Chapter 5: Five

"What are you doing?" I let out an involuntary scream, jumping back against the dresser in a pathetic attempt to protect myself. He was watching me with knitted brows, his eyes flickering down to my hand and back to my face.

He held out his hand and I gulped, forcing myself to drag mine over and drop the ring into it. His fist curled around it and he jerked his head away in frustration, sliding a leg into his briefs without a single word.

He wasn't even going to comment on it? I mean, I knew that these things weren't exactly emotional or vulnerable affairs, but damn it! I had the right to know if I had just screwed a married man!

I crossed my arms, tapping my foot against the hardwood as he finished pulling up his jeans. My eyes lingered on his damp and flexing muscles, but I willed myself to look away. This bastard was a cheating piece of scum. It didn't matter how sexy he was.

I was beginning to wonder if he had even noticed my frustration when he let out a sigh, sliding his arms back into his shirt that he must've retrieved from the entryway.

"What, Jennifer?" He groaned, rolling his eyes. Some damn nerve!

"Are you married?" I asked blatantly. There was no use in beating around the bush here. He shot me a glare, pinning me in place.

"Why does it matter? You didn't seem concerned with that when you threw yourself at me at the bar." I gasped at his hostility, as if he had the right to be angry at me over this!

"It matters because I didn't agree to be your mistress! And if you were wearing your ring when I met you, I wouldn't have fucking kissed you!"

"Then it's a good thing I'm not fucking married!" He shouted back, his booming voice making my lip quiver. Nobody had ever yelled at me before, and it really startled me. I didn't even notice my tears until his eyes went wide, the tension leaving his rigid body.

I wiped at them ferociously, trying not to look like a complete crybaby. He said he wasn't married. I shouldn't be crying.

He ran a hand down his face, sighing as he plopped down on my bed, his shirt still unbuttoned and forgotten about.

"I'm sorry for shouting. I didn't mean to make you cry." He muttered, falling back and staring at the ceiling.

"You didn't." I lied, lifting my shirt to finish drying my face. He closed his eyes, taking deep lingering breaths to settle himself.

I wanted to ask why he had a ring if he wasn't married, but it really wasn't any of my business. What if his wife passed away and he carried it in her memory? I would feel like shit bringing that up.

"Can I get you something to drink?" I offered quietly, my voice hoarse. His brows shot up, his eyes landing back on me.

"You aren't going to kick me out?" He sounded shocked and he turned to his side, moving one of his arms to support his head.

"No. Why would I?"

"Well, for starters, I just made you cry. Also, I've never heard of a one time fling ending with a cup of coffee." His smirk was just as potent as ever, making me flush.

"Didn't make me cry, as I said. And I don't do coffee. I can offer you a Dr. Pepper, though?" He searched my eyes with his, as if trying to find some hidden agenda. "To be honest, I'm not really ready for you to leave. I don't want to remember this ending poorly when it started so perfectly." I added truthfully.

He sat up with a groan, running a hand through his dark wet hair.

"Why not? Let's do it. Got any movies?" Wait, he was willing to spend more time with me? I shrugged, gesturing to the living room in an 'after you' motion.

"I have every season of FRIENDS. Want to watch that?" He chuckled, dragging himself from the bed and making his way back towards where we first came from.

"As long as you agree that they were on a break." He teased, and I gasped in playful offense, secretly keeping myself from throwing him back to my bed at his casual knowledge of my favorite show.

He wasted no time making himself at home, kneeling in front of my TV and flipping through my various box sets.

"You have a PS4?" He said in surprise, picking up the controller and turning on the console. I opened up my fridge, grabbing two cans of the best beverage ever created and a pack of hummus. Balancing some crackers on the pile in my arms, I made my way back to the couch. "Fallout, Doom, C.O.D... what's with all the violent games?"

"Don't judge. It's how I get out my aggression." I huffed setting everything down as gracefully as I could manage.

"You really do need to have more sex." He muttered beneath his breath, starting the show. I tossed a pillow at him, but he just laughed, catching it with a boyish grin. He looked much younger when he laughed, not nearly as dangerous and intimidating.

Though I had never done this before, I was almost certain that it wasn't supposed to go like this; two strangers sipping soda and bonding over 90's TV and video games. This was weird, right? It wasn't like the girls made it sound, where they had passionate sex and left feeling sated and secure. Sure, the sex was passionate, but it wasn't enough. I wanted to get to know this odd tattooed man with a snarky attitude.

I wanted to see him again.

But before I got the courage to ask, I found myself drifting off to sleep, snuggled up against his warm body, and mimicking his deep breathing with mine.

.

.

.

"Joel." I groaned, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand. "Turn off the light." But my whining was only met with silence. "Joel?" I forced my eyes open, jolting to sit when I realized it was morning.

The throw I usually kept at the foot of my bed was draped over me, and my apartment was quiet. Well, at least for a second it was.

Pretty soon the loud tune of my cellphone ringing from down the hall disrupted the peace, and I tumbled off the couch to retrieve it. I peeked my head into the bathroom on my way past, just to make sure my apartment was empty, before collecting my satchel from the floor and answering on the final ring.

"Hello?"

"Holy shit, Jen! I've been texting and calling you all morning, what the hell have you been doing? I was about to show up at your apartment with the damn police! I thought that guy might've hurt you or something!"

"Shh, keep it down, you're going to bust my ear drums. I'm fine, I just woke up." Thankfully, she listened to me, sighing before speaking at a lower volume.

"Thank God. Good thing you didn't have classes today, cause it's already past noon."

What?

