Page 119 of Retribution

“He does.” I nod, my hands lay limp in my lap with my appetite disappearing completely.

He cups his mouth with his hand and drags it slowly downwards, letting out a long sigh.

I shift in my seat, not sure whether to direct the conversation somewhere else or ask for the bill. He makes my decision for me and asks for the bill, the bottle of wine still basically full and our food practically untouched.

Regardless of his feelings towards me, he insists on paying the bill, remaining gentlemanly even in his down moments. That’s Harry.

We walk out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk, the wave of alcohol beginning to sway my head.

I was meant to eat the pasta, I swear.

Harry decides to walk me home instead of us calling a cab, saying he could do with the stroll.

Most of the way home, he is silent.

I’ve left my bag in my car but still have my essentials on me, like my keys and phone. We cross over the road and we’re in my neighborhood.

The houses are all completely private and gated off from the rest of the world, the road deathly silent.

We surpass a house with an open driveway and the next thing I know I’m shoved up against the wall.

I close my eyes in shock and let out a gasp, my breath being stolen from me. I slowly edge my eyes open, and everything begins to register. His hands are on my hips as he presses into me tightly, making it hard for my lungs to expand.

He peers down at me fiercely through his blue eyes, his breathing ragged and fanning across my face.

“You’re telling me you don’t feel that?” he argues, his hand cupping my face.

I shake my head, trying to keep my mind clear of the poison he’s injecting into me. My body is convulsing with the reaction to his body being so close to me, so warm and comforting but desirable and seductive.

“Kiss me then,” he challenges.

I lose my ability to speak as I know my voice will betray the very feeling I am trying to suppress. I shake my head again as his nose grazes mine.

“Kiss me.” He taunts, licking his lips as his tongue very nearly grazes my lips from our proximity.

My breathing is staggered and I want to push him away but also pull him into me and smash my lips against his to feel what it would be like.

“Kiss me, Indie,” he whispers, his forehead pressed against mine as I feel myself beginning to cave from the sound of my name on his lips. My stomach rolls with butterflies and my heart beats excessively.

A bead of sweat drips down my back as I glance from his eyes, to his lips, to his eyes and his lips.

“Hey! Get off my property!” Someone shouts from a window above and we startle apart, scurrying around the corner.

My head suddenly floods with anger from the ambush.

“I can walk the rest of the way on my own,” I mutter to him, picking up my walking pace.

He jogs a little to keep up with me.

“Indie, stop for a second.” He grabs onto my elbow to get me to stop.

“What!” I snap, turning around to face him.

He stops and looks at me worried.

“You think you can just ambush me like that? Force me into doing something that I don’t want to do?” I cry, feeling myself bubble up.

“It’s not like that and you know it isn’t,” he argues back.

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