Torrid Affair(28)

I was playing with fire but it felt too good to stop.



When I strolled back to the room, Julian was sitting on the edge of my bed, his head hung low. “Hi,” he whispered.

“I'll let you two talk.” Delaney pushed off her bed and grabbed her toiletry bag.

He waited until Delaney was out of the room before he spoke.

“Brie . . .” Julian’s voice was hoarse. “I’m so sorry I overreacted. I don’t know what came over me. I should have never left you there. You know this isn’t me.”

Placing my stuff back in the drawer, I cleared my throat. “Julian, you can’t act the way you did last night and then think you can come here and all will be forgotten.”

“I know.” He nodded. “I’m sorry, Brie.” When I didn’t respond, he rushed to my side. His hands framed my face. “I’m so sorry. I was a shitty friend.”

I was so ready to yell and scream at Julian, but was I any better? I almost kissed Nate. If I hadn’t puked I couldn’t say that nothing would’ve happened. He can be a better man but can I be a better girlfriend? I shook my head, not wanting to hear the thoughts in my head or his apology.

“Julian, I have exams coming up and then Christmas break. I think maybe we jumped into this friendship. Maybe we should let the dust settle.”

“Brie, I’m so—”

“I know you’re sorry, Julian. I need a little bit of time, okay?”

I noticed his Adam’s apple bob. “Yeah.” He bowed his head. “I can give you time.” He pulled me toward him and hugged me once again. I felt him fill his lungs with air one last time before he let me go.

I stood there in the middle of my dorm room, my hair still wet from my shower and my heart filled with emotion, none that I wanted to analyze at the moment. I wanted to get this semester over and done with, and start the new year on a different foot. The following semester I wouldn’t have a class with Nate, so he wouldn’t be a distraction.

Six weeks without Nate would help.





Chapter 10





Nathaniel


There are things in life that are out of your control. My father leaving me. The foster families I was tossed around from. Everything was out of my control.

Including what I felt for Brielle.

The feelings I had for her had a mind of their own. It was as though they had their own blood supply, and regardless of how many times I tried to shut it down, I could never find the source. Each time my heart beat, it fed them, forcing them to grow. It didn't matter how hard I tried to forget her. It didn't matter how many times I tried to focus on Delaney.

All I wanted was Brielle.

It was the way she smiled. When I made her laugh and she bowed her face, a small grin grew across her lips as she gazed up at me through her lashes. I walked around aimlessly trying to make her laugh. It was the way her cheeks flushed when she was frustrated. The way her lips puckered when she was amused. The way she looked at me.

How she teased me and slapped my arms when I said something inappropriate, or she tried to push me away by slamming her delicate hands on my chest.

It was the soft glances she gave me while the professor was discussing some building.

The way she bit her lower lip while she sketched that building.

I was done for.

She had cast her line with the most delectable bait possible.

Hook. Line. Sinker.

I was a fucking goner.

I tried to stay away. I tried to repeat to myself constantly that she was with Julian, my goddamn brother. Julian loved her. I couldn't blame him. I was dating her best friend, and her best friend loved me.

It was out of my control.

And things only got worse after our Christmas bash.

I had lost the bet, so I was forced to dress like Sexy Santa. I knew this would be a problem for Delaney, but a bet was a bet and this party was a tradition.

Our small house filled with our friends and their friends—people I’d never seen before. I made my way through the crowd and said hello to a few buddies, but every time the door opened, I looked for her.

I knew she was coming. I knew my brother was coming with her. And hell, my girlfriend would be there, too. But the need to see Brielle drove me mad.

I strolled into the kitchen and grabbed a beer. It was a mild December so the party had been pushed outside. Taking a swig of my beer, I made another lap to say hi to people I’d never seen before. I did anything to keep my sanity.

Stu stumbled over to me as I made my way to the beer pong table. He had a bottle of Patron in his hand and a cocky smile on his face.

“Dude,” he slurred. “Take a shot.”

“Nah, man, I'm good.” I lifted my beer and took another swig.

“You're supposed to be fun, not an ass.”

“You don't want me to get fucked up before the party even starts, do you?”