CHAPTER EIGHT

 ❣️STAY WITH ME❣️

"Your pulse is racing too," he said to her as he brought his finger to her neck, feeling her pulse. She could hardly breathe. "Your palms are damp" he took her hand, then ran his fingers down her wrist. "Your pulse is really fast," he said again, whispering this time.

She tried to stay calm, to look calm.

"What are you doing? This wasn't or isn't part of the act"

"I'm not acting" he replied in a husky voice. He released her hand to cup her face.

"You look beautiful. You are beautiful and tonight... These past few days, I haven't been able to get you out of my head"

"What?" Crystal blinked, looking confused. His hand slid into her hair and when he leaned closer Crystal knew that she had what she wanted. And when he lowered his lips to hers, she brought her hand up and pulled his head down.

The breath she had been holding shuddered out as his lips met hers. It was finally happening.

Her eyes began to close and her knees weakened and softened. He moved away from her mouth to trace his lips over her jaw. The coffee and the trespassing rat were completely forgotten.

He traced his kisses to the base of her neck and she let out a moan that drove him crazy.

Jason sniffed her neck deeply as he traced kisses. She smelled of lavender. Her skin was smooth and soft, just like he'd always imagined. Her body was pressing into his and he was having a hard time controlling himself. Her hand was in his hair and the other stroked his back, he felt his muscles relax anywhere she touched.

Her body was on fire. He had brought his lips back and taken hers in them. She could still taste the wine they'd had earlier. He smelled like a man. A man. She knew nothing was ever going to be the same.

"Jason" she moaned his name.

"Crystal" his desire matched hers.

His left hand rested on the small of her back while his right hand roamed her body. He ignited fire everywhere he touched.

Her knees had gone weak and she would have fallen if he hadn't held her firmly.

When he finally backed away, they were both shaken. He released her waist and turned his back to her.

"I'm sorry" he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Huh? Why are you sorry?" She asked. Her voice was still husky and her eyes were still dreamy. She was confused. What was he sorry for? They had just shared a kiss. The best moment of her entire life. Why was he sorry?

He was restless and she tried to calm him down by placing her hand on his shoulders. His back was still turned to her and his eyes were closed. When she touched him, he flinched involuntarily and moved away from her touch. From her reach. He needed to think straight and he couldn't do it if those hands that worked miracles on him were touching him.

"Jason. Look at me. What's the matter?" She asked. He turned to look at her and he could see the confusion he'd caused. She hated the look in his eyes. It was guilt. He was battling with himself.

"I'm sorry I led you to do this. I can't do it. This isn't going to turn out well. I can't place our friendship on the line Crystal. I don't know how I'd feel if this turns out bad.

"What do you mean? Well you won't know how it will feel if it turns out good" 

He just shook his head and walked back to the sitting room. She followed right behind.

"Jason looked at me. Please don't do this" she begged.

"No Crystal. I shouldn't have kissed you. I shouldn't have said those things. My mind was clouded... Maybe from the breakup. I wasn't thinking straight"

"But I'm glad I kissed you! Do you know how long I've been praying for this to happen? How long I've waited?!"

"Go to bed Crystal. You'll thank me tomorrow for the decision I just made" he replied and walked to his bedroom. She still followed him.

"We must talk about this Jason. Don't you dare shut the door! Jason!"

He shut the door anyway. With a slam.

She flinched from the impact of the sound. It felt like someone had slammed a door on her heart, giving her a blow with a hammer.

She knocked on the door once, twice. Then she began to kick. But the door didn't budge.

"You're a coward, Jason," she said shakily. She wouldn't cry. She would never cry.

"Come on Jason, open the damn door"

"Go away, Crystal. Go to bed. You have an interview tomorrow"

It hurt him as he said those words but that was all it took for her last ray of hope to vanish. 

She broke down in silent tears. Why? Why did she let her guard down? She'd let him kiss her and she let him hurt her. So who was to blame asides from herself?

She sat in front of the door and wept silently. Angry tears streamed down her face. Damn! She was embarrassed.

On the other side of the door sat Jason. He knew he'd hurt her. He knew she was struggling not to cry or probably crying silently. As strong as she looked, she was fragile. But still, she'd get over it. His Crystal was strong.

He had to do what he did. What would he do if Crystal hated him? Who was he kidding? Maybe she even hates him for what he just did.

He was hurt. He was mad at himself. He felt like beating himself up. He kicked his bed and winced in pain. 

"How could I be so stupid!" He muttered over and over and over again.

He had to open the door and apologize to Crystal. He had to tell her how much he loved her and that he was willing to take a ride with her.

He was in a tough battle with himself. Crystal had called him a coward and he was sure acting like one.

But he was scared. What if he ended up not being able to love her as she deserved? She'd been through a lot and he wouldn't want to be part of the things or people or memories that caused her pain, a memory she remembers with a sad face.

And just like she'd said, he would never know what it would feel like if it worked out... If he doesn't try.

He ran to the door, pulled the bolt, turned the key, and pulled the door open. She was gone. She wasn't there.

Though sad, he felt it was a sign. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe it was for the better.

Crystal had sat there for minutes but it seemed like hours to her. She believed Jason was going to have a change of heart and open the door. She believed he would realize how much she loved him and how much he loved her.

She knew he loved her. He was scared and she was too.

But she wanted to give them a chance and he didn't.

"Such a selfish jerk!" She muttered fiercely and walked to her bedroom.

She gently lay on the bed without changing her clothes. The evening had been so perfect. Why did he ruin it! She buried her head in the pillow and tried to control her sobs. She needed a shower but she was too weak to move a limb. How would she be able to sleep?

She tossed and turned and tossed some more. She remembered the kiss and how she'd felt, how she'd melted in his arms. In no time, she fell asleep with a smile mixed with pain...