Broken Together

Chapter 4: Surrender

CHAPTER 4

AMELIA

 We sat in silence until we reached the city, and we stayed that way until the car pulled up in front of Aunt Claire's bookstore. I feel bad. Vincent seems to be a decent guy, even though he did kidnap me, he never touched me or force himself to me. That "almost kiss" was consensual, but I just can't bring myself to do it. My body feels uneasy once Vincent pulled away to lean back in the driver’s seat.

 I glanced to look at him and he's expressionless, looking straight ahead. He turned to look at me when I spoke, “thank you for dropping me off.” My voice sounded hoarse; I don’t even recognize my voice.

 He gave me a small smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. "You're welcome, Amelia." He said before opening his door and stepped outside. He moved towards my side of the door and opened it for me. I quickly gathered my bag and unlocked my seatbelt.  

 His eyes locked on me as I stepped outside of his car while he’s holding the door for me. He has a magnetic force around him that my body responds to. As we stood there, not moving, his lips turned into that smirk that I'm slowly falling for and he has that intense gaze. 

 "W-what are you doing?" I whispered, staring at his lips. I'm not sure if that's a question for him or myself. How is this even possible? I have never felt like this with other guys. I can't rationalize it; I just know and feel it. 

 "What am I doing, Amelia?” He whispered back, and he's leaning closer to me again. My back is pressed on his car and his hand touched lightly on my shoulder and it sends a feeling straight somewhere inside me like electricity. "What are you doing to me?." he whispered and as soon as he said that, my brain shuts down completely and I can feel my body getting pulled to him like a magnet. When his lips pressed into mine, I can’t help but let out a sigh in relief. It's like my body was waiting for this moment. Why did I even try to fight it?  

His lips started to move, and my mouth welcomed him. He tastes like mint and it reminds me of my favourite ice cream flavour. I don't even care anymore if anybody’s looking. My whole being focused only on our kiss. His soft kisses turned into intense kisses and it’s making me crave him more. I raised my hands and placed it at the back of his neck, never wanting to let go, and when I did that, I heard him moan. His hand went from my shoulder to my waist and his fingers buried into my skin. I'm getting deeper and deeper into his spell when he suddenly pulled away. We stared at each other, both out of breath. 

 He pressed his forehead on mine as we looked into each other’s eyes, "if we weren't in a public place right now, I would bury myself into you and make you scream my name," he said as I see the intensity in his beautiful blue eyes, then whispered to my ears, “over and over again.” s**t. I bit my lip in an attempt to hold myself back because my hands are itching to touch him again.

 He looked at my reaction and he smirked. That smug expression on his face lets me know that he can see exactly what effect he has on me. He chuckled, and it caught me off guard, he's smiling and his eyes grew soft as he stood upright, pulling a few inches away from me. He looks extra handsome when he's smiling this way. I'm speechless.

 He cupped my face with his right hand and gave me a quick kiss on the lips, then pulled me from where we are standing next to his car and led me in front of the bookstore. 

 "I'll see you later." He left me standing at the entrance of the bookstore and I watched him drive off. 

 I turned around from the street and entered the bookstore, hearing the bell hanging from the door to announce my arrival. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? that escalated quickly. 

 "Good morning, Mel!" Aunt Claire said, coming from upstairs. She smiled sweetly at me. 

 I cleared my throat and returned her smile. "Good morning, Aunt Claire. I'm sorry I'm late." I said craving for coffee to kick start my brain back to life. I am still reeling from our kiss and I need to snap out of it or else I’m going to go insane. I headed to the counter to get settled. 

 "Hmm," Aunt Claire stood next to me as I sat down behind the counter. "Are you wearing the same clothes as yesterday?" She said eyeing me from head to toe. Oh no. I forgot! 

 "Yeah, I decided to wear them again to avoid too many clothes for laundry," I said smiling, hoping I sound convincing enough. I did that before when I stayed at their house for a few days. I don't want to be a burden to anybody, so I decided to keep wearing the same clothes even after taking a bath.

 Aunt Claire did not say anything for a good 3 seconds, she's still eyeing me and it's making me nervous. I can't just tell her the truth. She'll flip out if she finds out that I spent the night at someone else’s house. More so if she finds out that it was with the same guy who came here yesterday.

 "Oh, okay." She finally said. I sighed inwardly, glad that she didn't ask for more questions. "By the way, Mel, Mac is coming home from his business trip and he would like for you to join us for dinner." I watched Aunt Claire’s face light up when she said that Uncle's coming home.

 Memories of that night when Uncle Mac came into my room flashed before my eyes. It was the day after my parents got arrested. He came in when I was sleeping, I woke up when I felt something rough and warm gliding over my skin underneath my t-shirt. I woke up to find Mac sitting on my bed next to me and he leaned in closer to my face, his dark brown eyes wide and he gestured with his finger for me to be quiet. His right hand continued its way up to my bra and it dawned on me what he’s trying to do, I pushed him away as much as I could and crawled out of the bed opposite of him. 

