My Toxin

Chapter 7

The week that followed the debate was excruciating. Marjorie's request for space left me floundering in a void, and each passing day without her felt like a punishment. To distract myself, I threw everything into my studies, spending hours in the library poring over my Business Economics coursework. I pushed my body to its limits at the gym, working out until exhaustion numbed my thoughts. When I wasn't studying or sweating out my frustrations, I buried myself in video games with Tyreece and Tyrell. Their loud banter and competitive jabs were a welcome escape from the gnawing emptiness Marjorie had left behind.

But avoiding her was harder than I'd imagined. Even without shared classes, I found myself lingering near her lecture halls, catching fleeting glimpses of her through open doors. I knew her schedule by heart, and each sighting only intensified my longing.

To make matters worse, Marjorie had started dressing differently. Her wardrobe shifted to include shorter skirts, crop tops, and figure-hugging outfits. She was breathtaking, but the attention she drew from other men stoked a fire of jealousy within me. I told myself I respected her need for space, but every time I saw someone else staring at her, it felt like a slap to the face.

Then, one afternoon, I saw something that snapped the fragile thread of my self-control. Marjorie stood outside the main entrance of my apartment building, locked in what looked like an embrace with another man. They were close—too close. His hands rested lightly on her waist, and their faces hovered inches apart, as if about to kiss.

A red haze descended over my vision. I didn't think. I acted.

In an instant, I was sprinting across the pavement, my heart pounding in my chest. I grabbed the man by the collar and yanked him away from her, tackling him to the ground. My fists rained down, fuelled by blind rage.

"Alex, stop!" Marjorie screamed, her voice sharp and desperate.

Before I could deliver another blow, two apartment staff members arrived, pulling me off him. Their hands on my shoulders felt like weights trying to ground me, but the anger roaring in my chest refused to be subdued.

Ignoring their attempts to calm me, I turned back to Marjorie, who was shouting my name. In one swift motion, I lifted her over my shoulder and carried her up the stairs. Her fists pounded against my back, her voice echoing in the stairwell, but I was deaf to it all.

I kicked my apartment door open and slammed it shut behind us. Pinning her against the door, I stared into her wide eyes. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath, and I couldn't tell if the emotion in her gaze was fear, anger, or something else entirely.

"Alex, what the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

"What's wrong with me?" I snarled, my voice low. "What were you doing with him, Marjorie?"

"He's just a friend!" she shouted, trying to push me away.

"A friend who was about to kiss you?" I snapped, my grip tightening on her arms.

Her eyes flashed with defiance. "You don't own me, Alex! You have no right to act like this."

Her words struck me, and my anger faltered. A wave of helplessness crashed over me, raw and consuming. "I saw you with him, Marjorie. You were so close... I thought—"

"You thought wrong," she interrupted, her voice softening slightly. "But that doesn't excuse this behaviour."

I released her, stepping back as the reality of my actions hit me. "I just... I can't stand the thought of you with someone else," I admitted, my voice breaking. "It drives me insane."

Her gaze softened for a moment, but then something shifted. Her lips curled into the faintest of smirks. There was a glint in her eyes—amusement? Excitement?

"Did you set this up?" I asked, the question spilling out before I could stop it. "Were you trying to get a reaction out of me?"

She tilted her head, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "You're delusional," she said, but there was no malice in her tone.

I stepped closer, gently grabbing her by the neck and tilting her face up to meet my gaze. "So the wardrobe change wasn't meant to provoke me? Nearly kissing someone outside my flat wasn't a ploy to get a rise out of me?"

Her breath hitched, but the defiance in her eyes remained. The tension between us was thick, a tangible force pulling us together.

"Marjorie," I whispered, my voice cracking with desperation. "I need you."

Before she could respond, I pressed my lips to hers. It wasn't gentle. It was messy, urgent, filled with all the emotions I'd been holding back. Her body stiffened for a moment, but then she melted into me, her hands tangling in my hair as she kissed me back with equal fervour.

I lifted her by the thighs, wrapping her legs around my waist, never breaking the kiss as I carried her to my bedroom. Sitting down with her straddling my lap, I let her take the lead, her confidence growing with every movement.

Her lips left mine to press urgent kisses along my jawline, her breath hot against my skin. "Are you sure, princess?" I whispered, searching her eyes for any hesitation.

"Yes," she breathed, her voice filled with determination.

Her movements grew bolder, and I let her explore, her inexperience endearing in a way that made my chest ache. As she ground against me, her moans filled the room, driving me to the edge of reason.

"You're doing so well," I murmured, my hands guiding her rhythm. "Just let go, princess."

Her body tensed, her moans turning into gasps as she reached her peak. The sight of her coming undone in my arms was my undoing, and I followed her into bliss.

Later, as we lay tangled in each other's arms, the weight of what had just happened settled over us. Marjorie's cheeks flushed as she tried to find the words.

"That was... I've never..." she began, but I silenced her with a kiss on her forehead.

"I know," I said softly. "You were perfect."

She looked at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I don't know, Alex. You're my first. Maybe I need to find someone else to compare you to."

Her teasing tone made my stomach drop, and I shot her a glare. But her soft laughter eased my nerves.

Marjorie had the power to destroy me and put me back together again, and I realised, with a resigned sense of inevitability, that I would let her. Every time.