Chapter Twelve: Letting Myself Out
Ella’s POV
I turned my head away from Keith, trying to avoid his gaze. I didn’t want to talk about anything that would force me to confront the reality of what was happening between us. Not now. Deep down, I knew I wanted to continue this–whatever this was—but admitting that out
loud would make it all too real.
I could feel the teasing smile that tugged at his lips, even without looking at him. “What’s wrong, Ella? Cat got your tongue?” His voice was playful, but it had a way of worming into my thoughts, making it harder to keep my guard up.
I didn’t respond. What could I say? Silence seemed safer, more manageable. But Keith wasn’t the type to let things slide. He moved closer, his fingers brushing lightly against my thigh, sending a shiver through me. “You know you can’t just turn your back on me and pretend nothing happened.” he murmured, his touch more insistent now. “Not after that.”
I bit my lip, struggling to maintain some semblance of control. Keith’s touch had this way of undoing me, making me forget all the reasons I had to walk away. But I couldn’t just let him take over–not again, not like this.
Keith wasn’t one to back down easily, though. He twisted his body,
0.001
19-2250
Twelve Letting Myself Out
pulling me back against him, his mouth finding the sensitive spot on my neck where my moon tattoo was. The moment his lips touched my skin, I knew I was done for. He knew exactly how to push my button to drive me to the edge and pull me back just before I fell.
I let myself go, surrendering to the sensations he was creating, feeling the familiar rush of pleasure as he expertly guided me to yet another peak. My breath hitched, my body trembling as I came undone in his arms. It was overwhelming, the intensity of it all, and how he knew me so well, how he could read my body like a map.
Afterwards, Keith reached for a cigarette on the nightstand, lighting it with a practiced ease. He took a long drag, the smoke curling around his lips as he exhaled. I watched him, the way his eyes softened as he looked at me, like he was seeing something beyond just my body. But as the scent of smoke started to fill the room, I felt a familiar discomfort rising.
Keith noticed immediately. Without a word, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and got up, heading for the balcony. He slid the door open and stepped outside, letting the smoke drift into the night air instead of around me.
I couldn’t help but smile at the gesture. It was such a small thing, but it meant more than I wanted to admit. Most men wouldn’t have bothered -they would’ve kept smoking right next to me, indifferent to my discomfort. But Keith was different. Thoughtful. And that’s what scared me the most. It wasn’t just his touch or his skill in bed that drew me in, it was moments like these that made me feel something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
Chapter Twee Letting Myself Out
I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. It would be stupid to think Keith saw me as anything more than a fun distraction. He liked my body, sure, but that was probably the extent of it. I couldn‘
t let myself believe there was something more. I wasn’t even that exciting in bed, at least, not in the way most men wanted. The the gnawed at me, even now, after everything we’d just done.
The sounds from next door had finally quieted down, leaving an awkward silence hanging between us. I suddenly felt the need to get out of there, to put some distance between us before I said or did something I’d regret. I slipped out of bed, reaching for my clothes scattered on the floor.
Keith watched me as I dressed, his gaze following my every move. “Leaving already?” he asked, his voice light but with an undercurrent of something else I couldn’t quite place. “You always leave me behind, Ella. So heartless.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, trying to keep my tone casual. “Maybe I should leave you some money as encouragement,” I shot back, a smirk tugging at my lips.
He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. “How many men do you need to sleep with to realize I’m the best?” he asked, his tone more serious this time.
I shrugged, feigning indifference, but inside, his question stirred something I wasn’t ready to face. I was still intent on leaving. I reached for my shoes, and a thought struck me. I touched the moon tattoo on my neck, the spot where Keith had left what I initially thought was just
nd the
Chapter Twelve. Letting Myself Out
a hickey, but it hadn’t faded. “What’s the deal with this, Keith?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. “Why won’t it go away?”
Keith’s gaze softened, his lips curving into that enigmatic smile of his. “It’s your physical condition, I suppose,” he replied, his tone almo teasing. “Consider it my gift to you.”
I pouted at his answer, not fully satisfied but knowing I wouldn’t get more out of him. There was something he wasn’t telling me, but I decided to let it slide for now.
Just then, Keith’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He reached for it, his eyes scanning the screen before a smirk tugged at his lips. “It’s Dorian,” he said, holding up the phone so I could see. “If you want to read it, you’ll have to sit beside me and give me a kiss.”
I rolled my eyes but moved to sit beside him, purposely avoiding his request for a kiss. I wasn’t going to give in that easily. Keith’s expression shifted, but he handed me the phone anyway.
As I read the message, my irritation grew. Dorian had texted Keith, saying it looked like Keith had found another girl to spend the night with. There was a hint of jealousy in his words, something that would have made me laugh if it didn’t feel so ridiculous. Dorian had noticed the noise, comparing the sounds of Jessica’s moans to mine. Dorian said Jessica’moans were fake compared to mine that sounded like Keith actually knew what he was doing. He still said Jessica’s moan was “bad performance“.
Chapter Twelve Letting Myself Out
I couldn’t help but find the whole thing amusing. Here Dorian was; unknowingly discussing me, and it only fueled my satisfaction. Maybe this little revenge plan was working out better than I’d thought. Who knew? Maybe next time, Keith and I could take things even further.
Keith watched me closely, his gaze intent. “Are you going to break up with him?” he asked, his tone casual but with a hint of genuine curiosity.
I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head. “Not yet,” I replied. “I want to see how things develop.”
I stood up, ready to leave for real this time. But just as I reached the door, Keith called, his voice soft but insistent. “Ella,”
Chapter Thirteen: No One But You
Ch
