After the Sun Sets (18+)

CHAPTER 15 - Isolation

Owen watched as she made her way towards him. She seemed to be making herself smaller with every step. Her fingers brushed through her hair. She bit her nails and hugged her jacket tightly. Her eyes scanned the parking lot warily. She was anxious. Of course, she was anxious. He knew she would be. He knew she would regret everything in the morning because this wasn't in her nature. She told him so many times and yet, he couldn't stay away from her.

When she reached him, he fought the urge to kiss where the corners of her mouth dipped downwards. "Is everything alright?"

"Mhmm," she replied avoiding his eyes. "You didn't have to wait for me."

He almost laughed in her face. If only he had that option.

"It's no trouble. Why did you park all the way up in C? There's a spot right there," he said pointing at a free parking space just a few meters away.

Lora shifted uncomfortably and he saw her answer in her restless, brown eyes. If he didn't know her so well, it would have angered him. The shame. The guilt she kept bottled up. He sighed softly.

"Lora, I don't think there is anything suspicious about your car being parked next to my car. In fact, I think it would be a privilege. I bet a lot of the cars here would like to be next to my car."

Lora finally looked up at him, brows drawn together in confusion.

"It's a very attractive car!" he explained, his boyish grin making an appearance. "It's clean. It's fully insured, sensible. It's quite the catch, really."

"This isn't funny, Owen," Lora glared at him before walking away briskly.

He groaned and followed her. Her leg twitched impatiently as they waited for the lift to arrive and her jacket slid over her shoulder revealing the massive, fabricated stain on her blouse. Owen flicked at it with his fingers.

"Don't you think this is a bit extreme?"

Lora slapped his hand away and quickly drew up her jacket to cover her blouse. "No! It is a well-devised plan that is absolutely necessary after I let you convince me to sleep over. What was I thinking?"

He stepped directly in front of her so that she was forced to look into his eyes. "We showered and fell asleep. It was three in the morning when you woke up and wanted to drive back to an empty house!"

"I'm a big girl, Owen. I'm not afraid of an empty house," she replied jabbing the elevator button again.

"I am not saying that you're afraid. I'm saying that it was pretty futile at that point."

Lora rolled her eyes and pouted and it was all Owen could do not to nibble on her lower lip.

"And you would be right if only I didn't wake up this morning to realise that I didn't have any fresh clothes with me."

"I offered to drive you to your house before coming here."

"How many times do we have to go through this?" Lora sighed almost jumping with exasperation. "It is not about the drive! What if someone saw me running back to my house at six in the morning only to come out wearing something different ten minutes later? Or is that not suspicious either, Dr Shaw?"

"Fine. Bring clothes with you next time. I'll even clear a drawer for you if you want. Jesus, you're so needy!" he added grinning at the horrified look on her face.

It worked. Lora finally gave in and her laughter rang around the four chambers of his heart. If only she knew how irresistible she was when she laughed. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her forehead.

"What are you doing?" she gasped pulling away instantly.

"Lora, will you relax? No one is here."

At that moment, the doors opened revealing an empty elevator. Lora sighed a breath of relief and rested a palm on her heart. "What if Mike was in there? Or Cara or Ness? They would have seen us!"