To Love and To Lust

Chapter 9

Amelia

Quickly, I unlock the door and rush out of the bathroom, completely and utterly mortified. I can't believe that after he had his fingers inside me and his tongue on me, he would say that it was a mistake. It would have been better if he hadn't touched me in the first place.

Scanning the table I left to get drinks a while ago, I notice that it has new occupants. I realize why when I see Lily dancing between the two males that were supposedly for both of us and shake my head. Lily is a wild one, and I don't think that will change anytime soon. Good for her.

Not wanting to interrupt her fun, I order a car and send her a text that I'd left. I know she won't see it now, but by the time she does, I will be long gone.

When my phone vibrates, I look down, hoping that it will be the driver telling me that he is here, but my heart skips a beat when I see who the message is from. Even though I don't have the number saved, I know whose it is because of the time he checked in on me when my father was away.

'I'm sorry,' the text reads.

At first, I wasn't going to reply, but I want him to know how he made me feel, so I type quickly and press send.

‘Apparently.’

I see that he's typing, but after a few seconds or so, it stops. I have my eyes glued on the phone, waiting for a reply that never comes. Disappointment seeps through me once more.

As I stare off into space, I remember Martin's hands on me and the way he so expertly brought me to an org*sm. Even though we didn't go all the way, none of the guys I have been with before had made me come, much less to make it happen twice.

Any org*sms I've had before came from my own hands. It has me wondering, if Martin could make me c*me twice in such a short period of time, what could he do if he had an entire night with me?

Stop torturing yourself! I scold myself because the man just rejected me, yet, here I am, reminiscing about his larger than large hands.

My thoughts are cut short when I see Martin walking toward the bar. He takes a seat and orders something, and in less than a minute, he has a drink in his hand.

I try not to watch him, but he has this air of authority that seem to command every space he enters, making it impossible for anyone to look away. I hate that I am, too, caught in the haze of admiration.

Sensing that someone is staring at him, Martin turns in my direction, catching me off-guard. I immediately avert my gaze and rejoice when I get a message notifying me that the car is outside.

I couldn't have moved faster if I wanted to. By the time I'm at the door of the car and ready to enter, I hear Martin's voice.

"Amelia," he calls, but I don't turn around. I only do so when I enter the car and it drives away. He stands at the entrance with clenched fists, making me have dejavu. I'm about to give him Lily's address when something comes to mind.

"Sh*t!" I swear, remembering that I didn't take the key from her. Now I have no choice but to go home. I can't avoid Dad and Claire forever.

I give the driver my address and watch as he takes the car in that direction.

In no time, I'm at home, standing in front of the house and staring up at it. I feel like I'm an intruder.

For a long time, it had only been Dad and I, but now we have a new occupant, one that seems as if she's there to stay, and I don't want to get in the way of my father's happiness.

Quietly, I open the door just as I had done before, and sneak off upstairs. At least, that is what I tell myself because, as soon as I take the first few steps on the stairs, the place is suddenly flushed with light that almost blinds me.

"Where were you, Amelia?" My father asks, his brows furrowed and hinged with concern.

"Out with Lily," I answer truthfully.

"Is Claire so repulsive?" He asks, confusing me.

"Excuse me?"

"Do you hate her that much?" He asks.

"Dad, how can I hate someone I don't even know?"

"I have no choice but to think that way, because you would rather go out and get drunk than stay at home," he says.

"Dad, I'm young. I need to enjoy myself," I tell him, and he knows it is just an excuse.

"Really, Amelia? You only started doing this since I brought Claire home."

I sigh in response, because it is nothing but the truth.

"Dad, I'm tired. Can we talk tomorrow?" I ask him.

"If that's what you want," he tells me in defeat.

"It is. Goodnight, Dad," I kiss him on the cheek and run up the stairs just as I hear him answer in a defeated tone.

"Goodnight, Amelia."

The next morning, I wake up thoroughly soaked, and it has everything to do with the naughty dreams I had about Martin last night. Except that, in the dream, we actually f*cked.

Taking a quick shower I get ready for work. I go downstairs fully not expecting to see any breakfast, but I'm surprised when I see Claire in the kitchen whipping eggs. So she did this?

There's every type of food on the table and I try to look unaffected, but my stomach betrays me when it lets out a loud growl. My cheeks immediately heat.

"Good morning," I say and walk to the fridge intending to get some orange juice, but I am taken aback when Claire hands me a mug filled with black coffee, just the way I like it.

Hesitating only for a second, I take the cup and take a sip. I close my eyes and revel in the flavor of the coffee spreading on my taste buds.

"Thank you," I tell her.

"Your father left for work, but I’m staying home today. There's breakfast too," she says, then quickly adds, "If you want it."

"Thank you, but it has to be to go as I'm already late," I tell her.

She stares at me in surprise, but nods as I see an ounce of respect flash through her eyes. Respect for not taking advantage because my father is the boss.

I take my travel mug and re-fill it with coffee. When I turn around to pack some of the breakfast, I notice that Claire had already done it for me.

I'm not used to anyone taking care of me except for my father, so this brings a strange feeling to my chest. One I don't know how to identify as yet. I take it with a smile and head for work.

My day at work passes quickly. I hardly see my father because he is tied up with meetings and I’m pleased with the fact. He’s so busy that he doesn’t have time for lunch. So, I go to the cafe with Lily and get lunch for him, pleased with the satisfaction in his features.

Lily was so wasted last night that she didn’t even know that I was missing for a while. If she knew, she would have grilled the sh*t out of me.

A ping on my phone indicates that I’ve received a message. Curiosity has me opening it quickly, because I wonder why my father sent me a text. It is a very rare occurrence.

‘We’re having dinner tonight. I sincerely hope you would join us.’ The message says.

After careful consideration, I decide to go. It couldn’t hurt, right? With that in mind, I send him a reply.

‘I’ll be there.’

In the evening, I consider not leaving my father here by himself since I am his assistant, but he tells me to go and get ready because he might have to meet Claire and I at MH.

I completely understand as my father hadn’t gotten where he was by slacking off. It took hard work and dedication.

A word suddenly registers. My father wants to have dinner at MH Bar and Grill, where I decided I would avoid in the near future, or the far one, so as to avoid remembering my embarrassment last night. Had I known he would have chosen that place, I would have declined his offer for dinner.

“F*ck my life!”