Chapter 19

The One Where She Trusts

“Be careful who you trust, the devil was once an angel.”

— Ziad K. Abdelnour

A/N: y’all are straight up deadt in the comments:( I’ve been so excited to post updates, please leave comments:(

A R I E L L E

When I wake up, I don’t immediately recognize my surroundings. The exposed ductwork in the ceiling is the first giveaway of where I am and when I sit up in the bed and spot the familiar head of brown hair, I realize I never forgot.

Hayes lays on his side, in a deep sleep that radiates throughout his body in the form of deep, relaxing breaths. The top of his naked ass is exposed from where I sit, only the bottom half of his body shielded from the cold of his apartment by the duvet.

Okay, so yeah, I might’ve went on my fourth date with Hayes. He might’ve taken me out for a lovely dinner. We may have made out before riding his motorcycle to his place.

Then I said fuck it and finally fucked Hayes.

Wasn’t exactly one for the record books.

I mean, he was gentle, caring, slow, and tried his damndest to tend to my needs, but ... I didn’t cùm. It was a tad annoying actually, because I’ve always known us to have sexual chemistry but when I finally got him in the sack, it just didn’t do the trick.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s fucking packing but it wasn’t enough to rev up this engine if you get what I’m saying.

Not to mention the fact that I’d gotten a new piercing only a few days ago and that area has been rather tender, and I don’t think Hayes appreciates piercings on the female body as much as I do. I mean, he could look and not touch but I’m sure many other men would admire what he didn’t.

Needing a glass of water or just a moment to stretch my legs, I stand from the bed, glancing around for something to wear as the cold air hits my naked body. I tiptoe over to his dresser and pull out a shirt that I wear like a dress.

Ensuring that I haven’t disturbed Hayes, I quietly make my way out of his room in the dark, not at all acquainted with his apartment in the dark. This being my first time here, I have to stop and remember which way to turn in order to head to the kitchen. Remembering Hayes pulling my body through his place in a hurried frenzy, I faintly can recall the kitchen being just inside the door and so I head right.

My hands wander across the walls until I find a light switch and I turn it on, squinting when the brightness blinds my sleep-filled eyes.

His apartment is different from what I expected his style to be. It’s very industrial loft-style, with the exposed brick wall and duct work out in the open above me. The kitchen is rather plain and small and I can’t help but wonder how he manages to cook anything in it.

Stepping over to the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water and stare out the window at the parking lot below us. I take a few sips and head back down the hallway, veering off into another room to fuel my curious desire.

Flicking the light on, I note that I’m in an office of some sort. Paperwork is fucking spewed across the massive L-shaped desk, and the computer makes a ping! as I glance at one of the papers, reminding me that I shouldn’t snoop.

I head back to the bedroom, placing my bottle of water down on the bedside table at my side. Before crawling back into bed, I decide to use the bathroom and so, head into the attached ensuite.

When I’m done relieving myself, I take a glance at my appearance in the large mirror, noting that I look like a wreck. My hair is a little ruffled and there’s a hickey sucked into the curve of my neck, but it was all in ... okay fun.

I attempt to check my breath by exhaling into my hand, but it doesn’t exactly work and I decide it’s best to just borrow some mouth wash. I open the drawers on the left side of the vanity to no avail, and so move to the other side. When I open the middle drawer, my eyes go wide and I swallow hard.

Holy shit.

I pick the item up in my hands—shiny, golden, and adorning Hayes’ surname—and nearly drop it into the sink.

It’s a police officer’s badge.

Without thinking twice, I step out from the bathroom and charge at Hayes. He’s awake now, and he doesn’t seem all that happy to see me when he spots how angry and upset I look.

“Tell me this is some fake novelty shit,” I snap, tossing the badge on the comforter where his still naked lower half hides underneath. It lands right beside the scar that stretches across his abdomen with a slight bounce and he glances down at it with worry.

“Arielle, listen—”

“Tell me it’s fuckin’ fake, you asshole! Tell me you haven’t been lying to my face this entire damn time. Tell me I didn’t just put my trust in you and fuck some imaginary guy you made up as another persona separate from the real you, who’s a fuckin’ cop!” My face heats up and I’m sure I’m flushing wildly as anger sears through my veins.

Hayes is silent, sitting up in the bed while clutching at the covers to conceal himself.

“You better damn well have a good answer, Hayes.”

“Look, yes, I’m a cop—”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ!” I moan out, running my hands over my face. How was I so damn stupid?

“But none of it matters, okay? I–” he pauses, seeming nervous, “I’ve fallen in love with you these past few weeks and who I am in my day to day job is irrelevant.”