Page 18 of Red Queen
“Did you hurt yourself?” She probably did. All because I left her alone. Maybe I should withdraw my statement that we’re both adults.
“It’s nothing.” She tries to downplay it, but I can hear the pain in her voice.
“Can I come in?” I hear a soft muttering sound from the other side of the door, indicating that I’m allowed to enter. I slowly open the door and only peek over it to see if she’s behind the curtain or not.
The curtain is open, but she started to pour herself a bath, and she’s sitting in the warm water with a slight pout on her face, arms crossed in front of her chest, right leg sticking out of the tub. I walk closer, sit down on the floor near the tub, and start examining her leg. She hisses when I reach a sensitive spot on her ankle.
“Does anything else hurt?” She shakes her head as a no. “It doesn’t look bad. It might form a bump later and turn purple, but not too bad. You can move it, right?”
She starts moving her ankle around in a circle, and I’m so focused on it, I almost don’t realize her hands are slowly sneaking up my neck, and stops to cup my face. Her eyes are staring into mine, constantly switching between my lips andeyes, her soft hand caressing my stubble. She starts to lean in, and as much as my mind is telling me to stop, I’m hit with her sweet scent, and I can’t resist anymore.
My lips attach to hers, and our tongues move in sync with each other. I rest my palms on the side of her face, and her hands tangle in my hair, the sensation reaching all my senses. I’ve had some wild nights, but damn, she’s next level. She’s making me excited with only a kiss. I’m starting to think she might be a witch.
She makes sure to use her tongue as much as she can, and when she stops for a second and pulls my hair backward to bite into my lower lip, the feeling goes straight to my pants.
I feel it hardening, my pants suddenly too tight for my own well-being. As a signal, my senses come back to earth, the delirious fog disappearing, and I grab her shoulders to push her back.
“I can’t.”
She’s drunk. That means I have to try to be a gentleman now, and think with a straight mind, even though all of my senses are responding to every little thing she does—how her eyes burn into mine with such desire, she could make my pants disappear. How her fingertips make my skin burn. How her tongue explored my mouth with such hunger, like she hadn’t eaten in weeks.
I’m not known for being a gentleman, I know that well, and I take full credit for it. Any other woman in her place, I wouldn’t care. But not her. She’s different.
When I said that Mona was the last one to fuck me over? I meant every single word. Here’s my chance to show her, the world, even myself, that I can be a better man.
This woman fell from heaven right into my arms, for the second time. I’m not gonna mess this up. Even if she just wants to be friends after this, I’ll take it. I’ll take anything she gives me,and I’ll control myself. I suddenly feel like a boy meeting his high school crush. I want to know her.
I want to know what her favorite color is, what she likes to eat for breakfast, what her self-care day looks like, what kind of songs she likes to listen to. I want to know everything about her. Every little detail written down in a list, so that I know what to remember.
I’m not saying I’m not thinking about taking her to bed right now. I know that’s what she wants, and I want it too. But there’s no way I’ll let this end as only a one-knight stand.
“Just give in, please.” That pleading voice… God, give me strength. “I’m fully aware of what's happening. Just one night of fun. That’s all I ask.”
“One night wouldn’t be enough of you, Rosa.” I start stroking her cheek again, but she pushes my hand away. I smirk. “Someone’s mad I’m not giving her what she wants.”
She folds her arms and turns away, pouting, but after a couple of seconds, I’m met with the most perfect boobs I’ve ever seen. Nipples are in my eyes. She props herself on her knees and pushes her cherries right into my face—or she could, if I don’t stop her. I press my lips together, close my eyes, and take a deep breath.
“No. Back in the tub, Rosalia. Now.” I watch as she obeys and disappears under the foam with the smirk back on her face.
“Yes, sir.”
I have to bite my lips not to give in to her temptation right here, right now. She knows what she’s doing, that little vixen, but she won’t win. I’m just as stubborn as you are, sweetheart, if not more.
“It seems like your ankle is fine. I’ll leave some clean clothes in front of the door. You can sleep in those. I’ll be out there if you need me.” She nods and mutters a quiet thanks as I leave. God, this woman is going to be the death of me.
13
ROSA
Iwake up to the sun lighting up the room and sheets rustling beside me. I don’t want to open my eyes yet, as my body is screaming for more rest, but when a hand snakes up from my leg to my waist and fingers dig under my shirt, my eyes pop open.
For a moment, I contemplate between screaming in his face and going back to sleep, trying to gaslight myself that it’s just a dream, that I’m not actually lying in the same bed as Mateo Acosta; his hands are not around my waist, my hands are not on his chest, and his woody, citrus scent isn’t invading any of my senses.
Did something happen? Why am I here? Better question: why are we both in Nathan’s bed, and where is he? I haven’t been to this place before, but I often FaceTimed him when he was home. And I know a One Direction fan when I see one. It would be hard not to notice the giant cardboard cutout of Niall peeking out of his closet.
I only remember that Mateo was being weird to me after he was the one who ruined my outfit. Then I ran into Kyle, who was much much nicer, then… I puked. But I know that wasn’t in the bar. That’s it. So basically, I remember nothing. Thanks, brain.
The man beside me creeps closer, and his hold tightens. Oh dear Jesus, he’s about to wake up. I quickly close my eyes, hoping he won’t notice that I’m fully fucking awake.
