Page 6 of Imbalanced Minds

Chapter Three

Iris

“Right, short stuff, in ya get. Jay will be home soon. He’s just sorting loose ends at work, then said he’ll be on his way.” Cory explains while coaxing Natalie inside Justin’s house.

It turns out Natalie drank a lot more than I realised tonight and the alcohol seemed to creep up on her and hit hard.

It’s a shame our night ended the way it did, there’s always some form of drama that follows me whenever we go out and I barely heeded her warning earlier when I should have taken it for the truth it was. She was dead right, we should have stayed in, although it’s not me being drunkenly tucked in nor will it be if I have my wicked way.

Managing to have her inside the house and comfortable we leave and make a move for my apartment. Cory is being overly quiet, and I can’t stand the eerie silence.

“What’s your problem?” I sass. I have an outspoken mouth when I’ve been drinking, so I’m not at all shocked that’s what came out. The effect Cory has on me doesn’t help either, he’s confusing the crap out of me along with my whole body acting like Captain Stupid around him.

My little outburst is left unanswered, he’s still giving me the silent treatment as we arrive at my apartment.

I thank the Uber driver and stumble out of the car, heading toward my building more pissed off than I should be.

Cory’s beside me in a flash.

“Back your ass up, I can unlock my door thanks a bunch,” I dribble out as he stands much too close for, ah who am I kidding, I love it. He can stand as close to me all he likes.

“Ah-hum, sweets, although I love your thoughts right now, I’m finding it hard enough to keep my hands off you.” Laughing, he takes the key out of my stunned hands, unlocks the door and gestures me to enter my home.

I quickly find that’s not all he’s wanting to enter as my body is roughly slammed to the back of the closed door. His mouth is now on mine, running his tongue over my lips willing me to open for him. And of course, I don’t deny him entry.

“Oh God, this is Heaven,” I moan into his mouth. I can’t deny, wicked thoughts are running through my mind right now. I’ll do anything to elicit this man if it’ll get me more of this. More of him.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” Cory murmurs while trickling soft kisses along the length of my neck. His rough stubble tickling as he trails along my smooth skin stopping behind my ear.

I pull back, breaking our heated moment with confusion etched on my brow; even in my delirious state I need answers and as much as it pains me to leave my concupiscent daze, I need them before this goes any further.

“Why now? I mean, how come you never took any notice of me before? I mean in an intimate way. I’ve been trying to get your attention for such a long time, but you never seemed to notice me.”

Pulling back, holding me at arm’s length, he searches deep into my eyes.

“But I have Iris, I have noticed. I’ve always seen you, but I’ve also been made to feel undeserving of you. All the times I’ve heard Justin spout on about what kind of man you should date, I dunno. I just never seemed to fit his description of acceptance for you.”

I watch as he comes undone. The uncertainty in his eyes. The fire that’s missing from moments ago as his whole demeanour changes.

“I shouldn’t be doing this. Fuck, this was a mistake. I’m sorry.”

He lets me go, resting both hands on top of his head, clenching his fists as he starts pulling at his hair. The disappointed look on his face completely guts me. It’s as if someone just reached inside my body and squeezed. Torturing me slowly to the point I can’t breathe.

What I hoped to be the positive turn of our, whatever we are, has become the complete opposite; it’s going to destroy any hope of ever being together at all. He’s pulling away and there’s absolutely nothing I can do to stop it from happening.

I’ve seen this expression before from him, but I never thought I’d be on the receiving end.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when he diverts his attention back on me, but I can’t tell if he’s talking to me, himself or a bit of both. “I can’t do this. Justin was right. I can’t allow myself to drag you into the depths of my own darkness. I shouldn’t have come to you on the dance floor. I shouldn’t have kissed you now. Do you want to know the sick part? I’m a selfish prick who takes, and in return, I destroy whatever I touch. I don’t want to destroy you, Iris. I just can’t stop this yearning I have towards you and I know it’s wrong. The need to be near you, to taste, to devour you again is going to destroy me the most, however, I shouldn’t have let this happen.” He gestures between us both and starts pulling away. “I’ll go.” He puffs with his head bowed.

All these mixed messages are doing my head in but I can’t let it end this way.

“NO!” I find myself yelling out, not wanting him to leave. “No,” I say more softly. “Stay.”

That one word is going to either lead me down an empty pathway, or it’s going to do exactly what he told me he’d do.

Destroy me.

And if I get my own way, I may just let him.

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