Kimberly's POV

My stomach growled as I climbed down the stairs.

I was starving.

As a matter of fact, starving was an understatement for what I was feeling.

I had skipped lunch and dinner because I wasn't sure I wanted to see Keenan yet. I wasn't prepared for all the awkwardness that came along with it.

I knew that it'd have been impossible for me to sit across the table from him and not stare at him.... Not after what had happened.

It was a few minutes past two am and still,I hadn't been able to get any sleep due to the constant rumbling in my stomach.

Had I somehow made him angry?

He didn't exactly look angry.

But then again, he'd just walked away.

No response, no reactions,he'd simply turned around and walked away.

Why did he have to make everything so complicated?

My eyebrows furrowed when I got to the kitchen, my feet coming to a slow stop as memories of yesterday filled my head. I felt heat crawl up my cheeks but I pushed everything away almost as soon as it came.

The door was shut properly this time so I was pretty sure he wasn't inside.

I pushed the door open slowly and then walked in,my eyes scanning around the kitchen for a few seconds and even though I hadn't expected him to be in here, disappointment filled me still.

I made for the fridge and after raping its contents with my eyes, I settled for a slice of cake and a glass of some sparkling grape juice I'd also found in there and somewhere through my meal,I managed to convince myself that Keenan was an asshole.

I shook my head as I carried my plate to the sink and then quickly washed it out as I didn't have it in me to leave it lying there for someone else to find in the morning.

Feeling satisfied with myself, I walked out of the kitchen. I closed the door behind me and then made for the staircase when I halted.

Walk away Kim.

I don't know how I'd missed it earlier but the set of brown double doors Keenan had supposedly 'barged' into this morning stood slightly open,dim light emanating through the open space.

Was he in there?

Walk away, Kim.

What else was in there?

It took a lot of willpower to let myself climb up the stairs but when I got to the third step, I turned around and then began to walk towards the door.

I had to be batshit crazy. There was no other explanation.

But I needed answers.

I halted when I got to the door and then let myself look into the dim lighted room. My eyes scanned through the huge,tall brown bookshelves filled with hundreds of books. A few pieces away from the door was a medium sized table and an office chair and other than the pieces of paper scattered around the table and a single grey leather sofa in front of the closest bookshelf to the table, the room was practically empty.

No Keenan.

Against all the warnings blaring through my head,I pushed the door further open and then walked in, glancing back to make sure no one was coming. I couldn't afford to get caught.

What was I even doing here?

I walked further into the study, my eyes surveying the bookshelves. I noticed that most of the books were either motivational, Business books, Encyclopedias or plain  files.

I walked towards the office seat,running my hands through the edges of the table as I moved. Amidst all the pieces of paper was a coffee cup, and when I wrapped my fingers around the cup,it was warm against my skin. I halted.

He had just been here.

I froze when I felt a figure behind me.

"You should not be here."

I whirled around immediately, feeling my eyes grow wide as he drew closer,some files in his hand. I was certain he hadn't come through the door but when I saw the files,I realized he must have been behind one of the bookshelves.

The whole time.

I swallowed hard, feeling heat crawl up my cheeks.

"I'm-" I stammered. "I-" I paused, fidgeting with my fingers. "I just-"I pouted, running my fingers through my hair. "The door was open."

Again.

"I-I should go." I stepped away from the table and then turned to go when his voice cut me off.

"Stay." He paused,closing the file he held in his hands. "Stay for a few minutes since you're already here." He added,picking up a file. He opened the first page and then shut it, his eyebrows furrowing while I watched him with curious eyes, wondering where all this was going.

"You didn't come down for lunch." He said after a while, placing the file down to finally look at me. I pouted,rubbing my hands against the slim fabric of my night dress.

"I wasn't hungry." I lied.

"And dinner?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I wasn't hungry either."

Another lie.

He was quiet for a few seconds and then he nodded.

"You were avoiding me." He stated knowingly, causing me to lower my gaze.

"You got upset because I told you the truth." I said quietly, making circles on the ground with my feet.

