“Fuuuck you!” Bella cursed.
“See? You need a dick in that nasty mouth of yours. Stop trying to play hard to get.”
Bella rolled her eyes and walked to her bedroom. She plopped down on the bed and pulled her phone out of her bra. She was tempted to call Taylor and tell her that she wasn’t gonna make her birthday party. Truthfully, she was avoiding Lucas. But it wasn’t for the reason that everyone assumed.
Yes, her parents more than likely would have a problem with her dating a white man, but Bella had defied her parents on many occasions. The truth was Bella was afraid. She’d only been in love once in her life, and the love of her life had turned out to be gay. Bella didn’t feel as if she were strong enough to endure another painfully failed love affair.
“Every man ain’t me, Belladonna Devereaux!” Dean shouted from the bathroom as if he had read her mind.
Bella ignored Dean’s last comment. She got up and walked into the master bathroom to run herself a bath. That’s exactly what she needed. A nice hot bath followed by a good night’s sleep.
With or without Dean, she had to make an appearance at her friend’s birthday party. Taylor had had a rough year, and she deserved a celebration.
Bella sighed and walked over to her dresser. She grabbed her old LSU T-shirt and an unattractive, yet comfortable, pair of panties. She returned to the bathroom and tossed her bed clothes on the vanity. As she stripped out of her work attire, she glanced at her form in the mirror. Dean had told her a million times that she was beautiful and that his sexual preference had nothing to do with her. Nevertheless, since he came out, Bella’s self-esteem had taken a huge hit.
Bella slipped the ponytail holder off of her wrist and pulled her hair into a tight bun. She turned from the mirror and walked over to the tub. She carefully dipped her toe to check the water temperature. It was perfect. She stepped in and ease her butt into the water. Once she adjusted to the heat, Bella submerged herself in the hot water and relaxed against the back of the tub. She sighed, closed her eyes, and allowed the water to wash away her stress. But, to Bella’s dismay, the second she closed her eyes, Lucas Creed’s handsome face and gorgeous green eyes appeared. His full, soft lips were taunting her. Memories of the way he’d kissed her caused her entire body to tingle and stiffen. Her stomach was in knots, and she could feel tightening in her core.
Bella forced her eyes open and grabbed the body wash from the corner of the tub. She was gonna wash her ass and get the hell out of the tub. It was bad enough that the man was stalking her dreams. Bella wasn’t about to let him haunt her while she was wide awake.
As if she actually had a choice.
