Her Arrogant Demon Next Door

Chapter 9 Chelsea POV

My bravado slips now I’m here. His voice like that flashes memories, images through my mind of my dirty fantasies about him. My breath stutters, my eyes fixed on his eyes, unable to look away, it feels like they were drawing me in, making me forget everything else around me. All that exists is this now here and his magical eyes. I feel a soft touch to my cheek making me gasp.

Looking and breaking eye contact, I realized it was the backs of his fingers slowly running down my face and across my jaw. I’m stood frozen breathing deeply. His thumb and fingers grip my chin and force my head up, so I’m looking up at him better. He took a step towards me, his face tense in concentration, his eyes were constantly scanning my face.

For what permission? Right now I don’t think I can tell you my own name. My heart sounded like it was in my ears. It was thudding so loud, sweeping my tongue out, I wet my dry bottom lip. It makes his nose flare and a low growl comes from his throat, then he dips his head.

As he was getting closer and closer, I couldn’t stop it, didn’t want to. Closing my eyes, I waited for the first touch. I wait for the warm brush of his lips on mine, but instead I hear him let out a frustrating sigh “ f*ck sake“ he says so close to my lips. Then his fingers are gone, his warmth gone. Opening my eyes in confusion, I start to feel the sting of rejection.

That he’d decided I wasn’t good enough and pulled back, but his angry gaze was behind me looking over my head. So I turned to look my lust frazzled brain, taking a minute to realize Frank was stood at the bottom of my drive at the side of his car, staring daggers in our direction. “ He seems kind of pissy to say he’s JUST your boss Chelsea “ Adam snaps.

The accusation in his voice clears all the lusty fog from minutes before, my gaze snaps back to him from where I was confusingly looking at Frank. “ What ?” I ask dumbly, he steps back crossing his arms looking menacing, closing himself off. “ You heard me, If you're not a thing you need to tell mr jealous dog that over there. Maybe you need to ask why he’s been here a few times now too ,“ he says.

My brain, not functioning correctly, still says the first thing I think of “ He’s only been here twice this being the second. He’s my boss. I’m his assistant, he’s probably here for work stuff “. He looks down at me confused, eyebrows drawn. Some hair had fallen out of his man bun framing his face. God, he’s handsome. He looked back at Frank, rubbing his chin“ only twice, you say, because I’ve seen him and that car at least four times driving down the street. Watch him Chelsea, he’s a strange dog “.

He turns and walks into the house, slamming the door basically in my face, what had just happened again ? I was coming to shout at him about the mower, remembering I rummage in my bag for the money, then I posted it through the door. Rummaging again, I find some paper and a pen. Cowards way out I know, but at least I’d actually tell him I don’t believe him.

So I write ‘ Here’s what you say it cost. Doug wasn’t convincing and neither was your smug smile. I’m guessing Doug rang to tell you I’d been investigating it. You have good friends. I’ll give you that he covered for you perfectly. I don’t need your charity or whatever it is your doing ‘ I don’t know why I put it, but as an after thought I scribbled ’ He is just my boss ‘ at the bottom before shoving it through his postbox too.

Glaring at the door, I spun on my heel, coming face to face with Franks' glare still down by his car. I was pissed off again. It was back well and truly, so when I stomped back down the path and came to stand in front of my boss I’m not exactly pleasant. “ What are you doing here Frank ?” I snapped, his expression darkened his head rearing back as he stands himself taller.

I realise what I'd just done. “ Sh*t I’m sorry my neighbour, he just knows how to get to me, I didn’t mean to snap at you “ I tried to explain. Why was I suddenly explaining my life to everyone? I felt exhausted with it. I feel my whole body deflate Frank continues to stare menacingly at me, his eyes flashing with anger. But there was nothing else I could say to him. I guess if he chose to fire me that would be my own fault.

