Just Rose

Chapter 20

‘You watch too many movies.’ He finished his coffee with a large glug. ‘And s*x is fun and doesn’t need to mean anything. Just two attractive people who get turned on by one another and like how it feels.’ He winked at her and extended a hand confidently. ‘Come on, I’ll show you just how good I can make you feel. I am really good at making women squeal.’

‘Em, no thanks!... Really!’ Her voice flat, recoiling to the kitchen sink quickly and making it clear he was not going to get any rolling on the bed with Rose. He shrugged, only mildly disappointed and got out of his seat.

‘Well, sweets, as much as I love your company and would love to bend you over this table right now, I am a man with needs. Plenty little horny women in this place that won’t say no.’ He covered his manhood in a vulgar gesture which caused Rose to grimace in distaste. He walked towards her, planting a kiss on her cheek and lingered close a little too long for her liking. His aftershave almost choking her.

‘If you ever change your mind and need a horny male to meet your needs. I’m your man!’ He ran a hand down over her butt and tried to cup underneath. Rose physically recoiled, suddenly feeling like she needed a bath and a Dettol scrub, pushing his hand away hard.

‘I’m sure I won’t! But thanks anyway.’ She managed to slide out, away from the sink and head towards the front door anticipating he was leaving. Gesturing that he was being made to leave.

‘One thing!’ his voice was behind her, following her down the hall as he hauled on his jacket again. Grabbing the door and pulling it open she only half replied

‘What’s that?’ She snapped, moderately annoyed.

Without warning, he spun her around in the open doorway, slamming her body against the peeling wood so hard it momentarily winded her. Crushing her with his own weight and planting a hard, forceful kiss, on her mouth; her arms had been caught mid-swing in his strong hands and he had pinned them at each side of her head. Forcing her into submission. Pushing her lips apart he tried to deepen the kiss, but she clamped them back shut, trying to bite him in the process but he was too quick. He moved back to tilt his head and laugh

‘Fiery! I like that in a girl...Well, I’ll leave you with that and maybe next time you will want more.’ He released her quickly, almost dropping her.

Rose did not even have time to react in the violent way she wanted too; a surge of rage bubbling up within, just waiting for the release of her hands so she could beat him around his smug head. Barely time to catch her breath and start yelling at him when her face paled as her eyes caught sight of the figure coming towards them and her entire being dropped to the floor metaphorically. Rob was standing on her garden path like a steel cold statue, glaring at the pair in the doorway. Her pink car parked at her gate behind his strong tall form. Her keys swinging from his finger mid-air and mid-step.

Oh s**t!

Words failed her. Her breath caught and rendered her mute. Rob stood motionless with no expression and it was obvious he had witnessed that little scene. Matt looking smug, sauntered past him, throwing back a huge smile and wave, a moment passing between the two men that did not bode well for Rose.

‘Laters, beautiful!’ He jumped on his bike, pulling on his helmet and took off in an alarmingly fast fashion, engine rumbling and kicking up stoor. Rob and Rose just stood looking at each other, neither breaking the silence for what seemed like an eternity. He held up her keys, shaking them and threw them in her direction. Rose fumbled to catch them but missed and had to swoop down to retrieve them as she caught sight of Rob’s trainers turning away, walking down her path.

‘Rob??’ Panic flooding through her, she called out impulsively. Her voice returning. He stopped by her gate; no response. Just pausing. His white t-shirt glowing in the dark, showing his sculpted shoulders and wide frame. That longing inside her to reach out and touch him.

‘He just sort of jumped me just then. I was trying to get him to leave.’ She fumbled with her keys in her hand and cursed how weak she sounded.

He shrugged without turning to meet her gaze.

‘Nothing to do with me who you kiss Penelope.’ There was something icy in his tone that made Rose want to weep. The body language stiff and cool and obviously determined to walk off. The use of her pet name brought back a faint memory of him telling her he used it when he was pissed.

‘ROB!’ She was losing her control, out of frustration. ‘Look at me!’

His shoulders dipped slightly, indicating a sigh and he turned his head to look at her. Still, his body remaining in poise, ready to walk away. His expression gave her nothing but his eyes in their steel beauty looked like a rolling storm. He looked pissed off, truly!

‘What?’ His calm even voice, again giving nothing away.

‘Thank you for my car. For last night. This morning!’ She was trying to defuse the situation, bring back some of the charming Rob from this morning. Trying to initiate conversation and a return to the interactions of the morning. He was doing a good job of being completely cold and closed off and didn’t look set to budge

‘No problem. I need to go!’ He said it coolly and his expression matched, without another word he moved off.

Rose wanted to cry. All she could do was fake a smile and watch him walk off. Breaking into a jog when he hit her gravel road, leading away. A smooth, effortless run from a seasoned jogger. Not one single look back at her. Rose closed the door after watching him fade into the darkness and slumped down into the hall, pulling her knees into her stomach. Feeling that familiar wrenching surge in her stomach and the way her heart plummeted.

Bugger!