PS: Long chapter ahead. 😁

Once he settled on the loveseat, munching on a bag of fries and binge watching Netflix, Craig's mind traveled back to Isla, or Mae, as she claimed. He didn't care about her name. All he knew was that she was his best friend who made his jaw drop whenever he saw her. He groaned in frustration, ran his hands through his hair and called her on Skype.

"Coming."
She rushed to the living room where she abandoned her iPad in search of chocolate from the refrigerator. She was just in a T-shirt, curling up on the couch, yet he came undone when she picked his call. This was such a terrible idea.

The only thing he had to say was, "wow".

The only thing she had to say was, "Mr Sherman? How the fuck did you get my number? Darn, you're stalking me?"

He raised his hands in defense. Geez, this girl had some cheek.
"Let's just say I got it from your hospital records?"

Why did she have to look so sexy?

She wasn't even in a gown, just wearing her black curls plain about her shoulders. She pouted at him, drawing his gaze to her pink lips. He shuddered visibly. She took note of his reaction, then pushed him further over the edge by biting her lower lip.

"Stop it," he thundered.

He was trying very hard not to lose control and barge over to her home and kiss her senseless. What was he even thinking? She'd kick his ass out in a beat.

"My bad, I'm sorry." He watched her eyes deepen, then soften as she stared at him.

"For what?" She guessed what he was trying to say, but she wasn't going to make it easy.

"I___" His cheeks flamed hot. He looked away.

"Shouldn'thavekissedyou," he blurted.

She chuckled. "I didn't quite get that. Mind repeating it?"

Damn, he'd been an idiot to call her at all.

"I kind of rushed things." He took a deep breath, "and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you. It was a mistake, right?"

She laughed."That doesn't explain why you called me at five PM. Is this a mistake too?"

He turned redder. Then he started stammering like an idiot. It was so hilarious that Mae couldn't stop herself from bursting into laughter. Craig fucking handsome Sherman was blushing.

"Stop it," he huffed, not liking how she saw right through his predicament.

The T-shirt she was wearing was his favorite; the one he'd passed on to her when she slept over last session but forgot the bring her pyjamas. It hurt him still; she didn't remember that either. And it was all his fault.

"I have an idea," he said suddenly when it seemed like she'd never stop.

"I'll make it up to you. How does that sound?" He held his breath as she considered his offer, twirling a strand of her hair round and round. She said nothing.

"Why don't you call your dad? Tell him that you'll be home late."

Her heart stopped hammering and stood still, then froze into ice. Dad. Somehow, his memories weren't erased, and she recalled the bitter things that transpired between them both when she was a kid.

"You're disgusting," he spat.

Tears rose in her eyes. She struggled to hold them back but they spilled, showing him just how weak she was.

"Just like your Mom. That motherfucker stole my money, you bitch. She stole everything away from me, then ran off to London with that lover of hers. Thompson, I think. A stupid detective that can't work a tape properly. I know she's planning to take custody of you, but it'll never work. I'll ruin your life, I swear. Daughter of a motherfucker."

She broke down in distress, covered her ears with her hands and ran out of his room. She'd just delivered a glass of beer to him, as he'd requested. Her efforts at placing the glass were clumsy so it toppled over and spilled on the rug.

"One of these days, you'll be stuck in a hellhole, unable to fend for yourself. I'll hunt her down and destroy you both together," he snarled.

"You're lying to me! Mom would never do that!" She fisted the hem of her minidress.

"Get lost already."

This wasn't the first time it happened. But something in her wished that it would be the last. The next day, he came down with the flu. Badly. Even when she fed him chicken soup and waited for him to at least say, "thank you", he turned on the bed, his back to her.

"You're so stupid. Can't even make edible soup. I hate you." Was all the gratitude he had to express.

Gosh, she shouldn't be crying again because she'd heard that so many times, but it still hurt. Her dad drove the knife in deeper and deeper until she was sliced open, void of reason, completely unable to understand love. Until she hated love.

"I___ can we just stop talking about him, please?"

"What did he do to you?" His tone was no longer teasing. She felt that he was concerned about her now.

"Forget it." She snapped. If she thought about him one more time, she'd kill him with her own bare hands and throw his body into the Thames, so help her God.

