Chapter 12

It was 11:45 PM and Avril was at war with her body. All she wanted to do was lie down and forget what had happened today, but instead, she was being kept awake by the cramp and the awful cry of her stomach.

"Damn it! I know you're hungry but can't you just go one night without food?" she begged her stomach, and in response, she heard a defiant growl. She cursed the moment she decided to refuse the dinner Trish brought up for her. How dumb of her to say, "Please leave it in the microwave, I'll eat it later." It was now later and while she was in physical pain from hunger she didn't wish to go downstairs for fear that she would have to face him.

Her stomach growled once again, this time louder and more painful than before. 'UGHHHHHHHH!" She shot up from her bed. "Fine! Have it your way." She eased out of her room, careful not to make any sounds that might rouse Thomas. The last thing she needed was seeing his face popping out while she was sneaking her way down to his kitchen. How embarrassing it would be to be caught stealing food from the one man who thought she was a burden. She would die if he saw her.
She made her way down the stairs and to the kitchen on her tiptoes. Every step she took was careful and tentative. She could barely see and had to squint her eyes in the darkness. The sounds of the crickets chirping echoing in the dead silence of the night. Before she could place her feet on the last layer of the step she heard a familiar click and the kitchen immediately was illuminated. She blinked a few times for her eyes to adjust to the sudden change in light.

Avril gasped, she had momentarily lost her footing. She faintly heard the sound of wood scraping against the floor and in an instant, strong arms encircled her and swiftly brought her within mere inches of her savior. They were so close that their breaths mingled together to create something unique and Avril couldn't help but stare at his neck. The contours of it strong and inviting her to have a taste. A preposterous thought as she had never once laid her lips to a man's throat. The thought of it made her shudder.
"Are you okay?" Thomas whispered, his lips brushing against her forehead. Avril kept her eyes downcast, she didn't dare look into his eyes, she was sure they would betray how flustered she felt at this moment. His arms brought her flush against the hard contours of his body, she could feel her breasts pressed up against his chest and her body temperature was rising to dangerous levels.

"Yes." She whispered, even her voice sounded shaky and frail. She didn't understand why his touch and presence did this to her. She sucked in a deep breath but it felt insufficient.
Thomas couldn't stop staring at Avril's parted lips, it took everything in him not to draw her face up to his and claim those lips, but he feared he wouldn't be able to stop himself not until she was entirely his own. Not until her entire body remained sore from him and every sweet lick of agony that ran through her body reminded her of him alone.

The feel of her body against his was more temptation than he was able to resist and he found himself moving closer, her lips his intended target.
Avril finally drew enough of her senses, "I am okay, you can let me go now." She whispered. The full force of their spat coming back to her.

"If that's what you truly want." He left the statement lingering...waiting for a response. However, Avril was sure how she should respond. Situations such as this were very much novel to her. Should she respond with what she felt or should she respond the way she was supposed to? He was much older than she was, not to mention the son of her father's friend and she had no idea of his true intentions. These were the questions and concerns that butted heads in her mind. She couldn't come up with a response fast enough and Thomas repeated his query.

"Do you want me to let you go, Avril?" His voice firm, he knew what he wanted her to say and despite the odds in his favor, he held his breath until she spoke. It was the longest half a minute he ever experienced. He could hear the blood rushing to his heart as he anticipated her answer.

"I am not sure." She answered truthfully. She had to think about more than just what she wanted at this moment, she had to think of him. He thought her a burdensome child. How could she have so little respect for herself that she would give in to some mindless temptation. She couldn't risk her heart when they were only playing for bodies. "But, letting me go will be for the best." she finally gazed into his eyes and she somehow regretted the decision.
Thomas released her reluctantly and stepped away. The loss of her subtle warmth leaving him empty. He didn't know how he could have expected her to give in to their obvious attraction. It was wrong.
Avril felt as if a part of her was pulled away when he released her, but she dare not admit it. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She was crushing on Nate for years and he never came close to making her feel this way. It was as if her emotions ran wild without even consulting her. She was more rational than this, of that she knew. Hell, this was the very reason she rejected the idea of ever being with Nate. She didn't want her first sexual encounter to be one that was doomed to end from the beginning. She couldn't give herself without love, especially not for the first time. It sounded cheesy whenever she spoke to her friends who'd already had their first experiences. Usually, it was always lacking and now they didn't put much weight into sex and they assured her in time she would be the same. However, for now, she wanted to at least try for a good experience with someone who wanted more than just her body.
she turned her attention back to Thomas. The very instance she tried to avoid was staring her in the face. She should have stayed in her room.

