After

Chapter 34.

"What?" I try to take a step back from him but his grip is too strong. I must have heard him wrong.

"You heard me."

"No, I am sure I misunderstood."

"You didn't, you make me feel things that are unfamiliar to me. I don't know how to handle these type of feelings Tessa. So I do the only thing I know how to do, which is be an asshole." Once again I find myself in a trance.

"This could never work Hardin, we are so different. I already have a boyfriend and you don't date, remember?"

"We aren't that different, we are very similar. We like the same things, we both love books for example." he says. I can't wrap my mind around the idea of Hardin trying to convince me that we could be good together.

"You don't date." I remind him again.

"I know, but we could.. be friends?" There it is. We are back to square one.

"I thought you said we couldn't be friends? I won't just be friends with you, I know what you mean by that. You want all the benefits of being my boyfriend without actually having to commit to me." His body sways and he leans on the table and loosens his grip of me.

"Why is that so bad? Why do you need the label?"

"Because Hardin, I have self respect. I will not be your play thing, especially when it involves being treated like dirt. I am already taken Hardin."

"And yet look where you are right now." He points out. I can't deny that he is right but I can't and won't agree to be friends with benefits with him.

"I love him and he loves me." I say and watch Hardin's expression change. He lets go of me and stumbles over the chair.

"Don't say that to me." he slurs.

I almost forgot how drunk he was. His words are coming out faster than ever before.

"You're only saying this because you're drunk, tomorrow you will go back to hating me."

"I don't hate you.

" I wish he didn't have this effect on me. "If you can look my in the eyes and tell me that you want me to leave you alone and never speak to you again, I will listen. I swear, from this point on I will never come near you again, just say the words."

I open my mouth to tell him just that. To tell him to stay far away from me, to tell him I never want to lay eyes on him again.

"Tell me Tessa, tell me that you never want to see me again." He steps closer yet again.

He runs his hands along my arms and goose bumps immediately raise on my skin.

"Tell me you never want to feel my touch again." he whispers and brings his hand to my neck.

His index finger traces along my collarbone and back up and down my neck. I hear my breathing increase as he brings his lips less than an inch from mine.

"That you never want me to kiss you again." he says and I can smell the scotch and feel the heat off his breath.

"Tell me Theresa" he coos and I whimper.

"Hardin." I whisper.

"You can't resist me Tessa, just as I can't resist you." His lips are close to mine, they are almost touching.

"Stay with me tonight?" He asks and I want to do whatever he says.

A movement by the door catches my eye and I jerk away from Hardin. Landon's face is twisted with confusion as he turns away and disappears from the doorway.

I am snapped back into reality.

"I have to go." I say and Hardin curses under his breath.

"Please, please stay. Just stay with me tonight and if you decide in the morning to tell me you don't want to see me anymore... just please stay. I am begging you and I don't beg Theresa." I find myself nodding before I can stop myself.

"What will I tell Noah? He is waiting for me and I have his car." I can't believe I am actually considering doing this.

"Just tell him that you have to stay because.. I don't know. Don't tell him anything, what's the worst thing he can do?" Hardin asks and I shudder.

He will tell my mom. Irritation towards Noah fills me, I should not have to worry about my boyfriend telling my mother on me.

"He is probably asleep anyway." Hardin says.

"No, he has no way to get back to his hotel."

"Hotel? Wait.. he doesn't stay with you?"

"No, he has a hotel room close by."

"And you stay at the hotel with him?"

"No, he stays there and I stay in my room."

"What is wrong with him? Is he straight?" Hardin asks, his bloodshot eyes dance in amusement.

"Of course he is!"

"Sorry but something is not right there. If you were mine I would not be able to stay away from you. I would fuck you every chance I had."

My mouth falls open. Hardin's dirty words have the strangest effect on me. I flush and look away from him.

"Let's go inside, the tree is swaying back and forth. I think that is my cue to go inside. I have had way too much to drink."

"You're staying here?" I ask him, I had assumed he would go back to his frat house.

"Yea, so are you. Let's go." he grabs my hand and we walk towards the back door.

I will have to find Landon and try to explain what he saw through the door. I don't know what is happening myself so I am not sure how I will explain it but I have to make him understand somehow. As we walk through the kitchen, I notice the mess is almost completely cleaned.

"You need to clean the rest of this tomorrow." I tell him and he nods.

"I will." He promises, I hope he keeps it.

He keeps my hand in his as he leads me up the grand staircase. I pray that we don't run into Landon in the hallway and I am relieved when we don't.

Hardin opens the door to a pitch black room and gently pulls me inside.