When Love Forgets

Chapter Five

Leena.

The music from the club had become a haze of sounds in my ears, but the thrill rushing through my body was enough to make it worthwhile.

I couldn't tell what happened, but Genna had dragged me out here after shopping with her. “You need to loosen up a bit, it’s Friday!” She said.

Now I was half drunk, swaying with the bodies on the dance floor as the music controlled our movements. Somewhere at the far end of the club, Genna was having her tenth shot of whiskey. I swam through the bodies and found her, laughing the second I locked eyes with her.

“See? I told you this would be fun,” she said, sliding me a glass of whiskey.

I chugged it down without thinking, embracing the burn as it swooshed down my throat. “I’m not listening to you ever again. How are we even friends?” I slurred the words, and we both burst into laughter again.

“We’re friends because you love me darling,” she drawled, moving her body to the music. She paused for a second, glancing behind me. Then she leaned forward and whispered, “Remember, try to have fun,” then she turned to the bartender. “I’m handling all of her drinks.” He nodded and she walked away, shooting me a wink.

I didn’t understand her actions until exactly five seconds later, when I felt a presence behind me. I swiveled around almost immediately, and tilted my head at the man standing there. He was looking down at me, his hands in his pockets, and a very slight smirk on his face. I couldn’t see him clearly through the fog of alcohol clouding my brain, but his cologne smelled familiar.

“Are you lost?” I slurred, struggling to focus on him.

He shook his head and laughed softly, sitting on the stool behind him. He motioned for me to sit too, guiding my hands so I didn’t fall.

“If I was in fact lost,” he leaned in, catching me off guard as his scent flooded my senses. “Why can’t you be my home?”

“Because I’m a stranger. Are you a duckling that takes just anyone as their mother?” I blurted, holding his gaze. My body began to feel hot, and this man’s presence was doing things to my head.

“And what if I say yes?” He said, and I could’ve sworn his voice dropped an entire octave. The world narrowed to just the both of us, and before I could think, I leaned in and kissed him.

His hands snaked around my waist, and mine went to his shoulders, deepening the kiss. For a split second, I felt alive. My core was pulsing with heat, and this man tasted like the ice I needed to quench it.

But then something snapped in my head, and I pulled back, trying to shake off the haze of alcohol. That last glass of whiskey definitely did something to me.

I tried to get up and leave the strangely attractive man behind, but my legs wobbled and my knees gave out. I fell, but a strong pair of arms pulled me back against a hard wall of muscle.

He helped me to my feet, muttering something about getting me home and for me to give him my address. I couldn’t think clearly, talk more about forming words, so I mumbled a bunch of gibberish and let him decide. The heat in my body was what I was more interested in dealing with.

The man managed to carry me outside the club, where the music faded into the distance. He kept talking, but I was too far gone to even make anything out. I faded in and out of consciousness for a bit, and the next thing I knew, we were inside what looked like a hotel room.

The man laid me on the bed and I melted into the softness, groaning as the mattress practically sucked me in. He arranged the covers over me and made his way to leave, but I pulled him back.

“Please…I can’t stay alone.” I didn’t even know if that was my voice, but what I knew was I felt his warmth, that drowning, intoxicating warmth all through the night.

The next thing I remembered, sunlight blared through the curtains, blinding me. My head felt like I had been whacked with a frying pan when I was asleep.

I groaned, slowly opening my eyes as I shielded it with my hands. The next thing I felt made my stomach drop and my hands go instinctively between my thighs.

My eyes widened in horror as my soreness down there confirmed everything. I had been f****d last night.

And judging from how sore I was, it wasn’t just once. “f**k,” I muttered, running my hands through my hair. Genna would sure love to hear this.

I tried to turn around to look for my phone, but there was a large hand wrapped around my waist. I looked up at the figure, following a string of tattoos until I locked eyes with the stormiest set of blue orbs ever. The sharp jawline, the stubble, the scent of cologne and raw musk that made my head woozy.

I froze instantly as my pulse kicked. “I…you…what…” I stuttered.

He just kept staring at me, but when his lips twitched, my brain clicked.

“Mr…George?” I said, my voice trembling. No…this cannot be happening. I jumped out of the bed, clutching the sheets as adrenaline rushed to my brain. “What the hell….what the hell happened?!!”

He winced at my yell, glancing around as if he didn’t understand the situation either. “I…I don’t know,” was the only thing he muttered.

“You don't know? Oh s**t….shit how could I be so reckless,” I whined, sitting on the floor. I was drunk last night, but was he drunk too? How did I even meet him?

What were the odds that this was going to happen?

Before I could spiral any further, a loud knock echoed on the other side of the door. I froze, and we both exchanged glasses.

“Miss Leena? Are you in there?”