Adeline
Leaning against the bathroom door, Jayden stares at me without a word, as if the very act of forcing his way into the room was not part of his plan. His breath is short and his eyebrows are furrowed as he silently scrutinizes me, and I struggle not to feel unsettled by his presence. His imposing build, his erratic breathing, his intense gaze and the confidence he exudes... But his posture remains defensive, and it seems as if he is struggling with himself, trying to decide if he did the right thing by coming here.
"Get out of here!" I hiss at him without even cracking a smile. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him, doing my best to hide the emotions he stirs in me. There is a long silence after my request and I raise my eyebrows to let him know that he is far from welcome here.
"I had to talk to you," he says, nervously running a hand through his hair, causing several strands to rebel. He is no longer wearing his cap, and the sight of his unruly mane sends a multitude of little butterflies into my stomach... Do not be distracted.
"In a bathroom?" I ask, a bit sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, Adeline," he blurts out without any preamble.
"For entering without my permission?"
He smiles slightly, knowing that I will not make it easy for him. And he is not wrong, because right now I want him to leave, him and everything he makes me feel right now. Jealousy. Frustration. Anger. Anxiety. And worse... An excitement that I cannot seem to suppress.
"Yes, especially for Esther," he says.
Ah. I had almost forgotten...
He locks his eyes with mine and the atmosphere around us becomes electric. I remain silent as he slowly approaches me.
"What were you thinking?" I ask with a choked voice. "You weren't making my life miserable enough, and you had to hook up with one of my friends..."
"I'm sorry," he repeats, stopping just a few inches from me.
"Apology denied," I snap. "You can leave the room now."
With my arms still pressed to my chest, I try to block my breath as much as possible, preventing my nostrils from inhaling the scent of his perfume.
"Please, at least let me defend myself," he pleads.
My silence is my only response, and he takes a few steps back, putting some distance between us.
"I screwed up, okay?" he adds, making me roll my eyes.
"How perceptive of you, Einstein."
"Adeline..." he exhales, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Look, I can never erase what happened with your friend. I know that, but I really wanted you to know that I regret it."
He does not take his eyes off me, and I find it hard to hold his gaze. A little nervous, I back up a little and lean against the sink. I grab the edge with my hands, trying to steady myself.
"I had a lot to drink, she didn't let go of me all night, it was inevitable," he explains before I have a chance to judge.
"She loves you," I tell him.
"I know," he admits weakly. "I swear I did not want this to happen."
"That's the problem with you, Jayden. You have no idea what you are doing to the people around you."
He shakes his head vigorously and takes several steps in my direction again.
"You can't blame me for wanting to have some fun," he replies more firmly. "Your girlfriend knew I was not looking for anything serious, and she took advantage of my weakness that night."
YOU ARE READING
Despicable Desires
Romance"He is her despicable half-brother. And he drives her mad... For years, he has returned to the family home only on rare occasions, and that suits Ambre just fine. The less she sees of her obnoxious half-brother, the better off she is! So when she le...
