Chapter 6

Riley

If sin had a scent, I imagined it would smell like him, masculine, handsome, breathtaking, but not clinging onto another woman.

I had fantasized walking into Carl’s apartment swaying my hips, smiles plastered on my face, and seeing that perfect smile across his lips when he sees me.

But this? This wasn’t the fantasy. 

“Riley…” His mouth parted, his pupils dilated, not from lust anymore, they were filled with guilt.

The blonde jerked, picking up her top, she covered her chest. “What the hell?” Her smiles disappeared moment after, she glanced from Carl to me, curiously.

Tears clustered my eyes, it dropped before I could stop it, but I quickly lowered my gaze, I couldn't stare anymore, my heart was bleeding now.

“I am sorry…” My voice cracked, I shouldn't be the one apologizing, but I couldn’t help it. “I will be outside…” I turned to leave.

“No. I am sorry Riley!” Carl called out, buttoning his shirt. “You weren’t supposed to be here until an hour…”

I squeezed my eyes shut, he was right. I had left school in a hurry, left my friends, took a taxi instead of a bus, and barged into his house without knocking.

“My class ended early.” I lied. “Figured I would surprise you…” I glanced at the woman. “Looks like I did.” 

“Riley.” Carl took a step forward. “This is Nora, Nora, Riley.” 

“His goddaughter.” I added immediately, Carl squinted in confusion, but I ignored him and put my bag on the sofa.

Why should I run away? I would be staying here from now on, the person who ought to leave was her, this stranger… she must be his fling. He was at the age to have one.

Nora wore her top and flashed me a smile. “Oh, right, the teenager you told me about, she is cute.”  I blinked, he told her about me?

Teenager?

I clenched my jaw. That was like a punch on my gut, but there was no way I wouldn’t retort.

I smiled sweetly. “And you must be his flavor of the moment.” 

“Riley!” Carl called out, his voice was sharp, he was warning me, but I ignored it.

I let my eyes roam over him slowly, shamelessly, his hair was disheveled from Nora's touch, his collar open, and his belt unbuckled.

Carl is a matured man, it's normal if he has desires, whereas he isn't aware of mine yet, and he needs someone to please him for the moment.

“No darling, I am his fiancée.” Nora stretched her hand for a handshake and my mind went blank.

“You are his what?” I blinked, I must have heard wrong, there was no way in hell that she is his…

“She is my fiancée, Riley.” Carl interrupted my thoughts, confirming what she had just said and I took a step back.

No way!

Fiancée?

No!

My heart was consumed not only with pain, I felt it all at once, it ached, it bled, I screamed in my head.

It can't be!

“Riley, you will be seeing a lot of Nora now.” Carl says.

I grabbed my bag, angry to say a word, angry to look at his face, too disappointed to glance at Nora, I stepped closer, refusing to shed another tears. I brushed past them towards the stairs, I didn’t know his house very well, but I just wanted to go to a place where I could cry without being seen.

I clenched the rail and halted on the first step. “Don't worry, I won’t make it awkward, I will stay out of your way, just pretend I am not even here.” My voice cracked.

“Riley…” 

I turned just enough to meet his eyes. “I am not here to behave, Carl, so maybe you shouldn’t either.” My eyes darted to Nora.

Perhaps he wants me to understand, to act like a kid since I was left under his car, but I won’t anymore, not after witnessing that.

I headed upstairs, glad I saw his raw desires. He can act out, he can kiss her all he want, but I have not waited for him all these years to back down now.

I went into the guest room and saw my suitcase, the one he had taken with him earlier today. I reckoned this would be my room.

I began unpacking my suitcase like a woman preparing for war.

I carefully placed my folded lingerie, sleep shorts that barely covered my ass, and thigh high stockings on the top of the closet where Carl could see them if he ever walks in.

I caught my reflection in the mirror and stared at myself.

Long brown loose waves, plump lips, I look grown and shouldn’t be called a teenager, but I looked nothing like the blonde Nora.

I sighed.

I knew I was beautiful, sexy when I wear tight dresses that brings out my curves.

I wasn't just some large eyed little girl with silly crush anymore, I was seventeen, legal in two weeks, and I had spent the last five years thinking about one man.

Carl fucking Walsh!

The man I wanted more than breath itself. I used to think it was innocent how I reacted to the sound of his voice.

How I memorized the way his hands moved when he talked, the veins in his forearms, the way he never smiled fully unless he was looking at me.

But, it wasn’t innocent, it was pure obsession!

And now that I was under his roof with his fiancée temporarily in the way, I know exactly what I needed to do.

Seduce him!

I sat across from Carl and Nora at the dining table, staring at the roasted chicken and expensive wine Nora prepared for dinner.

I rolled my eyes when Nora began talking about wedding venues, some vineyard in Napa, amazing sunset. 

Blah, blah, blah…

She looked so excited about the upcoming wedding, while Carl only responded politely. I frowned each time I saw Nora touch him, she was doing it constantly, and it was as if I wasn't here.

I clenched my cutlery, slicing into my food like I didn't want to drive a fork through Nora’s perfect little cleavage.

“Riley, when are you graduating high school?” Nora asked, turning her attention to me, smiling at me like she wasn’t just moaning on Carl's lips an hour ago.

“In a few months,” I responded, I wish she never asked, but glad she did, now Carl would know I aren't little anymore, I will be in college soon.

“Will you be going to the senior formal after your last exams?” 

“Maybe,” I stabbed a cherry tomato, wishing she would stop talking to me.

“Do you have a date?”

I bit down my lower lips out of frustration at her question, and tilted my head at her. “No, but I will find someone, boys are easy.”

Carl's fork clinked too hard against his plate, I didn’t look at him, not yet, but I could feel his gaze on me.

If I have to be a bad girl to get an attention from Carl, I will gladly do it, he needs to know I am no longer the little fourteen year old Riley.