Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Thirty Two

"Why?"

Blowing a slight huff from his nose, Tom opened his cigarette box and placed one between his lips, "has everyone forgotten why we're here?" He snapped his fingers to light the cigarette, temporarily making his face glow orange. The exasperation in his voice was a tad comical, but Delilah couldn't ignore the spark of tension that arose in the room.

The boys' conversation became muffled as Delilah's eyes widened, slowly lifting the covers. A sigh of relief left her lips as she took note she was still wearing her clothes. Besides, Delilah felt like she would most certainly remember if anything happened with Tom. If simply kissing him was that intense, Merlin knows more scandalous activity would never be forgotten.

Clearing his throat, Elio spared a glance at Delilah and all she could muster was a timid smile. What was she supposed to say? Nothing was making sense. Good lord what would the others think? Elio would undoubtedly tell them, a fact she was surprisingly at ease with. Nonetheless, she didn't want anyone getting ideas. Her and Tom weren't together. All they did was kiss and share a bed, nothing more.

However, as the door clicked shut behind Elio, Tom turned his gaze to her. Delilah couldn't ignore the butterflies going on a rampage inside her stomach.

Oh, she was definitely fucked.

"So," she rubbed the back of her neck, her eyes not looking away from a particular crease in the sheets. Tom rolled his eyes as smoke poured out of his nose and stood up, making his way to the bookshelf on her side of the bed. "Please spare me the awkwardness, it'd be greatly appreciated."

Whether or not smack him or appreciate his bluntness, she didn't know. Either way, she took a pillow and hurled it at him. The pillow merely fell to the floor and unfazed, Tom kicked it away as he flipped through a book. Twirling her necklace, Delilah's gaze drifted to the empty spot on the bed next to her. Only then did she realize it wasn't slept in, the pillow didn't even have a dent. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, she hoped he hadn't slept on the floor or a couch. Both seemed beneath him, but she couldn't ignore the slight pang she felt. Biting at her cheek, she looked at him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what, the kiss? Do we need to?"

"I don't know, do you want to?"

"I don't see a point. It happened, what else is there to say?"

She felt frozen and her head began to ache, he was unbelievable.

Her silence was loud and wouldn't be so easily ignored. Tom pinched the bridge of his nose before willing himself to look at her, "don't pout-"

"Do you regret it?"

Tom blinked, he was slightly surprised at such a suggestion. How could he ever regret kissing her? "No."

"If you do, that's okay. I'd understand, you don't have to lie."

"Delilah," closing the book he tossed it on the bed and put out his cigarette before walking over. He didn't appear to be stopping anytime soon and her eyes widened as she shuffled back on the sheets. Tom reached the edge of the mattress and managed to grab hold of her ankles before she could fully retreat. Delilah barely registered the tilt of lips when he suddenly yanked her forward by her ankles, causing her to fall on her back and her legs to dangle off the bed on either side of him.

His touch was feather light as his fingers unintentionally dragged up the sides of her legs and she repressed a chill as she looked up at him. Tom's hands pressed into the bed on either side of her waist as he looked down at her, Delilah's golden hair fanning out in a nimbus. Grabbing her hand, he placed a chaste kiss on the inside of her palm. The chill of her skin rippled through him, completely welcomed. "I wouldn't change a second of it. Although, that elderly couple wasn't exactly welcomed."