I closed my eyes in frustration as my phone buzzed against my thigh for what have must been the third time in an hour. I didn't even need to look to know that it was Nathan. From the second I left Greece in that taxi, he's been persistently calling me, texting me, and even fucking emailing me. 

All his messages read more or less the same thing – Please can we talk.

"Oh, for goodness, Soph, it's been a week. Just pick up the phone and agree to fuck him already," Brandon snapped impatiently.

 My head shot up in surprise, to find Brandon as I left him, leaning up against the machine bikes with a knowing smile on his face.

 A fierce blush spread over my cheeks. "Be quiet; people can hear you," I hissed as I gave him a swift slap. I looked around nervously to see if anyone else at the gym had heard us, but luckily nobody had.

It was nearing the end of my shift at work, and I was in the middle of sanitizing down the exercise equipment from a client that I had just finished training. Brandon, for a reason unbeknownst to me, had decided to tag along with me to the gym, so he could annoy me in between my breaks.

I let out a heavy sigh, remembering Brandon's question. I shot him an unimpressive glance. "First of all, nobody said anything about fucking. And second of all, you know why I'm ignoring him. Trust me, there's nothing I'd want more than to talk to him, but I just can't. I'm bad news for him," I sighed as I continued to miserably spray at the equipment.

He threw his head back with a dramatic groan before returning his eyes to mine. "No, you're not, Soph. All you need to do is explain and apologize," Brandon urged. "And besides, do you really think he's going to give up on you just like that? You literally stuck your tongue down his throat, he's all in now," he snickered.

I glared at him. "I regret telling you that," I snapped. 

"Soph, I swear to god if you didn't tell me, I would have literally killed you," he scoffed.

I rolled my eyes. "You're making it sound way more than it actually was. All I did was kiss him."

 He lifted a finger. "Erm...what about the whole sitting in his lap part and allowing him to feel you up," Brandon piped in annoyingly.

"I...I, oh shut up," I grumbled, not having a better response than that. 

Suddenly remembering a way to get rid of him, I stood up straighter. "Hey, I'm pretty sure they are teaching hot yoga upstairs, and my manager's teaching. And there are glass windows..." I sang persuasively. 

Brandon's adam's apple bobbled as all kinds of horny thoughts likely dashed through his mind. "Got to go, love you," he called out. Then without another word, he pushed himself off the machine and made a frenzied dash towards the exit. I watched him leave with the shake of my head.

Once I was done cleaning up the exercise equipment, I dusted off my hands and made my way over to the changing rooms at a leisurely pace.

My hand managed to skim the doorknob before I suddenly felt the warmth of a chest brushing up against my back. Then a second later, two strong arms wrapped around my waist. 

What the actual fuck?

Before I could even scream, a hand clambered over my mouth and whoever was behind me started to cart me backward. Through widened eyes and heavy breaths, I got one last look at the corridor before I was dragged into an empty gym office.

The door slammed heavily as it closed behind us, and I barely got a breath out before the person swung me around and pressed me up against one of the walls. My heart rattled around like a mad man on drugs as I tried to make sense of what was happening. The room was pitch black, and all I could make out before me was a shadowy figure.

The person let out a heavy sigh and then slowly dropped their hand from my mouth. Angry at this person beyond belief, I was seconds away from headbutting them when I paused, getting a whiff of the delicious smell circulating the room.

Only one person smelled that good.

"Nathan?" I questioned breathlessly.

The second I spoke, the lights turned on all around me, and Nathan's concerned face appeared inches before mine.

My eyes instantly washed over his face, not being able to help myself. Those eyes, that nose, those lips. Lips that I'd now kissed... 

It had only been a week since I'd last seen him up close, and I had already missed him.

Nathan swallowed, seeming in a trance of his own, but then slowly, he backed away from me, ridding me of the comfort of his body heat.

Suddenly remembering what he had done, my eyes narrowed. "What the hell Nathan? I thought you were a fucking murderer or some shit. I could have hurt you," I scolded, fear running through my chest at the thought of accidentally punching him.

A look of guilt flashed through Nathan's eyes as though it had only just dawned on him that grabbing me from behind was a little bit insensitive.

