“Well? Aren’t you going to say something?” she snappedangrily.
Again heignored her, only to smile incredulously out of the side of hismouth while giving his head a shake. Who was this girl? Who did shethink he was to her?
Obviously, hewasn’t in the mood to explain himself, Becky realized, frustratedlyfacing forward and folding her hands on her lap. After a fewmoments, she became aware of the fact that she had no right todemand anything of him. He was a grown man after all, and she wasof no consequence to him. They were merely housemates. Ashamed ofherself, she sat quietly for the duration of the ride.
“You can wait here,” she informed him as he pulled into theparking lot. She then methodically got out of his car and startedwalking towards the building.
Ignoring herridiculous suggestion, Kell got out and followed her. Upon hearinghis unhurried footsteps behind her, she stopped and looked over hershoulder at him.
“Fine… do what you like.”
Halfway acrossthe dimly lit parking lot, she noticed a group of men walkingtowards her. She then realized how dark and desolate the usuallybusy building appeared at night. Instinctively slowing her steps toallow Kelley to close the distance between them, she was suddenlyvery glad that he hadn’t listened to her and stayed in the car.
“Not so brave now, are you?” Kelley said, stepping up next toher.
The three menpassed them without incident, making her realize that there wasprobably nothing to have worried about. Obviously, Kelley andCrispin had overreacted to the whole situation. She would have beenperfectly fine, she thought defiantly. Lots of people took eveningclasses. The place wasn’t exactly abandoned. Not everyone was outto get her, contrary to what her overprotective housemates wouldlead her to believe.
“Kelley, really. I don’t see what all the fuss is about,” shesaid, passing him as he opened the door for her. “I would have beenjust fine coming on my own.”
“Perhaps…” he said, unbothered, walking behind her, the soundof his boot clad footsteps, echoing throughout the empty hallway.“But I’d rather not risk it.”
“Risk what?” she said, finally reaching her locker. “What’s itto you, what happens to me anyway? You weren’t exactly concernedabout me when you took off this morning.”
Before sherealized what was happening, he had her pinned, face up against thelockers with the full force of his body behind her. His large handson her shoulders, like vice grips, locking her in place.
“You do try me, love,” he hissed, breathing heavily down herneck.
“Kelley?” she cried tremulously. What was this all about? He’dalways been so gentle with her. Maybe she’d pushed him too far.After all how much did she really know about him?
“You forget yourself, sweetheart,” he said with his nose buriedin her hair. “We have rules, don’t we?” She nodded nervously,suddenly thinking that her earlier tussle with Crispin was nothingcompared to the helplessness she felt under Kelley’sspell.
“Rules put in place for your safety,” he reminded her. “If youdon’t like the rules, you can always move out.” Again she noddedsilently. “Understand?”
“Yes… please,” she begged.
“Please what?” he asked, leaning into to her, nuzzling herbehind the ear.
For a moment,she didn’t really know how to respond. For a moment, he didn’t knowhow she would either, so lost he was in her warm scent.
She had thoughtthat she wanted him to let her go, but then slowly, very slowly,she realized, feeling strangely wonderful, that she never wantedhim to let her go.
“Kelley…” she murmured, relaxing into him, liking the way hefelt, his body so hard against hers. Their bodies were sodifferent. He was hard where she was soft, tall where she wassmall, strong where she was weak.
Then as ifnothing had transpired, he released her and backed away. “Go onthen, get your things so we can go home. I’m tired.”
It was true. Hewas dead tired from driving around aimlessly all day. That must bethe reason he’d just fucked up and let his guard down. His fatherwas right, even in the end. He only cared about himself. He was tooself-absorbed and irresponsible to care for anyone else. Obviously,since it was his selfishness that killed his entire family.
The last thinghe wanted was to get involved in a relationship. Especially with asweet innocent girl like Becky. What could he offer her but a lifeof misery and pain? She would eventually leave him. Having her, tothen lose her… no. The inevitable letdown would kill him.
He had tried toconvince himself that he was only attracted to her in the sexualsense. That, he could deal with. Clearly, though, he’d been a foolto think that he was impenetrable.
Somehow, thelittle urchin had managed to imprint herself in his dormant heart.A heart that had held nothing but desolation and self-loathing forso long.
Feeling quiteconfused and oddly vulnerable, Becky quickly did as he askedwithout argument. She quietly retrieved her paint box and closedher locker. Silently, they returned to his car. He opened her doorfor her first, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
She wastrembling when he got in the driver’s seat. He didn’t want to knowif it was because of him, what he’d done, or simply because she wascold. Turning the heat up, he then peeled out of the parking lotand drove home.
When theyarrived, he turned into the driveway and parked the car. Beckyhesitated, wondering if he would say something to her. It suddenlyfelt awkward between them and she didn’t like that. Next to Dorian,Kelley had been her only true friend thus far. She didn’t want tolose his friendship.
Then, ofcourse, she couldn’t deny her quickly accelerating attraction tohim. Especially now, after what happened back at her locker. Justthe thought of what he’d done, how he’d felt, pressed up againsther, his breath in her ear, made her heart skip a beat. Therealization that this dark brooding Goth, sitting beside her hadstirred up such undeniable feelings of lust and desire, caused herto shudder.
“I’m sorry… for what I did back there,” he finally said, unableto stand the tension between them.
“Don’t
