Consumed (10 page)

“No.”

His lips twitch and his eyes are suddenly brighter. He enjoys being told no and secretly that thrills me because I enjoy saying it to him. “You mistake my demand for a question.”

“Your demand?” I scoff and push against him, but he doesn’t budge.

“Olivia.” His rough voice wraps around my name and I imagine him moaning it in my ear. My lips part and I exhale slowly. “Come to dinner with me.”

“No.” I meant to sound annoyed, but my voice cracks and he smiles. He’s going to break me. I’m going to cave and he knows it. I’m going to have to nip it in the bud before he wins. From my bag, I pull out my phone and dial Selena’s number. I put it to my ear as Seth watches me curiously.

“Hello?” She answers.

“Okay,” I say, keeping my eyes locked with Seth’s. “Let’s go out tonight.”

She squeals and I take the phone away from my ear until she’s finished. Seth’s eyes narrow in on me and I can see his muscles contract and relax.

“I’ll be there at nine. Love you!” She hangs up.

I smile mockingly at him. “I’m sorry, but I’m busy tonight.”

Damn it. Why am I so stubborn? I want to walk away, but his body is preventing me for going anywhere.

“You’re playing a dangerous game.” He almost growls at me. “I’m not going to stop until—”

“Until what?” I interrupt. “You don’t want me.” I emphasize each word.

“Fuck, Olivia! I’ve wanted you since the moment I caught you staring at me days ago.” His finger traces my jaw and then my bottom lip before he drops it to his side. “You want to know why I can’t let myself have you? Because during all of our random meetings I discovered you’re the type of girl that can’t separate emotions from sex and that’s all I want from you.” I scowl at his words, but at least he gains brownie points for honesty. “And for some strange reason... I don’t want to hurt you. You
are
good and I don’t want to ruin that for you.”

My eyes flit to his lips and then back to his eyes. “If you never planned to have sex with me, why’d you tell me those things and touch me and kiss me?”

“Because at the time I was trying to prove a point, but it got a little out of hand.”

I look into his chocolate eyes and he seems sincere, but you can never really tell with these over-confident, playboy types. Unexpectedly, he presses his dry, full lips against mine and my eyes flutter shut on instinct, the butterflies growing increasingly abominable. His dammed lips are causing my knees to weaken and my stubbornness to give way. It’s like I can’t control my body. My hands slide up around his neck and into his hair. I feel his soft, damp hair slip between my fingertips and his tongue is slick with moisture as he flicks it along my bottom lip. A moan escapes my throat as Seth pulls himself back and with a sultry smile he says. “But now that I know exactly what’s between those thighs, I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop myself from going after you.” He draws himself to his full height and storms away, leaving me panting and staring at the empty space in front of me like an idiot, my lips still heavy with his kiss.

By the time I find the courage to exit the shower room Seth and his crew have moved to the private training rooms. Thank God. I happily climb onto a treadmill and warm up for a long time. I can still feel his heat on me and I can’t think straight. After I run, I move over to the bench press and dumbbells. Too many times I lost count of my reps because I was too busy thinking about what Seth said. He’s confusing. He wants me, but at the same time he doesn’t because I’m ‘too good’. And I thought women were confusing. I never want to feel how I felt today ever again. Seth won’t get another chance to humiliate me—even if that wasn’t his intention in the first place. The cocky bastard needs to be told no for a change and I hope I can stick to it.

***

I get home late because I decided to take a trip to the grocery store for some more fresh fruit and veg. When I put it all away in the fridge, I go to my room to get ready for tonight. I pick my two dresses up off the floor and decide to wear the coral off the shoulder cocktail dress. It’s safe and if I do my own hair and make-up I won’t have to look like an A-class hooker again. Picking up is definitely not on the agenda for me tonight. The only reason I said yes to Selena was to get Seth off my damn back. I want to go to dinner with him, but I can’t trust if his request is genuine or if it’s all part of some big plan. I don’t know. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.

Selena shows up at eight-thirty dressed just as glamorously as last night in a salmon pink tube dress and white stilettos. The second she sees my dress she cringes. “Really? The coral dress?”

I nod and pop the cork out of the champagne. “Yep, it’s safe.”

Her heels are freakishly high and I’m surprised she hasn’t broken her neck yet. “O, we’re going to a club not taking a child to a pre-school orientation.”

I roll my eyes as I pour the champagne into two wine flutes. I don’t know what her problem is. The coral dress is beautiful. It isn’t revealing or tight it’s... boring. Sadly, the realization affects me more than I want it to.

Selena’s cool hand touches my shoulder and I realize I zoned out. “It’s not that bad. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I scoff and play it off with a chuckle. “I was thinking about something else and completely zoned out.”

“So,” she says, changing the subject. “My friend says that Blade is at Heaven’s tonight so we’re going back to Lux’s... if that’s okay with you?”

“Absolutely, but I don’t want to stay out too late. I have work in the morning and I can’t afford to sleep in again.”

She takes her champagne flute off the bench and inhales a large mouthful. Her pink lipstick stains the glass and it’s going to be a pain in the ass trying to get that off in the morning. Selena’s lipsticks are like permanent markers. “I bet Mason was pissed you were late today.”

I take a mouthful of the yellow, bubbly liquid and place the flute back on the bench. “He wasn’t too pissed, but I think that was only because he wanted me to say yes to dinner.”

“He asked you to dinner
again?
”

“Yep and I said no for the billionth time.”

“Why do you keep saying no? Hell, I’d go if he asked me. He’s a total babe for his age and he has money—oh, and the eyes on him pierce straight into my pus—”

“Okay.” I shout, cutting her off. My face scrunches at her foul words. I don’t think I can stomach hearing ‘Mason’ and ‘pussy’ in the same sentence. “Sel, he’s like forty-something and he’s my boss.”

