NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: chapter 15
As Marshall went "home", his mind racing with thoughts of Emily. The kiss was unplanned, a spur of the moment decision, but it had served its purpose. Her surprised expression, the way she'd frozen in shock - everything indicated that she was taken off guard.
He chuckled to himself, feeling a thrill of anticipation. He had her where he wanted her now, vulnerable and confused. It was exciting, how easily she gave in to his charm. He couldn't wait to see what else he could get her to do.
His thoughts raced, replaying the moment over and over. Her flushed cheeks, the way she'd looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes. A dark smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the taste of her lips on his, the subtle shiver that had gone through her body at his touch.
She was so deliciously naive, so easy to manipulate. He could see the beginnings of a spark in her eyes, a budding attraction to him. He had only just started to play his game, and she was already falling for it.
He could still feel the softness of her lips against his, still see the wide, stunned eyes that looked up at him when he pulled away. It was intoxicating, the way she made him feel in control, powerful. He could still feel the rush of pleasure it had given him, the feeling of power over her.
His mind kept going back to Emily, her wide eyes, her flushed cheeks, the feel of her skin against his. It was strange, how he felt a small pang of... something when he thought of her. He couldn't quite identify it, didn't want to think about it too much. He didn't usually allow himself to feel such intense emotions, but there was something about Emily that drew it out of him.
But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. He was playing a long game. He had a job to do, a plan to execute and he couldn't afford to get distracted by his own feelings. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get in the way. She was nothing but a tool, a pawn in his grand scheme. He couldn't let anything, especially his own emotions, get in the way.
She was his now, and he knew how to get what he wanted from her.
The next morning, Emily woke up to the sun streaming through her window. The events of the previous night came flooding back, the memory of that unexpected kiss replaying in her mind like a broken record. She sighed and sat up in bed, her fingers tracing her lips as if she could still feel his touch on them.
She had barely slept last night, her thoughts and feelings in a constant tangle. Part of her wanted to forget about it, to move on and pretend that nothing happened. But another part... another part was strangely excited, the memory sending tingles down her spine.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She had a long day ahead of her, and she couldn't afford to be distracted by the confusing whirlwind of emotions that still filled her.
She got out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. As she waited for the coffee machine to finish brewing, she found herself thinking about Marshall again. He had walked her home yesterday, kissed her... It was all so sudden and unexpected. But he had seemed so calm, so in control. Maybe he had just been trying to be a good friend, she thought, trying to dismiss the strange flutter in her stomach.
By the time she had finished her coffee, she had almost managed to convince herself that the kiss was nothing more than a friendly gesture, a way to comfort her after the scary night. But deep inside, she knew that wasn't true. There had been something in his eyes, in his touch, that had sent a thrill through her whole body. And she had liked it, more than she wanted to admit.
She decided to push those thoughts away for now and focus on her day instead. But as she got ready for work, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation deep in her chest. She wondered if she would see Marshall today. What would he say? How would he act?
As she walked to work, the city coming to life around her, she tried to act normal. But her heart rate picked up every time she thought about what might happen when she saw him. Would he mention the kiss? She both dreaded and longed for it, the uncertainty a constant flutter in her stomach.
During her break time, she walked to the coffee shop, she caught herself looking around subtly, hoping to spot a familiar head of dark hair amongst the morning crowd. Her heart rate picked up a little as she neared the entrance. It's where they usually meet, spending time and discuss about anything and everything. But there was no sign of him.
The day went by slowly. Emily tried to focus on her work behind the counter. She found herself glancing towards the entrance every now and then, her mind wandering back to Marshall as he usually comes to the store to buy some groceries. She was feeling uneasy when the end of her shift came and she hadn't seen him.
As she was packing her things and getting ready to leave, she heard the familiar jingle of the door opening. Her heart skipped a beat, and her hand froze over her bag. She looked up, half-expecting to see Marshall, but instead, it was just a regular customer she had never seen before. She felt strangely disappointed. She quickly shook herself out of it, reminding herself that she was being stupid.
The cool evening air hit her as she stepped outside, and she took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. But as she began to walk home, her thoughts kept drifting back to Marshall. Where had he been all day? Was he avoiding her? And worst of all, why did she care so much? It was just a simple kiss after all...