Chapter 25: Argue (Brielle's POV)

When I walked back out of the bathroom with my hair down and all my makeup wiped off, I realized that he was already in bed but he was shirtless. 

"Can you put a shirt on?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. 

"No," he shook his head. "I never slept in a t-shirt until you moved in. I don't want to anymore." 

"Okay," I shrugged, walking to my side of the bed, only to grab my phone. I pulled my flip-flops on. 

"Where are you going?" 

"To the other room." 

"Because I won't put a shirt on?" he scoffed. 

"Because we're arguing! It's all we ever do. All we ever do is argue," I huffed, tossing my phone on the bed. 

"Argue? We argue every time because one of us always refuses to communicate, and most of the time, it's you, Brielle." 

"So what the hell do you want me to do?!" I sat on the bed, crossing my legs and scooting closer to him. "I have never had anyone there for me and now you're suddenly here! I can't just open up to you in the blink of an eye when I've never done that with anybody before, why can't you understand that?" I sighed, grabbing my pillow and hitting him with it. 

He grabbed it, yanking it away from me. 

I moved to climb off the bed but he grabbed my shirt, yanking me back. I clutched the front of it almost immediately because I'm wearing a thin black singlet top tonight with matching shorts. It's a delicate top, it's not meant to be pulled at, and knowing him, he could tear it if he wanted.

"You're not going anywhere because walking out isn't going to help resolve this argument any faster," he huffed. 

"Then what do you want me to do? Sit here and keep arguing with you?" I turned back around to look at him. "Or act like we never argued in the first place and cuddle up with you?" 

"You didn't have a problem doing that this past week. If I remember correctly, there were days where you completely ignored my existence but then when it was nighttime, all you wanted was to be right next to me!" 

"Well, tonight I don't want to be right next to you!" 

"Well, tonight I do!" he snapped back. "You can't control everything." 

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. "Just tell me what you want me to do." 

"Do you remember when you were crying and I asked you that exact same question?" 

I blinked at him. 

"Do you remember what you said?" 

"I asked you to hate me. Are you going to ask me to hate you? Because I have a feeling it won't be very hard to do since—" 

"Kiss me." 

"What?" I scoffed. 

"You asked what I wanted you to do. Now do it." 

"Are you insane?" 

He rolled his eyes. 

"Are you really that desperate?" 

"Maybe I am," he shrugged. "Do it," he demanded. 

"I'm not going to kiss you!" 

"Why? Because you don't want to?" 

"No, because I know you don't really want me to. You're asking me to do that out of spite." 

"It doesn't matter. What matters is what I'm asking you to do." He pushed himself off the headboard and moved closer to me until we were only a few inches away. I got on my knees, ready to slide off the bed but he grabbed my top, pulling me forward while kneeling in front of me, mirroring my body. "Do it," he ordered, his voice lower than it was before, more hoarse and husky too. 

I didn't like the reaction that ignited in my body. It made me feel. Really feel. Everything. And I didn't like it. I wanted it to stop. Now. 

"I dare you," he whispered, leaning in ever so slightly. 

"We shouldn't kiss if we don't mean it." I pulled his hand away from my top. "I'm not sleeping here tonight." 

"You're not going anywhere until we sort this out. Through and through." 

I glanced at the door. 

"I already locked it." 

I looked back at him. "You're such a dick," I sighed, tilting my head up to look at the ceiling and gathering my thoughts before I looked back at him. "You think a kiss will end this argument?" 

"For the time being," he nodded and he did it so confidently. 

I wish I could prove him wrong, but it's not a gamble I'm willing to partake in. "I won't leave, but I'm also not kissing you. Let me go." 

He pulled his hands away, holding them up like he surrendered. 

"I would slap you if I could right now," I scoffed, neither of us moving. 

"Go ahead," he shrugged nonchalantly. 

I climbed off the bed, going into the bathroom. I need to get out of this room. If I stay here tonight, there will be a dead body in this room tomorrow morning and I have no idea whether it'll be his or mine. I walked out and turned the light off before closing the door. I glanced at the bedroom door. 

"You can try making a run for it," he said, watching me from the bed. 

