VJ

6 - He's angry with me

Chloe

My God, what did I do?

Slept with a stranger, that’s what I did, repeatedly through the night. I had so many orgasm.s; I can still feel my thighs shaking because of it. That and my vagin.a took such a pounding that I’m sore.

Okay, I’ll admit, my stranger was damn hot, and he was beyond anything I’ve ever dreamed of in bed, but he was a stranger. I have never been so drunk that I’d go home with a stranger before. Okay, I wasn’t drunk, but the alcohol sure as hell loosened me up a lot. How the hell Vince even got through my wall of protection is beyond me.

After everything I went through a few years ago, all the hell I suffered and the first time I give myself to a man, he’s a stranger?

A dangerous one at that. Oh, he might not have done anything that would make me think he was a killer, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Vince is not a man to be messed with. He can handle himself, and then some if the scars on his abdomen are anything to go by.

I wonder how he got them.

Who stabbed him?

And why?

I should not have been as stupid as I was here last night. Anything could have happened to me with this man, yet I can’t bring myself to regret any of it.

Sitting up in bed, I turn my head to look at the man lying beside me. He’s handsome, rugged, built like the Hulk. The morning sunlight makes him look so young. I don’t recall the color of his eyes, maybe blue, but I do remember how perfect his mouth was. God, the things he did to me with that mouth. I’m getting a twinge down below just thinking about the things he did to me last night, and just how many times he fucke.d me. God, he made me forget everything.

But I can’t think about that right now. I need to get out of here before he wakes up. I don’t even know what neighborhood I’m in, but I can call a cab home. I don’t even shower, it’s not my house, and I’d feel awkward doing so.

I pull on my dress and shoes, grab my purse from the chair, and leave. I won’t look back one last time at the Adonis asleep in bed; it would be pointless because I’ll never see him again. I’ll take home with me this beautiful memory and nothing more.

I’m closer to home than I realized. Four blocks. I try sneaking in without waking my roommate. It’s still early, and I hoped he’d be sleeping. I don’t really want him questioning me right now, and I know he’d have a lot to say about it. I was wrong; he’s not asleep.

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been going out of my mind!”

I should have known Max would be up waiting for me to come home. After everything we’ve been through together, I should have realized he’d be worried. I was reckless, and I deserve whatever telling off he’s about to give me.

I drop my purse on the table beside the front door and kick off my shoes. I imagine I look like a complete mess. Vince fucke.d me so many times last night, and I haven’t showered. I only managed to pull my fingers through my hair and tie it up, but it’s still a mess.

“I’m sorry, I should have called.”

“Yeah, you should have.” Max folds his arms over his big chest. He’s only wearing a white wife-beater and low-riding sweats.

Max is a good-looking man. His light brown hair is cut short, and he’s packing muscle, but not like the guy from last night. The guy from last night was packed like Zeus and covered in tattoos that made my mouth water just looking at him. Max has more of a swimmer’s physique. He also doesn’t have any tattoos.

“Do you have any idea what’s been going through my mind, Chloe?”

“I said I was sorry, Max.”

“Are you, though? If you stay with Candi-Rose, you always call or text, so I don’t worry. As you didn’t…” He squints his eyes at me. “Who was he?”

Oh, hell.

“Who said there was a he?”

“I can tell just by looking at you what you’ve been up to all night!” His tone shocks me; he’s not usually this harsh on me when I’m late. I guess he’s been anxious.

I unconsciously run my hand over my messy ponytail. I know I look a mess, and I can smell se.x on myself, so I’m guessing Max can too.

“He was just a guy I met at the bar.”

“Are you serious right now? You pick up some random at the bar and go home with him?”

I swallow hard. I hate confrontation. I’m not a weak woman, don’t get me wrong, and I’m no doormat, but that doesn’t mean I like fighting with my best friend, and Max really is my best friend. Max is everything to me; I don’t know what would have become of me without him. He’s like the brother I never had. I hate that I’ve worried and upset him like this.

“I don’t know what got into me, Max. I didn’t even think to let you know I was safe; I’m sorry for that. God, I know I shouldn’t have gone home with him, but he was different. I felt safe with him.”

“It doesn’t matter how he made you feel, Chloe. He could have been a fuckin’ killer for all you knew. I could be getting a call from the cops right now to say they’d found your raped and murdered body in a parking lot somewhere!”

Massive over-exaggeration, right there!

“After everything that happened, you stand there looking at me like you don’t care?”

Oh my God, how can he say that to me?

“Of course, I care, Max! I’m sorry I worried you, but I’m a grown woman. I don’t need yours or anyone else’s permission to go home with a man if I choose to.”

“I didn’t say you needed my permission! You don’t get it, do you? I have sat up all night thinking the worst!”

“I said I was sorry!” I yell back because he’s now annoying me. I made the mistake of forgetting to call him. But I didn’t kill anyone!

“You know what? Fuc.k it. You don’t care, then, nor do I.”

“Max, please don’t be like this.”

“Don’t be like this? How the fuc.k do you expect me to be, Chloe!? You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. I will not say something I can’t take back. Max is upset, and it’s all my fault. He’s tired, and that’s making him snappy. He has every right to be upset with me. But I don’t need this right now. I want to shower and change.

“All damn night I’ve been thinking that the worst had happened to you. Only this time, I wouldn’t be so lucky as to get you back!”

Tears cloud my eyes. He’s right; anything could have happened to me, and this time, I might not have been so lucky as to have gotten out alive. Max has every right to be angry with me. I should have been more considerate and at least checked my phone. I should have realized Max would have been calling and texting repeatedly. He’s not mad that I didn’t answer his calls. It’s not always easy for me to hear what someone is saying on the other end of the line unless they video call so I can read their lips. But I promised before I left the house yesterday that I would answer his texts.

“I’m so sorry, Max.”

“I don’t wanna hear it! Go take a damn shower; I can smell him all over you. It’s fuckin.g nauseating!” He snaps between his teeth and walks away from me.

Max isn’t jealous of the guy from last night. Not even remotely, he’s in love with his other best friend, and they have a wonderful relationship. She’s my friend also. This is purely Max upset by the fact that I didn’t call him to let him know I was okay. I feel like a fool.

But I don’t have time to pity myself; I need to get to class. So, I wipe my eyes, swallow back my emotions, and make my way to the shower.