"Dress sexy," he appealed. She couldn't make out his next words, but she thought he added, best friend.

"I said dress sexy, not make me swoon." He hung his coat at the door. She watched him saunter to the middle of the room where she stood still, trying to process what was going on.

"Uh..." Her thoughts flickered to her bare neck.

"Could you help me fasten my necklace, please?"

She showed him the string of silver pearls in her palm. His actions caused her stomach to flutter and jump as his fingers grazed the G spot on her neck. He was touching her exactly where it turned her on. It all felt so natural. Why did she have this inkling that she knew him before?

"All done." His fingers lingered on her neck though.
Trembling, he swept aside her curls on one shoulder, leaned closer and whispered, "you look stunning".

She laughed, albeit edgy.

"Darn, it's freezing." She hugged herself, trudging behind him all the way to his red Cadillac. Jealous of the fact that he was finding it easy to sprint, not showing any signs of tiredness. He stopped when he reached the car and she was a long way off. Sure, it wouldn't hurt to carry her. In a flash, he was by her side and sweeping her off her feet, teasing her about being too lazy to walk.

"You___" her eyes popped wide open, "have a chauffeur?"

"No big deal. Unless you're crushing on him now?"

She dared not risk another glance at him, not when he was still so handsome that she didn't know what to do around him. For most part of the drive, she plugged in her headphones and listened to Taylor Swift.

"God, why is she so sexy?" He thought.

God wasn't in the mood to answer, so he endured the pain of seeing Mae wriggle her hips on the seat, bobbing her head up and down. The car bumped suddenly. She shrieked, falling across his thighs. His senses reeled from the feeling of her skin, the scent of her lavender perfume. He caught her and held her in place. She tried to rise but his arm secured her waist. In that posture, he could do anything to her. He was losing control over his hormones fast. Painfully aware of the arousal building between his legs. She swallowed. Worse. His stare fell on her lips, then he searched her face to see if she was comfortable.

It caught him by surprise when she arched her back and pulled his head down to hers. She ached to kiss him. He___ he wanted to do more than just kiss her. Maybe fuck her senseless.

Her heart lurched forward when he shook his head and pulled back. Why? Why did he pull her close only to push her away? She shouldn't have offered herself to him that way. He'd thought she was too cheap, that he'd won the chase already. Mae moved to the farthest away from him. She took him in, sexiness and all, and found herself surprised that he was the same guy she was dying to kiss just seconds ago.

Just this date and she'd ensure he never saw her face again.

"Hey, is anything wrong?" He noticed her clenching her fists and frowning.
"You're___ quiet."

She just rolled her eyes at him and buried her face in her iPad instead. As soon as his attention was focused elsewhere, she stole a glance at his abs that stood out through the black polo shirt he wore.

Gawd, I can't stop drooling over this guy. He's so damn sexy...

"What are you thinking?" He turned suddenly to face her. She stuttered, "Uh..."

"You look so happy right now. Is it something that makes you smile this way? Or someone?"

Fuck, he'd seen it all over her. How could she tell him that it was he? He who made her daydream all day long. She'd give up anything just to see him, to talk to him, to hear that hint of concern in his tone when she said that something worried her.

"Something", she snapped.

"You're really bad at lying", he teased. "Whatever guy who has you tripping like this had better be more gorgeous than I am."

You have no idea, she thought.

"Sooooo, it's a guy, right?"

"It's none of your business. Unless you want me to ask about your crush too. I've this feeling that you'll enjoy answering those questions, eh?"

She caught on his voice falling to a whisper. "I___ I'm not so sure about her yet. I really love her,but I'm scared of confessing it. What if she hates me?"

"You're adorable. Did I ever tell you?" She chuckled.

"Just did. Ok... So, I have this girl I'm drooling over like crazy. How can I win her?"

"You do realize that you're on a date with me, right? And blubbering about your crush. I'm kinda jealous."

He shot her a look that told her he was serious.

"Really? Stop pretending around her. Let her see you for whom you truly are. Perhaps when she sees you in you, she'll fall so hard that you'd stumble." Mae winked.

"I've kissed her", he blurted out before he could stop himself. He expected her to burst out laughing but she softened.

