Chapter 3 SUPPOSED

Leah

"Stop being dramatic, Dad." I giggled, huggging him.

He kissed my forehead before I pulled back. "How is tomorrow?" I asked.

"I have a meeting tomorrow. There is someone I was supposed to meet today, but he didn't show up. That brat," he sighed, a more serious look crossing his face.

"Must be someone important."

"Trust me, he is trouble," he shook his head. "Let's have dinner on Friday then."

"Perfect, I'll invite Mom, Ivy, and Liam."

It has been a long time since we had a family meal together.

He squezzed my hands. "Make sure your mother comes. I haven't seen her in two months, and it's killing me."

I laughed, "I will."

**********************************

I pushed the café door open as I stepped inside, scanning for any sign of my crazy brunette friend.

"Yo, bitch!" A loud, overly excited voice yelled.

I cringed as Sam waved wildly from the window.

For fuck's sake, Sam!

"Shhh," I pressed my finger to my lips as I hurried over to where she sat, the eyes of annoyed customers on us.

"I missed you!" she cried standing up and pulling me into a tight hug.

It's only been two weeks, but whatever.

"I missed you too," I replied as we pecked each other's cheeks before settling into our chairs.

"I want the tea on what happened this morning!" She pressed, hitting the table lightly.

My face turned sour at the thought of him. "Ugh. Don't get me started on that asshole," I said.

He will see me around? In his fucking dreams.

"Sounds like someone made an impression," she teased.

"Let's not ruin the mood, please." I rolled my eyes.

She leaned in, eyes sparkling. "Okay, but you can't deny his voice was hot. I bet he's as gorgeous as he sounds. God, when I heard him over the phone, I swear I almost..." She purred, clamping her knees together and fanning herself.

"Ew, Sam. You need help."

"I need a dick. A big one."

I scrunched my nose, and she burst out laughing.

"Welcome, ladies," the waitress greeted with a smile. "Ready to order?"

"The usual," Sam waved her off quickly. "How's Liam?"

"He's fine," I replied.

She raised her eyebrow. "That's not what I meant."

I bit my bottom lip, my eyes flicking to the window, then back to her. "He hasn't." My voice was low.

"Have you talked about it?"

So many times.

He gets angry each time I bring it up that I was starting to think I was the weird one.

"Is it that bad?" She asked.

I nodded.

She reached down beside her chair, grabbed a brown shopping bag, and dropped it on the table.

"What is this?" I asked, eyeing the bag.

She pushed it across the table towards me, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. "Just something I got you while I was shopping," she giggled. "Something to spice up your sex life. You are welcome."

I peeked inside the bag, my cheeks burning. A black lace nightdress.

"I am not sure about this, Sam."

"Just give it a try, babe," she urged.

"Alright," I said, reluctantly, concluding in my mind that I wasn't going to put it on!

Never.

Contrary to what I swore, I did put it on. In my defence, I was just checking it out.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in the closet, eyeing the black lace nightdress clinging to my body. My eyes shifted to the bag on the floor, which I had pulled the dress from. There were some toys in it. Some I was seeing for the first time. I can't believe she was serious about getting these for me.

"What was I think taking it from her?" I bit my bottom lip, my cheeks burning.

We had never used toys before, and I wasn't sure this see-through dress or the toys were what I needed. Especially when he didn't react seeing my naked body.

My gaze caught a mole on my breast. My fingers absentmindedly traced it, and a shiver ran down my spine at the memory of a different touch.

"Beautiful," he had whispered.

My hand dropped to my side quickly.

What are you doing, Leah?

I shook my head, clenching my fist.

"The fuck are you wearing?" Liam's voice boomed behind me.

I spun to face him, my heart skipping a beat.

"Shit, you scared me." I forced a nervous laugh.

He stood at the doorway, his eyes narrowing as his eyes travelled down my body, and not in the way I had imagined they would. I wasn't expecting a reaction, but that look. The clear sign of disgust and anger broke my heart.

I tugged at the hem of the dress nervously. "I was just about to change it."

"Why did you wear it in the first place?"

"I was just testing it. I..." My chest tightened. I bit my lip harder, blinking back tears. "Ignore me."

I pulled the dress over my head, throwing it into the bag, and reaching for my night dress. He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. His expression darkened as his grip tightened around me. I winced, "You're hurting me."

"You haven't answered me."

"I thought you would like it," I snapped. "But clearly, you don't. " I yanked my arm free, hissing when his nails scrapped my skin mistakenly.

"You thought I'd like it?" He scoffed. "Is that all you think about, Leah? Sex?" He spat. "You keep demanding it like you are starved of it. Pressuring me to fuck you."

My heart sank at his words. Was it what it had come to? Pressuring him to fuck me? Did I give him the impression that all I cared about was sex?

I bit my inner cheek but the tears that welled in my eyes were so close to falling. "When was the last time you touched me?" I yelled, my voice breaking. "I've tried to understand you. I swear I've tried, Liam. You're always tired, or you can't get it up."

"And you think that thing is going to change anything?" He mocked, pointing at the discarded dress. "You look like a fucking whore in that."

"Liam!" The tears fell.

"I can't believe we are having this conversation," he shook his head. "It must be nice coming from a wealthy family. You don't have to think of anything else but sex."

"I didn't come home after a long day to deal with your shit," he murmured as he turned from me.

I watched him leave, and when the door slammed shut behind him, I hugged myself, sinking to the floor. My body trembled with sobs.

When had everything gone so wrong?

When I woke up the next morning, liam had already left for work. He didn't even sleep in our room last night. Typical Liam, avoiding me after a fight like that, would solve anything.

We needed to talk, and I would make sure we didn't sweep this under the rug like we do whenever we fought.

***************************************

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor. The doors were almost closing when they slid open again. Then, someone stepped in.

The first thing that caught my eye was his black coat. My gaze trailed slowly upward, over his broad shoulders, sharp jaw shadowed by a well-groomed beard, and thin red lips.

A jolt of electricity shot through me when our eyes finally met. I took a step back, my heart thudding in my chest.

It was him.

The stranger with a scar from yesterday who knew nothing about boundaries.

The doors shut, sealing me inside with him.