Torrid Affair (14 page)

L
ove made
you do stupid things. I never really understood overpowering love. I believed that in the past twenty years I had experienced love, but clearly I was wrong. What I experienced in the past was lust. I wasn't in love with Nathaniel, I was obsessed with him, and obsession made you do crazy things.

It hurt less if I thought that.

Hours after Delaney dropped her bomb on me, it was as if a switch had flipped off in my brain. I wanted revenge on Nate.

Surprisingly, when I powered up my cell phone, Nate finally greeted me with messages. Lots of messages. And voicemails that blew up my inbox.

I ignored every single one.

I was a fool for letting a man like him in my heart. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

I showered, dressed, and went for a drive to clear my mind. I left Delaney sleeping in her bed.
Clearly he had tired her out.
My blood boiled with rage at the thought of them together, and I pushed harder on the accelerator as I travelled the highways.

I drove out of North Carolina, crossed into South Carolina, and was almost at the border of Georgia before I turned around. I didn't arrive back to the dorm until much later that night. Again my phone was filled with messages from Nathaniel but I refused to read them.

Four days passed and I continued to ignore him. It was Thursday night and I had made plans to watch a movie with Julian. I figured a distraction was better than sulking around my dorm, so I showed up at his door with a pizza and a six-pack of beer. We were halfway through the first
Terminator
movie when his phone began to buzz.

“Hey, bro,” he answered. Julian's gaze met mine and his eyebrows furrowed.
Nathaniel?

“Yeah, I'm looking at her right now.”

That asshole had the nerve to ask his brother about me.

“All right, I'll let her know. I'll catch you later.” Julian tossed his phone on the bed.

He asked me to tell you he needs your help with biology. For you to call him when you're done here.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as rage climbed up my spine.
Who did he think he was?
He didn't need help. I was just a pawn in his bag of tricks. I gave him what he wanted and now, because I was ignoring him, I became the shiny toy he wanted to play with again. My grandmother used to say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Revenge.

Karma.

A dose of his own medicine.

I was three beers in and slightly buzzed when I looked over at Julian and asked for something stronger. “I think Edwin has a bottle of cheap vodka somewhere.”

That'd do.
Julian handed me a plastic cup filled with vodka. I chugged back the liquid that tasted like rubbing alcohol. Julian took a few swigs. It was nearing midnight and if I knew Nathaniel as well as I thought I did, he would be doing a drive-by to see if I was still at Julian's place. Or at least, that's what I hoped for.

I wasn’t proud of how I used Julian. It was wrong, considering I knew what he felt for me, but when the credits began to scroll on the TV screen I sat on I'm Julian's lap and began to kiss him. It wasn't a loving kiss; it was a hungry get-the-picture-I-need-you-to-sleep-with-me-so-I-can-make-your-brother-hurt-like-I-do kind of kiss.

S
omething was off with Brie
. I had spent most of the week trying to get in contact with her. I’d been sick as a dog and missed all her texts and messages and it didn’t help that I dropped my phone in the sink and was unable to make contact with her for a few days until I was back on my feet. The only message I got was a voicemail asking me to call her back.

She was ignoring my calls, emails and text messages. I was desperate to talk to her, but she blew me off completely. I knew she wouldn’t like me knocking on her door, but I didn't care.

We needed to talk.

I drove past her dorm but didn't spot her car. She wasn't at the library or the dentist’s office, but I did spot her car outside Julian's dorm. A quick call to my brother assured me that she was indeed there with him.

I planned to wait until she left, but when it was close to midnight and she was still in there, I began to panic.

Julian and I were close, but it was rare that I showed up at his place. He preferred to crash at my house since I had more livable space, so knocking on his door without making him suspicious would be nearly impossible. But when Edwin parked his car next to mine, I figured if we were having a conversation it only seemed to fit that I would follow him back to his room.

“Hey, E.” I walked around the car and greeted him with a handshake. “Long time, no see.” Edwin and Julian had been roommates since Julian was a freshman, so Edwin had spent Thanksgiving with us a few times and we frequented the same college parties.

“Moose!” He dragged out the nickname that I had learned to hate because of Brielle. “Bro, I haven't seen you in forever. What's up, man?”

“Nothing, just busy with work. Have you been training? You look good.” I tried to make a quick conversation that would pique his interest.

“I've been off my game recently. Coach wants me to focus, but it's hard laying off the beer.” He ran his hand over his stomach.

I followed him as we ascended the three flights of stairs to their room. He continued to talk about his new regime but my mind was on Brielle.
She wouldn't be able to hide from me any longer.