"Kiss her again, Mr Smitten. And show her how hard you've fallen."

She didn't miss his gaze flicking to her lips briefly, before he blushed and called out to the chauffeur to stop.

"Where are we?" Crap. She'd not been paying any attention to where they were going. What if he kidnapped her or...?

He grinned. "I was beginning to think you'd never ask."

Hardly had her feet settled on the ground outside when he swept her into his arms. His touch had every nerve in her body singing. She melted completely inside, but he was too blind to see any of her emotions.

"Damn", she gasped, starting up. Before them loomed a mountain covered in snow. "Damn."

"We're going to climb." She wrapped her arms around his neck for support. Closed her eyes. She felt herself ascending higher and higher, but how she reached the peak, she didn't know. Then she remembered his strong biceps holding her, and she said, "thank you".

He blushed. Oh gawd. So freaking cute.

"Wh___ when did you place these here?" She gestured to the fuchsia pink blanket spread on a patch of grass. There was a bottle of sparkling red wine placed placed beside a vase of pink and red daises. And bowls of spring rolls, chocolate truffle cookies, topped with her favorite; French toast.

They sat opposite each other on the mountain top under the starry skies, counting the falling stars and making wishes together.

Her wish?

"That I find love someday. You know, it's pretty hard for me to believe that the thing even exists", she confessed, sipping from her wine. His fingers found hers and closed over them.

"You remind me so much of my best friend", he started carefully.

"We used to come up here a lot, and spend time together. I think I was crushing on her, and I guess she had a thing for me too, but she____ she didn't believe in love either. She was a damned playgirl."

"Did you ever tell her?"

"What?"

"That you loved her?"

"Trust me, I did. But she called me a liar. She had a terrible childhood, Mae. God knows how she managed to last that long, with so much on her shoulders."

The sad edge to his voice prompted her to look at him. His eyes were just as sad. And dark, swirling around with details of his past that he'd probably never tell her. The past he'd shared with his best friend.

"If you don't mind..." She stroked his arm. The butterflies in her belly fluttered harder, until she almost forgot the question on her mind.

"Where's she now?"

"She fell off this cliff. She's gone. We died."

Mae pushed aside the wine and flowers so that she could snuggle up to him.

"I can deal with the bad nights, when I'm with___" she sang.

"With whom?"

Had she just tried to call him baby? She attempted to cover her face with her palms but he locked them by her sides and snaked his hands around her waist.

"Hey", he said softly, "it's not your fault that she's gone. Maybe she'd come back to me someday, I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"A guy can only hope." He shrugged. All his bad dreams of Isla and her fall disappeared. He could deal with everything now, as long as Mae was there.

Her heartbeat pulsed along with his. He kissed the side of her cheek, feeling her shudder. She couldn't control it anymore. Hell, she didn't even care. She turned, with her face to him now, and surrendered herself to him wholly. He gave in to his urges and kissed her.

So hard that she lost her breath, then moaned softly and clutched his hair. He teased her with his lips, showing her just how much he was falling, and would always be. When he drew back, their lips were red and puffy but they weren't quite ready to quit. She thought he was so, so good at this, working wonders on her skin with his touches. Fiery touches. His hand around her waist slid underneath. She melted to pulp, reveling in the warmth of his fingers. He reached the clasp of her bra but lingered there tentatively. Stopped kissing her, leaned back enough to admire her beautiful face as he asked, "Can I?"

She just moaned. Not that she had enough sense to say anything else though. Because she wasn't, couldn't think straight at all.

He unclasped the hook, roamed his fingers over her soft skin. He felt her all over, moving lightly over and between her boobs, finishing her to the kind of excitement she'd never had before.

"If you don't stop moaning, I'd fuck you right here, I swear", he threatened. She pressed her body even closer, silently begging him not to stop. That was exactly when he did. Hurling her on her feet, pushing her top over her head. She opened her mouth to protest, but he rolled the straps of her bra down her hands.

"So fucking beautiful", he groaned. He loved her body so much that it hurt. Then, without warning, he wore the top back on her. Again, she couldn't argue with him. He descended the mountain rapidly, carrying her, his dick throbbing and ordering the chauffeur to drive them home. Before his thing burst out of his jeans. Once they were safely in the backseat, she pushed him downwards, straddling him, then launching her lips on his. Involuntarily, he kissed her back. Harder. God help them both.

