare.
I walk inside the apartment and all the lights are on.
Slade comes out from the hallway with just a towel around his waist and my eyes widen.
He is using another towel to dry his hair while staring at me. “I thought you’d be home earlier.”
I try my best not to stare at his chest or admire his long, muscular arms, water dripping from his wet hair onto his chest.
There is a light patch of hair that leads down to the spot between his legs and his v-line is prominent.
I want to lick the water off of every spot on him.
Oh my god, Isabella, chill out.
My eyes meet his and he smirks while he is still drying his hair. The action makes me want to grab him by the hair and press my lips against his.
“Isabella,” he says, making me snap out of the haze. “Where were you?”
I try not to blush. “I just left work not too long ago. I had to stay late to talk to the editing team about when I should be able to hand in the first draft of the book.”
Slade saunters towards me and he rests the towel he was using for his hair on the chair beside me. My eyes go down to his v-line before meeting his eyes. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I ask, furrowing my eyebrows as if I don’t know what he’s talking about.
Tempting him.
Trying to see if he’ll finally make a move or not.
Or if we’ll keep playing this little cat and mouse game.
I haven’t seen him in almost five days since my nightmare. Although when I came home from Grams’ house on my birthday there was a big bouquet of red roses with a note that said “Happy Birthday, avtor” on the island and I knew immediately it was from Slade.
I hate how he keeps leaving for a few days and then comes back like it’s nothing.
I have the bouquet of flowers in my room, making it smell like fresh roses.
“You know exactly how.” He narrows his eyes on me. “Like you want me to let go of the tight control I have on myself and fuck you already.”
My core pulses and my cheeks heat. His pupils double in size when they look down at me. Going down to my lips before meeting my eyes again.
“Why are you trying to fight this?” I ask, genuinely confused.
Obviously he feels it too.
So why is he not letting go?
“Because if I don’t, then like I said before, I’ll take you, Isabella. And when I do, I don’t plan on letting you go. Careful.”
“What if I want you to take me?”
Slade chuckles lightly. “Trust me, you won’t want me to. It would be smart if you fight this as well.” Before I can say something else, my phone starts ringing in my bag. “Better answer that, could be important,” Slade says before walking away and leaving, taking the towel with him.
I pull my phone out and see Becky’s name. “Hey,” I say when I answer the phone.
“You and I are going out tonight. No exceptions or excuses.”
I smile while I head towards my room. “Becky, I just turned twenty-one and you already want me to go everywhere with you.”
“Of course I do. You’re like my only friend. I need to go drinking with someone. Adrian is boring to drink with since he doesn’t like going out that much.”
“Where are we going?”
Becky screams through the phone excitedly, making me laugh.
“Ahhh I’m so excited! Finally I can go out with someone my age!
” she says before explaining all the details like what I should wear, what club we’re going to, and how we are definitely getting majorly fucked up which I can’t stop laughing at.
Becky is a cool and fun person to be around.
“We will not only celebrate your birthday but also your book that will definitely be hitting the bestseller charts.”
“We won’t jinx it. I’ll text you when I’m ready.”
“Perfect, do you want to meet there or get a car together?”
“We can meet there. It will be cheaper than getting Ubers back and forth.”
Becky tells me she’s excited before we both hang up.
I take a quick shower and then figure out what I’m going to wear.
I decide on a mini skirt with a lace shirt and boots with heels. I’ll also bring my jacket since it’s New York and I will for sure be cold.
Once I’m done getting ready, I leave my room at the same time Slade exits his room.
He’s wearing a pair of black sweatpants, and when he sees me all dressed up, he furrows his eyebrows. “Where are you going?’
“Out.”
“Where?” We both walk out of the hallway and into the kitchen where I check if I have all my things in my purse.
“To a club with a friend.”
“What friend?” he asks, crossing his arms while keeping his eyes on me.
“Why do you want to know?” I tilt my head, giving him a teasing smile.
If he wants to play the cat and mouse game, I can play.
Slade knows exactly what I’m playing at, so he stalks towards me and puts his hands on either side of me on the island, caging me in.
“Don’t fuck with me, Isabella.” He leans down.
Our breaths mix and I can feel the heat coming off his body from the shower. I look up at him and I swear I almost forget what I’m about to say.
I shake my head a little bit, trying to get my thoughts together. Being near him is distracting and messing with me.
“Relax. I’m going out with my friend Becky for drinks.”
“Where?”
“At some club on 7th Street.”
Slade’s jaw clenches and my eyes go down to his lips when I see him lick them. My stomach fills with butterflies as he looks almost protective of me leaving the house. “Have you heard of the shady shit they do at that club?”
I furrow my eyebrows. “No. Don’t be such a buzzkill. I just turned twenty-one and my friend wants to take me out for drinks. Plus you’re always out, god knows where. If I want to leave the apartment every once in a while and have fun I should be able to without your permission. You don’t own me.”
Slade raises an eyebrow. “I don’t?”
“We barely talk. You don’t know anything about me,” I scoff and roll my eyes at him.
He’s being ridiculous.
Slade nods slowly and from the corner of my eye I can see his finger tapping the counter behind me. I bet he is thinking of an excuse to give me not to go.
But he can’t do that.
It’s not fair.
“Okay,” he says.
I look at him in confusion. “Okay?”
He nods and leans away from me. “Okay, but I’m going with you.”
“But-”
“I’m going with you. I’m not letting you go to that club without me. Don’t fight me on this,” he says before leaving so I can’t start an argument with him.
He’s impossible.
It takes Slade about fifteen minutes to get ready. While he does, I text Becky.
I’m bringing a friend.
Better not be another bitch. It’s my night with you.
No it’s actually my roommate.
The hot serial killer one?
That’s the one.
AHHHHHH COUNT ME IN
You’re going to get me in trouble with Adrian if he comes tonight.
I smile at her text as I hear Slade’s footsteps. I look up at him and he is in a completely different outfit.
Slade is wearing a black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black pants with white shoes.
My eyes go down to the helmet he’s holding and now I’m thinking that the skirt wasn’t the best idea.
The expensive watch on his wrist looks like it cost more than ten thousand dollars for sure.
He doesn’t have to style his hair since it’s very short and he didn’t put any make-up on to hide the scar on his face but I think the scar makes him look more attractive and unique.
He knows he’s good looking and that he can get anything he wants by looking the way he does.
I try my best to make it seem like I wasn’t checking him out but it’s so hard when he looks like that.
“Ready?” he asks, keeping his intense eyes on mine.