“No.” I shake my head hard. “I’m not going to get sucked in by you again. You gave me half-hearted bullshit answers. That isn’t good enough, I’m too good for that. I deserve so much more.”
He parts his lips a couple of times but can’t seem to find the words. That isn’t enough for me, I need to get the hell out of here before I lose my head around him again. He was right, I am pushing too hard for someone I barely know. It’s time for me to leave him behind forever. He isn’t good for me, this is toxic, I need to go.
“Just leave me alone, Shane,” I plead. “I’m done here. I never want to see you again.”
Chapter Ten – Shane
I watch her go completely bewildered. Tia Cooke really is a roller coaster. One minute she’s all over me and can’t seem to get enough, the next she’s yelling at me and running off. It’s nuts. I kinda hope it isn’t the end with her though, because I like this fair-ground ride, even if I have absolutely no idea where I stand. The good times with her really outweigh the bad. I just want her to drop wanting to get to know me.
This is why I don’t let anyone close… I don’t need the arguments.
I suppose I could negate this by just telling her the truth, but I absolutely cannot do that. Never. There are reasons that my secrets have to be kept hidden. Reasons that don’t just involve me. I wish I could just explain that to Tia, but I know for a fact that will only raise more questions than it answers.
“Tia…” I call out, but it’s too late. She’s gone. Vanished… for now. “Tia, come back… urgh, what’s the point?” I bite my bottom lip, allowing irritation to get the better of me. “She’s gone. Give it up.”
With a deep sigh and a small shake of my head, I move away from the spot that still has the thick heady scent of sex clinging to it. Good sex as well with someone unexpectedly wild. Sex that will cling to the back of my mind for as long as I live, I just know it. Tia’s mouth all over me was freaking incredible.
Where do I go now? As I head back into the light, which now feels far too bright as it hits my retinas, I know that I need to go somewhere. But where? I’m not in the mood to go back home to brood. I don’t want to head back into the bar, there are too many memories there as well. I want to go somewhere completely separate to Tia, to clear her from my mind. At least for now until our paths cross once more.
I’m sure they will. I’m pretty certain I will end up meeting her again, I just don’t know when. I need something to fill that time until it happens. I stuff my hands into my pockets and walk, unsure as to where I’m headed. I have had many nights out where I don’t exactly know where I’m going to head and I always end up landing on my feet. I’ll find somewhere to get my distractions in the end.
I walk through the noisy streets, passing bars with people spilling out of them, but none of them feel quite right. I don’t head inside until I find a more understated place which for some reason invites me in. It’s purple and red decorated, with low lighting and a sexy atmosphere. I guess the only women that would come into a place like this are looking for something specific. I’m not searching for that myself, but a chat would be good. I might be a bit of a typical playboy but I’m not going to go straight from one woman to the next.
I head over to the bar and order a drink, a strong one to try and push that gorgeous sweetheart face from my mind. While I wait for it to be poured, I drag out my cell phone and stare at the screen. I would text Tia if I could, try and win her around that way despite the fact that I really should just leave it, but luckily I can’t. Instead, all that I can do is look her up online. She must be featured on the Internet somewhere since she made such a big deal about me being nowhere to be found - for a reason, of course - and I want to find her.
“Urgh God,” I murmur as her social media page comes to life on my screen. She’s so beautiful. This picture of hers, taken by someone else as she giggles at something mysterious, makes my heart melt. I am a little jealous of whatever is making her laugh though. I don’t know if I have managed to make her chuckle yet.