Chapter 40 We Can't

Chapter 40 We Can't
April
Corran and I hurry into our building, laughing and out of breath as we try to escape the heavy rain falling around us. We're soaked—completely drenched. It caught us off guard. One moment, we were sitting on a bench, chatting and admiring Edinburgh Castle and the city lights; the next, it suddenly started pouring. We had to dash back quickly. 

“I hate the rain,” he whines as water drips from his coat onto the floor. 

“I love the rain, maybe not so much getting caught in it, but I do love it.” 

“Weirdo.” He teases. 

I roll my eyes in return, sticking my tongue out at him, which makes both of us chuckle. It was a nice walk until we had to rush back. Corbin followed us, but only for a few minutes before he disappeared. I ignored him and his childish behaviour, but he was getting to me. I nearly left Corran’s place and went home to make him stop, but I never did because it would mean giving in to Corbin’s jealousy, something he doesn’t need. 

“I am a proud weirdo.” 

“Come on, we should get out of these wet clothes.” 

I raise my brow at him. “We?” 

I am only teasing. I know he never meant anything by it. 

Corran rubs the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at me. “Um, I, um, d-d-didn’t mean it like that.” 

I giggle loudly and rest my hand on his arm. “Relax, I am only teasing.” 

“Oh, okay.” 

I shake my head, and we head up to our floor, leaving a trail of water behind us. Hopefully, it will dry quickly, and no one will slip. Then again, not many people will be out at this time, especially in this weather, so it should be okay. 

“Do you want to come back to mine or are you going to yours?” he asks as we reach our floor. 

“My keys are at your house." 

“That is fine. You can come to mine to dry off. If your clothes are wet, I can give you some dry clothes to wear. You can even have a hot shower if you like. Then I can make us some hot chocolate.”

I nod, and he unlocks his door, letting us in. I am shivering, cold overtaking me. I reach for the zip, trying to pull it down, but my hands are shaky with the cold too. Chuckling, Corran takes his place at the front, unzips it for me, then removes his own and hangs them up to dry. My clothes are probably wet because the jacket was so big, and the rain would have gotten in.

“You know where the shower is. Go and have one. You are wetter than I am. I will lay some clothes out on the bed for you. There are clean towels in the bathroom.” 

I'm not sure if I'm comfortable showering at his place, but I find myself nodding and heading to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I take off my wet clothes, detesting the sensation of them sticking to my skin because it makes me uncomfortable. I turn on the shower and step in. I won’t stay in long—just enough to warm up and wash my hair quickly. After that, I'll be done. 

I am in and out in ten minutes. I tightly wrap a towel around myself and rush to his bedroom, where he said he would leave my clothes. I wish I had waited for the clothes so I could take them with me to the bathroom. As I rush inside, I bump right into someone—or rather, something. Corran’s arms quickly wrap around me. I release the towel, and it drops to the floor, pooling at my feet. The heat rises on my face. 

“Easy, beautiful.” He chuckles, seemingly unfazed by the fact that I am naked. 

“Sorry. I didn’t expect you still to be in here.” 

“It is okay.” 

He doesn’t attempt to move. I don’t attempt to move. We stay close, and I cautiously lift my head to meet his eyes. He is staring down at me, a smirk on his lips. He is enjoying this! 

“You realise I am naked, right?” I breathe out. 

“Yes. It isn’t anything I haven’t seen before.” 

I shake my head and laugh. “You can let go of me now, perv.” 
He chuckles and let’s go of me. I quickly pick the towel up and cover myself again.

“I am going for a shower. I will be back soon.” 

Corran walks away casually, as if nothing occurred. I groan and focus on drying off and getting dressed in the joggers and tee he left out before he comes back. I sit at the foot of the bed to wait, glancing over my shoulder. Memories of what happened between us on this bed flood my mind. Arousal stirs between my thighs, and I squeeze them together, trying to suppress it. I must not think about that! I’m doing my best to behave and prevent anything else from happening, but it’s nearly impossible if my naughty thoughts take over. 

I bury my face in my hand and compose myself, knowing Corran will sense if something’s wrong. I sit awkwardly until he reappears ten minutes later, wearing only a towel around his waist. His hair is wet and slicked back, with water droplets still falling down his chest. I try to resist, but my eyes involuntarily follow every detail of him, and I lick my lips. 

“Enjoying the view, perv?” he laughs, echoing my earlier words. 

I swallow hard and lift my head to look at him. “I don’t know what you mean.” 

“Yes, you do.” 

I roll my eyes and get up from the bed, heading toward the door, but he stops me, blocking my way. 

“W-w-what are you doing?” 

“I know you said nothing else can happen, but do you still feel it?” 

Corran doesn’t need to tell me what he means because I already know. “I do, but we can’t.”

Corran sighs but steps aside, clearing the path for me. I rush past him and head to the living room to wait for him. I should have headed for the front door, but here I am, still in his place and not running away.