Page 8 of Obsession on Repeat (Vinyl Hearts #1)

I couldn’t sleep. It had been several hours since he had left.

I cursed myself for thinking about him. Switching sides, I glanced at the alarm clock, the bright red numbers taunting me.

My apartment was dark. I had called out of work, telling Danny I was sick, but we both knew better.

I had left the front door unlocked in case he returned without my knowing.

Deep inside, I realized he might never come back.

I sat up at the sound of the door opening and shutting. Slipping free from my sheets, I tiptoed into my living room and froze at the sight of the figure standing in the darkness. I knew right away it wasn't Sullivan, the large frame alarmingly different .

"Get out of my apartment." My voice shook as I took several steps back in case I needed to take a break for the bathroom or the kitchen. "Whoever you are, I’m armed."

"Somehow I doubt that."

The living room light flipped on, and I blinked quickly to focus on the man standing there. He was bald with a goatee, tall, and broad-shouldered. By the mere sight of his muscular frame, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make it far before he was upon me. "Who are you?"

"I’m Colin. You must be Rory."

"Colin what?"

"Wilson."

"Well, no offense, Colin Wilson, but maybe you should get the fuck out of my apartment before I call the cops." Gaining a bit of confidence, I crossed my arms and tried my best to look intimidating. "Do you always enter apartments uninvited?"

He chuckled, glancing around before he focused back on me. "Do you always leave your door unlocked? Besides, Sully invited me. Well, before your major throw-down earlier this morning. I came to get his jacket."

I hesitated. "He told me he was coming back."

"Why? So, you can fight again and tear him up more than you already have?" He shook his head. "Besides, he wouldn’t make it back in one piece to your place anyway."

Fear suddenly took the place of my shock. "Is he hurt? What happened? "

"If you call stone drunk being hurt, then yeah."

I frowned. "What can I do to help?"

"You can get his jacket for me. I need to get back. He’s at Venom by himself."

"What’s he doing there?"

"Your friend, Alice, found my number. She called me after he became too drunk to stand up on his own. I have to tell you, you’ve worked my friend over good, lady. You’re a piece of work."

I twisted my hands nervously. "I never meant to hurt him. Things are complicated. We’re from two different worlds, and…" I stopped when he interrupted me by laughing. "What?"

"What gives you the right to decide that for him?"

"You’re angry because he’s your friend, I get that. I’m okay with that, hate me if it makes you feel better, but it won’t change my decision."

He stared at me with pure disbelief written all over his face. "That’s great for you, but Sully adores you, and he wants to be with you. That’s not going to change either."

"What would you have me do?"

"I’d say follow your heart, but we both know you’re not listening to anything it has to say. Are you sure it’s beating?"

"That’s uncalled for, Mr. Wilson."

"No, what’s uncalled for stringing my best friend along and trampling his heart. Was that the plan all along? Get a celebrity to fall for you then sell him out after your fun was over?"

"Fuck you, you don’t know shit about me. We’re done talking." I walked into the kitchen and returned with Sullivan’s jacket. "I believe this is what you were looking for."

Colin took it from me but paused when I didn’t let go. "Is there something else you want to deny while I’m here?"

"I want to come with you."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea."

I tugged the jacket toward me. "I work there; I can get you in and out faster without making much of a scene. You’re going to need me." I released the jacket. "Please."

Frowning, he studied me for a few seconds. "Fine, let’s go."

Venom was packed to the rafters, but I barely noticed as Colin steered me toward the bar. Sullivan was slumped over on a stool, Alice behind the bar attempting to talk to him.

She looked up in relief when she spotted us. "About time you showed back up!" She gestured at Sullivan resting his head on the bar. "I cut him off twenty minutes ago."

"I’m fine!" He swayed back, almost tipping off the stool, but Colin reached out to hold him steady. He glanced over his shoulder. "Hey, buddy!"

"Hey, man. It’s time to get you out of here."

"But I’m not ready!"

Colin clamped his hand down on Sullivan’s shoulder. "Let’s go and get you into bed."

"Hey, my jacket! You found it."

"Of course I did. You told me where to find it."

"Right, I did! I…" He finally spotted me. "Why are you here?"

"I work here. Please, let’s go."

"I love you!" He shouted the words, shoving away from the bar, and Colin steadied him as people around us took notice of the commotion. "I love you so much, Lorelai."

Cursing, I ignored the whispers that managed to float towards us from over the loud music. "I’m going to have to speak to whoever is DJing about this music. It’s-" I jumped when Sullivan grabbed my arms.

"Tell me you love me."

"You two can be all lovey-dovey in the car. We need to go before we cause a scene." Colin glanced around, nodding at a couple of people looking our way. "More than we already have. "

I looked around, shifting nervously. "Yes, please."

"Not until she tells me how she feels!" He tightened his grip on my arms. "I want to hear it, Rory!" He chuckled, swaying slightly. "Damn, I have had way too much to drink!"

"Yes, we can tell," I sighed. "I love you. Let’s go."

