Page 18 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

“It’s just a drink, Layla.”

“And I said I don’t want a drink with you.”

“Why?”

“Because you are not my type. And I have no intention of getting friendly with you.”

Even as those words left my lips, I knew I was lying to myself. He wasn’t my type but something about him made my body respond. I have never had such a primitive response to a man before. My fingers literally itched to touch him, my body burned and the need felt like fire through my veins. I wanted to thread my fingers into his dark hair, trace the line of his lips, run my hands all over his strong shoulders. Damn it, I wanted to press my lips to his skin and run my tongue along his warm skin to see if he would taste salty and warm.

His laugh startled me out of my thoughts. “Please, you really shouldn't be so full of yourself.” His words left me shocked, sending my heart sinking into my stomach. "I'm just asking you to have a drink with me, not date me, and who said you were my type?"

Again, my heart plummeted. I'd been so used to men constantly hitting on me that I'd never taken into consideration that he was only offering a drink, and somehow, his words hurt more than they should have.

"Regardless of what you think or feel, Layla, it seems we're going to be in each other's lives for good now. So, when you do decide to get over yourself. I'll be around if you ever want to share a drink together."

He sounded frustrated. His blue eyes darkened to the color of the deep stormy sea, and a thrill of excitement shot through every inch of my skin. He just scolded me and pretty much called me out on my bullshit. But to my own frustration, my body heated up.

I let out an exasperated breath, but before I could think of a response, he strode away from me, leaving me staring at his back. I had to admit, no man had ever done that to me. Even Lachlan put up with some of my fickle shit, till I made a mistake and tried it in front of Eve Bailey. I deserved what I got there, hands down.

Maybe Maxim Caldwell was a good guy, one of those that you hear about but they sound too good to be true. Because you had yet to meet one.Brian was a good guy. And look how that ended.

Standing in the dark hallway, I stared into the empty space, Maxim long gone. Maybe I was the bad one here? It wasn’t as if my relationship skills were great. In fact, I was pretty sure they were shitty. This man made me question everything, and my damn heart strived for emotions that were unattainable. At least that was what life had taught me. I didn’t need this shit right now.

Shoving all the unsettling thoughts into the corner of my mind, I rushed into my bedroom and shut the door. Why did he tempt me so? The even bigger question was, why did he affect me unlike any man before him? I wished Livy was back already. I didn’t want to stay under the same roof as that man. Yes, I was acting childish, but I couldn’t help it. My reaction to him rattled me to the bone, and the more I hung around him, the more I wanted a taste.

“Bad news, Layla,” I muttered to myself as I stripped out of my clothes. “Stay away from him.”

I took a quick shower and got myself changed into a tank top and shorts. It was barely nine in the evening, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I was too restless, my skin tight with anxious anticipation. For what, I had no idea.

I picked up a book and tried to focus on reading. After ten minutes of staring at the same page, and still unable to finish it, I gave up. I was tempted to roam the castle and see the place. But I didn’t want to run into Maxim. If I was honest with myself, his words stung a bit. But then what did I expect? I kind of asked for it with my behavior towards him.

Ugh, great! Now I’m questioning everything because of this guy.

I just needed to keep my distance and keep a professional front. Someone scoffed within my brain, mocking me. Was it my ego or my conscience? My resolve to keep my distance from him was firm, but I tended to make stupid decisions sometimes.

I opened the French door to the balcony and stepped outside. The fresh breeze swept through me, caressing my heated skin. It felt soothing, just what I needed. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. The scent of flowers and pines entered my lungs. It was one thing I liked about Scotland. The wilderness of this country, you could practically smell it in the air. I loved it. My grandparent’s castle was further north, but Caldwell’s place was no less impressive. Actually, it was more impressive because it felt like a home.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Maxim’s voice startled me and my head whipped in its direction. I narrowed my eyes, scanning my surroundings. Of course, the second I heard his voice my body heated.

“Where are you?” It was too dark for me to see him. Most of the outside lights on this floor were extinguished and the lighting from my room didn’t reach out far enough.

A flicker of light. A lighter I realized, and that’s when I saw him. In the shadows of another balcony, he sat in a chair with a glass in his hand. Next to him, on a little table, I noted a cigar slowly burning out.

He lifted the glass towards me. “I had to settle for drinking alone.”

I couldn’t quite see his face but his body was relaxed. Something about being in the dark and the moon hiding behind the clouds affording us both privacy made me relax too. I chuckled softly and the tension in my shoulders eased up.

“Sorry about that.” Right now, I meant it. While he made me anxious when we were face to face, now all that evaporated into thin air. “If you have extra, I’ll take a drink now.”

“Ah, now she wants a drink.”

His deep voice soothed, and there was no mockery in his tone. The combination of his voice and the night made this a bit surreal.

I had been a tiny bit too harsh towards him since we met. My problem was that I tended to come off bitchy usually. Okay, okay. I was bitchy. But I found myself not wanting to be bitchy around him.

“I should apologize for earlier.” I was aware of the hesitancy in my voice. It wasn’t that I debated whether I should apologize, it was more questioning whether he’d forgive me. “It was presumptuous of me to assume you only wanted to have drinks to… ummm.” I silently cursed myself for doing a poor job of apologizing. “I acted like a jerk, and I’m sorry.”

I’d settled for the short apology.

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