Scornfully Yours (Torn Series) (8 page)

     “
Like friends
, then?” I double checked.

     “Sure—as friends—
for now
. My intentions are much more geared towards a higher ground. But if that’s what you want to start out with as a platform, a common ground, then so it shall be. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, Em and I really mean that.”

     How was it that I didn’t have to explain myself fully to him? He seemed to just know and get it.

      It was disconcerting to say the least.

     “Good. I’d like that very much, Bass.” I glanced at him as he stifled a yawn. “You should sleep and I should head out back to my hotel,” I suggested.

     Bass shook his head. “No. I love having you here with me and I very much like holding your dainty hand. Don’t go yet.” He tried to hide another incoming yawn.

    
Gosh
, he even makes yawning look sexy. “Alright I’ll wait until you’re passed out and then I’ll leave.”

     He handed me his phone. “Program your number please? And set the alarm two hours from now? I promise I will call my driver to come get you and take you back to your hotel.”

     I consented, “two hours tops.”
You sure you’re staying because you don’t want to leave his side either?

     “Thank you,” he murmured and finally closed his eyes.

     Since my hand was on his chest, I felt his heartbeat slow down.

     With one free hand, I added my name on his phone.

     I didn’t even dare browse through his contacts. I was tempted, but willed myself not to.

     Whoa! I didn’t even bother thinking about Carter for the past few hours. How the heck did that happen? I thought happily. Bass Cole’s charms were amazing, indeed!

     I studied his striking profile and thought how such a fucking beautiful man like him could see something in me?  Apart from my striking features, what else did he see? I wondered insecurely.

     How the hell did I get myself into more trouble?

Carter was enough problem as it is.  Now I  added another man into the mix. This shit could get complicated as hell, I thought as my eyes heavily shut down their lids.

“
When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and bring joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.”

-
Jean Shinoda Bolen

     I could feel the heat of the sun starting to scorch my back. I groaned and tried to rollover to my other side but my hand was tucked somewhere. Bass was still holding my hand.

     Slightly opening my dreary eyes I immediately squinted at the bright surroundings.

      I shifted a bit and I heard Bass grunt something as he started to wake up.

     “Good morning sunshine.”

     “Good morning…” I said in between yawns then stilled.
Shit, what time is it?

     “Oh my God, I have to get back!” I got up and hunted my purse down. When I got to it, I fished out my phone. Carter and Lindsey called a few times each and there were a few messages from both of them. Ignoring Carter’s messages, I scrolled to read Lindsey’s.

    
Lindsey Mason: Em, I have to get back to SB. Sorry, this was unexpected. Could you get a ride from the girls? Thanks babe.

     Oh, no way.

     Why did she have to leave so soon? Wasn’t this her bright idea to begin with?

     No, no, no, no, no!

     I was not going to ride back home with the girls. I honestly didn’t feel like being interrogated by them. This totally sucked.

     “Is everything alright, Em?” Bass sat up from the lounger and scrambled to his feet.

     “I, um…” My voice trailed off as I watched in total fascination as he stretched his body. His black shirt lifted up and showed some of his famous abs with his faded jeans hanging low on his hips.

     I licked my lips as I stared.

    Why does he have to be so…
hella sexy?

     “
Yes, Emma?
” Bass caught me admiring him and now he was teasing the heck out of me.

     Blushing and a tad mortified, I excused myself to the bathroom.

     Once inside, I looked around and realized I hadn’t had a clue where the bathroom was. I quickly turned around to look for Bass but he was right behind me—with a massive smile on his face.

     ”Where
is
the bathroom?” I reddened a little more as I asked the question.

     “Come here,” he pulled me towards him and gave me a hug, enveloping me in his large muscled body.

      OH. MY. WORD!

      My senses were on full alert, I inhaled the very scent of him, and
boy doesn’t he just smell fantastic!

      He pulled back a little and looked at me, our faces mere inches away.

     “You know you look even more beautiful when you blush like that?” Bass whispered.

     The cat got my tongue.

     My mind went blank and all I could see was Bass and amazing eyes, dilated and very much engaged at me.

     Compelling me…

     Calling me…

     I snaked my tongue out to wet my dry lips and his eyes zeroed in on them. He pulled my face a little closer and I closed my eyes readying for his kiss—but his lips landed on my jaw and he nuzzled his nose all the way to my ears. He then whispered to me, “You’re not ready for my kiss yet, my darling Emma. And
when I do kiss you
—I will be the
only one
you can think of, the
only one
that can possess you and no one else. You, Madam, certainly are
not
ready for that kind of possession.”

     His words weighed heavy inside me. Bass was right, I wasn’t ready and I appreciated him being noble about it. Because if he chose to kiss me, I wouldn’t have pulled away and I might’ve ended up regretting it later on. He’s merely a stranger and yet he respected me.

     He’s simply remarkable.

     Bass kissed my forehead and squeezed me tightly. “Go freshen up while I make us some breakfast. Take two lefts and the bathroom is on the right. See you in a bit.” With another kiss on my head, he strolled towards his enormous stainless steel kitchen.

     For a good minute, I just stood there and watched him walk away.

    
Oh My God! What is going on?
My nerves are all over the place! I’m confused as hell. This is like an odd dream or one of those movies where the plot was too good to be true and then out of nowhere an axe murderer joins in and kills the happily ever after.

