Chapter 14 #3
“Okay.” He sighs heavily.
I blink at him.
“Let me go turn everything off. I’ll spend the night in here.”
“Really?” My voice tunes up an octave or two.
“Really, Ace.” He winks and turns his back on me, walking towards the door. A huge smile presses against my lips.
Within minutes, he is back and standing back at the side of the bed. My brows furrow as I look up at him.
“Scoot over.”
“Go round the other side,”
“Can’t do that, Ace. I need to sleep on the left-hand side.”
Rolling my eyes, I shuffle over. He slips in next to me and I can’t imagine how awkward he is feeling.
“Thank you.” I turn my face to look at him, swiping the remnant of the tear away.
“Don’t need to thank me.”
I study him, his eyes are closed, hands on his chest, fingers locked together. “I know, but still…” I whisper as I turn my face forward and pin them to the ceiling. “Thank you.”
“Always, Ace.”
Within minutes, my body gives out, and I drift into a deep sleep.
Waking, I blink and it takes me a minute or two to work out where I am. My headache is still there, just not as prominent. It’s more like a dull ache then the throbbing in my temples. I go to move but I stiffen when I feel the heaviness of an arm tucked over me.
Oh, God.
Slowly turning my head, I see Creed on his side, tucked against my body with his arm hooked over me and a very noticeable prod in my side. I stay still in fear of waking him up and then him panicking.
This is not ideal. Technically, this is my fault, I asked him to sleep in here. I mean, he probably didn’t have bets on him snuggling into me, but here we are.
My mouth is dry but my drink is next to him. Damn it. So, I just lay here, dying of thirst.
Flashbacks play in front of me of the night before, and that’s when I remember that I was sick all over myself. Then Creed undressed me and ran me a bath.
Humiliation flames my cheeks and at this moment in time I want to run away and hide before he wakes up.
How did I let that happen?
To be honest, I wasn’t in a fit state.
Deep down I am glad he was here because if I was on my own, I would have maybe choked on my own sick and died. So, there’s the silver lining I suppose.
I was an idiot to think I would be okay to drink three bottles of wine to myself.
Forcing my eyes shut, I try and let myself doze back to sleep but when I feel my body getting heavy, he stirs next to me, and I tense up. He groans, before pulling me into him.
“Morning.” His voice rumbles and then his beautiful green eyes flutter open and that’s when the sheer panic etches itself on his face.
“Morning,” I whisper and he rolls away, mouth opening and shutting.
“I.. I’m, I mean…” he stammers, and I give him a tight smile.
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” I try and make this not a big deal, but in fact, this is a pretty big deal.
I’m in bed with my ex-boyfriend’s dad.
Who looked after me when I was drunk.
Then woke up, curled around my body with a morning glory.
He grabs the sheet from our bodies and wraps it around himself before walking out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
Great.
Giving myself a minute or two, I push to my feet, throw back two pain killers and drink my water and trudge back to my bedroom, closing my own door.
I shouldn’t have asked him to stay with me.
Rookie mistake.
Dressed in a soft tee and short lounge set, I swipe my phone and message Nora.
Wish you were here
The three dots appear.
Me too. Sorry I couldn’t get there, but this weekend is looking good.
I smile.
That would be amazing, but is it going to be too close with the race schedule restarting? If it is, no biggie. Honestly, I’m fine.
I wait, three dots, then nothing, then three dots.
Not at all. This weekend is pretty clear, Dylan can stand in for me if need be. But it’ll be a fly in Saturday, leave Sunday kind of thing. Annoying, but…
I respond straight away.
I get it. No stress though, please. I know how busy you are.
Sighing, I lay down on the bed and my head spins then my phone pings in my hand.
You’re coming Zandvoort though, right? Need my bestie with me.
I swallow down the bile that is threatening at the base of my throat.
I don’t think so. I don’t have that luxury anymore , lost that when I was dumped.
Letting my phone fall from my hand, I sit up and eye the door. I have no idea what time Creed needs to leave, but it must be soon. I’m a little grateful, but also a little sad, if I was being honest with myself.
