Still in Love With You.

Chapter Eight - The Sting of Betrayal.

Gabriel Sommers...

Being with Roxanna was almost like second nature. Kissing her as instinctual as looking both ways before crossing the road. Touching her was as familiar as breathing. And fucking her as natural as a wolf howling at the moon. My muscles seemed to remember the way she liked it. My body made to please her in any way that she demanded. And she didn't need to demand with her words because it was as if we were on the same wavelength, as it had always been with her, it was almost as if we could read one another's minds.

Guilt gnawed at my senses.

Lost in the haze of finally having her beneath me once again, it was easy to forget everything and everyone else but now that there was all this cold space between us, I felt like a bastard.

I had never cheated on anyone before. It was not my style. The type of games that came from being dishonest and disloyal never appealed to me. Not until her.

Roxanna Orion was my kryptonite. I was powerless around her and that was clearly a dangerous place to be. I couldn't afford to be left alone around her again. We had to keep our distance. I had to remember that Beth was my girl now.

Beth.

I had betrayed her in the worst way possible and it stung. It slithered through me like a poison stealing away the buzz of finally having Roxanna again and that made me mad. I didn't want to forget what we just shared. I didn't want to push her away but I knew that I had to. I had to make her hate me because I was not strong enough to stay away on my own. That was abundantly clear to me now.

"I think that this should go without saying but on the off chance that you are expecting a repeat, this never happened-" I didn't look at her as I spoke because I feared my resolve would weaken.

"Oh my God, will you get over yourself!? It was sex. It happened. I am not some air-headed bimbo who can't read a situation!" She snapped at me.

"I'm just ensuring that you understand it was nothing more-"

"World newsflash Gabriel – my world does not revolve around you and whether or not we will have a repeat of some weak moment. I have more going on in my life than you will ever understand, so I don't need the drama of a man pulling me even further down. So, as I said, get the fuck over yourself!" She spat at me, turning away from me to look out of the passenger window.

What did she have going on that she felt like she was being pulled down?

I hated that I was so out of touch with her life. With her. But what could I do?

Roxanna had made her decision when she walked away from me all those years ago. I just had to find a way to ensure that distance remained between us and I cringed as I geared myself to spit the next words out of my mouth. Reminding myself I was doing this for Beth because she was my girlfriend now.

"Yeah, well I remember how clingy you can be, so I am just making sure!"

Roxanna didn't say anything for a really long time. In fact, we were pulling into my parking space at the hotel before she turned to me, eyes full of tears that she was beating back with sheer determination, it would be impressive if I didn't feel like a massive dick.

"Fuck all the way off Gabriel Sommers. Stay the fuck away from me!" And she didn't even wait for a reply as she kicked my truck door open and jumped down from the passenger seat and stalked away from me, those sinful hips of hers swaying like a damn hypnotist's pendulum.

Dropping my head onto the steering wheel and letting out a roar not caring who heard me. My life has been peaceful and drama-free. I had a routine and a girl who loved me. Not even two days in the company of my ex and I was back on my knees and facing all the drama that I fought so hard to avoid.