Sweet Consumption

Chapter 7

         A pounding in my head is what wakes me. I sit up in the bath and realize I must have been dozing, because the water has become cool and most of the bubbles have faded into the bath to make it a murky color. Sasha left earlier with the promise that I would call her if I needed anything. I decided then that a nice hot bath was just what I needed. 

A knock sounds on my front door and I suddenly realize the pounding was not in my head. I watched the reporters leave shortly before Sasha, so this must be my mother coming over to make sure I'm alright. Sasha made me call her after I hung up with Collin and although I tried to assure her I didn't need her to come over, she must have decided to do it anyway. 

I step out of the bathtub and begin to dry off. My mother knocks again and I know at any moment she will enlist Mr. Hooper again to unlock the door. 

"Olivia, open the door." I straighten abruptly at the voice, which did not sound like my mother's at all. It was smooth, deep, and sexy. I look at the clock and notice that two hours have gone by since I last spoke to him. 

"Olivia, please open the door. We need to talk about this." I take my time putting on my clothes. I need to get my thoughts in some semblance of order before I open the door. What was he doing here? Hadn't I been put through the ringer enough? Now he had to question me in person? Maybe he thought I really was trying to get some press with this and came over to confront me! That jerk! I thought we had really connected before the reporters showed up and now he thought I was some glory seeking harlot! Well, he was about to get a big wake up call! 

I stomp through the living room and throw open the door to Collin, who looks as disheveled as I've ever seen him. His hair is a mess, like he'd put his hands through it multiple times, and his t-shirt is half untucked from his jeans. 

"Olivia, I'm so sorry. For all of this! Carl should have never said any of that to you or asked you any of those questions. I threatened to fire him, so he's going to make a public apology to you once he ensures none of that trash gets out to the press." He breathing is labored and speaks quickly while he stands in my doorway, with one hand on the wall to brace himself.

Sasha's head peeks out from behind her door, but I shake my head and she softly closes it, giving us the privacy we need. All of the anger has drained out of me. It wasn't his fault the reporters came here, or even the accident itself. He rushed over to make sure I was okay and my heart swells a little in response.  

"Is John not with you?" I ask and his shoulders visibly relax when I don't immediately slam the door in his face.

"He's down in the car." 

I open my door a little wider to allow him entrance and walk to the window to peer down. I see the black town car outside and it's immaculate as ever. 

"Did John fix the car already?" I ask, thinking no repair shop could get it done that fast. Unless, of course, you were Collin Harper. My mind is still reeling over the fact that he's here. In order to keep my heart rate down, I need to focus on anything that will keep me from bursting out of my skin. Having him near me again is doing things to my body that I couldn't prepare for and I hoped that by keeping some distance between us, I wouldn't immediately throw myself in his arms. 

I turn around to see that Collin has followed me in and shut the door. His gaze travels slowly over my body and I suddenly realize what I'm wearing. I have no bra, in a fitted tank top and jersey shorts with my hair wet from my bath. I cross my arms over my chest, causing him to startle and whip his head up, his heated eyes catching mine. He realizes that I've caught him in his ogling, so he turns a slight pink and runs a hand through his hair.