Chapter 10
Ryan
She lied to me.
The whole date was a fucking disaster. I had convinced myself, if I spent enough time with Ishika, I would see her rich girl flaws that would end my years of fascination with this one girl who seems so far-fetched.
None of that was happening as the night progressed.
She dressed like a siren, the lace hugging her curves and showing off her long legs.
Sitting next to her, all I imagined was what her legs would feel like wrapped around my waist. The whole night, I resisted the urge to smudge her lipstick with my lips.
She was flirting with me and she didn’t even know. So clueless and so fucking adorable.
We had agreed Brent wouldn’t know of our first date. I am so fucked when it comes to her that I wanted one day’s worth of memories for a keepsake. Where we behaved like our real selves and nothing about us was pretend.
She broke her promise. She got Sadie to tell Brent about our dinner plans. Was she so desperate for Brent that she couldn’t bear to eat a meal with me?
I know who stole my wallet.
When I was busy getting Brent to lick the floor, Richard whispered into my ear. “Good luck getting your wallet back, Harper. This is what you will get every time a filth like you tries to touch one of our girls.”
Richard stole my wallet and he was goading me.
He was waiting for me to react and do something damaging.
His father is a district court judge and Richard would get out of this scot-free.
I couldn’t afford to go to jail even for a day.
The bills don’t pay themselves. Owen and my mom need me. The right thing was to walk away.
But what pissed me off was when Ishika came out of the restaurant and walked straight over to Brent to check on him. To ensure the ideal man she so dearly wants to marry, was doing all right.
I fucking didn’t even exist. I was invisible to her.
I wanted to drag her back to me. I wanted her to choose me instead. But dick-faced Brent smirked at me before dishing out dirt about my father.
I cannot forget my father’s dead body, his pale face, and how I had found him lifeless, lying in debris.
Everything inside of me burned with rebellion. That was my father the asshole was talking about, and I wanted to scream and tell Ishika not to believe him. But then I have been screaming for eight years and no one stopped to listen.
How stupid was I that I thought Ishika was different.
I went back indoors to apologize and tell Tony that I would clear the bill by tomorrow. The manager, Tony, was my dad’s close friend. But by then someone had called Jake and Aariv. They dropped in and cleared the check and took me to our hideout.
I wanted to get drunk and forget the date ever happened. But Ishika showed up.
She. Kissed. Me.
Thrusting her hips, gripping the collar of my shirt, moaning, and hissing.
Uncontrollable, obscene, and brash.
Wanton and needy.
When I paused for air, she came back for more. I wanted to give her a choice so I took her back to her place instead of mine.
The silent night began binding us together when she was riding on my motorcycle. I felt that connection. I felt like something was simmering between us. I was going to kiss her again. But the minute she got off my bike she lied to me.
Rich girls make smart choices. Her life was better off with Brent. My infatuation with her had to end. So, I left.
Just rip the Band-Aid off, I thought. But now, she is back at my work with her fancy Tupperware.
“You really think you can bribe me with food?” I ask, placing the tools on the workbench.
Her ass in distressed denim shorts and the flimsy gray low-neck top doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Her lips are nude. Her cheeks are flushed. Her hair is tied in a high ponytail.
Yep! I imagined her on her knees with her ponytail in my grip. Her dark velvet tresses trapped between my fingers. I am sporting a semi that I don’t intend to hide. Call me crude or savage, I don’t fucking care anymore.
“I called you before I came.”
“I didn’t pick up. So get the hint.”
“I’m saying sorry.”
“I’m saying whatever.”
We are tied in an eye lock.
“I-I didn’t leave with Brent because I wanted to go with him. I was in shock about all the things he said about your family. I was friends with Owen in school and he never mentioned anything. Also, I didn’t invite Brent. He found out from Sadie. I’m sorry for what happened that night.”
I fake a yawn and stretch one arm in the air. “I’m bored.”
She clutches her Tupperware tighter to her chest looking like she is about to cry. Babe, I’m not that gullible.
“You may leave now.” I take my phone out and pretend to be busy browsing social media.
She turns toward the exit and I hold my breath, certain she is leaving, but she swivels back to me. There is fire in her eyes.
My trapped breath sets free when I see her ready to fight.
“You know, it’s bad manners to refuse a sincere apology.
I’m apologizing, from the bottom of my heart.
It took me three hours to cook this for you.
It’s not some pie that I picked up from the store.
It’s the world’s best halwa you’ll ever have.
You know what, you’re being foolish and missing out on some premium stuff.
And for what? Just because you wanna get even with me? ”
“Best hall-what?”
“Halwa. And yes, the best.”
“Let me be the judge of that.” I snatch the Tupperware from her grip. When I open the lid, I am not convinced of her claims.
“You cooked me orange goop? It looks like food poisoning to me.”
Ishika steps closer and hands me a spoon. That confident smile on her lips is downright annoying. I cautiously place a spoonful of orange whatever-the-fuck-this-is in my mouth.
This is the last time I am listening to my cock and eating a suspicious looking thing cooked by this woman.
I am going to give it to her straight; her food sucks and she can get the hell out of my life. I am done with her. I am so fuckin’ done. I am a strong man who can resist this temptation.
Hold that thought.
This is fuckin’ delicious. The girl can cook.
She is watching me patiently. “So?”
“It’s all right.” Feigning nonchalance, I shrug.
Her mouth falls open. “Give that back. You don’t have to eat any more.
” She tries to take the container from me.
I switch hands and dodge her, scooping another mouthful of hell-what goop into my mouth.
She breaks out in giggles and her laugh is infectious.
Just like that, I am sporting a grin too.
I am not even angry anymore. Took me less than a minute to become putty in her hands once again.
My fuckin’ heart. My fuckin’ cock. My fuckin’ everything is somehow chained to her.
I am a glutton for punishment, that’s exactly what this is. I can’t have her but that doesn’t stop me from trying, does it?
“You know what, you suck. My orange goop gave you a food orgasm. Don’t you dare lie. It’s written all over your face,” she says, blinking her thick eyelashes at me.
“You really cooked this for me, only me? For three long hours, thinking about me.”
Yeah, I have absolutely no fucking self-respect.
“Yes, only for you.” She takes a step closer to me. “Will you take me to the movies?” she asks when the tips of her shoes touch mine. “Zoe invited me, remember?”
“You want to go to the movies with my friends?” I bend down my head, our faces inches away. Her breathing turns heavy and her neck stretches to close the gap.
Her voice turns to a whisper. “Yes, I want that. I want to meet your friends. I want to know you better.”
Her body says she wants a kiss. That she submits to the undeniable chemistry we share. I could kiss her and end her misery.
Or, I could punish her for choosing him.
I will make her wait, until her cravings turn to hunger. Until she is starving and famished with that gnawing need. Where lust meets desire and hell feels like heaven.
It’s only fair that she knows what this ache is.
It’s time she had a taste of what I feed myself every day.
Unrequited.
Forbidden.
Unsated hunger.