Chapter 32 - 32

I stared at the message a moment confused before I realized he had just texted me how much time I had left.

That jump-started me into action. Racing through my shower, I was in and out in record time and was sitting drinking my coffee waiting for the phone to ring. I sat in my towel on my vastly uncomfortable kitchen chairs all the while calling myself a million times the fool for even listening to him much less obeying him.

I shifted slightly in a vain attempt to find a more comfortable spot and grimaced as my damp thighs stuck to the chair. What in the world was this game he was pulling here? Didn't he realize after my blow-off yesterday that I was done with him?

I blew out a breath of frustration seeing how slow time was ticking by, I checked the phone again for the fourth time and found out it been 25 minutes since he had called.

At 27 minutes, just when I had lost the fight with my patience and my chairs, a knock came at the door. I jumped and let out a startled scream, then slid off the chair and ended up sprawled naked on the floor.

Curse words I never thought I'd hear again came from the other side of the door and the handle turned rapidly as Reed came bursting through. Humiliation swept through me as he caught sight of me laying on the floor, my legs splayed open, my arms behind my back holding my head up off the ground. With how fast he came running in there was no time to preserve my modesty.

Reed leaned against the door frame an exact replica of how he stood the first night he was here. His eyes slid down my body seemingly hungry and eating their way through the vision in front of him. The smile on his face was nothing short of cocky.

"A far better reception than I had anticipated. Thank you, pet," he said smugly.

Everywhere his gaze touched I felt a tingle of sensation as if he was already touching me and desire pulsed through me until it pooled low in my stomach. I knew there was no way he could miss what his gaze was doing to me as my nipples hardened to the point of pain right before him.

I felt anger, frustration, and humiliation all rise together at the desire that was streaking its way through me at the sight of his lustful gaze. Tears burned the back of my throat at how my body could so easily betray me and forget all the pain this man caused it no more than a day ago. I wanted to scream at him for daring to look so wonderful standing in front of me but when I opened my mouth to tell him off the words wouldn't come out.

I jumped up and ran to my room feeling the intense heat of his gaze on me the entire time leaving me feeling even more vulnerable and mortified. I grabbed a bathrobe and wrapped myself in it desperately trying to hold back the sobs that were threatening to unleash themselves. Determined to make sure I didn't give Reed another peep show I tied the belt so tightly it was slightly hard to breathe. When I looked up, I found Reed was standing in the doorway watching me with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Go away, Reed."I hissed.

He raised his eyebrow at me. "Reed?"

"Really? That's all you have to say for yourself? AH!" I cried throwing my arms up in the air and turning away so I could begin to search for my work clothes. There was no point in calling in sick today since I was already up.

"Mia, what is going on?" he demanded his patience obviously gone.

"You know what? If you can't figure it out, then it really doesn't matter. Please leave now," I said having finally decided on an outfit.

"Mia, I really don't have time for this. You are not the only one that has to go home and get ready for work," Reed snapped and ran both his hands through his hair in frustration.

I looked over at him and noticed he was wearing a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. It looked like he had jumped out of bed and raced straight over here.

"You know what? Awesome. Go get ready and I'll see you at work, Mr. Callaghan, I'm sure you know where the door is by now," I said shoving him out of my room.

Slamming the door in his disbelieving face, I laid my hands and head against it feeling all the fight drain out of me until there was nothing left but sadness and disappointment. Through the thin wooden barrier between us, I could hear rustling and I knew he was warring with his inherent need to Master me and the knowledge that this skirmish was already lost. There was a twinge in my heart for him because it seemed like this was his first time in this situation, it was obvious to me no one had ever dared talk to him like this.

With a growl of frustration, I heard the front door slam shut with a resounding bang and I let out the breath I was holding feeling momentarily disappointed that he hadn't tried to fight more. Calling myself hopeless, I squared my shoulders and forced a victorious smile on my face that I knew was only skin deep.

I proceeded to attempt to make myself look halfway presentable in the little amount of time I had. I had barely managed to look in the mirror before I had to race out the door. I was too afraid that if I looked too long at myself, I was going to lose my nerve and call in sick to work. I was already terrified of how he was going to act towards me once I was there. I didn't need any other insecurities getting in the way.

Having glanced at the clock as I rushed out, I knew I had only ten minutes to get to work if I wanted to be on time.. So, I hurried down the sidewalks as quickly as I could without crashing into people.