Running a hand over his hair, he let out a frustrated groan. "Well, I'm sorry, but I got desperate. You've been ignoring me all week. I've texted you, I've called you, I've shown up at your flat. I literally tried to approach you in the parking lot the other day, and you legitimately ran away from me. So yeah, Sophie as dumb as it might seem, I kind of felt like fake kidnapping you was my only option left," he said, letting out a bitter laugh.

I bowed my head down, feeling a little ashamed when he laid it all out like that.

"Is it because I kissed you? Is that why you're mad at me?" Nathan said, his eyes rapidly working over my face as though he was trying to read my mind.

I shook my head softly. "I'm not mad at you, Nathan. You did absolutely nothing wrong. You're perfect, trust me," I said with a humourless laugh. "Everything wrong is to do with me and me alone," I whispered.

His eyes narrowed in clear confusion, and he took a step forward, further raising my already rapid pulse. "There's nothing wrong with you. What are you talking about?" he said. His eyes dipped to my lips, and he reached for my hand.

I quickly jerked my hand away before he could touch me. "Trust me, there is. You should forget about me, okay. I'm not who you think I am," I explained quickly. Then giving his chest an aggressive shove, I pushed past him and made my way to the door.

Nathan moved quickly and slammed the door shut before leaning against it to block my way. "No, I'm not forgetting shit. Especially if it's about you," he said, his eyes narrowing as though I had said something to personally offend him. 

"Well, you're going to have to," I stammered out in frustration.

"Too bad because I can't," he shrugged. "I'm sorry, Sophie, but I can't and won't forget about you," he stated confidently as he took another step closer to me. I sucked in a nervous breath as I felt the warmth of his chest brush against my own, all the while his eyes kept me capture.

"I'm done playing games, Sophie," he whispered his eyes and voice heavy with honesty. "I'm done pretending that we're friends, or acquaintances, or whatever other incorrect shit I've told you. I'm done pretending I don't think about you all the fucking time. I'm done pretending that I don't want to rip your clothes off every time I see you," he said, his eyes sweeping slowly over my body. 

My breath a ragged mess now; I backed away and pushed myself further into the edge of the hardwood desk behind me. He swallowed, his eyes flickering back and forth mine. "And most of all, I'm done pretending that I don't have feelings for you."

I stared at him, immobilized in shock, feeling as though the English language had suddenly failed me. He was close now, the two of our chests aligned and moving against each other. "I want you, Sophie, I want everything with you," he whispered.

Those striking green eyes of his kept me capture for each and every word that he spoke. And the hands he had placed either side of me on the desk, further made my mind swim in each and every direction.

The raggedness of my breathing was completely noticeable now, and I wouldn't be surprised if Nathan could feel my chest rising and falling against his own.

Shamefully after his confession, my mind couldn't think of anything else but dragging him down by the collar and kissing the living daylights out of him. Heck, I'd probably even let him fuck me on the desk.

But of course, I wasn't stupid enough to make those thoughts a reality. One, because fucking on your bosses' desk was almost a definite way to get yourself fired, and two, because someone like me didn't deserve him. Someone like me didn't deserve anyone.

Taking a deep breath, I drew on all my inner strength and pushed him away. "Nathan, we can't," I repeated.

Nathan flinched back with hurt, the look scorching right through my heart. It's for the best. You're doing the right thing, Sophie. You're doing the right thing.

Then as suddenly, the look in his eyes was replaced with a strong look of determination as his eyes narrowed. "Tell me one good, believable reason why you're so wrong for me, and then I'll go away," he said, with a spark of stubbornness in his eyes.

I let my eyes fall away from his as I frantically searched my mind for a good enough lie for why we couldn't be together. I straightened up as I finally thought of one. A cruel one, but one that should hopefully get him to back off for good.

"I'm not attracted to you, okay. You're not my type. You're nice to hang out with, but I don't like you like that," I said bluntly.

I expected him to look a little upset or offended but instead, an amused smile crossed over his face. "Not attracted to me? Really?" he said as he inched his way closer to me.

I swallowed nervously as he pushed me a little, so I was forced to lean even further onto the desk. My heart almost jumped out of my chest as I felt his hand brush the inside of my thigh.

 What the fuck was he doing?

I got my answer when he gently coaxed my thighs apart before stepping in between them. Chest to chest now, he stared down with a devilish smirk, a smirk of someone who clearly knew they had the upper hand.

Still keeping his hands on my hips, I felt him lean closer to me so that his lips brushed loosely against my ear.

