Three Broken Promises (One Week Girlfriend #3)(8)
Author: Monica Murphy

At the very least, yell at me to stop, beg me to listen to his explanations. I want that glimpse into his soul, his heart. The wall he’s built around it is made of steel, absolutely impenetrable, but I want to be the only one who can bust it down.

Yet he does nothing. Absolutely nothing. Just lets me go, as usual, without saying a word.

So I walk out, never once looking back. It takes everything within me not to look back.

When I finally make it to my room, with the door firmly locked, the window thrown open to let in some of that deliciously cold night air, I collapse on my bed and cry. Heavy, painful sobs take over my body as I bury my face in the pillow so he won’t hear me. Leaving him is the right thing to do, the only thing to do. This merry-go-round Colin and I are on is pointless. My crying over him? It’s pointless too.

As the last sob escapes me, I’m thankful for the cool breeze that dries the tears on my cheeks. Thankful even more for the sleep that slowly but sweetly takes over me.

Colin

I let her walk out of my room and didn’t try to stop her. What the f**k is wrong with me? Twenty-four years old and I’m acting like a child. She means the world to me and I keep on letting her go. Keep on pretending what’s happening between us isn’t real. All for her sake, I tell myself. I don’t want to hurt her.

Bullshit. More like I don’t want to hurt myself. Taking risks with my career is never a problem. Taking risks with my personal life?

Forget it.

Collapsing on the edge of the bed, I lean forward and hang my head, resting my elbows on my knees. My earlier erection is long gone, replaced by a pile of regret that bubbles up, threatening to choke me. She’s right. I lied. I knew exactly what happened between us. How good she felt, how amazing she tasted. How responsive she’d been within seconds of me touching her.

Like a complete ass**le, I pushed her away, pretended I didn’t know what was going on, and essentially shut her out for the last time. She walked out of my room without looking back once, hot as f**k in a pair of panties that rode up her ass and showed off her firm cheeks, a thin tank top that was see-through, allowing me to make out the color and size of her ni**les right before she turned away from me.

They were deep rose and tiny.

“Fuck.” I run my hands through my hair again and again, messing it up and not really giving a shit. The dream hadn’t been so bad tonight. Danny was beckoning me to follow him through the woods like when we were kids. I’d chased after him, eventually losing him, as usual.

Then flew into a panic when I realized he was gone. When I realized he was never coming back. I’ve had variations of the same dream for years. We could be little kids, in high school, or even the age we were the last time we were together, but it always ends up the same.

I lose him. I can’t find him. And as I search everywhere, I slowly figure out he’s never coming back. Danny is dead.

Since Jen moved in with me, she’s been there for me without asking any questions, sneaking into my bed, offering me comfort, and I always take it. Revel in it. Then pretend it never happened.

Well, no more. I need to stop acting like a coward and talk to her. Before I lose her forever.

Standing, I stride out of my room and walk with determined steps to Jen’s, conscious of the fact that I’m in my underwear and nothing else. Not the best outfit for a serious conversation, but screw it. If I’m lucky, maybe she’ll invite me into her bed and we can continue where we left off earlier.

Yeah, right.

The door is shut and locked, but I have one of those tiny keys resting on top of the door frame. I reach for it, feel the cool metal beneath my fingers and grab it, jamming the key into the lock and turning it until the lock springs open. Silently I slip in, not wanting to scare her or worse, disturb her if she’s sleeping.

I hope like hell she’s not sleeping.

But she is, and disappointment crashes over me. I draw closer to her bed and see that she’s on her side facing the window, the covers tucked around her shoulders, her eyes closed and lips pursed. Without thought I settle on the edge of the bed as gently as possible, seeking her warmth. Reaching out, I touch her hair, letting the dark brown strands sift through my fingers. She’s the total opposite of me. Dark hair to my blond, chocolate-brown eyes to my pale blue ones, sweet to my bastard-like ways.

I don’t deserve her. I push her away because I know it’s true. But what would it be like to give in? Just once? And show her how much I want her . . .

Jen rolls over onto her back, a soft sigh escaping her, and I let my hand drop, holding my breath as I wait for her to wake up.

She doesn’t.

Following my instincts, I stretch out beside her on top of the comforter, slipping my arm around her waist and pulling her in. I close my eyes and rest my cheek on top of her head, breathing in her scent, absorbing her sweetness. Just having her near calms my racing heart, soothes my agitated nerves. The dream made me edgy. Her confrontation rattled me further, until all I wanted to do was sweep it under the virtual rug and pretend it never happened.

But now as we lie together and I hold her close, a sense of peace settles over me. She snuggles closer, her head resting on my shoulder, her mouth close to my neck. Her breath flutters against my skin, sending a scattering of tingles all over me, and then her lips move, damp and warm. “You won’t be able to deny we’re in bed together this time,” she says in this sexy little whisper that goes straight to my dick.

Fuck. I grab hold of her tight, moving her body so she’s beneath me, I’m straddling her hips, and we’re right back at square one. Right where we started before this all fell apart.

This time, I’m not going to let that happen.

Chapter 4

Jen

“. . . and that was it. I said that to him and he jumped me like he was going to, you know, do me or whatever. At the very least, kiss me. But he didn’t. He stared at me like I’d grown three heads, and then he climbed off me.”

“No.”

“Yes.” I nod, getting into my pitiful story. But at least I’m telling it to Fable, who understands. Anyone else would probably laugh at me. “Right before he left, he said . . .” Pausing, I take a breath, lowering my voice so I can mimic Colin. “‘You’re right. I can’t deny it any longer.’ Then he bent over, kissed the top of my head, and walked right out of my room.”

Fable stares at me, her green eyes wide, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. Any other day, I’d want to laugh. We could probably laugh over this together someday because really, last night had been ridiculous. Surreal.