Chapter Two
1154 Words
Chapter 2
Soft light flowed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, sending golden stripes over the polished marble floor. Olivia Harper’s eyelids flickered open, and for a second, she didn’t know where she was. The sheets underneath her were incredibly smooth, cold silk that whispered against her exposed skin. Her head rested on a cushion that smelled strongly of leather and expensive fragrance. The lingering aroma of whiskey and something darker, something undeniably masculine, coiled over her senses. Her heart thumped terribly as her gaze swept the room. The penthouse. Oh God. Memory flooded over her like a wave; the rooftop bar, Nathan’s dark green eyes burning into hers, the sensation of his hands on her hips as he dragged her toward him, the way his kiss had devoured hers without hesitation. And after that… Her eyes widened as the night replayed in a dizzying whirl. Nathan pressing her against the wall of the elevator, his breath hot across her neck. The way his jacket had hit the floor, followed shortly by her dress. His kiss on her flesh, his hands tangled in her hair, the way he had made her shout out his name, over and over. Her cheeks flushed hot as the recollection of it twisted low in her belly. Her breath hitched. What the heck have I done? A smooth, steady warmth brushed against her back. Olivia stiffened as she realized that Nathan’s arm was still stretched across her waist, his palm resting low on her stomach. His chest rose and fell behind her, the heat of his bare skin radiating through the thin sheet that barely covered them. Her heart skidded cruelly. Slowly, gently, Olivia twisted to peer over her shoulder. Nathan lay on his side, the faintest shade of stubble dusting his keen jawline. His brown hair was ruffled from sleep, and his lips were slightly parted. Even at rest, he looked deadly, powerful and untouchable in a way that made her stomach clench. Her gaze ran down the length of him… the strong lines of his chest, the way the sunlight kissed the curve of his bicep. A terrible anguish rose in her chest. She needed to leave. This… this had been a mistake. Olivia cautiously eased out from beneath his arm. Nathan stirred but didn’t wake. Her feet met the cool marble floor, and a piercing chill raced up her legs as she crossed the room. She found her dress crumpled in a heap at the foot of the bed and her heels thrown near the entrance. Her purse sat on the glass-topped console table beneath the wall of windows. Her heart thudded terribly as she slid her dress over her head. Her hands shook as she zipped it up, the weight of her mistake crushing down on her chest. She shouldn’t have stayed. She shouldn’t have let that happen. Nathan Blackwood was a complication she couldn’t afford. She was already teetering on the edge… no job, barely enough money to get through the next month and Nathan was the kind of man who could swallow someone like her whole. A stinging twinge pinched behind her ribs as her gaze moved toward him one last time. Nathan’s face furrowed faintly, as though he could feel her going even in his sleep. Her throat clenched terribly. Don’t look back. Slipping on her heels, Olivia crossed the room. Her fingers skimmed over the slick metal door handle as she glanced over her shoulder one final time. Nathan’s chest rose and fell slowly. His lips parted slightly as he slept. His hand reached toward the empty spot where she had been laying. Her heart split. Olivia moved into the hallway and pushed the door shut behind her. ******* Nathan stirred at the sound of the door closing. His eyes opened slowly, his vision sharpening as he examined the empty room. The area beside him was frigid. A flare of indignation and something darker, something menacing twisted in his chest. He sat up, his gaze moving toward the entrance. His head throbbed weakly from the booze the night before, but the memory of Olivia’s body beneath his hands was strong and vivid. His jaw flexed. He hadn’t expected to sleep, not after the intensity of the night before but he had. And now… She’s gone. Nathan pulled the blankets away and arose. His bare feet rubbed against the cool marble as he traversed the room. His gaze sharpened as he observed Olivia’s wine glass still resting on the table beside the bed. The smallest hint of her perfume lingered in the air like vanilla and wildflowers. His palm clenched into a fist at his side. He shouldn’t worry that she departed. It had been one night. Nothing more. That had been the arrangement. But the memory of her, the sound of her gasping his name, the way her eyes had opened when he touched her, it haunted him more than it should have. Nathan’s jaw constricted. He crossed the room to the console table, his attention narrowing as he detected a thin lipstick stain on the edge of the glass. His lips pressed into a firm line. “Running already?” ***** Olivia’s heels clicked against the pavement as she stepped onto the sidewalk outside the Blackwood Hotel. The city was alive around her; cabs honking, pedestrians dashing past yet Olivia felt hollow beneath the bustle. Her heart thumped violently as she wrapped her coat closely around herself and started walking toward the metro. It was over. One night. That’s all it was. Her chest ached. She had persuaded herself it wouldn’t matter anything. That Nathan Blackwood was just a distraction, a means to forget, to flee, even for a moment. But the recollection of his touch was burnt into her skin. Her phone buzzed in her purse. Ryan’s name flashed on the screen. She hesitated for a bit before letting the phone go to voicemail. The reality was, Ryan didn’t matter anymore. He never had. But Nathan… Nathan was different. And that terrified her. She had gone because it was the smart thing to do and because becoming connected with Nathan Blackwood was perilous on a level she wasn’t ready for. But a part of her knew… This wasn’t over. ********* Nathan gazed at the window of his apartment, the skyline shimmering beneath the thin light of morning. He lifted his phone and browsed through his contacts until he found her name. Olivia Harper. He hesitated for a second before placing the phone into his pocket. One night. That was all it was meant to be. But his wolf, the dark, restless part of him that had always stayed beneath the surface, roused uneasily. Nathan’s gaze hardened as he glanced out across the city. He hadn’t expected to want more. But now that he’d had her… Nathan’s mouth curved into a wicked smile. He wasn’t done with Olivia Harper. Not even close.
- Writer
