CHAPTER 2 

Theodora's POV

"That's for playing with my feelings, you bastard!" I bellowed.

Without waiting for his reaction, I spun on my heels and bolted out of the room.

By the time I reached the lobby, tears were already burning hot down my cheeks. I stopped running when I realized the lobby was crowded.

Not just crowded but a lot of familiar faces from school were there... 

What's going on? Did they have an event here?

Shit! Now, I couldn't through the door looking like I just walked out of a trash can, which basically, I think I just did.

 I needed to breathe and compose myself.

I pivoted towards a door that had a "RESTROOM" tag at the left far corner of the lobby.

Thankfully, it was not locked. A rush of relief flooded me for a half minute, but the moment I turned, everything changed.

And I froze.

Because there was Nate Henderson— my worst nightmare, bending a girl over one of sinks as he delivered savage thrust into her from behind.

His eyes were closed, his jaws tight as raw pleasure twisted his face.

I knew I needed to leave. Every working brain cell I had was screaming it. But my feet stayed planted on the floor.

Like they'd suddenly developed a mind of their own.

My throat went completely dry as my eyes involuntarily raked over every mouthwatering piece of Nate's body.

Jesus Christ! Did I say mouthwatering? What the hell was wrong with me?

But damn! He had muscles everywhere.

I mean, yeah, everyone at school knew that. But I had really never seen him shirtless up close before.

His shoulders were broad, sweat glistening on them, and trickling to his sexily outlined abs and pectorals.

Heat flamed my cheeks as my gaze dropped lower to those veins that ran down into the V at his hips, leading lower to his member.

Fuck! I bit my lips, adjusting my glasses.

Every thrust he made pounded in my chest, every sound, every groan, I could feel it down the marrow of my bones.

Hell! I could feel it in my core. It was throbbing badly, forming a wetness that was now soaking through my panties.

My nipples went hard, my knees shaking.

"Fuck—!" I couldn't stifle the moan that worked it's way up my throat.

And just like that, Nate went all stiff.

I made a move to dash out of the room that instant but I was a little too slow. He glanced up, his eyes pinning me to the spot 

I wished the ground would just cave in and swallow me.

Unfortunately, no such luck.

Nate's eyes darkened as the corner of his lips slowly and deliberately curved into an amused smirk.

"Hello, nerd." His voice came out raspy in that ridiculously enchanting accent of his.

"Want to join the show?"

My heart was thumping so loud in my chest I thought it was going to explode. I didn't know what to do or say.

I just stood there, staring like a deer caught in the headlight, my face so hot I was convinced I was running a fever.

But with Nate, I had learnt over the years not to admit defeat. It only made him want to mess with you the more.

So instead, I forced myself to act unaffected by him, snorting just for a biting effect. 

"Aww, why, thank you," I said in a saccharine sweet voice, looking down at his groin and measuring an inch with my index finger and thumb 

"But I really don't do this size." 

Without waiting for his reaction, I fumbled out the door, slamming the door hard behind me.

My nerves scattered along my throat. What in the name of weird and awkward was that again?

Like, what the actual hell?

I'm supposed to be mourning my broken heart, supposed to be grieving that I just lost the only guy that I've ever dated in all eighteen years of my life.

But shockingly, the mental image of Nate's half-nude body was the only thing on my mind. It was like it was numbing the ache of betrayal in my chest.

And that made me hate him even more. How could I be so affected by someone I hate?

I bit hard into my lips to force my mind off anything remotely related to Nate.

I could taste blood, but yeah, it was better to tolerate that pain than continue to think about that asshole.

"Dora!" A voice snapped me out of my train of thought.

"Ava?" Surprise registered on my face as I saw my best friend. 

"What are you doing here?" She hugged me even as she asked. 

"Oh my god, Dora!" She pulled back, hands still gripping my shoulders. "I can't believe you actually came! Wait—" 

Her eyes dragged over me suspiciously, from my messed-up hair down to my hoodie

"Why do you look like you've been through hell and back?" 

Great. Thanks for noticing. And honestly, I think I just walked out of hell.

I opened my mouth, but then I had to shut it again. If I told Ava what I walked in on, what Ashton did—she'd lose it. Like, actually lose it. 

She'd march right back to wherever he was, drag him by the collar, and make a scene. And as satisfying as that sounded in my head, I just couldn't. 

Not here. Not with everyone from school watching. I couldn't suffer the humiliation of everyone knowing I was used and dumped.

So I did what I do best. I lied.

"I, uh—" I stuttered, tugging at my glasses. "I came for a book signing event. Eden Vale's new release dropped today, so yeah." 

Ava's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, the Eden Vale lady? You came all the way here for that and didn't tell me?"

"It was kind of a last minute thing," I said, avoiding her eyes.

She didn't look totally convinced, but she let it slide.

"Okay, well, I'll forgive you for that. But, you're staying for the party," she said, grabbing both my hands.

I frowned slightly. "Wait, what party?"

"Nate Henderson's birthday party of course. I thought I told you about it some weeks ago."

Oh! That explains why a lot of guys from school were at the lobby. Can't believe the bastard still had the time to screw a girl even on his birthday.

It's such a shame to be sharing the same birthday as him. Yuck!

I brushed the thoughts off my mind as quickly as they came. I didn't want to think about Nate or Ashton or Elaine.

"Ava,. I —"

"No, No! Don't even start!" She cut me off. " You always go home and lock yourself in your room with your books. Just this once, loosen up, okay?"

I rolled my eyes, considering it for a second. And for the first time in my life, I felt that staying at a party was better than going home.

Because if I went home now, I'd just sit there in my room, replaying the betrayal scene. I'd cry myself sick and wake up tomorrow feeling exactly the same.

Maybe even worse.

Screw it. I could as well just drown my broken heart into alcohol and loud music.

I'd just have to lie to mom that I slept over at Ava's.

"Fine, I'll stay," I said. "But only because you're annoying and I can't deal with you whining about it for the next month."

"Yes!" Ava squealed and bounced on her feet like I'd just told her she won the lottery. 

"But first—" she looked me over, wrinkling her nose, "—we gotta fix this. You cannot walk into that party looking like this." 

"Wow, thanks."

"I'm just being honest." She was already digging through her bag, and after a second of rummaging, she pulled out a folded bundle of fabric and shoved it into my arms. 

"Here. Spare outfit. I packed it for myself in case I got too drunk and puked on my dress, but you need it more than me right now."

I stared down at it. "Ava,—"

"Just say yes already." She said, already steering me toward the elevators. 

"Nate booked the entire hotel tonight. Like, the whole building. So everyone's just picking rooms. Go grab one, get changed, and I'll go get us drinks. Meet me back down here in like twenty?"

She didn't even give me the chance to say anything, she just pushed me into the elevator.

"Twenty minutes! Don't chicken out on me!"

Okay. New plan. I told myself. Just get through tonight.

The room I picked was on the third floor. I quickly locked the door behind me and began peeling off my hoodie and shorts.

I was down to just my singlet and panties, when my phone buzzed on the bed.

A notification.

NEW CHAPTER ALERT: Eden Vale just posted!!

My whole body lit up. I forgot the party for a second—Eden Vale updates were rare, and I'd been waiting for this one for literal weeks.

I dove onto the bed, grabbed my phone, and tapped the notification before I could even think twice.

Big fucking mistake!

The new chapter was a sex scene.

A very hot one.