Because of You (Because of You 1)

The only thing I admitted to remembering was waking up in the middle of the night, completely naked in the bed, and realizing I sure as hell wasn't alone. I rolled over to look in horror at Derek, who was lying there awake, his head propped up on his elbow.

"Oh no," I said.

A smile slowly spread across his face and his blue eyes twinkled. "Oh yes," he countered.

"Oh no," I groaned, hiding my face in my hands.

"Oh yes," he mocked, lazily reaching a hand over to give me a little caress.

I smacked his hand away immediately. "Don't touch me."

He shrugged, withdrawing his hand. "Too late," he replied simply.

"There's some other explanation for us lying here... naked... together, and I just had a crazy dream, right?"

"Nope. Pretty much the only reason is that we had sex," he replied.

"We don’t even like each other," I said miserably, closing my eyes. "Why?"

"Well, I brought you up here and you started dancing provocatively and sitting in my lap, then you did a little striptease for me—"

"I did not!" I cried, the alcohol haze blocking that from my memory.

"Oh, if you don't believe me, I have proof," he said, his smile worryingly cocky.

I swallowed, a feeling of unease settling in my stomach as I imagined a hickey or some other form of reminder of that night. "What do you mean, you have proof?"

His smile widened. "Well, Nikki, I taped you."

"You taped me?" I repeated in disbelief, my brow furrowing.

"Yeah. I even asked if I could first just to be a gentleman. Actually, you were pretty into it. You're definitely a freak in the sheets," he said, reaching over and tracing a line down my chest, my stomach, lower until I grabbed his hand and glared at him.

"Don't even think about it," I stated, his comment angering me even more.

"Now, now, now, is that any way to talk to the guy who has a very inappropriate video of you? I mean, if I wanted to, I could share this video with everyone."

"I don't believe you," I told him. "I want to see it."

"Do I look that stupid?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied without hesitation.

That caused him to chuckle. "Well, I guess looks can be deceiving.”

I realized then that I didn't have to put up with him, that he was in Stephanie's house and I could kick him out. "You know what, I don't need this; get out of my bed and get out my room."

"Not until we've decided when we'll do this again."

"Oh, right," I said brightly. "Try never."

"Not what you were saying last night," he stated.

“I had drunk-goggles on last night; I probably would have hooked up with a couch if it asked nicely. Regardless, this was a mistake, and it isn’t going to happen again.”

"Wrong," he replied, as if it was his decision.

I scowled at him. “Why would you even want to? You hate me!" I reminded him.