Chapter 10: Chapter 10

“What are you doing?!”

The strap of my nightgown snapped from its clasp. If I hadn’t hugged my chest fast enough the corner would have dropped down to expose me. I glared at him as I struggled to reattach the clasp. He moved closer, finally stepping through the threshold, and reached for the strap.

“Get your hands away from me,” I fought him off. “What the hell were you thinking when you did that?”

“Relax and let me fix that for you.”

“Can you just stop with the strap joke already? It’s as icky as saying ‘ Are you lost baby girl’ for God’s sake…”

He wouldn’t let me finish before he slapped my hand off to fix the strap. I fought him but eventually, he held my hand down and fixed it with just one hand. He was so close, his warmth felt so good radiating off his body to mine, and his hair smelled like beach and summer. It felt so good. But he was taking too long getting his hands off me, he kept adjusting it until I almost blew my top.

“I see you fix straps for a living,” I acknowledged caustically.

He snorted and smiled. I will do anything to wipe that stupid smile off his face. “Yeah right and you drink acid for a living. Can you never say thank you for anything?”

“Excuse you? You tried to tear off my dress just now. What are you doing here?” I asked jerking away from him.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Geez calm down, aren’t you being a bit rash here? I take it you weren’t expecting to see me today?”

“Who cares? New students come in and out of Edwin and Co. every day even sons of nobodies who work during summer as tourist guides.”

I realized immediately how harsh that sounded. I know that and nothing excuses my rudeness. But he just smirked amusedly and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed as he watched me through those dark lashes. It was hard to tell what was going on in those eyes.

“I’m sorry that was wrong of me…”

“Oh no don’t let me interrupt you this time. After all, you’re the better one between us both. You’re friends with the richest girl in school. Let me see again,” he put a hand to his chin and pretended to think. “Your dad works for hers, hmm so essentially you live off her wealth.”

I lowered my eyes. “I’m sorry, okay? I really shouldn’t have said that.”

“Oh no that’s fine.”

But he didn’t look fine. His body was stiff and tense. He looked like he wanted to hit me over the head if I’m being honest and yes I know I deserve it

“You are better aren’t you?” his eyes grew darker. I could sense an emotion coming from somewhere dark and deep.

I wanted to make things right so I took a step toward him and in one flash he grabbed my hand and pulled me up against him, my breasts brushed the soft material of his shirt. He chuckled, his eyes suddenly going from angry to teasing.

“You are so easy to tease aren’t you?” he asked, both hands pulling me closer and since he had taken me by surprise I hadn’t reacted quickly enough to put some space between us.

“You are such a jerk,” I said as I tried an attempt to hit his chest. “You made me apologize for nothing.”

“Ah yes, apologizing for calling the great Ignacio Rios a nobody is nothing. Of course,” he drew me closer and spoke into my ear, his hot breath falling on my skin. “My father isn’t nothing. Many people have gone to early graves thinking that,” he warned. I felt shivers going down my body.

I fought hard not to let his effect on me be obvious. “Yeah right. Warning taken and understood now let me go.”

He seemed to enjoy taking me prisoner in his arms and while my stupid treacherous body loved it my rational mind was worried about what Siobhan would…

Oh my God, Siobhan!

I wrestled my way out of Andre’s hands causing his nail to scratch me in the process but that was nothing compared to the hurt I would feel if my best friend walked in on us in each other’s arms. I pushed him away and hugged myself while backing towards my bed.

“Enough of this already. Why are you here? You still haven’t answered that.”

He seemed to catch himself. Driving a hand full of fingers through his hair he answered, “I thought Siobhan would be here. I couldn’t find her at her apartment.”

“Well not if you sneak up on her balcony like a total creep,” I shot. “Anyways, she's probably with a friend or something.”

“Oh alright,” his response was almost silent. Oh God if he’s here looking for Siobhan while she’s hooking up with another random guy…

“Have you checked Shewa’s room? She’s one of our classmates. She’s probably with her,” I hastily said making a mental note to find Siobhan and tell her her new beau had come looking for her.

“She wasn’t there.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “You seem to hate me but your friend obviously doesn’t share your feelings for me.” He pushed away from the wall and took several steps toward me. I involuntarily took 4 steps backward. He was so intimidating. “You haven’t told your friend lies about me have you?”

“W-what lies?”

“That I’m a playboy out to break her heart.”

“Why would I do that? Siobhan will see for herself.”

“Is that what you think? You think I’m a playboy?”

The back of my legs hit my bed frame and I fell on the bed. I wasn't quick enough to get up before he fell after me, his body not quite touching mine but his hands dropped to both sides of my head to trap me in. I looked for the nearest possible escape. There was none.

He smiled. “You are trapped now. Now,” his eyes raked my body lasciviously. I found myself cursing my small breasts. They were so small they were barely visible when I lay down. Siobhan on the other hand had huge boobs that remained visible even when she was sprawled on her back. Andre’s eyes stopped boldly on my heaving chest. “Don’t forget what I told you about a woman’s body," he warned. "What do you really think about me?”

My damn nipples were striving hard to betray me. I’ve had guys kiss me before sometimes as a dare or because Siobhan wasn’t available and I was the next best option and I know how excited my nipples get because they are sensitive when they are around something I find exciting.

Think about Calculus. Think about Calculus. Think about Calculus, I repeated to myself. When I opened my eyes he was still waiting.

“I think,” I started slowly, enunciating every word so that he understood the venom in every word. “You are annoying, you are irritating, you are egoistic and I don’t want you anywhere close to my best friend.”

He leaned down so close that I thought he was going to kiss me and my breath caught. Instead of kissing me he nudged my face to the side with his jaw and spoke into my ear.

“Add dangerous to that. You’ll know what that means the next time you try to keep your friend away from me.”

He was up and gone over my balcony by the time I finally caught my wits around me and rose on my elbows. What the hell was that?