"Hey," I say, creeping out from behind the stone pillar that had been holding up my lean frame. A deep, crushing embarrassment wells up inside me. I sincerely just want the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
"Have fun?" he says, that maddening smirk still plastered on his face. The kind of smirk that makes my heart skip a beat, despite every effort to will it into submission. I don't know why the universe allows anyone to look this good, only to end up being so insufferable. Aaliyah's voice echoes in my head: A pretty boy is a blessing, but a pretty boy who knows he's pretty is a curse. Reid Carter is undeniably both.
"Fun?" I echo, the word sounding hollow as my stomach knots itself into a pretzel.
"Yeah, spying on my conversation," he teases, stepping closer. The distance between us shrinks so fast that my breath catches in my throat. His towering frame looms over meâhe must be at least 188 cm, while I barely scrape by at 165 cm.
"I wasn't exactly doing that," I fumble, trying to hold onto some semblance of composure. "I just came out here to take a call and... and..."
"And?" he prods, leaning down. The movement brings his face dangerously close to mine, and my pulse races.
"Uhm, I should go. I think my friends are calling me," I blurt out, scrambling to grab my vibrating phone from my bag. In my panic, I hold it upside down, pressing it hastily to my ear.
He arches an eyebrow, his smile growing wider. "Your phone, love," he says, voice dripping with amusement, "it's upside down."
I glance down, horror-stricken, at the device in my hand. He's right. Can someone please dig a hole deep enough for me to crawl into?
Reid steps forward, plucking the phone from my grip with an effortless charm. He holds it to his ear, his voice rich with mischief. "Hello, this is Reid," he says. My heart sinks. Why, of all things, does he have to answer my phone?
I lunge to grab it back, but he holds it out of reach. Curse his ridiculous height advantage. "Yes, the Reid Carter," he says, his voice taking on that particular amused tone, and I smack my palm against my forehead. This cannot be happening.
"Well, terribly sorry about that," he says, and I frown, curious. Sorry for what, exactly?
He pauses, the corners of his mouth lifting into a grin that could only be described as diabolical. "All right then, you can go. I'll drive her back," he adds, the playful mischief evident in his voice.
Waitâdid he just tell my friends to leave without me? More importantly, did he actually say he'd be driving me home? My heart launches into panic mode. Without thinking, I jump up, desperately reaching for my phone. But he's quicker, effortlessly cutting the call and placing my phone back into my stunned, outstretched hands.
"Relax," he says, a hint of laughter coloring his words. That same playful smile is still dancing on his lips, and the sight makes my pulse race in a way I'd rather it didn't. His gaze holds mine, and I'm suddenly aware of how close we're standing. Everything about him, from the infuriating smirk to the teasing glint in his eyes, seems to exude an effortless confidenceâone that has me flustered beyond reason.
"What was that about?" I manage, half afraid to know.
"Your friendâMaddy, isn't it?âis a bit worse for wear, so they've decided to head home. They said you'd be fine with me driving you back." He pauses, his grin nothing short of devilish. "Which means you're stuck with me." Really Lila?
My stomach twists. Stuck with Reid Carter. He seems entirely too pleased with himself. I spin around, hoping to catch up with my friends before they disappear into the night, but his laughter pulls me back.
"Where do you think you're off to?" he calls, trailing behind me. "They've gone, Isla. And I'd really rather you didn't get lost."
I pull out my phone again, frantically swiping to open the Lyft app. Reid snatches it away, and I look up at him, frustration bubbling over. "Why're you in such a rush to leave?" he asks, eyes glinting with interest.
"I'm not exactly in my comfort zone here," I reply, crossing my arms. "My friends are gone, and I don't know anyone else at this party."
He cocks his head, a playful glint in his eye. "And what am I, then? Chopped liver?" He gestures to himself, and I roll my eyes, trying to ignore how easy he makes everything feel.
"Stay," he says, tugging gently on my arm. "One more hour won't kill you. Besides, I'm the one who invited you here, remember?" His expression is almost boyish, playful.
"Fine," I mumble, cursing my own weakness. Why am I so susceptible to his charm? We've established that Reid Carter is trouble, yet here I am, agreeing to stick around.
Weak. Pathetic. My inner voice is relentless. I watch him interact with people as we head back inside, his easy charisma drawing everyone in. He lets go of my arm to hug a few of his mates, even flashing a cheeky smile at some girls. Yet, every time he reaches back for my hand, my heart does that ridiculous flutter.
The music is a pounding rhythm that vibrates through my chest. We climb a narrow staircase, and I notice how his hand never leaves mine, guiding me like a lifeline. At the top, he pulls me into a quiet hallway, lined with doors.
He pauses in front of one, pushing it open and gesturing for me to enter. Inside, the noise from the party fades to a dull hum. The room is a bedroom, sparsely furnishedâa bed, a desk, an open closet with clothes spilling out. My grip on the door handle tightens.
Whose bedroom was this, and why on earth did I end up here? I never even questioned where we were goingâI just followed him blindly, like a complete fool. Kidnapping me would be embarrassingly easy.
He walks over to the bed, tossing his jacket onto the unmade sheets. Underneath, he's wearing a fitted vest that clings to his frame. He grabs a pack of cigarettes from the desk, shaking one loose and raising an eyebrow in my direction.
