Chapter 02: Hey You

CELIA’S POV

I stared at him, completely confused by his last words.

His expression remained serious for another second before he suddenly chuckled.

“Forget it. I was joking.”

I narrowed my eyes on him.

“That wasn't funny.”

“I know,” he admitted with a grin. “But you should have seen your face.”

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my drink, trying to ignore the strange feeling that had settled in my chest.

There was definitely something odd about this man.

Something I couldn't quite explain.

But perhaps that was exactly what I needed tonight.

I stole another glance at him, only to find amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Careful, sweetheart. Keep looking at me like that and I might start getting ideas.”

Heat rushed to my face as I quickly reached for my shot glass, nearly knocking it over in my embarrassment.

I hadn’t even noticed that I had been biting my lip.

“Another one please,” I mumbled to the bartender.

As I downed the fourth drink, I noticed his electric eyes watching me.

“What kind of heartbreak would make a girl show up in a bar drinking so much?” He asked me. 

“What kind of boredom would make a man not mind his business?” I retorted, feeling a little annoyed.

“Wow, I just wanted to ease your tension a bit,” he said, raising his hands in surrender and I felt bad. 

“Well,” I started, turning towards him. “It isn’t just a broken heart that I am trying to heal from, I am also trying to heal from a three year betrayal. My boyfriend just announced to the whole pack that he was using me to pass the time.” 

I revealed, wondering if that could be considered over sharing.

“I don’t know who he is, but he is definitely an idiot for passing on a girl like you,” he said, his eyes beaming with sincerity.

And for the first time that night, I felt better.

“You must be freezing,” he said suddenly, taking off his jacket and putting it over my body. As his hands touched my body, I felt a jolt through my skin. 

I looked into his eyes and it felt like he felt it too.

“Want another drink?” he asked and my eyes lowered to his beautiful mouth again.

I should go home.

My mind was screaming that I was too heartbroken and too drunk to be sitting in a bar with a stranger, but I didn't want to leave.

I wanted to keep looking into those electric blue eyes, and I wanted to forget the pain in my chest, even if it was only for a few hours.

Without thinking too much about what I was doing, I stood up and kissed him.

His eyes widened in surprise, as though he genuinely hadn't expected me to make the first move.

I immediately felt embarrassed.

“Sorry, I'm still a bit drunk and I…”

I didn't get to finish.

His hand gently settled at the back of my head, and he pulled me closer, kissing me back.

The kiss was slow at first, almost hesitant, as though he was giving me one last chance to change my mind.

When I didn't pull away, his lips became more demanding, and a shiver travelled through me as his tongue brushed against mine.

I closed my eyes, afraid that if I opened them, the moment would disappear.

His teeth grazed my lower lip, drawing a soft moan from me before he suddenly pulled away.

I stared at him, breathless.

“Why did you stop?”

His lips curved into a teasing smile.

“I don't normally do this, but…”

“But what?” I asked impatiently, suddenly forgetting all about my drink.

He glanced toward the door before looking back at me.

“Do you want to get out of here?”

A nervous thrill ran through me.

I smiled, biting my lip.

“I thought you would never ask.”

We made our way to a motel near the bar, and by the time we reached the room, I was already breathless from the kisses we had barely managed to break.

His leg kicked the door shut behind us before his lips found mine again. This time, there was nothing hesitant about the kiss. One hand gripped my waist and dragged me against his hard body while the other slid into my hair, tilting my head as his tongue pushed between my lips.

A moan escaped me before I could swallow it.

I had spent three years saving myself for Matt, imagining that my first time would belong to the man I loved. I had imagined soft kisses, whispered promises and waking up the next morning knowing I had given myself to someone who would eventually become my husband.

Yet here I was, allowing a stranger whose name I didn't even know to kiss me in ways Matt never had.

I didn't want to think about Matt.

I wanted to forget him.

His fingers found the buttons of my trench coat and slowly undid them one after another. 

The coat slipped from my shoulders and dropped to the floor, but his eyes never left me. His gaze moved shamelessly down my body before returning to my face, and the hunger I saw there made heat pool between my thighs.

“You are fucking beautiful,” he murmured.

I almost laughed from nervousness, but the sound turned into a gasp when his lips found my neck. He sucked the sensitive skin beneath my ear while his hands travelled down my back, gripping my hips and pulling me firmly against him.

That was when I felt how hard he was.

My breath caught.

He lifted his head, his electric blue eyes burning into mine. “Nervous?”

“A little.”

His thumb brushed my lower lip. “We can stop.”

“No.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “No?”

I curled my fingers into the front of his shirt and pulled him closer.

“Help me forget about him.”

The last trace of restraint disappeared from his face.

His mouth crashed against mine, and suddenly his hands were everywhere. My clothes disappeared between desperate kisses until the backs of my knees struck the bed and I fell onto the mattress.

He came down over me.

The sight of his naked body made my stomach tighten with nerves, but there was no time to hide my reaction before his mouth found mine again.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

I forced my eyes open.

His gaze held mine as he settled between my thighs, and for the first time, fear mixed with the desire burning through me.

This was really happening.

I was really about to lose my virginity to a stranger.

He kissed me again as he pushed inside me.

Pain ripped through me.

“Fuck!”

My back arched off the mattress and my fingernails dug into his shoulders as my entire body tightened instinctively around him.

He froze.

“Shit.”

His breathing was harsh against my face as he stared down at me, confusion replacing the lust in his eyes.

Then he seemed to understand.

“You're a fucking virgin?”

Embarrassment burned through me.

I turned my face away, but his hand caught my chin and brought my gaze back to him.

“You didn't tell me.”

“I didn't think I needed to.”

“Goddess, I would have…”

“Don't stop.”

His jaw clenched.

“Don't fucking say that unless you mean it.”

“I mean it.”

He remained completely still inside me, his chest rising and falling heavily while he searched my face.

I tightened my arms around his neck.

“I want you.”

“Fuck.”

The word came out like a growl.

He lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me much more slowly as he allowed my body time to adjust around him. The pain was still there when he began moving again, but his thrusts were careful now, shallow enough that I could breathe through the discomfort.

I clung to him.

“Does it hurt?”

“A little.”

He immediately stopped.

“No.” I grabbed his shoulders. “Keep going.”

His blue eyes darkened.

“You're going to fucking kill me.”