Page 23 of Loving Bad

CHAPTER SEVEN

Taylor

When I woke up, it was still dark. I hadn't meant to fall asleep. I wasn't sure if it was okay to spend the night or not. I turned to look at Sin. He lay on his stomach, peacefully asleep. I smiled at the sleeping guy who had given me such an earth-shattering experience. My cheeks blushed at the memories of what we'd done.

I was still a little tender between my legs, but I felt empowered. I had taken control of my life and made the decision to lose my virginity. And now that I had, I felt more confident and sure of myself. Little by little I was building up the person I wanted to be, the person who lived life to the fullest. It was wasted life to hold back because of fear. I believed in the saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I was living proof of it. Surviving a horror in my childhood had taught me that.

In the darkness, I slipped out of the bed and began to pick up my clothes. I got dressed as quietly as I could, trying not to wake up Sin. I wanted to be able to slip out without having that awkward moment with him if he woke up. Besides, what did you say to the guy who helped take your virginity? "Thank you" just didn't seem right.

Once I was done, I walked to the side of the bed. For a moment, I looked at Sin still sleeping in the bed. I smiled and let my eyes drift over him. He had been mine for one night, and I savored it for a few more moments.

Our night was over, and he wasn't mine anymore.

Quietly I slipped out of his room and made my way downstairs. The house was dark and quiet. I descended the stairs and walked to the front door.

"Leaving so soon?" I heard Slater's voice. I gasped as my heart slammed into my chest from the fright. I was still clutching my chest when I turned to glare at him. I found the outline of his form sitting in a chair in the living room.

"Do you have to keep doing that to me?" I said as I glared at him.

"Yes," he replied. "It's fun."

"What are you doing sitting in the living room in the dark anyway?" I asked.

"I couldn't sleep so I came down here. I like the dark," he replied lazily. That had been twice that he'd caught me leaving the house at an early hour.

"You don't sleep much, do you?" I asked.

"No," he replied with a sigh. An awkward silence settled between us. He wasn't going to elaborate on why he didn't sleep.

"I’d better go," I said as I turned to leave.

"Do you have a car or are you walking?" he asked.

"I'm walking." It wasn't far from the dorm.

"You can't walk home now," he said, standing up. "It's like four in the morning and it's not safe."

"I'll be fine," I tried to insist. I had a can of mace in my bag. When I'd made my decision to leave home to go to college, Connor had bought it for me. He'd insisted I carry it in my bag as a precaution.

I didn't want still to be in the house when Sin woke up. He might think I was one of those girls who couldn't let go, and I didn't want him to think that. I knew what happened between us was never going to amount to anything more than one night of great sex.

"If you insist on leaving now, I'll have to walk you," he warned in a serious tone.

"Really, I'll be fine," I insisted again, reaching for the door handle. I opened the door and stepped outside. But when I tried to close the door, Slater stopped me. He'd followed me out.

"You really don't have to do this," I said, feeling exasperated that he wouldn't listen to me.

"Yes, I do," he said with a determined voice.

"Fine," I said as I began to walk. He caught up with me and walked beside me. For a few minutes, we walked side by side in silence.

"So, what made you decide to go to college?" he asked conversationally.

I contemplated his question. I shrugged my shoulders.

"It's what most people do when they finish high school. Why did you decide to go?" I turned his question around on him. He was silent for a little while.