     Mentally shaking my head, I strode towards the directions he gave me and found the bathroom without difficulty.

     “I look like a bedraggled cat,” I voiced out loud as I stared at my reflection.

     I fished out my phone and called Amber. After two rings she picked up.

     “
Girllll
, you are getting it ooon!” Amber announced happily.

     I groaned. Did I expect anything else? They’re going to tease and tease the hell out of me until they get some juicy info.

     Shit. Here we go.

     “Listen—Linds left and went back to the dorms. I was hoping I could ride back with you guys.”

     “Oh no, we left like an hour ago, doll. We’re like around Summerland babe.  Sorry, cupcake.” Amber did sound sorry.

    Oh crap, what the hell was I supposed to do? 

     I groaned. Uh, this is what I got for being so idiotic. Why didn’t I figure this out last night? Since when was I never prepared? The old Emma would’ve made sure I had a ride before I left the club last night. The
new
me was obviously too star-struck to think coherently, like getting a simple fucking ride home!

     Ugh!

     “You know, why don’t you ask the bad boy BC himself? I bet he has a hot ride!” Amber suggested with tons of innuendos in between her words.

     Bad boy BC,
was that his nickname?

     “Emma!!!! Was he good in the sack?” I could hear Trista in the background. I guess the entire car could hear me. Damn speaker phones!

     “Good God! I didn’t sleep with him!” I countered back. This was still unchartered territory for me—dating and the like. I’m still learning here, I’m not going to sleep my way around.

     “No fucking way, why not? THIS is
The
Bass Cole, Emma! You’re such a bore whore!” Amber sounded aghast.

     Thank you, I guess?

     “Need I remind all of you that I just broke it off with Carter? Yeah—exactly! I am a bore whore, whatever.”

     “Carter’s pissed as shit. You better watch out for the angry monster when you get back in town.” Cece added with derision.

     Yeah, because you posted fucking videos on Facebook! Who fucking does that?
Of course
, she’s friends with like the entire campus.
Of course
, each person who saw it would mention it to Carter. Carter Mason was like their freaking school hero. They simply loved him.

     “Gee, thanks for the heads-up. Anyway, I have to go and look for a ride elsewhere.” I muttered.

     “Damn straight! And that ride better be Bass Cole’s warrior! You better tell me the deets and how he is between the sheets. Please, please, please!” Amber begged. She was obviously going bonkers.

     “There’s no point in arguing you,
is there?
See you later girls!” I laughed and cut off the call before they added anymore innuendoes my way.

      I washed my face and wiped my make-up off. How did I bring up my dire ride situation to Bass? What if he has other plans? Maybe I could call a taxi to take me—or better yet I could just rent a car
somewhere. With a quick application of my lip gloss, I came out of the bathroom.

     Upon entering the kitchen, Bass gave me a dazzling smile. “Come sit and talk to me while I cook. Which hotel are you and your friends staying at again? I’ll drive you there myself.”

     I strode towards the kitchen island and sat on one of the stools and watched him master the kitchen. “That might be a problem. It seems that they all left already and I’m stuck alone in Los Angeles.”

     “No problem. I can take you back to campus.” He shrugged and continued to chop mushrooms like a Michelin chef. Impressive.

     “Where did you learn how to cook?”

     “I was a chef in one of my movies and I had to train with this five-star chef for three months before shooting.”

     “Wow, three months? What movie was it?” I hadn’t seen any of his films except for that first vampire movie.  Amber and Cece had told me there were two and another one in the works.

     Bass smirked at my innocent question. “How many films of mine have you
seen
, Emma?” He cracked four eggs in a bowl, peppered them and added a dash of salt, and rapidly scrambled them. His large hands were even nice…

     “Knights of Cimmerian.”

     “Did you like it?” He lightly inquired as he drizzled olive oil on the heated pan.

     “Sure, it was great!” I fibbed.

     “What did you like about it?” He pressed on, again.

     Shoot.

     You’re rock-hard abs and that sexy, crazy, erotically charged sex scene that had gotten me so aroused in the movie theater. I clearly remember how his sculpted, firm ass looked as he made love to the woman in the movie.

     ”Everything…it was…great.” I bit my lip as I looked at him through my lashes.

     He barked out a loud laugh.

    
And what a
…fucking stop it, Emma. I scolded myself as I lusted from afar.

     “It’s either you didn’t like it
or
you weren’t paying attention. So which is which?”

     Busted! I suck at lying.

     “I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry. When you asked, I didn’t know what to tell you to be honest.”

     “Don’t worry babe, I’m not offended.” He winked at me as he prepared our breakfast.

     I made toast the bread, coffee, and cut up some fruits.

     We ate at the island counter and I noticed how his eyes looked even more spell-binding in the daylight.

     After breakfast/brunch, it was past noon when we left his house and drove back to Santa Barbara. His bright blue Lamborghini Gallardo weaved through the traffic. I couldn’t help but look at his hands when he shifted gears. I love men that can drive a stick.

     He looked so fucking edible in his aviator shades, wearing a simple white shirt and dark jeans. He looked like every bit of the heartthrob that he was. I’m crushing hard on Bass.