Chapter Fourty Four

“My agency has your account now... So I kinda work for you now. The last thing I want is rumors going on about us. And you know how that rumor is going to go. Everyone will think I got the account because I was sleeping with you, and I have to think about myself and my career too. A rumor like that could ruin it, and I can't risk that... Also we live so far away from each other. The distance is a big barrier.... And I have never been a fan of long distance relationships.... I hope you understand the point I'm making here, but I don't think that I can give you what you want. "

Timothy was quiet for a while.... Too quiet that it made Chloe extremely uncomfortable. She didn't say anything either, but she noticed that the longer she was silent, the more the hope faded in Timothy's eyes. He seemed resigned to her inevitable rejection, and she couldn’t help but feel horrible.

"Please say something, Timothy" she pleaded softly, "and please stop staring at me like that. I don't want you looking at me that way and not saying a word. I need to know what you are thinking"

"I guess I'm too late then" Timothy sighed as he finally spoke.

She looked confused. "Too late?" she repeated.

"Yes. I asked you if I was too late and I guess I'm too late... And I should have said all that when you gave me the chance."

"That's not the point" Chloe replied, trying desperately to find a way to make him understand her.

"Then what is it?" Timothy asked in a hurt voice. "Because there is no way that you would have responded to my kiss the way you did earlier if you didn't want me.... You wouldn't have kissed me back like that if you didn't feel something for me. We would have been making love right here if you didn't stop me l"

"I already gave you my reasons," she protested.

"Yeah sure" Timothy said and frowned. "I heard your reasons alright, but I'm sorry if they don't make any sense to me..." he seemed to give his words some thoughts before he added. "You know what, I take that back.... I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry that we have a chance... A second chance to be together after all these years, and you are not willing to take it. You want to walk away again... Just like you did before. It's one of the things that you are really good at... Walking away. You are afraid of nothing except being with me"

Chloe couldn't take the tone of his voice or his accusations any longer. She glared at him. "You have no right to talk to me like that, Timothy. I won't sit here and let you accuse me falsely. You act like I had no reason to leave. But you are simply running away from the fact that you are the reason for our falling out. You have never tried to understand me... All you have always cared about was that I left... And you know what, I'm not going to explain anything to you because you do not deserve any explanation. Three weeks ago I offered myself and you pushed me away, only to turn around now and blame me for not being ready because now you are "

She paused to catch her breath. She was very angry now and she could barely control it." The problem with you is that you think that everything should be done the way you want it and when you want it, and you get mad when it doesn't go your way. It’s selfish and you have to understand that things don't work that way... Especially with me"

Her voice shook and she felt her eyes become misty. She knew that she was going to cry if she kept on talking, and that was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want him to see her break down... Not because of this. So she stood up and went to stand at the window. The man would never understand her, she thought regretfully. And a relationship with him would never work out, no matter how much she wanted it. She should have never seduced him into kissing her or touching her. Now she could never get rid of that night. Even now angry as she was, she felt hot just by the memories of his tongue on her.. Sucking, licking and coaxing her to orgasm.

She closed her eyes, reveling in her memories and then she felt him standing behind her... And he was close... Too damn close. His warm breath tickled her neck and shoulder and she tried hard to resist the urge to turn around and press her lips to his. She almost expected him to touch her, but he didn't.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low, and it wasn't what she expected to hear.

"I'm sorry," Timothy said. "That was really crappy of me. I got carried away by my emotions. Believe me, that was not the way I wanted this evening to go. I just can't seem to be able to do things right whenever it comes to you. I'm always able to handle issues rationally and without getting emotionally involved, but it's never the same with you and for that I'm sorry."

There was a pause before he added. "And I understand. I understand why you don't want to be with me. We can't seem to agree on anything and we can't stop fighting each other. I guess it's for the best. Take care of yourself"

He didn't wait for her to reply. He simply turned and walked out. Chloe stood there... Rooted to the spot. She listened to his footsteps, heard the door open and close... Then his car door opened and closed.. The car engine... And him driving away... Out of her life.

Only then did she let the tears fall.

____________

Evan Reese stood in his room and stared at the mirror in front of him. He looked good, he thought, and smiled at himself. The tux he was wearing fit him perfectly. It matched his eyes. The sharp angles of his cheekbones were accentuated, and the same was the case for his nose and jaw. The carnal perfection of his mouth. The tall, elegant frame with wide shoulders and chest, a tapered waist and powerful legs. He slipped his hands into his tuxedo pants as he admired himself.