They never kept their hands off each other. Not when the driver announced that they were home. Not the door slid open, and they alighted. He kissed her, all the way through his front door, up the stairs to his bedroom, releasing the passion that had been bottled up in him since... He didn't know. He was freaking crazy about Mae.

"Oh my gosh, it just feels so good when you're touching me all over." The words fell off her mouth before she realized it. He snapped up his head. He saw it___ she actually blushed. "I didn't mean it like that."

But the fact that she'd summoned the bravery to confess her feelings encouraged him.

He led her to his king sized bed, not giving her time to admire his room's theme of grey, black and white. He sat down first, pulled her between his legs and ordered, "Strip."

What? Come on, her body was damn beautiful. She shouldn't be scared, but she was.

"I have your bra with me." He boldly caressed her backside. She blushed even harder.

"Strip for me, baby", he whispered.

He set his hands on her waist and unbuckled her belt, rolled her jeans down her thighs. She stepped out of them automatically. She moved swiftly to cover where she didn't want him to see between her legs, but he was faster than she, so he pried her little fingers away.

"Don't cover up for me, baby. Not ever. You're the most beautiful girl I know, got it?"

She croaked, "Yes".

When she proved too hesitant to remove her top, he did it for her. She pressed her legs together, desperately struggling to hide her wetness from him as his gaze raked all over her bare body, finally settling on her chest. It took all her willpower to stand still. He noticed that her knees were trembling uncontrollably, so he wrapped one hand around her waist to steady her.

"You see, I've been thinking of you", he murmured, stealing a kiss from her lips.

"M__ me?" Her brows creased.

"Yeah, and that piece of advice you gave me. That I should let my crush see me for whom I truly am..." He kissed her forehead. "This is who I am, Mae. A mindless, hopeless dude. And I can't help but fall in love with you. Tonight, I'm going to kiss every inch of your body. I mean, every inch."

That did it. Her dams burst forth; she cried and cried.

He lay her head on his shoulder gently, whispering, "It's okay. I love you".

Craig waited for her to say that she loved him too. She didn't. It rattled him inside out to think that he'd forced his love on her. She didn't want it. She didn't need it. She didn't believe it. In her fucked up mind, he lied to her.

"Happy new year, Mae."

Craig woke her up with a kiss. She rubbed her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light spilling in through his electric blinds.

"Who's Mae? I'm Isla, you idiot", she argued.

"You remember." He flung the duvet away from himself, revealing part of her bare body.

She covered her boobs with her hands, snatched the duvet from him and wrapped herself with it. Then she was left to turn around... And ogle at his nakedness.

"Like what you see?" He grinned.

"Are you shitting me? How did I get here? You took advantage of me, didn't you? Selfish, arrogant, stupid jerk!"

He winced.

"Now you're teasing me, eh? Calling me Mae and all that bullshit. I'm Isla, got it? You motherfucking bastard!" She lashed out at him.

"What? I can't believe you were pretending so you could have me."

Isla marched into his bathroom, threw on her clothes and ran away. Again. He watched her leave. It broke his heart so badly that he was beginning to wish that she never regained her memory.

She was about to burst outside when the doorknob turned, and four FBI agents surfaced. The fuck?

"Hey you", one of them snarled, "Where's Craig Sherman? You're his girlfriend, aren't you? Daughter of a motherfucker."

She was too stunned to speak, just waved them upstairs.

The last agent secured her wrists with handcuffs despite her struggles. She tried the final option. Crying.

"Save your tears, Miss. Your boyfriend is alleged to be guilty."

"Of what? Let me go, you piece of shit."

"Murder."

•••••••
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*Runs to hide under the bed*
*Peeps out*

Are you guys still there? 🙈
This is the MOST smutty chapter I've ever written. I hope you don't mind. Um, I intended to publish it on Friday, but I was listening to I Don't Care last night and I kinda couldn't resist the urge to type away...

Did you like it? 😶

Until next week, cupcakes. I might change my mind about that XD.