"Are you going to pretend you don't feel anything right now?" he whispered, the warmth of his air tickling my ear. Desperately trying to control my breathing, I stared straight ahead and tried to give off my best impression of nonchalance. 

"I-I don't feel anything," I whispered back, internally cursing as I heard the obvious tremor in my voice.

Nathan chuckled lowly against my ear clearly having noticed. "Doesn't seem that way," he murmured, his breath causing Goosebumps to erupt against my skin. That combined with his touch, and the smell of his cologne was driving me absolutely crazy.

My breath hitched as I felt his hands slowly run down my thighs before running tantalizingly back up again. "Am I supposed to pretend I can't feel your legs shaking? That I can't feel you leaning closer at my touch? That I can't hear you're ever sharp intake of breath, hmm," he whispered as he started to draw lazy circles on my hips.

My heart still beat manically away at his words, and I closed my eyes to remember why this was wrong.

"Come on, Sophie. Stop lying to me," he whispered huskily into my ear. It was only when I felt his hands start to dip teasingly under my shirt, did I realize things were getting way too out of hand.

"Nathan, stop it," I hissed as I pushed him away from me roughly. 

He stumbled back and stayed back while looking over at me in disappointment. It made me feel like I kicked a puppy, but I ignored the feeling and carried on.

"I told you, I'm not attracted to you. So, there's your reason, now go," I snapped as I pointed at the door.

He let out a breath of a laugh. "Sophie, your body language quite clearly proved that your 'lack of attraction to me' is utter bull-shit," he scoffed.

Keeping my face devoid of all emotion, I crossed my arms and took a step closer to him. "You want proof I'm not interested?" I said bluntly.

He shrugged. "Go on then," he urged, not seeming the tiniest bit threatened.

"Okay, then watch this," I said as I brushed my way past him. I marched determinedly out of the office and into the main gym area, knowing exactly what I had to do. Nathan followed along quickly behind me and speed-walked a little until we were in step together.

"Where are we going?" Nathan asked, sending me all kinds of looks of confusion.

Ignoring him, I scanned the equipment area for a target of my fancy. My eyes narrowed in on a young-ish-looking guy hanging out by the weights machine.

Perfect.

I quickly made my way over to the guy and cleared my throat to get his attention. He looked up at me in surprise.

 "Can I help you?" the guy asked slowly as he looked back and forth between Nathan and me.

 Now that he was closer, I could see he was your typical brown-haired, brown-eyed lad-ish looking boy. Or, in other terms, nowhere near as hot as Nathan. But whatever, he would have to do.

"What's your name?" I asked the guy bluntly. 

 The guy took a second before answering, clearly seeming a little bit shocked at how abruptly I had started the conversation. 

"Liam," he finally answered.

"And how old are you, Liam?" I questioned. 

"Er...twenty-one...," he mumbled as he looked between Nathan and me cautiously.

"Okay, great. Wanna go out with me?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

 From the corner of my eyes, I saw Nathan's head immediately whip around to face me with lightning sharp speed.

"Y-yeah, I'd love to," Liam stammered out in shock as his eyes started to shamelessly and hungrily scan me from head to toe.

"Excellent, is tomorrow night good for you?" I asked with a smile. I could still feel the very obvious murderous glares Nathan was sending in my direction, but I chose to ignore them.

"Yeah, of course, tomorrow night sounds perfect," Liam rambled off excitedly. "Can I get your number?" he asked abruptly.

"Yeah, sure," I chirped as I fished out a pen from my pocket. Then feeling bold, I grabbed the guy's hand and wrote my number right across his palm along with my name and some kisses.

For every digit I wrote, I could feel the heat of Nathan's glare intensifying. I didn't even need to look at him to know he was pissed, his anger was practically radiating off of him.

"There, all done," I smiled as I recapped the pen. Then sending him a flirty wink in goodbye, I turned on my heel and walked away.

I made it as far as the corridor before a hand grabbed my wrist and hurled me around to face them. As suspected, a livid Nathan stood before me, his eyes ablaze with betrayal. 

"Are you fucking kidding me? What the hell was that?" he cried.

"That's called evidence, Nathan. Convinced now?" I whispered. And like that, I ripped my arm free of his hold and walked away.  

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Author's note: 

So, yeah, now that happened... 

What do you think Nathan's going to do about this date?

Next Update: Wednesday (6-8 PM - UK time)