Rough: Daunting Temptation (Coral Gables Series Book 1) by Drucie Anne Taylor Page B

whispers in a tone filled with regret, while he carries me over to where his car is parked.
    "Me too," I sigh. Why am I so stunned by the experience? "You're not having that party after all?" I ask.
    "There is a party all right, but not at our place. Avery and I were out to buy cigarettes, drove by here and saw that you were in a tight spot. We stopped the car and came running. That's it."
    "Thank you, Delsin," I murmur, feeling exhausted.
    Then he puts me down in the passenger seat and buckles me up. I feel like a child, but I don't want to stop him from caring for me.
    When he's finished, he walks around the car, gets in and drives off.
    We're both silent at first. I look at him and think that I haven't always been happy to see him, but that he just saved me from a potentially bad experience, and that I am extremely thankful for that.
    "Why are you grinding your teeth," I ask him, my voice still small and faltering.
    "Because I have a mind to go out and break Ethan's neck," Delsin says, fighting for the restraint in his voice.
    "He's not worth it."
    "I know that. But you are worth it. The bastard would have done god knows what to you. That is so messed up!" he flares. He grips the steering wheel tight. When he shifts gears and then wants to move his hand to the wheel again, I am faster and take his hand in mine.
    "He's not worth endangering your future, so don't even think about beating him up, Delsin. I am infinitely thankful that you were there to help me, but you don't have to do more." I keep my voice low on purpose, forcing him to concentrate on what I am saying. "I'm okay, now that the fright has subsided."
    "Why were you out with him anyway? I thought you wanted to go to bed early?" he asks.
    "Oh well ... I am sorry now, but that was my pretext because I didn't want to come to your party," I stammer awkwardly.
    His hand presses mine. "I was wishing I'd see you there, because I haven't seen you since Tuesday."
    "You left," I whisper accusingly. "That hurt my feelings."
    He stops at a red light and looks at me. "I still think that you are too good for me, but I'm not going to leave again, okay?!" The earnest tone in his voice reassures me.
    I nod quickly. "Okay."
    Five minutes later, he parks the car in front of their house. He opens the door for me and holds out a hand to help me get out. His car is a sports car, but I don't know the model. I hold on to his hand as he throws the door shut and pushes the button on the key. The locks click shut. Holding hands we walk into the house and then into the apartment.
    Delsin leads me into his room, to the bed, where he studies my face again. "Sit down, Camille," he says softly.
    I plop down on the soft mattress.
    "Would you like a drink?"
    "Yes," I nod and watch him walk out of the room.
    "If you want to take a shower, go ahead, Avery will be here any moment. He just sent me a text," he calls from the kitchen.
    "Okay. Can I go right now? I want to ... wash off any trace of Ethan, and I'd only need a t-shirt," I call back.
    "Take one from my closet."
    I walk over to his closet, which is surprisingly neat and orderly. I take out a t-shirt and one of his skater shorts.
    In the hallway, he crosses my path. He holds a glass in each hand and two bottles of beer in the crook of his right arm. "I thought that maybe you wanted something to calm your nerves, so I mixed you a whiskey and coke."
    I take the glass he holds out for me. "Thanks." Then I drink it down in one long gulp.
    "Okay. I guess you were thirsty. And I see you've found something in my closet. You know where the bathroom is."
    "Yes. Off to the shower," I answer softly and slip past him.
    I disappear into the bathroom quickly, because I can feel his gaze on my back and behind. The feeling is not uncomfortable at all in his case, but I know we have to keep our distance if this friendship is supposed to grow. I undress and step into the shower.
    ***
    When I have toweled myself dry and put on Delsin's clothes, I can hear a