I shake my head. He chuckles, setting it aside when he doesn't find a lighter. Instead, he flops down onto the bed, phone in hand, legs stretched out.
Um, what's happening? He brought me here, and now he's just... silent. It feels like that car ride all over again. I glance at him, his long legs dangling over the edge of the bed as he lies sprawled out beside a pile of clothes. His arms flex as he holds his phone above his face, and I catch a glimpse of ink peeking out from under his sleeves. Was it crazy that I wanted to march over there and push his sleeves up, just to get a better look?
My phone buzzes. Reid had handed it back as we climbed the stairs. I pull it out of my purse to check the notification. Reid Carter liked your photo. My eyes widen. Three more notifications follow, each announcing that he's liked more of my posts. Was he going through my IG while I stood here?
"What am I doing here?" I ask, my voice a bit steadier than I expected. Reid's gaze shifts to me, unreadable.
"Would you rather be downstairs, love?" His voice has a hard edge now, a flicker of something I can't quite place.
"That's not what I mean," I say, trying to keep up with the conversation. "Why'd you convince me to stay? Why are you liking my pictures and why did you follow me?"
He smirks. "You liked one of mine, too," he says, his accent wrapping around the words in a way that sends a shiver down my spine. "Quite an old one, if I remember correctly."
"That was a mistake," I insist, heat rising to my cheeks.
Reid's phone drops onto the bed as he stands, moving toward me. I instinctively back up until I'm pressed against the door. His hand rests above my head, trapping me.
"Tell me why you liked that picture, Isla," he murmurs, his free hand finding my waist and pulling me closer. His breath is warm, his scent intoxicating. The memory of that night on the hill rushes back, making my head spin.
"I told youâit was a mistake," I stammer, but my voice wavers, betraying me.
He brushes his thumb across my lips, parting them slightly. My entire body reacts, a surge of electricity coursing through me. His touch, his closeness, the intensity in his gazeâit's all too much.
"I don't believe that," he whispers, his lips ghosting over mine. "I think you remember that hill. I think you'd like me to finish what I started that day."
My mind goes blank. The only thing I can think about is wishing he would stop teasing me and finally claim my lips. I had imagined it so many times over the years, since it almost happened at that hill. Maybe it's Maddy's pre-game mixâor definitely thatâbecause I'm blaming it for this sudden surge of courage. My hands slip around his neck, which he's lowered to meet my level.
His eyes widen in surprise as I close the distance between us, and he instinctively stands to his full height, lifting me off the ground with my hands still looped around his shoulders.
Isla, get it together. Under Journal entry: my romantic daydreams, your first kiss was supposed to be perfect, just like Mum and Dad's. After a disastrous but charming date, he'd drive you home, walk you to the door, and nervously shift on his heels, waving goodbye for the seventh time. Then, just as You'd turn to unlock the door, he'd pull you back and kiss you senseless, and you'd finally feel the sparks... just like mum.... My inner voice reminds me but I shut her up. If she didn't notice, I was way past logical reasoning now.
Yeah, right. Reid, with his stupid, smug grin, had ruined that fantasy. His hands slide to just below my bum as he grabs my legs and hoists me higher. My cheeks burn pink, especially since my gown has ridden up and his hands are now on my waist. He walks us to the door, and my back presses against it.
This definitely wasn't how I pictured my first kissâmessy, impulsive, in a stranger's bedroom at a party. But with Reid, everything feels reckless and exhilarating.
"You should finish what you started," I say, using his own words against him, breathless. He leans in, his forehead almost brushing mine, and I can feel his breath, warm and shallow. His eyes lock on mine, and everything seems to slow down. His mouth hovers over mine, so close I can almost taste the promise of his kiss. My heart pounds as I tilt my head, ready to close the gap-
He grins, eyes darkening as his lips finally crash into mine. My whole body stills, his kiss was intoxicating but I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. I was just following his lead. His teeth graze my lower lips before they bite on them softly. I moan loudly and this causes him to chuckle before pulling away. My cheeks are flushed, was it obvious it was my first time? Is that why he pulled away?
We're both a panting mess. His thumbs find my lips again and they part them, dragging the bottom one before slipping it into my mouth. My eyes widen, but there's something dark about his expression, his eyes, that have me clamping my legs tighter and aching in between them. We both stare at each other wordless. The only sounds to be heard were probably my beating heart and the quiet breaths between us. His thumb is still in my mouth and his eyes are still zeroed in on them, he's about to speak when suddenly, a loud knock at the door startles us both. The handle rattles, and a muffled voice calls out. "Oi, Carter! Open up. We need to talk."
Reid's expression hardens, and he pulls his hands out and whispers, "Stay quiet, love." His eyes flick to the door, and I can't help but wonderâwho's on the other side, and what do they want with him? And more importantly, couldn't they wait just five more minutes........
ððð
Hey lovelies, this chapter took a while right? ðð
I'm sorry. With work and my other project hanging over my head...... it's a whole lot. I hope you enjoy and pls don't forget to vote and comment. I may not reply but I enjoy reading every single one of them..... till next time. Love y'all