Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 98418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Lilly. Lilly!” I snap back to the cold London street, and Theo’s concerned face staring back at me. His hands cup my cheeks as he studies me, worry etched all over his features.
“Don’t touch me.” I snap out. I can’t be touched right now. Not with the memory of him crawling over my skin.
He looks hurt. “What happened to you?” He whispers.
I look at the pavement. “Nothing. I need to go.”
I turn back to the parked Beemer, but Theo steps in front of me. “You still can’t drive Lilly.” My previous state is quickly over taken by boiling rage. Who the fuck does he think he is?!
“Can you not see that I don’t want to be around you right now?! Are you that fucking stupid!” I scream at him.
“Hard way it is.” He mumbles. Suddenly strong hands grab me around the waist and the next thing I know I’m being thrown over Theo's shoulder.
"Theo!" I scream. "Fucking put me down right now!"
“No, I don’t care what issue you have with me, you’re not driving home tonight, and you’re not staggering around at this time of night. Stop being such a fucking brat!” He shouts.
"Put me down." I try to keep my voice threatening.
"No."
Well, I asked nicely. From where I’m situated across his shoulder I manage to hook my arm around his neck, grabbing my wrist with the other hand I pull back, crushing his windpipe in the crook of my arm.
"Lilly!" He coughs.
I hold it there for a few more seconds. "Put me the fuck down." I keep my voice low. His grip on my thighs loosens. I release his neck and slide down his body until my feet touch the ground.
I straighten my skirt before turning to look at him. He's still coughing and his face is red.
"The next time you speak to me like that, you'll be needing a new windpipe." I growl. I turn and pull open the door of the car, it abruptly slams again. I grit my teeth and take a deep breath. He is seriously testing my patience now.
I turn and glare at him. "You're not driving home." He repeats.
"Really?" I smirk at him.
"Oh come on Lilly. You may have got one up on me when I wasn't expecting it, but we both know you can't take me." He rolls his eyes.
As my anger slowly subsides it gives way to the crippling unfamiliar pain in my chest. I take a deep breath, keeping my voice quiet so that he hopefully won't hear it break. "Please Theo. Just go. I'll be fine. I just need to leave right now."
"Why?" He growls.
"Because you're an arsehole!" I shout. Hello again anger, nice to see you rather than that bitch self-pity.
"Really Lilly?" He says through gritted teeth.
There is a long silence. "Because I can't be this close to you right now. Happy?!" I only hear him take a sharp breath. Fuck, I'm pathetic. He's fucking done this to me. I vowed this would never happen to me. I despise myself right now.
"Lilly...you have it all wrong..."
"Please Theo..." I beg. "Please just let me go." I whisper the words as my chest tightens.
"I..." He struggles.
"Please." I close my eyes, trying to force back my instincts to kiss him, to want to be near him, even as self-loathing invades every cell in my body.
"I'll give you what you want. I'll let you go Lilly. But you are not driving. I'll take you wherever you want to go." His words are hushed.
"Ugh! Please just leave." The pain in his eyes is too much to bare. I can't look at him. He opens the passenger door, waiting.
"Please Lilly." His voice is gentle and in the dim glow from the interior light I can see his broken expression.
"Fine." I climb in, fed up of fighting with him. We'll be out here all night at this rate.
We sit in silence as he winds his way around the streets of London. There's that usual energy between us that thrums through the small space in the car. I try very hard to ignore it, but it's difficult.
"You were wrong earlier." He says quietly. I say nothing. "It's not that I don't want to be seen with you Lilly. I don't want you to be seen with me."
"Theo, its fine. You don't have to explain. You need to be seen with the right people. I understand." I say calmly. The anxiety is clawing at me and I try to force it away. This will be fine. Better I do it sooner than later. I just need to summon the courage to deny my hopeless addiction to him, that's all it is, it's a chemical reaction. My body craves his, but it's just sex.
"Lilly..." He barks.
"It was just sex, I don't care." I stare out of the window at the passing blackness.