After 2

Chapter 189.

I lay on top of Hardin's chest to catch my breath. Both of our bare chests are moving slowly up and down in our postcoital bliss. It doesn't feel as foreign as I had believed it would, not at all. I was desperately missing being intimate with him; I know that making love so soon before anything has been determined may not have been the best idea but right now as his fingers trail up and down my spine it sure feels like it.

I can't get the image of his body underneath mine as he bucked his hips off the mattress to fill me completely. We have slept together many times but this time goes down as one of my favorites. It was so intense and sincere and full of want.. no, need for one another.

Hardin's temper got the best of him only a short while ago but as I stare up at him his eyes are closed and his lips are slightly upturned.

"I know you're staring at me, and I have to take a piss." He finally says and I can't help but giggle.

"Up you go." He says and lifts my body at my hips to lay me beside him.

Hardin's hands run through his hair and he pushes the loose fringe back to bare his forehead while he retrieves his clothing from the floor. He remains shirtless and disappears from the room, leaving me to get myself dressed. My eyes dart to Hardin's worn t-shirt on the floor and out of instinct I bend down to pick it up but then drop it again. I don't want to push it or make him angry so I should just stick to my own clothing for now.

It's nearly eight so I go ahead and pull on a pair of loose sweats and a plain t-shirt. The wreckage from Hardin's outburst covers the floor so I take it upon myself to begin putting everything back in it's place, the clothes from my drawers are my first task. Hardin enters the room as I'm zipping my suitcase full of novels.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

He holds a glass of water and a muffin in one of his large hands.

"Just straightening up." I say quietly.

I'm slightly nervous that we will slide back into fighting again so I'm unsure of how to behave.

"Okay.." He says, placing the glass and snack on the dresser before walking over to me.

"I'll help." He offers and picks up the broken chair from the floor.

We work in silence to get the room back to it's normal state.

Hardin grabs the suitcase and walks toward the closet with it in hand, nearly tripping over a decorative pillow from the bed.

I don't know if I should speak first but I'm not sure what to say, I know he's still angry but I keep catching his eyes on me so he must not be too angry.

"What's this?" He steps out from the closet holding a small bag and a medium sized box.

Oh no.

"Nothing." I hurry to my feet in an attempt to take the items from him.

"Are these for me?" He asks with a curious expression.

Hardin's POV.

"No." She lies and stands up on her toes to try to reach the box in my left hand, I lift it higher.

"The tag right here says my name." I point out and she looks down.

Why is she so embarrassed?

"I just.. well I got you a few things before but now they seem so silly, you don't have to open them."

"I want to." I tell her and sit down on the edge of the bed.

I really shouldn't have broken that hideous chair.