Page 19 of The Addict

I swallowed nervously, mesmerized as Silas leaned in, placing his mouth right by my ear.

“Don’t think you’ll get out of this one, Noah. I’m holding you to it.” He murmured low, so only I could understand it as his cold breath brushed my ear lobe.

“Of course,” I answered.

“And,” Silas continued. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you. Tomorrow, you’re all mine.”

“As promised.” I spoke clearly and Silas pulled back until our lips were mere centimeters apart.

My body abruptly leaned forward, having a strange urge to kiss him again. That buzz was coaxing me to pull him closer, reminding me how good his lips felt the first time. I stopped myself suddenly, remembering the current situation with the girl. Silas noticed, taking his finger and pressing it tightly to my mouth.

“But Noah,” he exclaimed innocently, fire dancing behind his gaze. “Won’t waiting until tomorrow just intensify the pleasure?”

Beep.

He pushed me away, rather roughly, and signaled to the men with two fingers in the air. Out of the shadows, his Royce peeled forward, and he climbed in. After a moment, they had all disappeared around the corner.

Gone.

This left me all alone with the girl.

She was shivering and sitting helplessly on the ground, obviously still in shock. My sympathy went to her.

Shedding my hoodie and leaving the tee underneath, I slowly walked up to her quivering form and placed the fabric around her shoulders. She jumped at the sudden contact.

“You’re okay.” I whispered, assuring her.

She stared at me blankly.

I bent down beside her, still leaving her some space in between us. I knew better than to touch her. She tensed briefly, then exhaled a long, slow breath. I just knelt there, at her level, hoping that my presence and security would somehow soothe her. I also didn’t want to be looming over her. I needed her to know that I saw her, and that she wasn’t alone anymore. That I was here to help.

“Were you at the bar with someone?” I asked after a few moments, hoping to assess her situation.

She nodded slowly, sniffing. “Yeah, but... I think she’s gone...”

“Why don’t you give her a call?” I suggested, finding myself sitting down on the hard pavement next to her.

The girl visibly stalled, looking around the mess of her tattered clothes.

“Oh shit…I… I think I forgot my purse inside the bar. My cell phone is in it.”

I tried to keep my demeanor neutral. If she was lucky, maybe a staff member picked it up for her. But as an avid bar goer, I knew she wasn’t getting that shit back. At least not tonight, anyway. Everything was closed.

“Here,” I gestured, handing her my cell. “Use my phone.”

She nodded gratefully, “Thank you.” She took a few seconds to punch in the numbers. We both sat there for a few moments, awkwardly listening to the continued ringing on the line.

But no answer.

She tried the number an additional two times to no avail.

“Is there someone else you can call? So that you can at least get to your house?” I offered, wishing I could do more for her. She shakily returned my cell to my hand, and I assumed that was my answer.

Suddenly, a bright panic entered her pretty green eyes. “My keys were in there too, crap. My house keys. And no one is there. I don’t have a way to get inside or get anywhere. Shit!”

I tilted my head down, trying not to laugh at her stress. Her face was getting almost as red as her hair, and I was finding it quite difficult not to think of how adorable she looked so flustered.

“Do you want a ride?” I asked with a smile. “Look, you can come home with me. I can give you a place to rest until your friend answers your calls.”