Edwin spoke about the state championship that was coming up as he slid the key into the door, twisted it and pushed it open. His voice faded as my gaze landed on Brielle. Her body was draped over Julian's, his hands running through her wild hair while she kissed him vigorously.

“Oh, my bad,” Edwin stated.

Brielle pulled away from Julian and her gaze landed on mine. She didn't seem shocked to see me. Instead, she looked at me with hate. Her lips pursed and one eyebrow cocked up as if she was daring me to question her.

I forced myself to look anywhere but at her as I took in the room. Empty beer bottles lay scattered around the table. Brielle stayed on his lap. Though I refused to look at her, I knew her gaze was on me. My skin crawled with anger.

“We'll be back later,” Edwin said, closing the door. “Let you two finish up.” He chuckled, but before the door even closed, I was halfway down the hall.

Rage echoed in my ears. How could she do this? How could she be with me and a week later have her legs wrapped around Julian?

I wasn’t sure how I got on the highway, but I pressed on the accelerator and gripped the steering wheel firmly. I had to forget her. I had to forget what I saw.

I made a sharp right turn and headed for Hollow, a local bar right off campus.

Liquor would help me forget what I saw.

That was a lie.

It would alleviate it . . .
temporarily
. The second the alcohol wore off, I’d go right back to hating her.

Hollow was crowded with tiny tables scattered throughout the dark and dingy hole in the wall. In one corner was a pair of pool tables, the area congested as people waited for the next round, and on the other side of the room an old jukebox cranked out oldies.

I recognized some familiar faces and nodded in their direction as I strode directly toward the bar. I slipped onto a stool and dropped my keys on the counter.

The bartender greeted with me a wide smile. Michelle had been in my history class last semester; we were paired on a group project. She wore black shorts and tight tank top. Her hair was blonde and she had cat-like green eyes. “Hey, stranger.” She placed a napkin on the bar in front of me. “Why the long face?”

I cut straight to the point. “Michelle, I'm not up for the chitchat.  “Can I just get a double scotch, neat?”

“Sorry.” She raised her hands in defeat.

Michelle is cute
, I thought as she poured my drink. I could easily forget Brielle with her. I shook my head, pushed the thought away. Michelle wasn't what I wanted. It didn't matter how hard I tried. Even when I was infuriated, Brielle was what I craved. I tossed my drink back, letting the amber liquid burn.

“Another.”

Michelle raised her eyebrows. She paused as she seemed to contemplate pouring the next shot. I pushed my keys toward her.

“I won't be driving home. So pour another shot . . . please.”

By the fifth drink, I didn’t give a fuck about anything or anyone.
Fuck her.
If that’s who she wanted, he could have her.

“Nathaniel.” I heard my name spoken sweetly as she approached my side.

“What are you doing here, Delaney?” I needed to be alone. I didn’t want to see anyone who reminded me of Brielle.

“Michelle called your girlfriend when she noticed how much alcohol you consumed in such a short span of time.” She lowered her lips to my ear. “Apparently, not everybody knows what a douchebag you are. Breaking up with your girl the day before Christmas is pretty assholish, if you ask me.”

I sighed and rested my head on the cool wooden bar top. “I'm sorry, Del.” It was yet another thing I’d done to be with Brielle. But in the end, it had all backfired.  “It was fucked up of me. You were always good to me,” I slurred.  

Delaney laughed and slid onto the stool next to me. “You must be really drunk if you're apologizing.”

I nodded and for the first time looked over at her. Her makeup was freshly done, and her long black hair was pin straight. Her hand brushed across my cheek.

“So, what has you drinking like a fish?”

“Nothing.” I pulled away from her touch and looked over at Michelle. “Happy you called me a ride home? Can I have my drink now?” From the corner of my eye, I noticed Delaney nod.

I downed another drink and turned to face Delaney. “You want to get out of here?” It was the stupidest thing to do, but I was in no shape to make wise decisions.

“Are you asking me . . .” A smile widened on her face.  

“Don't play coy, Del. It doesn’t suit you.  By the way you're dressed, I know you didn't come here to save me. I know when your lips are red with
that
lipstick, it means you're horny. So I'm asking you again, you want to get out of here and fuck?”

“Wow.” She paused and studied my face. “Something has you all twisted, huh?” She inched closer to me. “Are you having girl problems, Moosey?”

“It’s a simple question, Del.”

She looked over at Michelle. They exchanged a few words and Delaney slipped her my credit card. “Let's go.” Her lips puckered and she handed me my wallet.