“So?”

“Look, if you want him, go for him. I’m not going to stop you and hopefully that will get him off my back.”

She smiles. “Maybe I will.”

The cab shows up at nine on the dot and Selena drags me from the house before I have a chance to change my mind—again.

***

Lux’s Lounge Bar has the same atmosphere as last night. I wonder how many people have work tomorrow and if they come out often. It’s only nine-thirty and I already feel like calling it a night. Selena ushers me toward the bar and immediately two guys buy us a drink. Selena puts on her best ‘Oh my God,
I wasn’t expecting that’
face and I hide behind her while she flirts. I’m so not into boys tonight. The argument with Seth this afternoon has really taken all of my energy out of me and boys are definitely at the very, very back of my mind.

They seem to be at the front of Selena’s mind tonight, however, and I don’t mind being her wingman as she swoops in to find herself a nice rich guy.

“I own a law firm.” She says to one guy and he laps it up like a puppy.

He has dark hair that sits in waves on his forehead and I’m annoyed by how many times he flicks his head to move it around. I can tell from the beginning that this guy doesn’t have money, but I can almost guarantee that he uses his daddy’s.

“Oh, really? I work in pharmaceuticals.”

Lie. Your dad works in pharmaceuticals. I smile to myself. I’m doing it again—judging people. I can’t help it.

“Drugs, I like it.” Selena giggles and nudges me with her elbow. I have no idea what it means and what I’m supposed to do. Do I have to say something to boost her up or does she want me to leave? Her green eyes flick sideways at me and I shrug. I never claimed to be a good wingman.

“Olivia is my receptionist.” She hints.

Oh. Right. I launch myself into their discussion. “Selena works hard, but at the end of the day she loves to play.” I feel seedy just saying that.

“I like to play, too.” He winks at me, ‘subconsciously’ taping the glass on his Rolex and I bite my lip, fighting the urge to scoff and drag Selena away from him. “This might be a little out of line, but are you both interested in a—”

I turn as quickly as I can and I get the hell out of there. A threesome is DEFINITELY not on the agenda tonight and I know that’s exactly what he’s after. He’s been trying to charm us both all night. The last time Blade and I broke up and Selena dragged me clubbing she found a hot guy and it was his ‘birthday’. He wanted a threesome which Selena was totally down for. “We’re friends who have known each other forever. It’s not going to be awkward. I see your tits and vag all the time.” She said to me. My response was still: FUCK NO!

I don’t know why. Selena is gorgeous and clean and everything else, but it’s just not something I’m into—at all. The thought alone makes me queasy. I walk over to the bar and put my empty glass down. My eyes feel heavy and I want to go home. I glance back over my shoulder at Selena and the spoilt shit. They’re making out...hardcore making out.

“What can I get you?” The bartender asks, drawing my attention onto her.

Her dark hair is tied back into a high ponytail at the top of her head and it’s long enough to cascade over her shoulders. Her shirt barely covers her midriff and she has a black dot above her upper lip. I was having a hard time trying to decide if it’s a piercing or a beauty spot. I stare at it and lean in closer. She looks uncomfortable, but she doesn’t drop the smile from her lips. I blink a few times as she wobbles to the side briefly.

“Uh, nothing...” I reply, sitting on a bar stool. “I think I’ve had too much.”

Funny. I don’t think I had that much to drink. My eyes spin around and around in their sockets and soon I can no longer tell which way is up.

“Olivia, we’re going—Olivia?” Selena’s hands grab me and I lean into her. Her chest is soft and warm against my cheek.

“I don’t feel so good.” I slur.

“Shit... It’s okay. We’re going to get you home.”

I hear her argue with the bartender before supporting majority of my weight on her small frame. She farewells the guy she was talking to and soon the night air hits my face. My head clears slightly and after a few minutes the cool leather of a taxi seat holds me as warm hands caress my face. I have no idea what the hell is going on and I’m scared. My chest feels full and I can’t breathe.

“It’s okay.” Selena says a few times over and over until she pulls me from the car. The lines of the world are blurry, but I recognize the lag in a sensor light. I’m home.

I black out until luke-warm water hits my back. My eyes shoot open, but everything is still unclear.

“C’mon, O. Don’t fall asleep.”

I’m sitting on a plastic chair hunched over in the shower and Selena is on the phone next to me. “Put the manager on the damn phone!” She snaps.

I help her ease me out of the shower and I lean against the wall as she dries my body with a towel. She’s on hold. She hates being on hold. Selena half pulls, half carries me from the bathroom and drops me onto my bed. Naked, she tucks me under the blankets.

“Jerry, you fuck!” She growls into her phone. “You need to up the standard of your security checks.”

I fade out and then back in.

“My friend was roofied tonight. I don’t know—somehow. Yes, I’m sure! She’s a fucking mess!”

She’s still yelling, but I can’t hear her anymore. Slowly, my eyes close and I feel like I’m lying in a hammock that someone has winded up and left to spin with me still inside it. Slowly, I fall to sleep and I’m happy today will be over soon. Eventually, this whole week will be over and I’m glad because it has done nothing but kick me while I’m down... then again, maybe I asked for it. I have a habit of doing dumb things when I shouldn’t. This week is meant to be a grieving period, isn’t it? I’m meant to be getting over my boyfriend of six years, but instead, I find myself desperately filling in time and thinking more about Seth than Blade.

There’s something seriously wrong with me... and I don’t care. I meant it when I told Blade that I haven’t loved him for a long time. If I’m being honest, I’m more upset about the time wasted than the break-up itself. Does that make me a bad person? Is it horrible for me to feel free? Because I do...

I am free.

Chapter Seven