Chapter 25: Chapter 25

I realize I've arrived in the parking lot when I see the familiar black car parked there. Thomas is leaning against the door with his usual unfriendly face typing something on his cell phone.

" He… didn't he?" “Dad is confused on the other end of the line, and I am even more so.

- I do not speak. I think my voice attracts Thomas's attention because he looks my way. The scowl is still there on his handsome face, but he puts his phone away and crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for me. I start walking towards him.

— So… It was a lie. I knew it was a lie, ” Dad says, sounding relieved. " That was low even for him!" If you only knew how worried I was, Cristal. You don't know how relieved I am that it's a lie.

— I don't understand anything, father. What was a lie?

Thomas looks at me in surprise when I speak and tilts his head to the side.

“ He… Thomas said that he… That you… You know.

I understand what he's saying a few seconds later and I feel my whole face on fire. I will not say anything. He calls my name on the phone.

— Cecilia? It's a lie, isn't it?

- No, Dad, it's not - I say softly, dying of embarrassment.

“ But… you said he didn't hurt you, crystal. You… ” His voice changes and Dad now looks really pissed off. —Don't tell me you went to bed with that son of a bitch because you wanted to, Cecília! - he screams. I feel my whole body shake with fear. I take a step back without even realizing it.

"Would you rather it wasn't because I wanted to?" I ask and feel my eyes water.

“Your mother and I are killing ourselves to get over there, to get you, to get you out of him and back home, and you're going to sleep with that son of a bitch in the meantime? I can't believe you slept with a man who bought you, Cecilia! Dad screams.

A tear runs down my face and I try to hide it, but I know I can't when Thomas seems to lose patience with waiting for me and pulls me by the waist. I gasp when I feel his chest firm and he cups my face tightly and lifts my chin towards him.

- What happened? he asks in that firm tone that does not allow for arguments.

"You mean the man you sold me to, right?" I talk into the phone and bite my lip. “I thought you called to apologize, Dad.

I don't know what my dad was going to say because I don't hear anything. Thomas takes the phone from my ear and I let him do it. My vision blurs as I look at him. He brings the phone to his ear.

“Caesar,” he says through gritted teeth. There's a lot of anger in his voice, but his touch on my face is light and affectionate. He doesn't take his eyes off my face and runs his thumb across my cheek, wiping away the tear. — Why is your little girl in front of me crying, my friend? he asks in an irritated voice.

A painful sob comes out of my throat. I try to pull away from him, but Thomas reverses positions and traps me between the car and his body. I don't know what he hears, but Thomas laughs that acid laugh of his and squeezes the phone so hard I think it's going to break.

“I don't have time to waste on you. I promised I'd take care of your little girl, didn't I? he says in a mocking voice. “You are clearly incompetent in that regard.

He throws the cell phone into the car through the open window on my side and takes my face again to make me look in his direction.

"What happened, Cecilia?" - rude question.

“It's nothing,” I reply and try to break free of him. Thomas won't.

- Don't piss me off, crystal - he asks in the softest voice and lowers his mouth to mine. - What happened? Why are you crying?

I shake my head no and he sighs irritably.

— Get in the car — he says and opens the door. I climb into the passenger seat and he doesn't say anything as he quickly pulls the car away. Thomas drives but does not leave the college campus. He just goes to a more hidden corner, somewhat isolated among trees where there is no one, and parks there.

He pushes his seat back and then unbuckles my belt. He pulls me onto his lap and I let out a little cry of surprise when he wraps me around with my legs spread around his.

“I thought you understood how irritable it makes me when you don't talk to me,” he says and pulls me closer. I gasp when I feel his member glued between my legs in that position.

“Everything makes you angry, Thomas,” I say quietly. He pulls my neck so that my face is almost glued to his.

“Angrier than usual,” he growls into my mouth. “I need to know you're okay, crystal. And when I don't know, I get pissed. So when I ask you what happened, you need to tell me.

My heart jumps in my chest and I place my hands on his shoulders.

"Why do you need to know if I'm okay?" I ask.

Thomas lets out some grunt and pulls my mouth to his roughly. I'm out of breath when he releases me. His hands caress my legs.

— Yes, Cecília — he replies. "Did I make myself clear?"

I nod and run my hands down her arms gently.

"Kiss me again?" - I ask. He blinks in confusion. “Not the way you kiss me when you're angry, the other way…you kissed me when we…

I don't finish the sentence because I feel my neck burn with embarrassment as I remember our night again. Thomas locks in place and doesn't seem to know what to do with me. I blink slowly in the way that I know makes him a little lost and ask again in a sweet voice:

- Please?

He takes a deep breath through his mouth and squeezes his eyes shut.

“Fucking hell, girl. The shit you lose me.

He complains but pulls my neck again until my mouth is on his. And this time when he kisses me, it's sweet and tender.