I didn't make it out of the bar. Instead, I held Delaney’s hand and dragged her into the bathroom. It wasn't what I wanted, but it was what I needed. She would make me forget Brielle, even if it was only for a moment.

I pressed her against the door and locked it, kissing her like a savage, desperate to escape reality.

Delaney moaned and whimpered as I pressed my erection against her. She was all too eager, her hands sliding between us and gripping my cock through my jeans.  

I moved her to the sink. “Turn around.”

Delaney rested her hands on the sink and pushed her ass toward me. Lifting her skirt, I admired the lace strip that slipped into her ass crack. When we first started dating, I told her they were my favorite. I unbuttoned my jeans and pulled out my cock, stroking until it was fully erect. My fingers curled around her thong and pulled it to the side as Delaney bent forward, giving me access to her already wet pussy. Our eyes locked in the mirror and I pushed deep inside, ignoring the banging on the door as I continued to thrust harder and faster.

“Hold on, baby,” I grunted. “This is going to be quick.” Delaney rested her hands against the mirror and pushed back on my cock.  

This was how I would forget Brielle. You forgot one woman by burying yourself in another.

Ignoring everything Delaney was moaning, I pulled out and came on her ass. It wasn’t nearly as satisfying as it was with Brielle.
Nothing would be as good as her.
Delaney looked at me through the mirror. “That's all you got?”

I shook my head. “That's just the beginning.”

My alcohol daze gut-punched me when I walked outside into the fresh air and I stumbled to Delaney's car. She opened the passenger door for me and I sank in.

That was the last thing I remembered.

* * *

T
he following morning
, I woke up to a throbbing headache. I turned to the other side of my bed and noticed I wasn't alone. Delaney was curled up next to me, and I wasn’t wearing anything.

Fuck.

“Morning.” She greeted me with a smile.

Mentally, I cursed myself. What the fuck had I done? “Morning.” My voice was hoarse. “You spent the night?”

“Yes, silly.” She kissed my bare chest. “You couldn't keep your hands off me. At one point I thought I’d have to pull over since you kept trying to take my clothes off in the car.” She giggled. I swallowed back and prayed my nausea would subside. “I must say, Nate, even when we were together you never made love to me like that.” Her stare lingered on mine.  “It was as though you couldn't get enough.”

It wasn't that I couldn't get enough of her. It was that I was trying to forget her best friend.

“I'm sorry. I tried to pull free from her. “I shouldn't have.”

“There's no need to apologize.” She shook her head. “I'm not asking for you to come back to me, Nathaniel. It was a fun night. If you want to have some more fun, call me later.” She kicked the covers off her naked body and strolled across the room to where her clothes had been left on the floor. She slid her skirt up her legs and pulled her shirt over her head.

Delaney walked back to my bed and kissed me on the cheek. “If you find my thong, keep it. I think you tore it to pieces anyway.” She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

I had royally fucked everything up. But it was all Brielle’s fault, and I’d make sure she got a piece of my mind.

* * *

A
few hours later
, I was somewhat sober.  A faint headache lingered but it was tolerable as I hopped in the car, determined to track Brielle down.

It didn't take me long to spot her car outside the library. I stormed through the entire building, looking in every corner for her, but it wasn't until Terry informed me she was in the common hall studying that I found her. She sat on an oversized couch, her headphones plugged in her ears as she typed on the keypad of her laptop. I dropped into the chair across from her and kicked my leg up on the small wooden table.

Our gazes met and her lips puckered with disgust. Funny thing was, I felt the exact same way. Last time I saw her lips they were pressed against my brother.

When neither of us spoke, she resumed her attention on her screen.

“Don't you think you owe me an explanation?” I asked.

A sly grin appeared on her face and I knew she had heard my question. She pulled the headphones from her ears and cocked her head to the side “I owe
you
an explanation?”

“Yes, I believe so, especially since the last time I saw you, you were fucking my brother.” The words slid out of my mouth like venom.

“Correction.” She lifted a finger at me. “Last time you saw me, I was
kissing
your brother. I didn't fuck him, but
you
fucked my best friend.” Shocked, my words failed me. “Oh, did you think I didn't know?” Her voice was sweet but laced with sarcasm. “I spent an entire day worried about you, only to have my best friend come home and inform me that during your Easter bash she spent the night in your bed.” She cracked her knuckles and her nostrils flared with anger. “You didn't even have the courtesy to return a single phone call or text message to tell me you were no longer interested in me. Instead, you simply traded me for a different version.”