Isabelle

Something felt off about Slater after his brother’s phone call. He seemed preoccupied and far more serious, like his playful side had gone into hiding and there was something weighing heavily on his mind.

It made me want to distract him from his troubles. Except that I didn’t quite know what to do next, making me feel like I was stumbling my way through this. Yet I knew that I’d become more confident as I gained more experience. Not that I was there yet. Not even close.

Lucky for me, Slater was still happy to take control—and maybe for now, he, too, figured he needed a distraction. He sank his fingers into my hair and pulled me to him, my face cupped in his hands as he kissed me like I was his everything.

At least that was how it felt to me.

And I loved the feeling.

It was as if I truly mattered—and the truth was, I hadn’t felt that way in a very long time.

Maybe that was why I was falling for him, fast as lightning. And though I knew it was stupid to get attached to him, my heart had other plans, even if I was attempting to write this off as no more than a crush, since I knew I was lying to myself.

Yet Slater made me feel bold for once in my life—just like the feisty heroines in all the stories I loved to read. I’d always been drawn to them because I could live vicariously through the characters on the pages. But now, I didn’t have to—I could experience things firsthand, and though I may be greener than spring grass when it came to lack of experience, I wanted to try it all.

Feeling emboldened, I slipped off Slater’s lap and sank down to my knees, undoing the button and zipper of his jeans. I honestly didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing when it came to technique, but I figured the concept was simple enough, and I had no doubt Slater would help me figure things out if I started to stray off course. Yet as I started to free his long, thick cock, he took my hand in his, stopping me and making me second-guess myself.

“Izzy…” Slater let out a weary sigh, which made my heart sink, a fierce blush heating my cheeks. “What are you doing, love?”

“I wanted to…” I didn’t think I could be any more embarrassed.

He pulled me back up unto the sofa, quickly doing up his jeans before turning to me, his mood somber. “I’m sorry but…I think I’ve made a mistake. I never should have gone down this road with you. It wasn’t right—and for that, I’m sorry, Izzy. I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”

His words were like a knife to my heart.

What the hell had just happened?

“I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?” Or was I just so horrible in bed, he couldn’t stand to go through that again?

“I swear, it’s not you. This is completely on me. I made a mistake by letting myself fall for you, when I never should have crossed that line.” He gave my hand a squeeze, no doubt trying to reassure and comfort me, but I couldn’t bear his touch now.

“Don’t, Slater.” I shook my head, my eyes stinging with tears. “So…that’s it then? I was just a one-night stand, and you’re now going to just walk away?”

I was such a fool. How could I have been so stupid?

“I swear, it wasn’t like that, even if the end result is the same.” Slater got to his feet, clearly looking to get as far away from me as possible. “I should go.”

“Well, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” I couldn’t believe this was happening. And here I thought I’d picked the perfect guy to give my virginity to—and my heart. Instead, he was walking out on me, not even twelve hours later. Not even a full day.

Yet he lingered, though I couldn’t bring myself to look at him as the tears slipped down my cheeks.

“I really am sorry, Izzy.”

Yet that didn’t make things any better. Not that I believed him anyway.

I heard the door close as he left, and the moment I knew I was alone, I could no longer hold back my flood of tears. I had no idea a broken heart could hurt this much—even after all I’d been through. Or maybe that only made things that much more worse, since my heart had already taken a beating.

I’d thought I could trust Slater. And I had. With everything. With my life even.

But I now knew I’d been a fool.

At least I was no longer alone. Lola bumped my hand, looking worried about me, while Winston hopped up onto the back of the sofa, as if wanting me to know that he, too, was there, should I need him. And though I wrapped my arms around Lola’s neck and wept into her fur, it wasn’t enough. Not when Slater had broken my heart.

Was it me? Did I read more into our one night together than I should have? Or…was it the phone call he’d got?

Had it actually been his brother?

Or was it his girlfriend?

What were the chances that someone as smart and gorgeous as Slater would actually be single? I had figured that maybe, given his long hours, he didn’t really have time for a relationship… But now? I wasn’t so sure.

I wasn’t sure of anything.

Nothing except for my broken heart.