8 - The CEO's Love

Chapter Eight

Amanda woke up in the middle of the night to find herself cocooned in Lucas's warmth. His tall frame spooned her smaller one, her back pressed to his bare chest.

A clock on the table revealed it was 4:04am. They had gone to sleep at midnight, after three rounds of sex and some time basking in a fire Lucas made in the fireplace.

She couldn't recall the last time she felt this happy and satisfied after sex. She had just gotten out of a two-year relationship, and the sex wasn't anything to complain about. However, despite the fact that she wasn't emotionally invested in Lucas, being with him felt a hundred times more explosive.

Too bad she wasn't looking for anything long-term, even just sexually. Lucas seemed like the kind of man it would be easy to get attached to if she slept around with him longer than necessary. He was quite the gentleman, and he was great in bed. It would be wise to be content with the previous night and let him go at dawn.

Carefully, she lifted his arm and slipped out of his embrace. She padded softly to the bathroom, opening and closing the door silently.

She put on the lights and stood at the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her lips swollen from all the kisses and bites she had subjected them to earlier. The top buttons of her blouse were open, revealing a smattering of dark hickeys. She stifled a giggle as she recalled Lucas leaving the marks earlier on. She hadn't minded because they were easy to hide, and she thought they'd look cute.

Looking at them, they reminded her of how she would enjoy leaving hickeys on Sam's neck, and how he'd struggle to conceal them the next day with her makeup—which was the wrong shade for his darker skin.

Her eyes grew wide with horror as she realised her mind had effortlessly travelled back in time, reminding her of the last person she wanted to think of. As if that thought alone had opened a floodgate in her mind, the memories came crashing into her.

Sam, telling her she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen while he fúcked her on one of her couches.

Sam, fingering her in the limousine while his driver took the two of them to an event.

Sam, spooning her in her sleep the same exact way Lucas had, and not letting her go until one of them woke up in the morning.

Amanda shook her head, trying to push the thoughts out. She tried fervently to replace them with Lucas. Lucas taking her on the couch, Lucas pleasuring her with his fingers in front of the fireplace until she screamed his name. Lucas holding her so protectively as she slipped into sleep.

But it didn't work.

The invading memories came accompanied by pain. The pain that overcame her each time she remembered that every one of those memories was a lie.

That while Sam pretended to love her, while he went on one knee and proposed to her on their second anniversary with a crowd watching, while he whispered the most beautiful words to her as she gave herself to him body and soul, his heart was elsewhere, with another woman.

The tears came unbidden, and she wiped them furiously.

No, she shouldn't be thinking about it. She came all the way to the mountain resort to get over her ugly past, not let it get the better of her.

"You're so stupid," she muttered, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "You're such a stupid, brainless fool, Amanda." She laughed, the sound mixed in with her crying. "She told you, didn't she? Your therapist said fúcking someone would bring it all back, but you just had to be careless one more time, huh? Are you happy, now?"

She wiped more of her tears. "Maybe you deserve the pain. That's the only way you'll learn."

She rubbed her cheeks dry.

What was done was done. She had enjoyed being with Lucas as long as it lasted, but if this was going to be the after-effect, she had to stick to her initial plan. No men, no sex. Nothing but her and the peaceful scenery around her for the next two weeks.

In the morning, he'd leave and she would make it clear that she didn't want to see him again.

With that thought, she went back to bed. This time round, she maintained a distance between them.

***

When Amanda woke up a second time, the aroma of fried eggs assaulted her senses.

It took her a few seconds to remember she was in a cabin at Riverside Park and not the bed in her apartment. She looked at the other side of the bed. It was empty. At first, she thought Lucas had already left. But that wouldn't explain the aroma of breakfast. Was he cooking breakfast?

She climbed out of bed and went to her suitcase that stood near the door. She was too busy messing around with Lucas the previous night to unpack her stuff. Laying it on the floor, she looked through it for a pair of leggings, a t-shirt, and a knit sweater. She placed the clothes on the bed and headed into the bathroom for a shower.

While showering, she affirmed her decision about asking Lucas to leave right away. She couldn't let him hang around and keep doing admirable stuff like making her breakfast. One-night stands don't do that.

Later, she walked back into the bedroom and changed into the fresh clothes. She gathered her damp hair on top of her head and made it out of the bedroom. She was welcomed by the sight of Lucas setting the dining table with breakfast.

He looked over when she walked into the room, and that sinful smile of his appeared. "Morning, beautiful."

She stomped on the warm feeling that threatened to rise in her chest.

"You didn't have to do that," she said, indicating the breakfast.

"How could I not? I love the idea of feeding you, Amanda. Come on and have a seat."

She maintained her position and crossed her arms across her chest. "We are not a couple, Lucas. It's not your place to make me breakfast."

His brow creased a little. "Yeah, we are not, but I thought--"

"Don't think, okay? Just leave. We had a one-night stand, and that's done. I need you to leave now."

His frown deepened. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. I just don't want you to stay any longer."

"Why?"

"Why? How much longer do you like your hookups staying over the next morning, Lucas? I bet you'd think they were hoping for something more if they made you breakfast."

She had a point, but even she knew she was being a little too harsh. They had spent a lot of time together the previous night, much longer than she'd ever spent with a casual hookup. Was having breakfast with him before he left too much? Could she blame him for feeling comfortable enough around her to consider making her breakfast?

"Calm down, Amanda. I'm not looking for a girlfriend."

He had said as much the previous night at the cafeteria, hadn't he?

But that wasn't the issue, was it?

She didn't want to spend more time around him when it triggered painful memories.

"I know," she mumbled, hiding her face in her palms. "I'm sorry." She dragged her hands down her face. "That was rude."

"Are you regretting last night?" he asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, heading over to the breakfast table. "Let's eat then you can leave."

He waited for her to sit down before he said,

"I can't leave."

She gazed at him. "Please, Lucas. Don't make this complicated."

"I'm not. It's just that it's snowing outside, so I can't leave."

"Because it's snowing?" she asked, finding that claim ridiculous.