 He stood up about to walk up to me, but we heard Aunt Claire from their bedroom looking for him. I was about to rush outside to tell Aunt Claire what happened when Mac grabbed my hand. He pushed me to the wall and covered my mouth and he whispered, "Don't you f*****g tell her anything. If you do, I'll f*****g leave her and she'll end up just like your mom. You don't want to ruin her life too, right?" His breath smelled like alcohol. It’s sickening.

He left after that. Leaving me curled up in a ball on the floor. Crying my brains out, but careful not to make a sound. Ever since then, I did everything to avoid being in the same space as my Uncle Mac. I moved out of their house and stayed at the apartment that I shared before with my mom and dad. Now he just got back from his month-long business trip, and Aunt Claire looks so happy and excited. 

 "I'll try," I said to Aunt Claire, who's still standing next to me with a smile. She touched my hair and ran her fingers at the strands. 

 "I'm glad you got your mom's looks. You look so much like her when she was your age. My beautiful baby sister. " She said, voice shaking, and she had a sad smile on her face. I hold her hand and squeezed it to comfort her. 

 She shakes her head and blinked a few times, probably trying to hold back her tears. "You should probably prepare for Uncle's arrival." I gave her a smile, trying to cheer her up. "I can take it from here." 

 "Thank you, Mel." She patted me on my shoulder than grabbed her purse from the counter, "I need to go to the salon. I need to look exquisite." She winked at me before stepping outside to the cold streets of Seattle. 

AFTER-HOURS AND HOURS OF TRYING TO GET ON THE REST OF MY DAY, I can't stop thinking of Vincent. I was able to stop thinking about him for a few minutes when I was talking to Aunt Claire, but as soon as I'm alone, thoughts of him started creeping in. 

 I'm stacking new books on the shelves and I'm wishing he was here so I can argue with him again and probably do something else. I bit my lip, remembering how soft and urgent his lips were. It was a kiss I've never had before. It was hunger. 

"Excuse me?" I jumped out of my thoughts and the books on my hand slipped and fell on the floor. I turned to look at the woman standing a few feet away from me and I froze. She looks so beautiful. She looks like a model. 

 "Y-Yes, how can I help you?" I finally said. I scoot down to pick up the books from the floor as I wait for her to answer. 

 "Are you Amelia Hale?" She spoke. I stood up and looked at her. How does she know that? Have I met her before? No, I don't think so. If I have, I would probably remember meeting someone like her. 

 She raised her eyebrow and smiled expectantly. "Yes, I am. Have we met before?" I answered politely. 

 She just smiled at me. She opened her purse and took something from inside it, then she holding her phone in front of me and the flash on her phone caught me off guard that I blinked a few times. "W-what are you doing?" I said, still trying to sound polite. Who is she?

 She was tapping on her phone with a smug look on her face. “I took a picture of you.”

 You don’t say. “Yeah, I know. But why?” I said slowly getting irritated. I don't know her, and she just took a picture of me without my permission.

 She looks up from her phone and gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry but I'll explain later, okay?" She immediately shoved her phone inside her purse and headed to the door and out to the street. I ran after her, but when I pushed the door open, she's already inside a black car parked outside the bookstore. She saw me from the car window and she rolled it down to wave her hands, "I’ll see you soon, Amelia." She spoke. 

I went back inside the bookstore, confused and irritated.

VINCENT

"Stop it, man. You're creeping me out." David said, grimacing as he placed a glass of whiskey on the table in front of me. After dropping off Amelia at the bookstore, I was fighting myself not to turn the car around and f**k her right there where she works. I’m still hard just remembering her sweet lips as she surrendered into our kiss. I guess David’s timing was needed when he called me asking to hang out.

 “What?” I snapped at him. I picked up the glass from the table and drank the whiskey. “Remind me again why we’re drinking whiskey this early?” I said to him as the whiskey burned in my throat.

 He sat opposite of me, already drunk after drinking half of the bottle of whiskey. “What’s up with you? You’re smiling as if something good has happened. You never smile like that. It’s creepy.” He said before gulping more whiskey. David is the first friend I made when my dad and I moved here to Seattle from San Francisco. David is the son of a producer. We met through my step mother’s many parties. They attended the party Clarice, my step-mother, organized to introduce us to everyone. I didn’t like him right away because he looked like one of those spoiled rude kids that I used to hate, but he turned out to be okay. Our personalities are completely different, but we respect each other.

 “None of your business.” I simply answered. I don’t want to share Amelia to anybody yet. I want her only to myself. I know what will happen once everyone finds out about her. I don’t want to overwhelm her.

 “Whatever.” David shrugged and lit up a cigarette. He extended one to me and I took it from him and placed it between my lips. “Are you coming to your mom’s party tomorrow?”

 I lit up my cigarette and puffed, smoked. Stupid parties. She keeps organizing endless and endless of it. I get it that it's a benefit party, but I'm getting sick of the same people and same bullshit. David and I know that most of the people attending those parties are just there to show off. 