"I never said I was angry." He said after a few seconds, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"You didn't say anything." I countered, finally bringing my gaze to meet his. He was quiet for a few seconds.

"I wasn't trying to control you, Kim." He said rather calmly. "I was trying to protect you."

"Telling me what perfume to wear is protection?" The question came out more like I was mocking him but I swear to God,I wasn't. I just needed him to give me something to hold on to. He frowned,closing his eyes for a second.

"I think you should go." He went around the table and then pulled his seat further out. I watched him sit down and then grab a pencil.

I crossed my arms and then scoffed, feeling my anger double by the second.

"So what? Now,we're this close to having a normal conversation and you're just gonna shut me out?!" I raised my voice a bit. His jaw tensed, his grip tightening around the pencil till till snapped into halves. "What are you trying to protect me from,Keenan?" I demanded as he picked up another pencil and began to 'supposedly' write something on the piece of paper in front of him. "What are you so afraid of?! Why would you kiss me if you didn't mean it?!" I pressed further. He picked up a third pencil. "For Christ's sake, Keenan, why won't you answer any of my questions? Why are you trying so hard to push me awa-"

"Because I can not have you!" He raised his voice, the sound of his fist slamming against the table causing me to cringe backwards. "You cannot survive in my world,Kim. You can not afford to have any feelings whatsoever for me." He was standing now, taking dangerously slow steps towards me. "I have done things, Kimberly. Things that you would hate me for-"

"I-I don't care." I stammered.

"I am not a good man. I don't always make the right choices." He said, stopping when he was a few steps away from me.

"I don't care." I took a step towards him, closing just a fraction of the distance between us.

"Your mother would have advised you to run." He frowned,laying emphasis on the words 'mother' and 'run'. I knew exactly what he was trying to do but I had come too far away back down now.

"My mother didn't always make the smartest decisions."

"What do I have to say?" His brows dropped and for the first time since I met him,he looked..... defeated.

"The truth, Keenan." I said quietly. "Tell me the truth." I repeated. He pouted and then nodded.

"I'm am not good for you." He said finally,pulling his gaze away.

"Then let me be bad for you." I swallowed hard and without giving myself enough time to think about what I was about to do next, I took a step towards him, closing the distance between us. His head snapped in my direction and I could swear I saw his pupils dilate.

"You have no idea what you-"

I stood on my toes and then pressed my lips softly against his. It was a simple kiss that lasted barely a second but it didn't stop my nerves from going haywire.

"Kiss me,Keenan." I whispered, my heart beating rapidly against my chest. For a moment, his gaze held mine, his eyes a shade darker. But he didn't move. I stood awkwardly for a few seconds, feeling heart crawl its way up my cheeks.

I was so embarrassed.

Awkwardly, I bit down on my lower lip and then attempted to break my gaze away but the sudden feeling of his hand on my cheek held me captive.

"This is what it means to be bad, Kim."

"Wh-"

In an instant, his mouth crashed into mine, forcing me to swallow the rest of my words. I responded immediately, wrapping my hands around his neck as his hands slipped around my waist, encircling the small of my back.

A low moan escaped the back of his throat and in an instant, one of his hands were in my hair, tilting my head a bit so he could deepen the kiss. His hands went up my thigh,pulling me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist so I was straddling him. I felt him move, until he placed me on top of a slightly warm hard surface. His hands skimmed up my thigh,raising my nightdress in the process.

And then he pulled away.

"We shouldn't." He breathed, as his hands withdrew from my thigh. I don't know where the sudden courage came from, or what I was thinking.

Maybe I wasn't even thinking at all.

But I slowly reached for the hem of my dress, raising it upwards until I successfully pulled it off. I watched his eyes shamelessly drink me in, his eyes dangerously dark.

"Consider me a fast learner." I managed to say even though all I wanted to do was cover my chest and hide. And then he cursed.

"Fuck me."

And then his lips were on mine again.

Sooooooo???

This has officially got to be my longest chapter in this book so far.

Share your thoughts with me😋.

Vote,comment,recommend, share.

Love,

-Chay