My breath got caught in my throat and I shook my head. I felt weak and vulnerable and once he saw it he would use it against me.

"Come on, princess."

I felt a wave of energy rushing over me as he repeated that nickname and I pushed him off.

"Don't call me that." I said through gritted teeth and met his gaze. He was shocked for a moment before his face went back to his chill expression.

"It's late. You can sleep over here. I'm just trying to be a friend, Ellie." He explained and now I felt like a bitch.

I was the one to agree on the terms of staying friends. Obviously I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

"Fine. Just..don't call me that again." I repeated as I took a step back and he nodded.

"You can sleep on my bed. I can take the couch." He was smiling now which didn't suit him at all. Even when we were together, he barely smiled sincerely.

"Don't be silly. You'll be hungover, I will sleep on the couch."

His bedroom would just bring back more memories that I preferred not to be reminded of. The couch was quite comfortable anyways so I didn't see a problem.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked and looked at him when he made couple of steps and ended up standing besides me.

"I'm better now. Ellie...I missed you."

His gaze flickered over to me and I tilted my head in confusion.

"So far I remember, you were the one that broke up with me, Nathan." I arched an eyebrow and he sighed and looked down.

"I had my reasons."

"You didn't even explain to me. I thought you owned me at least that."

All the emotions from those last months floated as I turned to face him with a glare and we stared at each other.

"I care about you, Ellie." He suddenly turned the conversation into another direction and his eyes softened up as he took a hold of my face.

"Nate. Stop." I whispered and reached out to move his hands away.

He was faster and before I could react, he crashed his lips down on mine.

I could taste the alcohol as he harshly swept his tongue in my mouth. After couple of seconds fighting against it, I gave in to him. It caused too much emotions to let it slide just like that.

He grabbed the underside of my thighs and lifted me up to him. He walked over to the couch and sat down, having me straddling his lap.

In the heat of the moment, I grabbed the ends of his shirt and lifted it over his head. I passed my fingers over his tattooed chest and he groaned impatiently, pulling me closer to him.

"Let me have you one last time, baby." He murmured into my ear, kissing the skin down my neck before he got rid of my top and grabbed a fistful of my hair to make sure he was having access to my neck.

His hands were touching all over my bare skin like he couldn't get enough. I didn't  know why, but the way he was all over me gave me some hope. I haven't even thought of taking him back if he did such a thing.

Before he could get further however, his fingers passed over my jaw and I flinched, the stinging pain from the scratch making me come to my senses and proceed what he said.

'One last time'.

He wanted to use me for his pleasure.

"No." I said breathlessly and got off him.

His hands were empty and he dropped them by his sides as his head tilted back and he closed his eyes. We were both panting, but I slid as further away as I could to draw some border between us.

"Ellie.."

"This was a mistake." I continued talking so I could interrupt him and also convince myself that this wasn't supposed to happen.

But he surprised me when he shook his head. He sat up and came closer to me, with every movement he made, I clung closer to the armrest of the couch.

"I've been thinking about you and I can't get the view of your body..naked, out of my head for weeks. It's obvious you were craving it too, Ellie."

My eyes widened at his confession, but I wasn't going to just like that admit that I've been thinking about his body too.

"It doesn't matter what we want, Nate. We broke up and we can't do this." I said against my will as his hand caressed my hair.

He was quite distracting and I hated that about him right now.

"It's not necessary to mean anything to us."

"So you suggest that we hook up so you can finally get over me and move on with your life?" I spatted angrily and that made him pull back like he got burnt in realisation.

"Well..I didn't mean.."

"Nate. Just leave me alone." My voice was quiet as I said that, but he understood everything and stood up from the couch.

"Ellie...I didn't mean to. I..I crossed the border and I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Regret filled his eyes and he run a hand through his hair as if taking more time to think of what to do next. "Good night, Ellie."

I forced a smile on and waited till he walked into his room and then I let out a breath I was holding.

You're so stupid, Ellie.

Almost letting him play with you like that. And after those hard months when you almost got over him.

Almost.

I snuggled up with a pillow and closed my eyes.

I should have left, but I was too tired and I didn't feel like paying for a taxi again. It's not exactly a short way back to Fiona's place.

Luckily he didn't appear again in the past hour while I was trying to force myself into sleep. After hour and a half I felt myself drifting off to sleep.

***

— 6:45 am —

~ Ellie

I was having weird dream about someone barging into my room. I couldn't see his face. It was pitch black even when I turned on the lights. As if they had some permanent shadow over their face. Then I flinched at the sight of a gun pointed at me. The clicking sound that made echoed in the room.

Then a gunshot.

I screamed.

Bang!

I opened my eyes and discovered it's not a nightmare.