"Shit." I had things to do today! I needed to head to the craft store to buy my supplies for class as well as speak to Mrs. Graham about my new hours at the The Hive. I slept half the fucking day away!

I immediately started stripping off my pajamas, throwing on a pair of jean shorts and a tank top while balancing my phone on my shoulder.

"So are we going to meet up for drinks, because I'm dying to hear about your wild night." She giggled, in that girlie way that made the men melt.

"I have too much to do, Danny. I still have to head to Michael's."

"Who the hell is Michael?"

"The store, woman." I growled, but she ignored my frustration.

"Psh, I can drive you, then. I'll be there in five." Then she hung up.

I tossed my phone on the bed, focusing on tying up my wild hair. The waves were thick and unruly and I wished I could pull off a shorter style that required less attention like hers.

"Right, perfume." I mumbled to myself, searching through the various bottles littering the top of my dresser. They were mostly unused Christmas gifts from family, but there was a body spray I got from Target that I really liked. I sniffed the tip, smiling at the familiar scent, but before I got around to spraying it, my ruffled sheets caught my eye.

Did they still smell like his cologne?

Would it be creepy for me to check?

I took a hesitant step towards my bed, looking around as if somebody might see me, before lowering my nose to where he had been sprawled out, watching the ceiling.

Yes and yes. Yes it still smelled like him, and hell yes it was creepy for me to check.

The sound of a knock on my door jarred me and I jumped with a squeal, clutching at my chest. Shit. Why was I so horribly awkward?

I straightened my outfit, spraying myself and grabbing my satchel before bounding to the door. I didn't need to use the peephole to know who it was.

As soon as I opened the door, I was nearly tackled by Danny. After giving me a firm squeeze, she leaned back, her hands still gripping my shoulders as she scoured my face and body.

"What?" I asked, squirming under her intense gaze.

"Yup, just as I thought. That cock did you some good. You already look a million times more relaxed." I wasn't sure what bothered me more, the fact that she referred to Joel as 'that cock' or the fact that she was right about my state of mind being altered by it. I couldn't deny the level of chill I felt since our special night together. Hence how I managed to sleep in so late.

Still, I doubted I would be saying the same if I had gone home with Isaac instead. There was just something about Joel that made me feel… free.

"Don't be so vulgar." I scolded, pushing past her and descending the stairs to her car.

"Oh, come on. You know you can't leave me hanging, right? Plus, don't go acting prude now. I saw how eager you were to ride him at the bar. I don't think I've ever been more proud of you." She wiped away a fake tear, unlocking her sleek, blue Prius.

I knew I wasn't going to get away with not telling her everything, so I bit the bullet.

"Okay, yes. We had sex." I stated plainly, looking out the window to hide my blush.

"Okay." She drew out, clearly unsatisfied. "What was it like?" Amazing, incredible, the best sex I'd ever had…

"What do you mean?"

"Like, was he big?" She asked shamelessly, pulling into traffic like she didn't just ask a super personal question about a stranger's body.

"Good Lord, Danny." I choked, covering my face with my hand.

"Come on! He was sexy as fuck, girl. I want to know if he was hung!" How did someone with no tact end up with so many potential suitors? The world was cruel.

"Yes! Okay, yes, he was big. Are you happy now?" She giggled, casting me a mischievous grin.

"Did he make you come?" She whispered, giddy with my juicy details. She cared more about my sex life than I did.

"Yes, twice. Once with his, um, mouth. Once the other way." She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Damn, you lucky girl! When did he leave? Must've been pretty late if you had to sleep during the day. You, like, never sleep in."

"I'm not sure, actually. After we, um, finished, we just sort of hung out for a little bit." Her brows furrowed and she shot me a confused glance.

"What? What do you mean, 'hung out'?"

"Like, we drank soda and watched FRIENDS until I fell asleep. When I woke up, he was gone." Her foot slammed on the brakes, jolting me forward in my seat.

"What the hell, Jen?" She squealed.

"What? What's wrong?" I knew it wasn't the norm, but I didn't know why she was freaking out so much.

"That's not a one night stand! That's a fucking date! Please tell me this guy at least left you his number." I bit my lip, shaking my head. I didn't see anything. Then again, I wasn't exactly looking for anything. I didn't expect him to want to start dating me.

"I think that if he was interested, he would've told me." I replied, unbuckling my seatbelt before digging around for my list in my bag.

Damn professor. Required no text books, but did require $400 in paint supplies. What the hell was tuition for? I didn't want to be the next fucking Van Gogh, I just wanted that art credit.

"I think that if he wasn't interested, he wouldn't have stuck around that long. Seriously, girl, I have never heard of a fuck fest ending with FRIENDS. Shit, not even the dick from freshman year would do that crap with you. Are you sure Mr. Dark&Broody isn't your soulmate?" I snorted, slamming her door with a little more force than necessary.

"Please, if that were true, wouldn't fate somehow find a way to bring us back together?"

"Don't challenge fate, Jen. I know you don't believe in soulmates, but I've read a lot about them, and those bonds overcome anything!"

"Reading erotic novels doesn't count as research, Danny. That's just your horny self trying to get ideas." She slapped my ass, making me jump and yelp.

'Keep misbehaving, and I'll have to teach you a lesson.'

I shook his words from my mind, grabbing a cart with a scowl.

"Maybe you should consider reading some. It might just restore your hope in love." She hummed whimsically, as if she didn't just commit an act most would deem sexual harassment.

"It would take a goddamn miracle to do that, Danny."

And as if the gods of fate were giving me a fat middle finger, a miracle happened in the form of a surprised and slightly flustered man leaving a craftstore.

"Hello, again, Kitten."