The phone beeps and I grab it.
Don’t be silly, you’re always welcome. I’ve got you a badge and everything.
Don’t let him stop you from coming. I need you.
Plus, you do awesome content for us. Just between you and I, there is a spot opening on the social media team…
I can put you forward for it, if you want.
I’m sure Mr Lexington Snr would snap you up in an instant.
I blink a couple of times before another message comes through.
I know you want PR, but it’s a foot in the door. And yes, you’ll have to work alongside Royce at times, but you don’t hate him, and I know he doesn’t hate you. Just think about it and let me know Sunday evening. Xo
Hearting her message, I leave it at that. It would be a step towards my dream of doing public relations, but at the same time, I would be in close proximity with Royce as well as Creed. Did I really want that?
Ignoring the onslaught of pros and cons that begin to swirl, I move. I’ll sleep on it, maybe. Walking out into the penthouse, I see Creed standing there, dressed in grey tracksuit bottoms and a tight white tee.
“Hi.” My voice is a squeak as I step a little closer to him.
“Hi.” His voice is monotone.
I rub my arm awkwardly. “What time is your flight?” I try and make easy conversation as I eye the fresh brewed coffee.
He sighs. “I missed it.”
My eyes widen and guilt eats me up inside.
“I am so sorry.” My bottom lip wobbles but I think I catch it before he notices.
“It’s not your fault, Ace. I left my phone out here… missed the alarm.” He shrugs, his large hand gripping the back of his neck.
“Kind of is, though,” I mutter, ignoring the way my throat burns as I try and hold in my tears.
“Ace,” he whispers as he closes the gap between us.
His fingers are on my chin, tilting my head back, his gorgeous green eyes dancing with mine. My breath catches. His lips hover over mine, eyes falling to my mouth and I know that I will no doubt regret this, but he decides our fate for me.
Falling forward ever so slightly, his lips are on mine, dusting softly, as if testing the waters. I know I should push him away, but I don’t.
My arms are around his neck as I lean into him, holding onto him as I kiss him back. A guttural groan vibrates in his chest, his arm skating around my waist. The other clasps my cheek, holding me in place.
Tongue strokes match, our kiss deepening, and in that moment, nothing else matters. The ground simply slips away from beneath me as I cling onto this man with every fibre of my soul. Connected and entwined, I never want it to stop.
The hand that is wrapped around my back lifts me effortlessly into his arms and my needy legs wrap around his waist.
A momentarily ‘we shouldn’t be doing this’ enters my mind, but I soon bat it away because nothing is going to take me away from this moment. Away from what I have secretly desired for the last week.
He walks us back towards his bedroom, back to where it all began this morning.
A second thought slips into my mind, but it soon drifts away with every other what the fuck am I doing?
As he demonstrates just how well he can kiss, I am lost in every inch of him.
Floating on cloud nine, I know the fall is going to be the death of me because how can I never have this moment again?
Lowering me on the bed with grace, he looks at me, a new hunger in his eyes that he has never unmasked until now. My skin prickles with anticipation. My needy hands clasp his face as I drag his addictive lips back to mine.
“Ace.” His whisper is a beg as he lifts his lips from mine and it drives me wild. I shake my head, needing him like the air I breathe.
“Baby.” I melt beneath him, the rasp in his voice, the way he pulls away but drags his bottom lip between his teeth.
His eyes skate down my body, his head shaking softly. My eyes flick to his and I can see how constricted he is.
“We shouldn’t.” The two words that completely killed the moment. I was thinking them, so was he. Except, he spoke his out loud, and me? I wanted it too much.
Humiliation slaps me across the cheek, and I feel the burn within seconds.
Pushing on his chest, he stumbles back as I scurry away into the dark hole that is my bedroom and make the door frame shudder as I slam it.
Diving on my bed, I want to ground to swallow me up.
What the hell was I thinking?
I should have listened to my gut and pushed him off me, yet I allowed myself to get caught up in a moment that wasn’t mine to get lost in.
I am stupid.
My chest hurts and I let the tears spill down my cheeks, because that’s all I can muster.