I took one step to the door and he pushed the blanket off. I took another step and he sat on the edge, ready to get off and grab me. I groaned in frustration squatting down on the floor. "Let me go, please," I whined, hugging my knees. 

"If you can reach the door before I grab you, I'll let you go. Deal?" he smirked. 

"Only if you get in bed properly," I countered while standing back up. 

"Fine," he rolled his eyes and pulled his legs back up. 

I took a step forward to see if he would move but he didn't. I rushed to the door but he stood up and grabbed my arm, spinning me around as he pulled me back. 

"Caught you," he grinned, walking backward and sitting on the edge, all while holding me, that way he took me with him. He sat down and pulled me between his legs, his arms secured around my waist. "You know, I also would have let you go if you kissed me. But you didn't, so..." he trailed off with a shrug, looking at me smugly. 

I rolled my eyes and leaned down, pressing my lips to his. In all the kisses we've had so far, neither of us has ever let it go on. It would just be like a long peck. 

But he's kissing me back. He's really kissing me back. He stood up without breaking the kiss and jerked me forward so my body was pressed up against his. I pulled away to tell him to let me go now but he leaned back down, taking me in another kiss. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him off. 

He sat down on the bed, smiling. 

I turned to get out but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. 

"The kiss wasn't sweet enough." 

"Then why did you lean in for more?" 

"Maybe I like my things sour," he smirked. "I said I would have let you go if you kissed me. Not that I would if you kiss me now." 

"Are you kidding me?" I rolled my eyes. 

He shook his head, acting innocent. 

I thought back to the engagement night. 

He didn't like it when I wiped my kisses off. 

I leaned down, wiping my thumb over his lips quickly. "There. I wiped it away," I smiled smugly. 

He clenched his jaw, looking up at me. "You shouldn't have." 

"Why not?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. 

"Next time I'll kiss you longer and harder." 

"I dare you," I sang, leaning down, bringing my face in level with his. I leaned in even further, my lips brushing against his. "Do it," I whispered mockingly. 

"See, unlike you, I won't make you ask twice," he chuckled before leaning forward and kissing me again. Hard. He grabbed the back of my knees and pulled my legs out from under me while pulling me forward so I straddled him. 

I pulled away, glaring at him. 

"I'm not finished," he grinned, pulling me back down with a hand on the side of my face. 

I deepened the kiss while pushing him back so he was lying down before breaking the kiss but staying on top of him. "Stop toying with me. You can keep the kiss. I don't want it." I lifted my hand to wipe my lips but he grabbed it, pulling it down. 

"Every time you wipe a kiss away, I'll kiss you again. Do you want that?" he smirked, propping himself up on his elbows and looking up at me. 

I hate this. I hate what I just realized. I don't like him, I'm right about that. But I am attracted to him. Can I be blamed, I mean come on. His face is so perfect and then his body is also so... Ugh. This is exactly why I had him sleeping with a shirt on. He's too enticing. And attractive. And looking at him makes me want him. 

He lifted a brow at me while smirking, which made it so much worse. He's shirtless, pinned under me as I straddle him, he's propped up on his elbows, his hair is sticking up in all directions, and his lips are swollen and red like mine probably are too. He looks as inviting as anyone could. 

I wiped my lips anyway, knowing he would kiss me again. Or maybe I did it because I wanted him to kiss me again. I was scared of this. I was scared of lusting after him. And that's exactly what I'm doing. 

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you want me to kiss you," he mumbled, scanning my face. 

"Maybe I do," I replied, lifting a brow at him. When he pushed himself up onto his palms, I leaned back, dodging his kiss. 

He smiled, leaning forward but I leaned further back. He put one hand on my lower back so I knew he wouldn't let me fall. He sighed, "Why are you testing me?" 

"Cause it's fun," I answered honestly. 

"Is it now?" 

"Mm-hmm," I nodded. 

He won't kiss me again. If he does, he'll know how I'll read that. 

"Don't kiss me again." 

"Unless...?" 

"Unless you're attracted to me." 

"I wouldn't think twice about that," he said before pulling me down, kissing me again.

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Chapter 25

they went from hate to lust

idk if that counts as progress or not lmao

next chapter: reception