 "I wouldn’t miss it for the world," I said, not hiding the sarcasm in my voice. David smiled in agreement. My phone pinged, and I pulled it out from my pocket to check who texted. 

 f**k. Amelia's face occupied my screen. She still looks so beautiful even though her eyes are wide open and her mouth formed into a small "o". I received another message, I scrolled up and as soon as I read it, I immediately stood up. "I have to go," I said to David and throwing the cigarette to the ashtray. I didn't wait for David to say anything, I left him there in his study room, stepped outside of his house and went straight to my car. 

LOOK WHO I FOUND.  

The text read and I can't believe my sister found her. How did she know? I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. Of course, she'll find out. She's friends with Gustav's daughter. Dammit. I stepped on the gas. 

I PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF THE BOOKSTORE. I looked around to check if my sister’s car is still in the area. She probably left immediately after she took Amelia's photo because she knows that I’ll call Teen vogue and she can kiss her photoshoot goodbye. I might still do that.

 I entered the bookstore and looked around to find Amelia. She's not behind the counter so I walked around and went past aisles and aisles of shelves full of books then I saw her. She came out of a room pushing a cart full of books in front of her. Our eyes met and after a few seconds, she blushes and I swear, my heart skipped a beat.

 "Hi," I spoke. Damn. It feels good to be around her again. She still looks immaculate. 

 She smiled shyly, “Hi.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Are you alone?” I asked, noticing how empty the place is. I like books, but I prefer music and don’t we have e-books now? I can understand why only a few people visit bookstores nowadays, but hey, I would visit this bookstore if she’s in it. 

“Yes, Aunt Claire needed to go somewhere.” She said biting her lip and my body responds to it immediately and she has no idea about it. 

“Lucky me.” I said walking towards her. She stood up straight. And she seems to be contemplating where she needs to place her hands. She cast her eyes down as I approached her. 

“Look at me.” I said as I stand a few inches from her. Her breathing changed and that pull that I felt earlier surrounds me. She looked up. Her cheeks are bright red, lips parted and her eyes bright. Her brows furrowed. And she’s clearly fighting with herself again. 

“Why do you do this?” She inquired. That was the question that I can’t seem to find the answer. All I know is that I have this urge to see her, to be near her and feel her. She’s unlike those girls that f**k with. Something about her is different. 

“What is this?” She waves her hand in the space between us. “Look, what happened earlier,” She blinked a few times then spoke again, “I don’t know what that was but we need to make things clear.” She backed away and crossed her arms. She looks adorable when she does that, and it excites me. 

“Okay,” I crossed my arms too, copying her. “What do you want to talk about?” I asked, trying to suppress my smile. 

“Well…” She placed her hands on her hip, “What are you doing here?” 

“Seriously?” I asked, I thought her first question would be why I kissed her. 

“Yes, seriously.” She said nodding her head. 

“I just like to see you again.” I answered plainly. I’m not going to tell her about my sister for now. 

She huffed then rolled her eyes, “You’re impossible. You’re not going to give me a straight answer, huh?” 

I approached her again, but she’s quick to back up until her back is pressed against the wall. I got her where I want her. 

“Not now.” I answered her. 

Her breath hitched and she staring straight into my eyes, “What do you want?” She asked. 

“You.” I whispered, and when her lips parted, that’s my cue. 

AMELIA

My self-restraint dissolves every minute that Vincent's tongue glides effortlessly between my lips. The way he cupped my cheek and caressed my neck, I feel like I'm about to explode. 

"You taste so good, Amelia." He moaned between kisses and I whimpered. He slowly moved his lips to my jawline, leaving kisses down to my neck. I heard myself moaning and my hands grazed over at the back of his neck. I can feel Vincent smile against my neck as his hand slowly glides down from inside my jeans, between my legs. He looked at me expectantly, his blue eyes dilated, "Please let me taste you." He said seductively. I'm already panting so hard that I feel like my heart will leap out of my chest. His words and how he says it just adds more fuel to fire. 

He gauges my expression for a minute and he smiled crookedly before unzipping my jeans. His eyes never leaving mine as he pushed my jeans down, leaving me in my plain white panties. He looked around and stopped something. I followed his gaze and saw a black leathered chair meant for customers who would like to read their books inside the store. He looked back at me with his destructive smirk that showcased his dimples. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me gently towards the chair. 

"Don't want you collapsing on the floor, wouldn't we?" He says, and I rolled my eyes at him but I can't help but smile. 

His expression turned dark but extremely sexy as he slowly drags my panties down my legs and he lowered me to the chair. He's still standing in front of me. He cupped my chin, "You'll look f*****g exquisite this way with my c**k inside your mouth." He said in a low voice and it sends electricity to every inch of my body, especially between my legs. He smiled after looking at my reaction as he scoots down to kneel in front of me. He touched my knees and parted my legs, "But let's do that some other time, shall we?" He whispered as he leaned into my wetness and starts to lick and suck that soft spot. I've never felt this sensation before in my entire life. I can't believe that his tongue alone can give me so much pleasure. I ran my hands in his hair as I get lost in this moment. 

"Vincent, please..." I whimpered. Something inside me is building up and I want to release. I want to let go. 

"Come. for. me." He said each word as his tongue continued its assault, moving faster and faster, and when he gently bit me, I cried his name and let go.