Page 11 of Tempted

He sits on the edge of the bed and palms theback of my neck, pulling my face close to his. A firm but gentlesqueeze ensures I’m looking in his eyes.

“I got you. I won’t let anything happen toyou, Raven. I promise.”

“But –”

“You trust me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then trust that I’ll protect you, no matterwhat.”

I bite into my bottom lip and nod. Idotrust him, and after seeing him in action last night, Itrust him with my life.

“Good,” he says, rising and grabbing hisboxers off the bed.That reminds me.

“I asked Chrissy to bring me some clothes.Think you could get Ron to pick her up?”

“Sure, babe.”

He taps something out on his phone thentosses it on the bed. I stare at it as he heads to the bathroom.I’ve never seen a guy do that…ever. He not only left one, buttwophones sitting around. He either has nothing to hide ortrusts me enough to know I won’t go through them. Either way, hejust earned major points. I grab my own phone and check Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram. Chris has updated his status to “single”and removed his profile picture of the two of us.Well,then. It stings, but at least he hasn’t posted anythingnasty about me. Despite Chrissy’s advice, I try calling him. Hisphone goes straight to voicemail. I take a deep breath and wait forthebeep.

“Chris...I know I’m the last person you wantto talk to, but...I just need you to know that I never wanted tohurt you. I should have been honest with you. There are a lot ofthings I should have done, and I’m sorry. It won’t change anything,but I am. I’m sorry.”

I hang up and just lie there, staring intospace. I didn’t ask for forgiveness because frankly, I don’tdeserve it. If he responds by calling me a lying, cheating cunt, Iwouldn’t blame him. I deserve to be called every name in the bookin addition to any new ones he can come up with. He doesn’t replythough, and it makes me feel that much worse.

Chrissy’s voice precedes a knock on the door.I check the time on my phone and realize I’ve been lying here foralmost an hour. Gage is still in the shower. Damn. He must berunning a marathon in there.

“Come in.”

Ron opens the door, greeting me as he ushersChrissy in. “Hey, Raven.”

“Hey, Ron. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

They make googly eyes at each other and thenhe leaves, walking backwards so they’re still looking at eachother. Once he’s gone, Chrissy closes the door and drops mybackpack on the bed before climbing in next to me, handing me apaper bag from McDonald’s.

“Got you breakfast,” she says in a sing-songvoice.

“Thanks,” I reply as I lean over andabsentmindedly kiss her cheek.

“Thank your man. It was his idea.”

“He’s not my man.” Technically...or not yet?I don’t even know what we are to each other.

“Whatever.”

Realizing my mood, she furrows her brows andtucks my hair behind my ear.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just don’t like myself right now.”

“He’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I called him,” I say quietly.

“Ray, I told you not to.” She scolds me.