Desire me - the third novel ****editing

Chapter 24- unwavering

Ross' POV
Past tense
March

The problem with myself and Taylor is that we have unspoken expectations of our relationship. My expectations I fear exceed hers. I've waited for her by my car for twenty minutes, and I've considered the different scenarios of where she might be. And not particularly enjoyed any one of them.

Climbing into the Aston and turning the key I half expect to see her walking through the trees from dance and rushing to me. However that does not happen and so I put my car into drive, in the now empty parking lot, noticing that both Matthew's and Jay's cars have already left and assume that she's with either of them instead of me.

Deciding to put the radio on to muffle the silence of my car, I go through all of the interactions I've witnessed her have with Jay. All of the times he has touched her, or held her stare and I try to work out what it could all possibly mean. I was under the impression that she didn't like him, but now after careful thought and consideration I realise that she may be feeling the exact opposite.

My empty house looms over me as I park up, and in all honesty it's never felt more lonely than it does in this moment. I have wild thoughts of driving my car back out to Matthew's or Jay's apartment and demanding an explanation from her. But I don't. Instead I carefully climb out of my car, head into my barren home that used to be filled with her laughter and her rambling conversations.

With Taylor I feel personally responsible for her wellbeing more so than any of my female friends, it does not help that I am madly in love with her. No communication from her is a bad sign, it tells me that she made a decision on a whim. She took somebodies hand instead of mine, surely she's aware that I would wait for her. And that I would worry myself silly about her.

Rachel messages me about the party later that I had assumed I would be taking Taylor too. Sighing I pull out my smoking stuff and roll up before messaging her back. Take a long draw on the funny cigarette imagining all of the things she would say to me, and how we would share the smoke. I finish it entirely on my own before messaging Rachel to tell her that I'll be there, there's a chance after all that Taylor may arrive with whomever she took a ride home with. And then at the very least I will be able to see that she is safe.

Pacing up the wooden staircase, it's unlike me to go into her room when she's not around but I take a few steps over to her wardrobe and notice that everything is still in place. It does not appear that she has taken clothes or packed up any of her belongings and so I breathe out. Eyeing the dress that she wore to the party that I escorted her too. Placing sapphires around her neck and holding her body all night long.

True to form Matthew had to cause a drama. Not once, when he was seeing her did I cause her or him any problems. Out of respect of her feelings, I was just there. Matthew however, acting like what one can only describe as a spoilt childish idiot had to cause a scene. Reducing her to tears, crying all the way home in a taxi. That night I had helped her up to her bed, she had clung to me as I sat on the side of the duvet. And so I had held her all night long in my arms. He's unimaginable, causing so much aggravation, with no regard for her.

Watching her as she slept with a small frown on her face, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair back as the moon shone through onto her. She had told me that she was the problem, that she blames herself for almost everything that happened between them. That she was not worth a thing. And it had broken me, she is vulnerable.

And so, I would not blame her for falling into the arms of Jay Gilbert Scott. After all his absolute speciality is preying on woman who are feeling insecure. I long to rescue her from his clutches. I long to hold her and keep her safe from men that do not deserve her.