He doesn’t say anything for a while, and it makes me feel uncomfortable. His gaze kept going up to Adams house, scanning the place. Eventually, he turns and picks out a large black bag off of the passenger seat. “ I brought this for you, there’s some work in there that needs looking at this weekend. I’ll make sure you are paid over time, and then I got you something for the good work you’ve been doing “ he grumps.

He handed over the bag to me and I didn’t really know what to say to him. I’d been looking forward to my days off so I could decorate and relax, and now I’m working. “ Ermm thanks you could have given me this at the office instead of traveling all the way out here though “ that comment doesn’t seem to make him happy either. He huffs “ I had to go pick up your gift. I never saw you as the ungrateful type, Chelsea, or the type to mix with things from below the gutters and sewerage “ he looked back at Adams house, his lip curling into a snarl.

It stings, it definitely stings. I wasn’t being ungrateful, just stating a fact. Then Adam. I hated him. He boiled my blood, but Franks remarks about him stung for some reason. “ I’m sorry I am grateful I didn’t know you went out of your way and really there was no need I’m just really enjoying working with you, and you do too much paying for lunch all the time. As for Adam, he’s just my neighbor where having a few disagreements is all, but he’s harmless“ .

He laughs without humor. “ His lips were nearly on yours. Is that your disagreement? It didn’t look like you were going to disagree from here, I don’t like it or him. But you are a single woman. Chelsea it is your choice. I suppose you just remember choices have consequences. Plus, you do not know everything about your neighbor. Don’t be so easy falling for his charm. It’s all smoke and mirrors. Everyone in this town is smoke and mirrors “. Without another word, he climbs back into his car, he revs the engine before speeding off down the street.

Tears prick my eyes. Putting my head down, I scurried back around to my own house fumbling with the keys in the lock as my vision became blurry. I dropped the keys and when I went to pick them up, I dropped my bag and the bag Frank had just given me too. When I go to pick up my keys, a hand shoots in front of my vision snapping the keys up for me.

Turning my head, I saw Adam there. How did he get here had he followed me around as soon as Frank left ? “ Please don’t start Adam, I’ve had enough for today“ I said, picking up my bag and roughly wiping the tears that were now freely running down my face. He sighs shaking his head. “ I’m just helping you in Chelsea. I know you don’t like accepting help, but can I at least do that ?” . He was holding onto my keys like a hostage, but his face looked soft and genuine.

I’m nodding my head, not fully thinking it through. Right now, I needed someone and who else did I have? No family, not really any friends. Adam nods his head once then picks up the bag Frank gave me, scowling at it. Then he opens my own door for me and steps into my house, opening the door wider for me.

Stepping in, I felt better in a few short days. This house had become my home and there was always something about coming home that made you feel better. Adam doesn’t leave or walk back out. Now I’m in like I thought he would. Instead, he swans through my house and into the kitchen. I am following behind him submissively, when I get into the kitchen, I see he’s in my fridge pulling out wine and then my cupboard pulling out glasses.

He pours two and hands one to me and then takes my bag, dropping it on the floor. Normally, I’d question him. But I was mentally exhausted, so when he places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me into the living room, I don’t complain. “ Sit” he says right in my ear when we are in front of the sofas and, like a good girl, I do.

He sits down at the side of me, his knee touching mine,“ Chelsea you need to ignore him, he’s . .... “ he starts, but I raise my hand, stopping him. He raised a brow, a small smile playing on his lips at my actions. “ Please no, don’t talk about Frank, about mowers, about loud rock music or anything exhausting. Seen as you seem to be forcing your presence on me please don’t say anything to make me want to punch you. Why don’t we try and actually chat like normal neighbors. “ I was pleading I couldn’t handle anymore.

He laughs “ There you are. I thought you’d gone all soft on me. I mean I gained entry to your fortress without you flinching. I was becoming worried he’d sucked all the sass out of you. Then what fun would you be ? “ He winks, smiling, and I can’t help but genuinely laugh. “ Don’t push your luck it could still happen “ I warn taking a sip of my wine.