Drowning With You

CH. 20 ❄️

WINTER'S POV

It's now a Saturday morning, which means I am heading to the library basement for my weekly hell appointment.

I'm there a minute early, just in case somehow someone finds out I was late and makes this punishment even worse. Stupid, considering Louie is always late and nobody notices.

This punishment though... It's starting to become something I look forward to. I almost like being forced to work together.

I sit at my normal spot, waiting for the consistently late Louie—who shows up seven minutes late. Not that I'm counting or anything.

Her hair is frizzy as usual, although today she has makeup on her eyes. Her waterline is darkly covered, and mascara coats her eyelashes. Her baggy jeans and tank top show her nice hourglass figure and it reminds me of when I held her waist and ran my fingers down her body.

Goodness, I need to get a hold of myself.

Her book is already out, and she sits on her desk as usual, silent and calm. I wish I could touch her again. We're all alone, alone for the next five hours. We don't ever need to talk about it again, we can just have our fun—wait, does she even want me? We kissed and she kissed me too, but then she stopped us and acted as if it was nothing. That means she doesn't want me, right?

I'm being delusional... because why would I want a woman? Let alone Louie Monroe? How did this even happen? I'm not that type of person. I thought...

Besides, this is a pointless rumination considering I should be focusing on my schoolwork and swimming. I can't lose myself to this—whatever it may be.

But what if I tell her what I want? That I want the simple touch—nothing more, nothing less. I just want to kiss her, run my fingers down her body, just touch her.

So instead of saying this to her, I say, "don't ever tell anybody what happened," because of course I am not telling this girl what I want. Saying it makes it real. Too real.

"What did happen?" she asks, putting her book down and looking at me, a small dimple on her cheek forming.

"We—" I pause, realizing she is trying to mess with me. "You know what."

"Hmm... I don't think I do." She stands now, walking towards my seat. I furrow my brows as she nears, hating how my body yearns for her closeness. Her hands meet my desk, leaning her body weight against them—letting her tank top droop enough to show the tops of her breasts.

"I—Whatever," I stutter out, looking down at my hands so I don't look up at her chest.

"I don't think it's just whatever. I think... You know exactly what happened. I think it's been replaying in your mind for much longer than you wish it would." Louie leans in, taunting me for reasons unknown.

Her eyes stay on mine, a small glimmer shining within.

"Don't. Tell. Anybody," I say again, but my body betrays me, and I lean in, inches away from her face. "Not a word."

Her gaze dips to my lips, then back to my eyes. "Maybe."

Then her lips meet mine and I don't freeze—not when I've been wanting this for far too long. I've missed it. She grabs the sides of my face and I grab her neck, pulling her in.

"Remember when you agreed to one relaxing thing each week?" she asks, not waiting for an answer before her lips are on my neck, sucking and nibbling.

"Louie..." I let out a whimper, no room in my mind to feel embarrassed.

"Winter," she says against my skin, reminding me that she is here. With me. She stops and I gasp at the loss, but she quickly pulls me off the chair I had been sitting on and places me on the desk, higher up and much more accessible now.