Destroy me

21 - Niahm - a new conclusion

It wasn't awkward. It felt right. And that was awkward.

We lay silently together. I had my head on his chest and his arm was firmly around me.

It must've been ten minutes since we came together, kissing and panting each others names, when he spoke.

"I wasn't sure you'd follow me."

"Why?"

"You've seemed distant since our tryst in the pool house."

I had been distant. Probably for not the reason he thought. It had been so intimate. More than our other moments had been together.

"It was different."

"It was, but was it a good different?"

"The experience, yes. But it was so..." I couldn't finish.

"Different?" He chuckled as he spoke and I nodded against his chest.

"And what about now?"

I looked up and met his eyes.

"Now is different too."

I quickly turned and propped myself up on my elbow to look at him better.

"What did my dad want?"

He looked away then back at me, "The original deal proposal wasn't enough for these guys, hence the attack on the house. So we're planning a party."

I frowned confused.

"It's my dad's idea," he explained before I could asked, "they're going to offer a new deal."

"What deal?"

"I have no idea." He answered too quickly.

"Ok, who's Jessica?" I tested in a whisper, but he sat up and turned from me.

"Niamh, don't. Come on," he turned to look at me, "We've had a nice evening, why would you ask that?! We've been though this."

"But after the other day!" I countered.

He sat up straight to look at me and he looked venomous.

"What? Because I fucked your ass I have to tell you everything about my past relationships? I told you I will not barter for information. Besides, you didn't do that with me because you wanted information you did it because you wanted me. So get off your high-fucking-horse and stop asking me about her!"

I pulled the sheet up to cover my chest, "Why won't you tell me about her?"

"Why should I? Do you want to know what she was to me?" I nodded, he sighed furiously, "I went to school with her, she's two years younger than me, we dated in school.
Our fathers then had this idea we should get married, it would be good for the family," he spat.

"So, I proposed. Then about a month before the wedding I turned twenty, it was also my bachelor party and I freaked out and called it off. I didn't love her, I never did. I wanted her. She was beautiful, sexy, funny, smart, but I didn't love her. Our family's haven't really got along since. She had me kidnapped when I was 22, then I was beaten, stabbed, burnt and water-boarded - twice. Then she sent me a letter saying she was sorry and we should get back together.
I wasn't convinced, funnily enough, and it's never really been the story I bring up at parties since Niamh. So fucking forgive me if some 18-year-old girl prying into, what could be considered under most 'normal' circumstances as, an uncomfortable memory to me is not  my idea of a great after-sex conversation!"

I stunned, silent and completely at odds what to do or say next.

I went to apologise when he cut me off, "And don't say you are fucking sorry, because you're not. You're not sorry because you got what you wanted, you're sorry because I wasn't all to happy to tell you and I didn't smile and serenade you my life story. You're sorry because I'm pissed off. You're sorry because you couldn't help yourself asking."

"I'm sorry I ruined this evening. It was nice." I said as I turned to get out of the bed.

"Niamh, " he sighed, "Come to my club with me this weekend, we can have dinner, if you want to that is?"

I was instantly confused by his offer. "But I thought..."

"What? We can't have an argument without this," he gestured between us, "being over?"

I shrugged and he pulled me back on to the bed and had me pinned, "You Niamh," he said leaning over me, "are the most infuriating person I have ever met, you are going to be the death of me."

He smiled and planted a, surprisingly, chaste kiss on my lips.