"Please forgive me for interrupting you. I had no idea you were..." she looked around the kitchen avoiding his gaze once more.

"Avril, don't be ridiculous." He cut her off. She spoke to him as if she was addressing a superior, her eyes avoiding his own. The girl he came to know of in the short time she was here, never adopted such a docile demeanor and he didn't like it. He wanted her feisty and unabashed. He loved when those eyes glared at him.

"You are to consider this place as much your home as it is mine." he turned and walked over to the table occupying the center of the room. She followed and took a seat beside him.

"I didn't want to be a further burden...." She let the words trail off and the guilt in Thomas for his explosion earlier that day coursed through his veins threefold. Trish was right. He had to make Avril comfortable or else she would view her University experience as trash.

"Avril...I didn't mean...." he reached out to her but she flinched backward. Away from his touch. Away from him. His heart sank. He didn't know that was something that he could have actually associated with himself.

"Can we please refrain from apologies and truces...They don't seem to last very long." Avril commented and he saw a bit of her resolve returning. She didn't mean to flinch away from him but she couldn't trust herself when he touched her and for that, she had no choice but to ensure he didn't so much as graze past her skin.
Thomas decided not to press further on that matter. He would adhere to her wish. He would not voice any apologies. "Is there something you wanted?" he changed the topic to facilitate her.

"I just came to get a quick snack and I'll head back to bed." The words tumbled out and as if in agreement, her stomach growled once more. Avril's hands went to her stomach and her eyes widened.
Thomas smiled and Avril, once again took the moment to marvel at how beautiful he looked when he did.

"Why didn't you just say you were hungry? Wait here, I'll make something for you." he moved out of his seat.

"It's okay! I can do it myself." Avril responded quickly, following suit and removing herself from her seat at the table, not wanting to inconvenience him.
He turned back at her, his eyes serious, "Sit down, Avril. I won't ask another time." he demanded. He knew she skipped dinner because of him and he desperately wanted to make amends. Not with his words but with his actions this time.

"Is that your definition of asking?" she muttered under her breath as Thomas turned away from her. She sank back into her seat at the table.

Thomas couldn't help but smile at her comment. "What's that?" he turned around to face her, his expression blank. He enjoyed these carefree moments between them and he was resolved to enjoy it, from experience it didn't seem to last very long.

"Nothing?" She smiled at him genuinely. She could do nothing but stare at Thomas while he slaved cooking. She wondered if there was anything he wasn't particularly good at. Looking at the way he moved with such confidence...she had her doubts.

"See something you particularly like?" He called out to her. Avril was startled, he didn't once look at her since he began cooking so how did he know that she was staring. Then again, she'd been staring at him for so long that she wouldn't even know if he did turn around to look at her.
She felt awkward at being called out for her shameless staring. But it couldn't be helped. She'd never seen a man, save for famous men, look so...perfect. It wasn't in a delicate sort of way rather it was more dangerous.

"As a matter of fact." She responded, biting her lower lip at her outburst. Where did we get the nerve! She questioned herself.
This time, his eyes rose towards hers. "I suggest you choose your words wisely. Once the words leave your lips I don't allow the possibility of taking them back." he warned.

Avril's heart thundered. Her little flirtation suddenly backfiring. She wasn't sure what he was trying to say to her. Perhaps he was warning her not to flirt with him. Her mind reeled. This was why she preferred flirting over text messages. It provided a safe distance and time for her to consider her responses. Real-life didn't allow for either option.
Thomas was indeed issuing a warning, but he saw it more as a disclaimer. If she decided to flirt with him he may not be responsible for the actions he carried out if she prompted him.

"Noted." She responded to Thomas' disappointment. He was quite hoping for a reason to take her.
Thomas laid down the dishes and sat down with Avril. She was impressed. "Please don't stand on ceremony." He gestured her to the dish in front of her as he took a bite of his own. She smiled her thanks.

"I assumed you would have been asleep by now," Thomas commented, almost as if he was speaking to himself.
Avril swallowed past the lump in her throat, her mind screaming at him that she was not at ease because she thought he shunned her. But those thoughts would not be voiced. "I couldn't sleep."

"Yeah? Me either." He responded. Their meal carried out in silence.