"Aw, you don’t mean it!" He let me go and grabbed a random club attendee passing by. "She doesn’t love me, dude."

I managed to wedge myself between them and pushed the man away who scrambled back into the crowd unnoticed. I grabbed his face and pressed my lips against his. "It’s time to go." I couldn’t help but laugh as he tried to kiss me again. "Stop that!"

Colin grunted, glaring at me before he focused on his friend. "Sully, if I have to carry you out over my shoulder, I will."

"No need." I grabbed Sullivan’s hand and puckered my lips, laughing as he smiled and followed me. "Let’s go."

"Don’t forget my jacket!"

"I’ve got your damn jacket!" Shaking his head, Colin followed us.

"Here we go. One more step." I helped Colin shift Sullivan onto the bed. I watched him flop onto it, his arms and legs sprawled out. "Can you get some water from the kitchen, please?" I directed the request to Colin. "There’s also a bottle of Tylenol in the cabinet above the sink."

He disappeared, leaving me to strip Sullivan down to his boxers and pull back the covers on the bed.

"You’re… so trying to get me naked." His eyes were closed, the words coming out slurred. "I knew you couldn’t resist me."

"You’re going to have one hell of a headache in the morning."

"Good. It’ll take attention away from how bad my heart hurts."

Frowning, I watched him snuggle into my pillow. Colin reappeared beside me, and I took the glass along with the Tylenol. I sat the glass on the end table, lowering myself beside him. I retrieved two pills then placed the bottle beside the glass. "Sullivan…"

"Go away. "

"I will as soon as you take some medicine and drink some water." He grunted again, his face pressed into my pillow. "Come on, you’ll feel better once you do. How about a hot shower?"

"No shower." He rolled over onto his back, reaching out to caress my face. "You’re so beautiful."

"You’re so drunk. Take these." I passed him the water. "That’s it; there you go." I watched him chase down the pills with the whole glass. "Good." I took it from him. "Do you want some more water?"

"Stop babying me." His words were stern but came out in a whisper. "Stay with me?"

I glanced over my shoulder and was surprised to see Colin staring down at me.

He retrieved the glass from me. "I left his jacket on the couch. I’m going to take off now. I’ll call his cell phone in the morning and check on him."

"Are you sure? The couch pulls out into a bed. I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you were here, or…" I started to rise from the bed but paused when he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

"I think you have it all under control. I’ll get out of your hair. I’ll call you tomorrow, Eggs." Colin patted Sullivan on the leg.

"I’m sorry finally meeting you wasn’t under better circumstances, but for what it’s worth, I do care about him."

"I know. You’ll work it out." He patted his leg again, chuckling as the other man grunted again from the pillow.

I followed Colin to the front door, locking it behind him. I walked back to the bedroom, lingering in the doorway, unsure of what to say or do next.

Sullivan didn’t lift his head. "I can feel you watching me."

"Is there anything else I can do for you? Are you sure you don’t want a shower or maybe some coffee?"

"Could you turn off the lights?"

I flipped them off, standing there in the dark. I could hear him moving around on the bed. "Anything else?"

"Yes, you can lay down with me."

Ignoring how bad I was suddenly shaking, I slipped into the covers beside him. He threw his arm over my waist, pulling me close, and laid his head onto my chest. I slid my arms around his shoulders, and we were content to remain silent in the darkness.

"Rory…"

I pressed my lips softly against the top of his head. "What do you need?"

His arms tightened around me. "I need you."

I froze as his hand slipped under my shirt and flattened against my stomach. It sent shivers up my spine at the same time a delicious heat sparked in the pit of my stomach.

"Let me touch you." He lifted his head to bury it between my neck and shoulder, his breath hitting my skin tantalizingly. He skimmed his fingers against the curve of my right breast. "I need you so much."

"This isn’t right, you’re drunk."

"No, let’s not take advantage of me again; we can’t have that."

"I never took advantage of you."

"You didn’t?" He lifted his head, and his gaze caught mine. He smirked, his eyes watchful as his hand covered my breast completely. "You’re not wearing a bra again."

"I was in bed, and I was in a hurry to get to you."

"Don’t you want me?"

I stroked the side of his face tenderly. "That’s not the problem. You should get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow isn’t going to be too pleasant for you."

"I don’t care about that."

"It’s the alcohol talking."

"No, it’s me. The alcohol’s giving me the courage to keep going." He moved his hand down my chest to linger on my hip. He pressed his pelvis against mine, smiling at the strangled sigh that came pouring out of my throat. "Let me make love to you."

I gathered up enough strength to push him away. I freed myself of the sheets, my feet hitting the cold floor. "I need to… I need some water."

"Rory…"

I rushed from the bedroom. Breathing hard, I flattered myself against the refrigerator. It took me several minutes to compose myself, my hands shaking while I filled a glass with water. I forced myself to sip it slowly, and once I finished, I walked back into the bedroom.

I paused in the doorway. He was sound asleep, my pillow clutched tightly against his chest.