Page 43 of Kiss Me in the Dark
I lean back in my seat, feeling the weight of her words.“I just can’t believe he would do that.And the crazy thing is, I nearly let him.I don’t even like him!And yet…he almost became my first kiss.”
Leanne puts her hand over mine.“I know.It would’ve been cute…if he wasn’t such a jerk.”
I smile, feeling a little lighter.“Thanks, Leanne.I just needed to talk it out.”
“Hey, don’t even mention it.You’re my friend.I’m here for you,” Leanne says.“So what are you gonna do?”
“Confront him the minute I get home.”
“That’s good.”
We linger for a while, chatting about anything but Fox, until we finally part ways.When I get back to the apartment, it’s quiet.The living room lights are on, but there’s no sign of Fox.I hesitate, knowing I should just let it go, but I can’t.If I wait until tomorrow, I might lose the nerve to confront him.
I walk down the hall to his room, raising my hand to knock.But then I freeze.I hear something from the other side—a faint groan, muffled, almost like…he’s crying?
“Fox?”I call out his name, slightly knocking on his door as I wait for a response.Nothing.
Then there comes the groan again, this time louder, accompanied by faint incoherent curses.I open his door slowly.“Fox, are you okay?”I don’t even know why I’m asking, or why I care.He’s a total jerk, and yet here I am, wondering if he’s alright.I should just turn back, and wait until tomorrow to say what I need to say.But I’m already inside his room, standing there like I belong, trying to understand what’s going on with him.
The room is dim, just a soft glow from the lamp on his bedside table.Then, I hear it—the muffled sound of running water.He’s in the bathroom, but there’s something else, too.A low, strained sound, almost like…he’s moaning?
I step closer to the bathroom door, my hand hovering, unsure if I should knock.I’m about to, when I hear it again, that familiar, heavy sigh, almost a groan, slipping from behind the door.It’s raw, and vulnerable in a way I never imagined Fox could be.
My hand falls to my side.Whatever’s going on, it’s something I’m not sure I want to see.And then I hear it again, the low groan.
“Fuck,” he curses, the sound raw and erotic.
Oh, God no.He wasn’t crying.He was—then I hear the sound again.Louder this time.I let my hand drop to my side as I take a step back from his bathroom door.This is inappropriate and wrong.I shouldn’t be here, listening to Fox while he’s having a private time.I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and against my better judgment, my body responds and aches in the places that should make me feel uncomfortable at the sound of Fox pleasuring himself.
There are goosebumps on my skin as I push the urge to stay back and listen to those beautiful sounds coming from Fox’s bathroom.I turn around to leave before he catches me, but it’s too late.The bathroom door opens and Fox steps out, naked and wet.
Oh shit.
11
Blurred Boundaries
Ipacearoundmyroom, trying desperately to scrub the image out of my mind.Fox, naked and wet—his physique defined and powerful.I’ve never seen anyone naked before, especially not someone like Fox.The second he walked out of his room and caught me there, I bolted.I couldn’t handle staying another second without wanting to kiss him myself.Now I’m stuck here, feeling anxious, and a little… something I don’t want to admit.
How am I supposed to look Fox in the eye after this?That image of his skin, slick with water, is seared into my mind.It’s ridiculous; now I feel like a complete creep.A pervert.I head to the shower, hoping that somehow scrubbing myself clean will help.But even under the hot water, I’m back to thinking about earlier.Fox’s smirk, the way he leaned in close like he might actually kiss me… and that groan of his, deep and—ugh, this is so messed up.
“Fuck,” I groan under my breath.Why am I thinking about him?Him kissing me.Him touching me.Him groaning and moaning because of me.
Oh, this is messed up.
Wrapping a towel around my waist, I head back to my room, trying to clear my head.But then I freeze—Fox is in my room, casually flipping through one of my textbooks like he owns the place.
“Shit.”I turn to duck back into the bathroom, but his voice stops me cold.
“Where the hell are you going?”
I sigh, turning back to face him, trying to keep my composure.I can feel his eyes moving down, glancing over my chest, and then trailing lower.Great—I’m just standing here in a towel.How can I have forgotten that?
He quickly looks away, dropping the book on my bed with an eye-roll instead of the shelf he picked it up from.
“Why are you here?”I ask Fox, clearing my throat and shaking off the strange but familiar feeling in my stomach.
“Why were you in my room?”He asks the question I've been dreading to answer since I bolted out of his room.
