Chapter 20

Sitting on my bed, I stare at the ground, oddly quiet today. My brush has been running through my hair so long there isn't a single knot left. My house phone rings loud beside me, sending me straight out of my daze. I walk over to it, holding my towel up around my body. "Hello?" "Hey, Genny... How are you feeling?" It's Andre. "I'm fine." "You sound tired." "Yeah, I guess I am a little tired," I force out, nodding. My mood is depleting as the morning goes by and for no apparent reason other than my mind. "I'm fine though." He laughs. "You are such a bad liar. Always have been, for that matter." "I am not a bad liar." "Yes, you are. Now, spill." "I'm just- it's nothing, Andre. I'm figuring some stuff out, that's it." "Does it have to deal with work? You and I already know that oil exhibit will be wonderful." "It's not that." ".. Is it that guy, Tristan Maddox?" "Yeah." "What do you have to figure out?" "Nothing... I'm just projecting- just ignore me..." I take a deep breath. "When am I going to see you again?" ... My buzzer sounds and I stand up from my couch, having already been ready to go for an hour. Grabbing my purse, I look into the mirror in my living room, pursing my lips together. I have on a tight, black dress with matching flats. The only pop of color on my body is my lips, which are bright red. I touch underneath my eyes, hating the puffiness but unable to help it. Sighing with finality, I walk to the door and open it. Tristan is standing by the stairs, hands in his pockets. He's in a grey suit with a matching tie, looking much more professional than I've seen ever seen him before. He hears the door open and turns, looking at me. "Hey." I smile. "Hi." "You look gorgeous," he murmurs, a soft smile on his lips. I nod, gesturing to him as I step down the stairs slowly. "So do you." He stares back at me, exhaling. I clutch my hands tighter, shrugging awkwardly. "Ready to-" He grabs my face, crushing his lips to mine, cutting me off. I gasp as his hands tangle themselves into my hair, his mouth desperate and telling. The tension from the surprise of the moment dissipates immediately and unable to help it, I moan as he bites down on my bottom lip, pulling slightly before he pushes back. We stare at each other, a silent affirmation before he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. I run my hands through his hair, nodding. Within seconds, I'm in the air, wrapping my legs around his waist as he turns, making his way up the stairs. Stopping at my door, he sets me down, immediately pinning me against the door as I unlock it shakily. His lips are on my shoulder, pulling down my straps by the time I get the damn door open. I slam it shut and lift my dress over my body in a hurry. He does the same, discarding his clothes as if there isn't any time to lose. We connect again, skin to skin. His cock is already hard against me and I don't need foreplay. I don't need anything. I just want to feel him inside me. My worries are nothing right now- they aren't there. This is lust. He lifts me again as we make our way to the bedroom. Opening the door, he kisses me gently before he sets me down onto my feet. "It's so hard to be gentle right now. I want you more than I've ever wanted anything," he whispers, cupping my neck. I nod, understanding. His hands roam down my back slowly as he settles his forehead against mine, our breaths heavy. I close my eyes, feeling the emotion he's trying to show me. "You're such a beautiful person, Genevieve... Just being able to touch you like this- those other guys were idiots. Fucking idiots." I feel an exquisite pain in my chest at his words and hesitating slightly, I kiss him, realizing everything is about to change in my world. He kisses me back, tenderly, as if he's come to terms with that as well. We move towards the bed but this time, he lays me down flat, hovering above me. I breathe heavily against his lips as he looks at me. Suddenly, he closes his eyes, groaning softly. "What?" "I don't have a condom." I sputter, laughing, unable to control myself. "So, this would have really sucked if I weren't already on birth control." "You are?" "Yeah, my pills are right there," I whisper with a smile on my face, pointing to the bottle on my nightstand. He kisses me briefly, chuckling. "Thank god for small miracles." I nod, resting my hands on his back, pulling him towards me already with impaitence. He sinks into me slowly, exquisitely and begins to move in a perfect, slow rhythm against me. We're both conscious of the other- careful with where we touch, how fast we go. He makes love to me passionately and our lips don't detach until were both crying out in ecstasy, unable to keep our moans in any longer. Coming down, he settles himself onto me gently, entwining his fingers with mine on the bed beside us. Trembling, I tilt my chin up, offering him my mouth, which he takes immediately with vigor. After a couple, perfect moments, he moves, lying down next to me on the bed. "Jesus Christ." I nod, moving my damp hair from my face. "Yeah." "I opt that we don't leave this bed ever." "I'm good with that," I murmur, turning onto my side. He's long and toned and completely naked beside me- I can't tear my eyes from him. "Come here," he whispers, holding out his arm. I smile and move into the space, wrapping my arm around his stomach. There are car horns, screaming children, dog's barking- and complete silence coming from this room. "... We should probably talk about yesterday, Gen." I look up at him, nodding before I look back down. "Yeah... You know, I just wanted to say- say that I'm sorry for everything I said. I know I was harsh... and I know you're different from them. It scares me sometimes that you're so different." "After what went down in my apartment, how that looked- I don't blame you for what you said... I want you to know she means nothing to me anymore." I'm unable to hold back the question that has burning in my brain for days now. "Did you love her?"