Part 9 (1/2)

”Maybe not.” He shrugs. ”But I know you. And I know that I've never seen you quite so taken with someone before. I just don't want to see you get f.u.c.ked over.”

”I'm not some bleeding heart, p.u.s.s.y.” I chuckle. ”If she decides she'd rather be with him then good riddance.” I play it off like I couldn't give a s.h.i.+t which couldn't be further from the truth.

I'm just not ready to let the doubt seep in just yet.

”Fair enough,” Paxton laughs, changing the subject. ”You heading into Deviants tonight?” he asks.

”Yeah. Deck's got Kimber over so I figure I'll head over and just make sure everything is running smoothly.”

”Can you believe our boy is getting married?” He laughs, shaking his head like he still hasn't fully grasped the fact.

”Dude, I never thought I'd see the day,” I agree.

”Now you're all b.a.l.l.s deep over a chick, too.” He gestures to me. ”You f.u.c.kers are getting soft on me.”

”f.u.c.k you.” I fake offense.

”I'm just kidding,” he states the obvious. ”I'm really happy for him. Kimber seems great.”

”She really is. She has to be to put up with his emotional a.s.s.” I shake my head.

”What time are you heading to the bar?” he asks, reaching over the counter to drop his now empty bottle in the trash can.

”I'm gonna take a quick shower and then head over.”

”Mind if I tag along? I'm going f.u.c.king stir crazy just sitting here.” He gestures around the condo.

”Not at all. You have any luck finding a place yet?” I ask, knowing he's been looking for a couple weeks now.

”You getting tired of me already?” He acts overly offended but is clearly joking.

”You know you're welcome to stay here as long as you need,” I say, clasping my hand down on his shoulder for a brief moment as I pa.s.s. ”Whatever you need just let me know.” I release my grasp on him.

I know how hard of a time Paxton has had since losing his mom. I don't think he's quite let go of the guilt he's carrying for how rocky of a relations.h.i.+p he had with her growing up.

”I appreciate that, man,” he calls after me as I disappear down the hall that houses the condo's two bedrooms and bathrooms.

Slipping inside my room, which is the larger of the two, I cross the s.p.a.ce to the attached bathroom, stripping off my clothes as I go.

I'm completely naked by the time I reach the shower, flipping the water on to let it warm up before finally stepping inside. The moment the hot liquid rains down over my back, Harlee's face flashes in front of my eyes. The way her nails scratched down the very place the water is now hitting. The way her l.u.s.t-filled eyes held my gaze as I rocked on top of her. The sounds of her cries of pleasure.

Just the thought of it makes my f.u.c.king d.i.c.k hard again. What I wouldn't give to have her right here with me at this very moment. The thought is f.u.c.king torture. To crave the feeling of her wrapped tightly around me and her not be anywhere close by to satisfy that craving is like a drug addict denying themselves the fix they so desperately need.

I don't know what the f.u.c.k it is about this girl that has me so wrapped up in her. I can't escape her, no matter how hard I try.

I'm f.u.c.king obsessed...

And there's not one f.u.c.king thing I can do about it.

Chapter Eleven.

Harlee The elevator ride up to Gavin's apartment feels like it lasts an eternity. I can feel every single beat of my heart, every breath my lungs take as they suck in air and let it out. I'm a wreck; a ball of nervous energy as I watch the b.u.t.ton to the seventeenth floor finally light up and the doors slide open.

The moment my feet hit the hallway, I turn around, ready to say f.u.c.k this and spend the two-hour drive back to Eugene being p.i.s.sed at myself for being such a p.u.s.s.y. Unfortunately, the elevator doors slide shut before I have time to react and suddenly I feel trapped like the walls are closing in around me.

Convincing myself that things between me and Gavin had to end was hard enough in itself. But now, facing the reality of actually saying those words to him has my stomach ready to rid itself of this morning's breakfast right here on the s.h.i.+ning white tile floors.

I blame Kimber. Had she refused to give me his address when I asked, maybe I would have had time to talk myself out of this. Or maybe I should blame Joy for so willingly letting me take the Mercedes.

But then again I can't really blame them at all. I chose to put myself in this situation and now I'm choosing to get myself out of it. I know I need to get this over with one way or another.

Crossing to the end of the hall, I stop just outside the door that reads 1723, staring at the dark distressed wood for several long seconds before finally raising my fist. Rapping lightly against the surface, I take another deep breath. I do my best to calm the shake in my knees as I await the moment I have been dreading since last night when I realized this is what had to be done.

My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears, I barely register the noise of the door opening in front of me. It isn't until intense blue eyes settle on mine that I seem to snap from my haze.

”Harlee?” Gavin's smile spreads once he's recovered from the shock of finding me standing outside his door.

”H-Hey,” I stutter, momentarily distracted by the fact that he's wearing no s.h.i.+rt, leaving his tight, defined muscles on full display. ”I'm sorry to show up like this.” I try to refocus. ”Can I come in for a minute?” I ask.

”Of course.” He pushes the door further open and steps aside to let me pa.s.s.

The moment the interior of the condo comes into view, I can't help but be extremely surprised that this is where he lives. I expected to find a run-down bachelor pad filled with beer bottles and empty pizza boxes. Instead, I'm standing in the middle of a very stylish, open living s.p.a.ce.

The walls are light gray, strategically designed with a few pieces of three-dimensional artwork that really gives the s.p.a.ce character. The dark wood floors seem to run throughout the entire condo and have a distressed look just like the front door.

There's a black leather sectional couch sitting in the center of the room facing a gas fireplace, a large television mounted on the wall above it. The back wall is lined with three floor to ceiling windows that make the s.p.a.ce feel open and airy, offering a perfect view of the city below.

”Wow,” I say, finally turning back to Gavin just as he closes the door and slides the lock into place. ”This place is incredible.”

”It's home.” He shrugs like it's whatever. ”Can I get you a drink or something?” he asks, smirking when he catches me once again eyeing his incredible body.

”No, I'm not staying long.” I shake my head, turning my gaze back to his face. ”I'm sorry to just show up out of the blue like this, but I need to talk to you and it's a conversation I feel is better had in person.”

”O-k-a-y,” he draws out, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

”Can we sit?” I ask, gesturing to the couch.

I hate how formal I sound, but I know the last thing I can do right now is let my guard down.

”Sure.” He nods.

I take a seat on the far side of the couch, relieved when he sits on the other side so he can face me. The last thing I want is for him to get too close, especially when he's only half dressed. My mind tends to go stupid whenever this man is involved.

”What's up?” He c.o.c.ks his head to the side curiously when I make no attempt to speak right away.

”We can't do this anymore, Gavin,” I blurt out as I stare at the ottoman that sits directly in front of the couch, refusing to look at him. ”It's not right, and I can't keep deceiving Bryan the way I have been. It's not fair to him.”